Enemy Basis | COMPLETE

47| who would've known?

Dorran and I had stayed out a bit longer before we went to the back garden where everyone was sat together. Lennox was still out somewhere and no one was really venturing the topic of Grace, but I preferred it this way. I didn't want to talk about her anymore and besides, Dorran had made me feel so much better. Now, I just wanted to sit and enjoy my family's company.

The sun began to set, the sky coloured by a palette of orangey hues as we all sat on the terrace. I was perched near Dorran with his hand stroking my thigh absentmindedly with Maia on my right. Everyone else found their seat and little after, drinks were brought out, leaving us to enjoy the company with a slight buzz in our veins.

It felt oddly peaceful. I never thought it would end up like this, but alas, here we all were.

The Grace thing was playing on my mind and I feared it would for a while. It also didn't feel complete without Lennox but I was going to try and push it all from my mind. Hopefully, in time, we would get to a stage where things were a bit more normal. Until then, I was going to not fret on the bad and instead, enjoy every single moment.

It was only a little after eleven o'clock when Maia stood up to leave, quietly announcing her departure. She gave me a brief hug and then turned and left. Everyone said goodbye to her apart from Archer. He had a strange look on his face as he watched the girl leave but I dismissed it without a second thought.

As the evening wore on and the bottles emptied, people began to drift inside, seeking refuge from the growing chill. One by one, they disappeared until it was just me, Dorran, and Archer left on the terrace. They were talking quietly, but my attention was drawn to Archer. A random but important thought sparked in my mind. I realized I knew nothing about him.

He'd treated me poorly in the past, a history I'd chosen to overlook in light of his recent attempts to make amends. His efforts seemed genuine, yet I still didn't understand the root of his earlier animosity, nor did I truly know anything substantial about him.

Maybe it was the lingering effects of the alcohol, but I felt a sudden urge to talk to him, to understand him better. We were friends of sorts, and yet I knew nothing about him. And what better time than the present?

As Archer stood at the edge of the terrace, his back to us, gazing out over the garden, Dorran turned to me. I gave him a subtle signal to go inside without me. He glanced back at Archer, a flicker of understanding in his eyes, and then nodded, leaving me alone with him.

I walked over to Archer and stood beside him in the darkness, the chill raising goosebumps on my arms. I forced myself to stay, despite the discomfort.

As Archer glanced at me, I prepared to speak, but he preempted me.

"I think I know why you stayed out here," he said, surprising me.

"Oh?" I replied, a touch of playful defiance in my voice. "And why is that?" He looked over at me, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

He paused for a moment, then admitted, "Okay, I don't really know. Why are you out here?"

I smiled at the gentle banter.

When the silence stretched out again, I decided to just blurt it out. "I know nothing about you," I said, the words hanging in the cool night air. "I was just wondering..." I trailed off, unsure how to phrase what I really wanted to ask.

I wanted to know why he was so withdrawn, so emotionally detached, why he'd hated me so intensely in the beginning. But how could I just ask those things? It felt intrusive, somehow.

I was spared the awkwardness of finishing my question. Archer glanced at me, a touch of wry humour in his eyes.

"Wondering why I'm like this?" he finished for me.