The Spiral of Acceptance

Chapter 12

Arctic looked up from his phone when he heard footsteps ringing out against the cold hard floor behind him. He turned around, and as his gaze met Zinnia's, he hesitated. All his instincts were shouting at him to run, run from this girl who looked so understanding but was just like everyone else.

As he met her desperate eyes and heard the desperate "wait!" coming from her lips, he paused. He watched her run up to him, panting, eyeing her skeptically. Didn't she know that he didn't want anything to do with her?

"What do you want?" he drawled, in the tone that told Zinnia that he was done with her fake sympathy.

"Look, Arctic, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to call you crazy, it just slipped out. I know I messed up, everyone around me reminds me of that at least a few times a day, but -" she paused as Arctic turned to leave.

"If all you've come to do is spout fake apologies and excuses, then I'll take my leave." he said harshly, ignoring the way his heart wrenched.

"Arctic, wait! There's something I need to ask you!" she shouted, anxiety nearly causing her to collapse onto her knees.

"What is it?" He turned around slowly, but when his eyes caught sight of Zinnia's panic-stricken face he sighed and mentally gave in.

"I need - I need you to give me a place to stay. Just for one night." she begged.

"Why? Did your parents kick you out?" he asked, previous hostility vanishing.

"Yeah, kinda." Zinnia shrugged like it didn't matter, but Arctic could still see the tense way she held herself, with stiff shoulders and legs about to give way.

"Fine, I'm sure my parents will understand." This was muttered under his breath, the soft words meant to show Zinnia that he still hadn't fully forgave her.

Zinnia, on the other hand, didn't say anything, sensing Arctic's annoyance at her. Still, she shot him a look of gratitude as he beckoned for her to follow him.

As the two walked towards the school gate, Arctic could hear John's voice teasing him in his mind.

"She just wants to use you, you shitty, trusting idiot. After all, she just apologized because she needed a place to stay. Don't think that she actually means it." His teasing voice bounced around in Arctic's mind, like the nagging feeling one got when one forgot something. 

John said one more thing before Arctic could suppress his voice.

"Don't you dare trust her."