"Oh, I don't know," Taegan said sarcastically. "I thought it was because you actually enjoyed being with me." He stood up, despite his wounds that were still not fully wrapped, and picked up his shirt. He turned to look at her, and for a moment, there was a sign of the warrior he really was: cold and ruthless and emotionless. He couldn't be here anymore. He couldn't do this. Not when his best friend didn't even hand around him because she liked him. In some corner of his mind, he knew he was overreacting, but he shut the thought out.
And then he said words that he would later regret for a long time after. "Next time you want to hook up with a guy, Quinn, don't play the it's my job card. Or try not to tell them what you really are. Because no guy in their right minds would want to be with some kind of monster like you." With that, he turned and left, his fury following him like a cloud.
Quinn kept a stone hard face, despite the agonizing heart ache she was feeling at his words. She let him yell at her, gritting her teeth. Holding back anything else she had to say, she narrowed her eyes trying to keep burning tears from running down her face. Her hands were shaking so badly despite how firm she was holding her called up fists. And it only got worse with what he had said.
She was the monster? Her heart sunk lower into her chest as the hurt built up. She tried to keep it back best to her abilities, but it had hurt a lot more than she had thought it would. She didn't chase after him— why should she, after all? He probably hated her, and she couldn't stand the way he was reacting. Sure, it was partially her fault, but was she suppose to just keep lying to him? And he had kept things from her just the same. So why was her secret any worse? The circumstances made things a little tough, but altogether, she just wanted him to understand why she had kept it from him. But of course he took things in the wrong direction. As if her choice of wording had helped at all.
When he had left, she couldn't hold herself together anymore. Completely heart-broken, she dropped to the floor in tears, trying not to start sobbing. Why was it so hard to just let it go?
Six weeks later…
Taegan wrapped his arm around his "girlfriend's" shoulders and grinned at her as they walked slowly down the sidewalk. Other couples were walking through the park too, and every once in a while, there would be nods of understanding from either side.
Olivia wasn't his girlfriend, not really. She was one of his friends, a pretty, petite girl with brown hair and startling golden-amber eyes. He had known her for years, although until recently, she had been more of a pest than a friend. But she was loyal, and had a reason for needing the cover of a relationship. And so did he. So they worked together, pretending that they were deeply in love, and in the two or so weeks they had been "dating," he had learned that even if neither of them had a reason to pretend to date, they still wouldn't have dated. Too many clashing ideas and personalities… and not in a good way.
"So this is the place you used to take your girlfriend?" Olivia teased, pinching his side, where she knew he would be the most ticklish.
Taegan squirmed and batted her hand away. "One, she was never my girlfriend. For another, didn't I tell you never to talk about her again?"
She looked up at him innocently. "Did you? I don't remember anything like that. Oh wait, that's because I wasn't listening."
"Jerk," he grumbled, but he was grinning.
Quinn had managed to drag herself out of the house, despite feeling miserable. The last few weeks had been awful, any sort of happiness she may have had being crushed. That night with Taegan had been worse than anything she had ever imagined— he hated her. She never had expected things to go so terribly. But that was just her luck.
As she walked, she found her feet leading her to a familiar place. One she wanted to get away from. But for whatever reason she couldn't make herself turn around. She had a slight yearning to go, in hopes Taegan would be there. Quinn even considered apologizing, and begging him to forgive her, on her hands and knees if she had to. He would never let her live it down, but it would be worth it if she wasn't so miserable. She would take the teasing in a heart-beat over this misery she was living in. Though her head told her she was hoping for too much, her heart, a deceptive thing, told her this would work. He was going to be there— she could feel it.
So she continued on down the path, with a new-found eagerness.
A little hope welled in her chest as she started to speed up. She ignored the looks from strangers, not letting them settle in. She didn't care if they were giving her odd looks because of her sweatpants and hoodie, or the fact that she was practically running through the park. Her hope was starting to get way too high as the adrenaline pumped through her chest.
"I know. It's why you love me," Olivia said as someone passed. The stranger, an elderly lady, smiled fondly at the two young people, probably remembering herself at that age, and continued on.
"Who said that I loved you?" Taegan removed his arm from her shoulders and ruffled her hair, so that it got messy. "I hate you, remember? I wish you were never born."
She scowled at him, swatting his hand away. "That was my hair!"
He laughed at her. It was a laugh that very few got to hear, a free laugh of pure joy. It was a smile that he rarely showed, too.
Olivia studied him for a while, and then said, "You're really hot, you know that?"
He pretended to toss imaginary hair behind his shoulder and grinned, sticking his chin into the air with haughty arrogance. "I know."
She snorted. "That's your only redeeming quality, though, you know."
"Shut up!" He snorted. "That hurt me!"
As Quinn ducked into the clearing, she let out a soft sigh as she glanced around. Of course he wasn't here. Though she had gotten really hopeful he'd be here, she didn't feel crushed by any means.
"I guess I could stay…" She stated in a manner to convince herself. When she decided, she headed over to one of the trees, leaning back against it. It was definitely painful to be here, only giving her more reason to want to apologize to Taegan. She hated not being able to think about him without feeling a rush of tears rising up. Most days she never let herself cry, and today was no exception. There was a possibility he would be here, and she didn't want him to catch her unprepared.
Curling up, she brought her knees to her chest, keeping her chin resting there. He could still come. He could still show up for her to apologize to.
