Virago ~ The better wrong

Chapter-11

“She really called you that?” Tris asked in hush voice as they were opening the hotels door.

“Yes.” Owen replied, unable to stop smiling.

They all entered the large ground and saw a fire burning in middle and some people gathered around it. There were thick yoga mats kept by the food corner which was full with marshmallows and stuffs. It was all too cliché but sweet.

“This is…something.” Deb said, smiling at Liam.

“Boring I know, but there was a choice between this or opera.” Liam replied.

“Let’s just blend in.” Ben suggested

“Look who is talking about blending.” Tris replied smirking at him.

“I mean blend in without speaking.” Ben glared back at her.

“Hello my dear, come on twins, with me.” The woman from the desk came from the food table towards them. “And you guys can spread out, maybe eat something, or whatever.” She added to others without concern.

“YOU CR__” Lillian started but was cut off again as Owen stood in front of her.

“How sweet of you. But my brother here is a little shy, let me escort you though.” He said

“Sure let’s go.” The other lady replied, leading the way.

Liam convinced Deb dance and went by the fire. Tris and Ben went to eat and Lillian took one of the mats to sat the other end of fire, with a marshmallow and a stick.

“Bored?” A voice behind her asked and Lillian turned to see Ben with a stick himself, bending down to sit beside her.

“Where’s Tris?” she asked again

“Oh just stuffing her face and looking for ways to rescue Owen, though I seriously don’t see why.” He answered vaguely.

“You could dance with Liam and__” Lillian started.

“No thanks, I don’t want to see their, we-are-just-friends-friendship.” He cut her off.

“You can go__” “Lillian can you stop? I don’t feel stuck with you, okay. I came here to sit by you and not talk to strangers. Can you stop trying to show me better options?” Ben said tired of her.

“Sorry…… I thought you are here because you can’t find anyone.” She said looking back at fire.

“Do you want me to go?” he asked politely

“No. It’s okay. Sit.” She said shaking her head.

“Okay and PS your marshmallow is black and burnt.” He added

“Great.” She replied rolling her head and throwing it exactly in the basket. “I was wondering, you don’t talk to people until and unless they gain your trust, but doesn’t gaining trust of someone requires years? How come you trust us?” Lillian asked as Ben handed her another marshmallow.

“Wow, that’s like the 5 marks question, children get these years. Well, Tris, I trust because there is no one else like her. I mean I have Deb as a younger sister but she grew up before I had time to show her my love. She is a smart kid and practically like our mom but Tris is careless and free. Just in a day she taught me the real meaning of living in the present and every other literal quote that meant nothing to me.” He answered occasionally turning his and her marshmallow.

“You two boys are so philosophical. Did you learn English from Shakespeare? Anyways, I get of Tris why Liam and me?”

“I trust you because you turned Mr. moody into Mr. sweet. I mean Owen. When mom and Dad died, all three of us were affected. I stopped talking, Deb grew up at the small age of 12 and Owen became this though guy. He stopped eating, sleeping and even sitting to support us financially. He was surviving for us and literally forgot smiling. But then, one day you moved back here with Tris and suddenly Owen realized that he was dead from inside. We never met you but we saw your affect on him. Owen was finally Owen again. You changed his view of life and he started living. You did a great favor for us. And for that I was eternally grateful and after meeting you I saw just what Owen did and I started trusting you.”

“I am grateful to him too. He was there when no one else was.” Lillian replied in a small voice.

“And Liam, well, he is an extraordinary case. Tris trusts him and frankly speaking, I like that guy. He may have come here accidentally but it’s like he belongs with us. Plus he loves book like me and is really good at video games. What can I say, this is the first time I started speaking to three strangers within a day, it’s like you guys are like family. You complete the three of us.” He said finally and took out the marshmallow from the tip of stock and eating it noisily.

“Can I steal her for a minute brother?” Owen said appearing from the small crowd with Tris who immediately sat beside Ben and took his marshmallow and earning a glare from him.

“Sure.” Ben answered and Lillian got up and together, she and Owen walked round the fire.

“Blending in, I suppose.” He asked and noticed Lillian staring at ground while he saw a tried Deb and Liam walking towards the other two of their trip mates. “What’s wrong?” he asked looking at Lillian again.

“Nothing” Lillian answered not looking up.

“What is it Lillian?” he asked again.

“Nothing, Owen, let it go.” She said yet again, this time looking in his eyes.

“Am not letting it go, Lillian.” He said, sternly.

“Okay, Fine. You want to know what’s wrong? Let me enlighten you. I am the most wanted criminal Owen, Ever thought why I never went back to my relatives or friends like family? Because I don’t believe in family. It just makes you weak. This is not me. I don’t meet strangers; go on to a mission with them and then just….I don’t know, chill out at a boring campfire with them. I have learned the art to not care. And these people, whom I have come to “a fun trip” with, are making me weak.”

“What are you even talking about?” Owen asked.

“I am talking about the fact that I don’t care about any one of you except Tris because I know the day I need you, all of you would vanish; I DON’T TRIUST ANYONE OF YOU.” Lillian shouted and sat down on the ground.