Going Down In Flames: Bridges Burned Part 10

After dinner she noticed a major appliance was missing from the kitchen. "You don't have a dishwasher."

"Yes. I do." He pointed at her. "You can be the dishwasher or the dish drier, your choice."

"Ha ha. I'll dry."

There wasn't much to clean up. As she finished drying the last dish, she yawned.

Valmont checked his watch. "We better head back, it's almost curfew."

Facing reality didn't sound like fun. "Can I hide here?"

Valmont grabbed her hand. "I'll always be here for you."

She wanted to stomp her feet like a toddler. "I'm happy here. If I go back there, I'll have to deal with that jerk."

"If you don't want to deal with the idiot, don't talk to him. Maybe you two will work this out. Maybe you won't. Whatever happens, don't give in too easily or he'll think he can behave this way again."

He wasn't judging her, and she appreciated that. "Thanks. I'll go change."

"Wear my clothes back to school." He gave a c.o.c.ky grin. "That'll annoy the h.e.l.l out of him."

She laughed. "Good idea."

"I can only take the high road for so long."

The ride back to campus ended too soon. Valmont insisted on walking her to the dorm, where he held the door open for her.

"Thanks for tonight," she said.

"I live to serve. Call if you need me."

Once in her room, she hung up her dress and kicked off the sweatpants. The sweats.h.i.+rt was nice and warm...maybe she'd sleep in it. The little voice in her head that called her pathetic could shut the h.e.l.l up. Valmont's warm fuzzy sweats.h.i.+rt reminded her someone cared.

She flopped backward onto her bed. Did Zavien care? How the h.e.l.l would she know? He'd never said the words. How many opportunities had she given him to tell her how he felt? Dozens.

The sadness and depression she'd been holding at bay came rolling in like the tide. Her throat burned and her eyes grew hot. Crying seemed inevitable. Maybe it was best to get it over with.

A knock on the door interrupted her scheduled breakdown. Should she answer it? It could be Clint and Ivy. She padded barefoot into the front room.

"Who is it?"

"It's me," Zavien said. "We need to talk."

Best not to get her hopes up. She took a deep breath and blew it out, wrangling her tear ducts into submission. Crying in front of him wasn't an option. Trying to appear composed, she opened the door and allowed him to enter.

A muscle in his jaw twitched as he studied her outfit. "Nice sweats.h.i.+rt."

"Nice bow tie." If he wanted a fight, she was happy to oblige.

"You left the dance. Where did you go?" he asked.

"To Valmont's cabin."

His eyes narrowed. "You shouldn't have left. There are still people out there who want to hurt you."

"You hurt me." And now he needed to apologize.

"Aren't you blowing this out of proportion?"

Fire flared in her gut. "You lied to me. What's crazy is that Jaxon told me the truth. He said you wouldn't take me to the dance. How in the h.e.l.l did he end up being the honest one?"

"I didn't lie," Zavien said. "I never said I'd take you as my date."

"Fine. You're a rat b.a.s.t.a.r.d who insinuated you'd take me as your date. Is that more accurate?"

"I told you many times I couldn't take you. You said you'd ask Valmont. I couldn't stand the thought of you with him, so I twisted the truth."

Bryn held out the hem of her sweats.h.i.+rt. "Look how tonight ended. If you'd been honest with me I'd be happy to see you right now. Instead, I want to rip your head off."

"You don't mean that." He reached out to touch her cheek.

She smacked his hand away. "Yes I do. You told Nola I misunderstood your invitation. You said it was a stupid crush. She went on and on about how I'd misinterpreted your actions."

Zavien went very still. "What did you tell her?"

"Oh my G.o.d." Realization punched her in the gut so hard she doubled over. "You're more worried about her finding out about us than you are about my feelings."

He took a step toward her. "That's not true."

"Then what is the truth?"

"Bryn, this is...it's complicated."

No. It wasn't complicated. It was painfully, heart-wrenchingly, agonizingly simple. "You chose her over me-again."

"You're being ridiculous." He chuckled. "It was a stupid dance."

Her life, everything she believed about him and how he felt about her, was falling apart, and he was laughing. Sadness transformed into heated anger. "Get out."

"You're making too much of this. You don't really want me to leave." His trademark lopsided grin appeared. He was so sure of himself. So sure that she'd come running because he snapped his fingers.

d.a.m.n it, Jaxon was right. Zavien was amusing himself. She'd been an idiot.

"Get. Out." White-hot rage flowed through her body. Sparks shot from her nostrils with every breath. She growled and pointed at the door. "Out, now. Before I lose control and burn you to a crisp."

Zavien backed up a step. Healthy fear finally seemed to set in. He yanked open the door and retreated into the hall. "We'll talk tomorrow."

"Come within ten feet of me tomorrow and you'll regret it."

