Exit Wounds

Chapter 7/19

After many hours of dodging some bullets and settling some big differences, Veronica and Gavi drove back to the office. Veronica held her phone on her lap and leaned back in the seat of the car. Her head was supported by the cushioned headrest and she took the moment to relax. "Eli and Logan will meet us back at my apartment."

"So, who is Logan?" Gavi was in pain. Veronica heard it in his voice, but he had insisted on driving. With her own injuries, it made sense.

"Ex from high school." Veronica tilted her head and looked out the window, watching the street lamps flash as they drove past them. The night was calm. The city, constantly awake, seemed muted.

"Really? Seems like more than that." He wasn't being snarky. His voice was soft and genuine.

Veronica shrugged. It was way more than that, but there were so many beginnings and ends to their relationship and so many titles they fell under. "We understand each other. Or did. We met when we were twelve. He knew me so well, but that was before I came here."

"You changed that much?" Gavi shifted a bit in the seat. He was in a lot of pain. Veronica couldn't tell if talking was distracting or hurting him more.

"No." She thought for a second. "Yes." She gave a little shrug. "Maybe?" She chuckled a bit.

"I'm going to take that as a big yes." Gavi laughed with a wince.

"I've grown a lot." Veronica thought to all the things she has endured since her move to the city. She had learned many valuable lessons of life and love. She was proud of who she had become.

"Not in height, otherwise you were a dwarf in high school." Gavi quipped.

Veronica turned and glared at him. "Enough of that." Gavi chuckled. "No, I mean, as a person. I have learned a lot of new skills, and suffered through some hard times."

Gavi looked over at her. "The hardest." He offered in a supportive tone. He had heard her tales of woe.

Veronica nodded. "I agree. But, Logan has suffered some horrible things as well. In fact, the only thing we didn't mourn together when we were in Neptune was Lilly."

"The catalyst." Gavi spoke softly.

"Yea, I guess so." Veronica looked out the window again. "He knows most of the hard stuff and now he's met one of the best things. He's learning about me and it's weird. It's weird thinking he doesn't know me anymore. But I do something, and I see this look on his face. Amazement, shock, confusion, pity..." Trailing off, she looked down at her phone and twisted it in her hand on her thigh. "I realize he doesn't know parts of me. It's heartbreaking because I caused this gap between us."

"Why?" Gavi asked. It was such a simple question, but the answer was complicated.

"Because I wasn't safe in Neptune. And I felt hallow there." She looked out the window again. "I came here just to lose more, but I gained more too."

"Does he know that?" Gavi asked softly.

Veronica nodded as her phone rang. She noticed who was calling and answered. "Eli?" She was concerned over what could have happened for him to call back so soon.

"V, you got company here." Eli sounded tired and annoyed, but not rushed.

"Who?" Veronica asked with her interest peaked. She allowed her shoulders to sag a bit. It wasn't urgent.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Just expect me to laugh at the face you make when you see them." Eli chuckled and hung up.

Veronica looked down at her phone.