Repeatedly she ran her apology through her head, mumbling it under her breath. "I made a stupid mistake…" She whispered, looking around for any sign of people. "I've hated myself ever since I spoke up about my other side. I hate not being able to be friends with you. You never have to forgive me for how I reacted…" When the leaves rustled, she jumped as her thoughts dispersed, but noted it was only a bird or squirrel.
"I'm so sorry… I never should have hidden something so important from you. Even if I would get in so much trouble for telling you for no reason, I should have. It would have been way better than this." Her heavy heart started to pound in her chest as she let these thoughts really sink in.
"I'm sorry. For every little thing I've done. Don't say it's fine, let me make it up to you. I'll do anything, Tae…" Stopping herself, she shook her head. She couldn't use nicknames, it would seem inappropriate. "Taegan," She decided, "Please let me make it up to you. Or attempt it. You still don't have to forgive me, but please don't ignore me. I can't stand it."
Just as she was thinking these things, it seemed, Taegan and Olivia appeared, walking down the path past the clearing. He didn't see his former best friend at first, goofing off with his friend at first.
"You can't be hurt, remember?" Olivia reminded him. "You have no heart." She grinned at him, her eyes sparkling. Taegan stuck his tongue out at her. This was why he hated being with someone who knew him from childhood.
"You know what? You're such a-" he stopped suddenly, and it was as if cold water was being poured down his neck. There she was. The very person he had been trying to avoid for so long. Just there. He felt anger, fierce and hot, shooting through him, and he clenched his fists.
Olivia, probably wanting to know why he had stopped in the middle of his sentence, glanced over in the direction of where he was looking, and understanding crossed her face as she looked at him. She grabbed his hand, unclenching his fists, and smoothing the fingers. "Your claws are coming out," she said quietly, and he glanced out to see that it was true. He sent her an apologetic smile and squeezed her hand, getting his anger under control with an effort. And then turned to continue walking as if he hadn't seen his former best friend.
Quinn was still pacing back and forth when she heard talking, gone to whispering. Turning on her heel, she caught a glimpse of him— but he wasn't alone. But she wasn't going to jump to conclusions, it was just a girl. A really pretty girl.
With her arm wrapped around his.
Laughing, and having what seemed to be a really good time…
Without her.
The bitterness inside of her swelled for a moment before she pushed it down. It had to be a misunderstanding, there was no way he had already replaced her. It hadn't even been two months. There was no way he was willing to replace her that quickly. She had no purpose if he had, he wouldn't seriously do that to her, would he? Their situation was partially his fault too.
But all of her attempts at reassuring thoughts crumbled when he saw her. Not only did he glare at her, but he actually tried to walk away— as if she wasn't even there. Her heart sank further into her chest as tears ran down her cheeks. It didn't matter where they came from, what mattered was that they were there. And she hated that this wasn't the first time it was his fault she was in tears. The sickening feeling in her chest told her it wasn't going to be the last.
With the fresh bout of anger, she found confidence enough to start following after him, and even enough to say his name. But that was it. Her voice went weak, and her legs wouldn't support her any further.
Even her anger couldn't push her far enough, to keep going after him.
She was weak and tired, and depressed. She had no idea what she was supposed to do with him anymore. It felt completely hopeless— if he didn't turn around to give her a chance, she had no idea what she would do.
So she prepared for the worst.
"Taegan," came the call that he had been hoping to hear, dreading to hear. It was weak, and he knew even without turning that she would be crying.
Olivia didn't say anything, just let him decide. She was there if he needed, he knew, and her support was invaluable right now.
He turned, one eyebrow arched. It was as he had thought: tears were running down her face, and she looked lost. She had no right, after everything she had said, all that she had implied. "Can I help you?" He asked, as if speaking to a person he knew only in passing.
And that's when her heart shattered, although, the tears stopped. There was no sadness, just a hollow feeling that he had carved into her.
"So that's how it's going to be." She muttered, posture straightening, eyes narrowing. All hopes of apologizing had gone out the window.
Her voice had gone dull as if something inside of her had completely snapped. As if she felt nothing. And yet the anger began to stir, under her stone-cold stare. It wasn't what you would expect; screaming, and probably a full-on rage monster. But no, what she was, was way worse.
Way more terrifying if you would.
Her mind had been set, if he planned to act like this, she'd make his life a living hell. Maybe she was jumping to her dark side too quickly, but clearly, he had done the same.
And well, maybe not actually hell, but he deserved to have to suffer. And pettiness was a sweet route to revenge.
The spark of an idea had a cruel smirk tugging at her lips.
"You're going to regret it, Taegan." She sneered while the bitterness in her tone cut through her words like a knife. "Watch your back. And pray to God you know what I'm truly capable of."
The threat was only partially empty. But she did her best to sell it as she turned on her heel,
"Why should I pray?" Taegan asked. "Isn't that your job?" His tone was confused and innocent, as if he had no idea why she was acting this way.
Quinn was being petty and selfish, he saw. She was probably going to try and get back at him for something he didn't do. She was just- There was still a part of him that mourned their friendship, hoped it could be mended. Some foolish idea that maybe, just maybe, they could go back to normal and ever forget that the other person was anything more than human. It was stupid, though, and he knew that it would never happen.
She turned on her heal, stalking away, and he felt himself wilt slightly, but recovered himself instantly. He turned to Olivia. "Come on. Let's go get something to eat."
