The Hunters of Artemis

Chapter 30: Tears

When I woke up it was completely dark out, and Rhea was up and ready to talk. "So, girl. What's the matter? Why were you crying?"

"Why did you let me sleep for so long? We have to go find Lyra!" I had slept for so long we had missed going out to search for Lyra again. 

"Kat, that can wait. Everyone else is asleep. Tell me what happened." Rhea hopped over to my bed and sat on the edge. 

I groaned and sat up. "Do I have to tell you?"

"Yes. Now spill." 

"Fine." I breathed in and started the story. "So, I was walking down the hall to Emma and Olivia's room. I heard voices around the corner and just peeked. I saw Emma and Liam talking, then she just... kissed him and he kissed her back!" I started crying again.

Rhea put a hand on my shoulder. "He did what?" she asked angrily. 

"He kissed her back!" I wailed. It was even worse now that I had to repeat it. It was like salt in an open wound. 

Rhea jumped up and kicked the bed. "That wasn't supposed to happen!" she shrieked. 

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "What wasn't supposed to happen?" Rhea didn't reply. Instead, she left the room in a fury. I had no idea what her problem was. Although, it made me upset too, it should have made me more upset because I actually liked Liam. She didn't... as far as I knew, that is. 

I shook my head and fell back against the pillows. I might as well get some more sleep. Tomorrow we would continue searching for Lyra.

_______________________________________________________

The next morning, I heard a knock at the door. Rhea was in bed, facing the window. I got up and walked to the door, barefoot. Opening the door, I saw Liam standing there. I turned to close the door but he stuck his foot into the room before I could shut the door. "Kat. Kat, are you okay?"

I opened the door. "No. No, I'm not okay. Just... just leave." I went to close the door again but Liam grabbed my arm. 

"Kat, what's going on?"

I made sure Rhea was fast asleep before stepping outside of the room and closing the door. "What's going on? Are you sure you're the one to be asking that?"

"Wha--what do you mean?"

I crossed my arms and leaned against my door. "Yesterday. Hallway. Emma. Explain."

Liam's face paled. "Oh, my gods. You saw that. I wouldn't have if--"

"So, if I had been there you wouldn't have kissed another girl? You wouldn't have gone behind my back like that?" I snorted. "Boys are all the same. You get a girl, and then you get tired and discard her like an apple you've eaten. Sweet for a while until you get to the core and you realize there's nothing more to devour." I turned away, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.

"Kat, it wasn't like that!" Liam put an hand on my arm and a yanked my arm away. 

I shook my head at him. "It sure looked like you were enjoying yourself." I huffed and turned the knob to go back into my room. "I'll see you later, Liam."

"Kat, let me explain." Liam grabbed my arm and swung me around so that our noses nearly touched. "Kat, I never meant to kiss Emma. She just did it so suddenly."

That did it. "And that's why you continued kissing her? Why you encouraged her to keep kissing you?" I pushed him away and opened my door. 

He reached around me and closed it. "Kat, I'm sorry. You know I really like you, right?"

"Yeah, and I really liked you. Liked. Past tense. Now, if you're done, I would like to go back into my room."

"Kat..."

"Forget it, Liam. Just... forget it."

Liam touched my cheek. "Kat, I may have made a mistake by saying I loved you so soon, but I do really like you. Like, really like you. I don't like Emma."

A tear fell and I shoved him away. "That's supposed to make me feel better?! Just leave me alone! I don't need this!" I opened the door and slipped in before he could stop me. Then I fell against the door and wept. Just... wept. I held my knees close into my chest and hid my face. I cried until there were no more tears. I cried until I had nothing left. 

I clenched my hands before standing up. I walked into the bathroom and saw myself in the mirror. My eyes were red and tears streaked my cheeks. I took in a shaky breath and put my hands on the counter. I would make sure I didn't feel like this again. Ever.

_____________________________________________________

Rhea and I walked down to meet the others and head out for breakfast. I cast my eyes down to the floor, taking great interest in my sneakers when I saw Liam come down with Noah. 

Maybe I was a little hard on him. I mean, perhaps it wasn't his fault... Wait, I'm kidding myself. Of course it was his fault. He made sure that kiss went on when he could have easily pulled away. 

I ignored my conscience and shuffled closer to the Hunters. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned, ready for Liam, but found myself face to face with Emma. She smiled at me, happier than ever. "Kat, guess what?"

"What?" I asked without emotion. 

She jumped up and down. "I kissed Liam!"

I nodded forlornly. "Yeah. So I've heard."

"I've had a crush on him for like, three years and only now has he noticed me! Isn't it awesome?" She grinned and looked at me expectantly. 

I gave a half-hearted smile. She looked so happy. It would be so mean for me to crush her dreams. If she liked Liam, he was all hers. I wanted nothing more to do with him. Atlanta saved me from responding by calling to us. "Hey! C'mon! Let's go!"