Slamming the door, she leaned against it. How could she have been so wrong about him? Her chest heaved as a volcano roared to life inside her. He'd made her look like a fool, just like her grandmother had warned her he would. The flames built inside her and begged to be released. She focused on cold and snow and lemon ice. Nothing worked. She stumbled through her bedroom and opened the window. Roaring in rage, she blasted the concrete terrace with flames over and over again, until there was nothing left. Numb, she went to bed.

Chapter Eleven.

At breakfast Monday morning, Bryn scanned the dining hall, waiting to see if the cowardly a.s.shat would make an appearance. Ivy and Clint seemed to sense she didn't want to talk. They chatted about the weather and homework. She was required to contribute little to the conversation, which was fine with her.

Zavien approached the table carrying a tray.

As his hand touched the chair, Bryn growled. "Try to sit in that chair and you'll never be able to father children."

He paused.

She held up her b.u.t.ter knife. "I'm not joking."

"You need more time." He backed away and sat across the room.

Clint cleared his throat. "Note to self: never p.i.s.s off Bryn."

She sank into her seat and sipped her coffee without tasting it. What would life without Zavien mean? She could buy her own desserts. Clint and Ivy would go with her to Dragon's Bluff. It wouldn't be so bad.

Out of habit she reached to touch the dragon locket she normally wore. Her fingers sc.r.a.ped against bare skin. A momentary twinge of panic had her sitting up straighter. Then she remembered. It was under her bed somewhere, where she'd flung it. Still, the emptiness felt wrong.

In Elemental Science, she did her best to focus on Mr. Stanton's lecture. Her mind wouldn't stop replaying the painful loop. Zavien's gone. Zavien's gone. He never cared. Sparks shot from her nose. Zavien's gone. Zavien's gone. I'm an idiot. Flames shot from her nose. Whoosh. Her notebook went up in flames.

"Bryn," Mr. Stanton yelled.

"Sorry."

Snow hit her desk, drowning the fire. She turned to see who'd had her back. Jaxon frowned at her like she was a small child who'd misbehaved.

"Thanks." She ducked her head. This was what her life had been reduced to. Jaxon stepping in to save her. The rest of her cla.s.smates not so subtly scooted their desks away from her. None of them made eye contact, like they thought she'd snap at any moment.

Mr. Stanton kept her after cla.s.s. "I know you're upset, but you must control your fire. I have to fill out a report on any student who can't manage their breath weapon. If your name shows up more than once a month, you're required to see a counselor. You don't want that."

He was trying to help. Since he knew of her relations.h.i.+p with Zavien, maybe he could offer some advice. "What's your opinion of Zavien's behavior?"

Mr. Stanton frowned. "I believe it was unwise of him to act on his attraction. It's not fair to you. He should've known better."

Not the answer she'd wanted or expected. Unable to speak, she nodded and left.

Miss Enid found her sitting at her usual table during second hour. "I'd ask how you are, but I think that's obvious."

"Zavien didn't apologize. He accused me of overreacting." She took a shaky breath. "Mr. Stanton said it was wrong for Zavien to start seeing me."

The librarian frowned. "Old men forget what young love is like."

"Young men are idiots."

"Young men aren't good at discussing their feelings."

Smoke drifted from Bryn's nostrils. "I told him how I felt about him. Not once did he say he cared about me."

"He does, but there is always the chance he doesn't feel as strongly as you do."

"My life sucks." Giving up, she laid her head on the table.

Miss Enid patted her shoulder. "Visit Valmont. He makes you smile."

How much trouble would she be in if she skipped the rest of her cla.s.ses to track down Valmont? She'd probably end up on another list somewhere.

In Basic Movement, she wailed on a Slam Man, imagining the robot-like figure had spiky black hair.

Outside of Clint and Ivy, Jaxon was the only student brave enough to speak to her. He approached when she was stretching out on the mats.

"Why are you letting everyone see your pain? It's undignified."

"Why do you care?"

He shrugged. "I don't. I feel compelled to offer advice since you keep doing things wrong."

She growled at him. Smoke drifted from her mouth as she spoke. "Do you really think p.i.s.sing me off right now is a good idea?"

"Zavien went to a lot of trouble to mislead you and keep your relations.h.i.+p a secret. Now everyone on campus knows something is going on between you two."

He was right. "I wonder if Nola will figure it out."

"Wait until Stagecraft tomorrow evening and see if she tries to drop a set on your head." Jaxon said.

"Death by c.r.a.ppy scenery. That would be a great way to go." She realized she felt better. "Thanks, Jaxon."

"For what?" He walked away.

The next morning, Zavien sat across the room with Black dragons she didn't know. She managed to keep her expression blank while she ate.

"You look sedated," Clint said. "You're scaring me."

"I'm trying to block everything out. If I set my notebook on fire again, I'll have to see a counselor."

Ivy sighed. "I wish there was something we could do."

In Elemental Science, Bryn managed to keep her fire under control. In Basic Movement she ran on a treadmill until her legs felt like dead weight.

That night in Stagecraft, Bryn painted the top of a set blue to represent the sky. Someone with actual artistic talent would add the forest later.