Crumbling Cakes

Part XXXI (31) *POV Bonus*

A/N: Sountrack held was two for this chapter. Indila's SOS and Lord Huron's The Night We Met. Both for reasons of their own.

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In the morning I got up before the sun had fully risen. Showering quickly and trying to get ready as quietly as possible. I wasn't ready to face my new friend just yet and was hoping I could slip by to avoid the questions. My head seemed to ache more today and at times I felt the oddest sensation of vertigo but it would have to hold out. I had someplace to be.

After dinner, Sebastian must have driven Eilis to the hotel since he'd come back alone. I couldn't hide forever, and did my best to act normal, but my heart was just not in it. I've taken too many hits, from too many sides, in too short of a time. Dalia Romanov was officially tapped out.

I shouldn't have been surprised to see Sebastian already in the kitchen, finishing his breakfast. It was Thanksgiving, of course he would be up early to start cooking. Sneaking out unnoticed was just one of my many delusions that I've been harboring against the rising tide.

"Morning." He smiled brightly, nodding at the bowl before him. "There are still some eggs left. Come join me."

Trying to keep some composure with a small throat clearing, I shook my head quickly, pushing for a smile. "I can't, but thank you. I need to leave now to make it in time."

Sebastian genuinely looked confused and who could blame him. He didn't know about the misfits or that I haven't been able to find my balance since eavesdropping yesterday. I could tell he was struggling with which W to go with, eventually landing on, "Why?"

"There's somewhere I need to be today. It's important."

He frowned. "Where would you be going, everything's pretty much closed. I thought—"

"St. Agatha's." I pulled my coat on and Sebastian's frown deepened.

"They don't start dinner until later."

"They serve breakfast too," My voice felt small in my weak defense. "I really need to go." I avoided his eyes and tried to walk away. The balance I needed to find for distance was hard to locate—misplaced somewhere along with my shield and common sense, apparently.

"I thought you were eating with us." He stood up, abandoning his dish to follow me to the door. His tone wasn't accusatory, exactly. But there was definitely a hint of hurt and suspicion.

"I am, I'll be back before dinner. I just have to be there today. Won't be long."

Sebastian's hand wrapped around my arm to turn me around. "Lia, you shouldn't be leaving."

"I can leave if I want, Ronaldo," I said more forcefully than intended, yanking my arm out of his limp grip and shuffling a few steps back. He looked at me stunned, hand dropping as if I'd hurt him.

"You can, I just meant you shouldn't be walking that far with your head as it is. I only wanted to offer you a ride."

Fuck. I'm an asshole—I'm self-aware. He didn't deserve this, he did nothing wrong. "I'm sorry. I think I'm just a little jumpy." It was partially true for overreacting.

"That's understandable." He nodded, subdued. I couldn't meet his eyes because I couldn't stomach the hurt and questions that definitely lingered there. Guess being a coward came back to me as easily as breathing. "Give me a moment, I'll give you a ride."

"No." I all but shouted. "No, I'll just take a cab, you have a lot to do today. It's no big deal." I don't know why I kept the misfits a secret from him. I've shared so much already that it made absolutely no sense why I couldn't expose this one thing.