Red

25

It was just me and Bondy on the plane now along with a few other people. Van left and brought Sam with him. Sam glanced at me when he was leaving the plane and gave me a small smile, like he felt bad for not telling me what happened. But, if he felt bad, then why wouldn't he just tell me?

I wasn't mad at Sam, but I can't lie and say it didn't hurt a little when he did tell me. I know it's just because he doesn't want to get on Van's bad side. And I understood that. I don't want to be on Van's bad side either.

And then there was Bondy. He seemed so carefree all the time, always speaking what was on his mind, but now he won't say a word to me about where Van and Sam were going.

This whole situation made me realize how powerful Van actually was. He could make a group of forty people, including his friends, completely shut up about a subject, just for the sake of me not knowing what's going on. He has so much power over me that I forget he technically had the same power over everyone else, only he seems to focus most of his dominance on me.

"Please, can you tell me what's going on?" I ask Bondy for what seems like the millionth time. I drag out the word 'please' in hopes of making my pleads more persuasive.

"Aye, lass, come on now," Bondy chuckles. "You know I can't tell you." He was sitting across from me, leaning on the other side of the plane.

I roll my eyes. "I won't tell Van anything if you tell me," I say desperately.

"Eh, can't do that. I've gotta keep my trust with Van," he tells me. He kicks his feet out in front of him and continues to talk. "I don't think you realize how much Van's just trying to protect you," he says, smiling at me when I look up at him.

I groan. "He acts like I'm ten years old," I mumble, not completely sure Bondy could hear me until I hear him laugh.

"Doesn't wanna see you hurt, that's all," Bondy shrugs his shoulders.

"That doesn't mean he needs to hover over me every second of the day," I pout, though I knew Bondy was right. After all, he did know Van for a lot longer than I have. And they are friends. Van probably tells Bondy all sorts of stuff about me. If only Bondy would tell me what Van tells him.

Bondy chuckles at my frustration. "When Van gets back, I'll tell him you want him to leave ya alone," he says.

"No," I say lightheartedly, although I was being serious about it, even if he couldn't tell.

"See, you love Van just as much as he loves you," Bondy says, making me look up at him and scrunch my face together.

"I don't love Van," I say. I could feel my cheeks warm and could only hope he couldn't see the pink creeping up onto my face.

Bondy puts his hands up in surrender. "My bad. I didn't know you still think boys have cooties," he jokes with me.

"I don't!" I exclaim, maybe a little bit louder than necessary. I quickly cover my mouth with my hands. A few people in the back of the plane heard me and looked over my way for a brief moment before returning to whatever they were doing. "I don't think that," I say sheepishly, my voice much quieter this time. There was no way I could love Van, at least, I don't think there was.

"So, you do love Van, then?" Bondy tilts his head to the side. He had a smirk on his face that I could tell he was trying to conceal.

"Oh my god," I shake my head before burying my face in my hands. "I don't love Van."

"You sure do spend a lot of time around him for someone you don't fancy at all," Bondy teases me.

"Bondy!" I laugh. "Shut up. I don't love Van." I couldn't help but think of whether other people thought I liked Van, or even if Van thought I liked him. Because I don't. I can't love Van.

//—————

Bondy and I sit on the plane talking for a few hours. He was easy to talk to, and even though he thought I was madly in love with Van, I enjoyed our conversation.

He was strumming some songs on his guitar and I was drawing in my sketchbook when the a group of people, Van included, walked onto the plane. Bondy immediately looks over at Van. "Everything work out?" Bondy asks. He puts his guitar down and stands up.

"Yeah, we got 'em back," Van says. He runs his fingers through his hair. "Bloody mad, they are," he shakes his head as he speaks.

"What did we get back?" I ask, now standing up. I was curious and figured Van could tell me now that everything was fixed, now that I had nothing to worry about.

Bondy and Van look at each other. It was the same way Sam and Bondy had looked at each other earlier when I was asking questions. They were somehow silently communicating with each other and deciding whether I'm allowed to know or not.

I stand there looking at both of them, waiting for someone to say something. Bondy shrugs his shoulders, meaning the decision was completely up to Van. I think it always was up to Van, though.

I look over at Van. "Please," I say, hopefully not sounding as desperate as I thought I did. "It's not fair if I don't get to know." I pout and cross my arms.

Van shakes his head. "Come on, now. Don't say that," Van says. He puts his arm around me and steps closer to me so I was leaning into his side.

"Please," I pout again, knowing how childish I sounded wasn't helping convince Van at all.

He hesitates a moment before taking a deep breath. He runs his fingers through his hair once more looks down at me. "Sit down love. I'll fill you in on some things."