Republic of Omisha

Chapter 33: Eliza

  They went over the plan and possible scenarios. Clay finishes their meeting by asking Eliza about her well-being. "Eliza, I think that we need to talk about earlier."

Eliza knew exactly what he meant and was not in the mood to talk about this. "I'm sorry, I just lost it. I don't trust him."

"Eliza," His voice was calm. "You need to start to trust people. If you don't-"

"I know." Eliza had been over the problems that she would run into without trusting the rebels. "At least you know that I trust you, right? And you can trust me, too." She clasped his hands.

They both jump back as Ekon enters the tent. "Well, that's 'original' coming from you." He directed toward Eliza.

"Ekon!" Snapped Clay.

"I saw you with Sebastian. You were cheating on Clay!" Ekon snapped at Eliza. She turns beet red.

"Eliza? Is that true?" Clay turns to her staring into her eyes.

"No!" Her voice raises like she's lying. "That's not what happened."

"But you did go to see Sebastian?"

"Yes."

"Behind my back?"

"Well... it's not what you think."

"What am I supposed to think?" Clays temper rose.

Eliza froze. That's what she said to Sebastian when she caught him with Mackenzie. She didn't believe him then either. Eliza shook her head. She lost the ede to her anger.

She forced herself to reply. "Sebastian was telling me where the rebels are meeting tomorrow. I told you that."

"Yeah, you told me the information, not the source." He sounded like he was close to blowing his top.

"Clay, I-"

He shook his head to silence her. He knew that there was no good excuse.

Why did she keep their meeting in hiding? Eliza wasn't sure, but then she realized something. "Wait, I don't have to run my every move past you." Eliza had snapped. "He's my friend and yeah, my ex, but that doesn't mean that I can't still talk to him and I don't need your approval. Your not in charge of me!"

"The fact that you were with him, isn't the part that is bothering me. What's bothering me is that you deliberately kept it your encounter from me. That seems suspicious, and it raises the question of 'why you didn't tell me.'"

He sounded cooler, but Eliza could see the fury in his eyes as he continued. "I can't be with someone I don't trust, Eliza." He spat her name like it was a disease.

"Clay, I'm-"

"Sorry? 'Sorry' doesn't exactly earn trust."

He storms out of the tent. Ekon scampers out in front of him.

Eliza stands alone in the tent stunned. She replays the last conversation over in her head until it sinks in.

She turns to face Valerie as she enters the tent. No doubt she heard the argument and wants to comfort Eliza. She says nothing. Her eyes hold an apologetic expression.

Eliza lets out an abrupt sob and lowers to the ground crying. Valerie rushes to her side. With her arms around Eliza she comforts her.

Soon Eliza has to push back the tears and compose herself to become a leader figure once again. She stroles out of the tent with her head held high and Valerie at her side. The students avoid her gaze. Obviously they all heard Eliza and Clay's fight.