Firecracker (On Hold)

Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Six

Ariya's P.O.V.

Everyone falls silent when Justin and I hit the last step. I almost laugh at the scene in front of me. It's pretty much like someone has pressed pause on a movie. They're mid movement and everything. What an amazing effect I have on people.

Justin shoots me a warning, sidewards glance. I take it that he's warning me not to stir up trouble. I would never do such a thing...

I chuckle at his expression and he frowns at me, muttering, "Behave..."

That makes me laugh even more. He should know by now that telling me to do something is a pretty sure way to make me go completely against his request. I've never been one to conform to the normal way of doing things. I'm not scared of him or any punishment he can hand out. I've dealt with people and situations way worse than this. Nothing they throw at me can be remotely close to what life has already dealt me.

I scowl when I see Palmer. There's no way I'm sitting at that table if he's going to be here.

I turn to Justin and hiss, "I'm not staying if that dung breeder is in here. I'll be in the barn."

I leave the house before anyone can speak. After my training session with Justin, I'm relatively calm. Don't get me wrong, I'm never at a level that most people consider normal, but I'm at a normal level of anger for me. I don't want to stick around in the house to ruin the bit of quiet I currently have. Especially as the memories now have a way of escaping whenever they feel like it.

Before I start to clean the stalls, I take the horses out and put them in the pasture. I'm working in silence, quite happy with my own company, when I hear footsteps approach the barn. I turn, expecting it to be Justin, but I'm met with Palmer's face instead.

I turn away from him, not even acknowledging his presence. I don't want to give him the satisfaction. I carry on with my jobs, pretending like he isn't even there.

Eventually, he breaks the silence, "Are you just going to pretend I'm not here?"

I pause my jobs to coldly ask, "What? Were you expecting a party or something?"

He shakes his head, "What has gotten into you, Ariya? You were never this bad. I'm thinking the DA's plan has backfired."

I scoff at his comment and continue to clean the stall I'm in.

He sighs, "I want to make it known that Todd was lying. I didn't tell him anything about you."

"Like I care."

"Maybe you do; maybe you don't. But I wanted you to know it wasn't true. He's got a thing for you though. He thinks you're sleeping with Justin and he wants in on the action. He's determined to get you in his bed; his words, not mine."

It's not like I didn't already know most of that, but hearing Palmer confirm it just makes me more angry. The fact that I'm the subject of their discussions makes my blood start to boil. My grip on the shovel tightens and my knuckles start to turn white.

I'm trying to fight back the rage when I hear Justin say, "Joe, you troubling Ariya? I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to talk to you..."

Palmer looks straight at me and mutters, "I just thought you should know..."

He turns and walks out of the barn, leaving Justin and I alone. He has a quizzical look on his face and he questions what Palmer was talking about.

"It's not important. Nothing he says is important."

"You sure about that? He seemed pretty serious. It looked like he thinks it's important..."

"Don't all cops think everything they say is important?"