Why we run

Foceful liars

Forceful liars

I'm not trusted by myself. So guess who showed up at the Easterbrook doorstep this morning.

Afi.

"Are you punishing me because I told you I got a tattoo last week?" We are in Joey's room having a private conversation.

"Bella this was the last straw. First the club, then the cave. And now you left in the night! You come back tatted!" She stands in front of me while I sit.

I can't take this. I stand to her, "I don't need a babysitter! I'm sorry I don't want to be watched every second. They watch me while I sleep. Corey hopped through a bathroom window when I was spilling my guts out. They can probably hear this conversation. There are things I don't want people to see or hear."

She narrows her eyes at me, "like you kissing Joey?"

Of course, they saw that too!

"Why does that matter?" I pull on my hair in frustration.

"Mari came to talk to me. He really wants you back-"

No. "That's where I stop you. You are my manager. You talk about him like everything is good. You don't care about what he did to me. You just like us together because we are just a pretty face. What happened to the reasons I actually wanted to come here?"

"I do care, you hate talking about your feelings and I know you are hurt. He was going to propose Bella." She whispers.

Afi is good at her job. I love her as my manager. But when she crosses that line we don't get along.

"If he proposed back then, I probably would've said yes. And I'd still be left in the dark. But now I can't stand to look at him. Meeting Joey has changed my life. I'm having fun. I'm doing things other than training. I'm stepping out of my shell as you wanted."

She cups my cheeks, "Ever since you've met that guy you have almost died twice. And he's brainwashing you."

I can't believe I'm going to do this, "fine, I'll play by your rules. But I do them my way."

She starts listing rules. "No more permanent changes to your body."

"Done."

"You cooperate with ever sponsor deal, reporter, photoshoot, and televised programming."

"Alright."

"And whatever is going on between you and Joey stops."

I'm taken back, "I can't do that."

"Then you come home. The race is over. The sponsors gone. You get a home and you can go back to Lamar."

I turn my back on her, "you know I can't go back to that. I can't go off the grid. The world has seen me. It's not that easy. You'll put the guards on me. I know you will. My parents will come after me and Amarion won't quit. Nothing will be the same."

"Bella this is the only way."

"Fine, you win Afi." I walk towards the door.

"Give me an hour alone. No security. And I promise... no, Joey." I let out a shaky breath and walk away. I need to clear my head.

I walk down the hill. I don't know where I'm going. I'm probably just going to walk straight so I can find my way back. But I need to think things through.

Joey and I haven't talked about what's going on between us. I really like him. I like how he makes me feel.

Now I know why my parents are on Team Amarion. He was going to propose. His parents and my parents have dreamed of that day. I won't lie. So did I once upon a time.