Breaking Me Slowly

Eleven

The boys were still out golfing by the time we got back to the house. Everyone retreated to their rooms to get some rest before dinner, but I found myself wondering down the hall and to Vern’s room; a single question on my mind.

I gently knock on the door and she opens it right away.

“I thought I heard you,” she says.

“Busy?”

She gestures for me to come in. “What do you need?”

I sit down on her bed. “Your opinion.” 

“On?”

“Earlier.”

Her brows furrow.

“Lunch today,” I clarify, “and what Isabel said.”

Vern rolls her eyes. “I wouldn’t worry about what Isabel said. She’s irrelevant.” She sits on the bed.

“Did they ever date?” I ask.

She throws her head back and laughs. “She wishes,” she snickered.   

My shoulders sagged in relief. “That’s somewhat of a relief.”

“She has a thing for him, though.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to see that.”

“You going to tell her anything?”

“What would I even say? Hey, you, stop liking my boyfriend,” I joke. “I don’t think anything I say will make a difference.”

she shrugs. “You never know unless you try it.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want to be that person.”

“Yeah, you’re right. It’s better not to stir the pot.”

I hum an agreement.

“Are you going to tell Grayson?”

“About what happened?”

She nods.

“Probably not.”

“Why not?”

“It’s already over and done with.”

“Aren’t you worried that he’s going to hear it from someone else? What if Isabel tells him something?”

“Would she do that?”

“I wouldn’t put it past her. She made it seem like they were the best of friends” Vern notices the uneasy look on my face. She sighs then says, “Look, I don’t think she’ll say anything to Grayson. I’m sure she doesn’t want to look like the bad person either.”

“That’s reassuring,” I say with a hint of sarcasm laced in my voice.   

“Don’t get sassy with me. I’m only trying to help.”

“You’re right,” I say. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re forgiven.” She gets up from the bed and walks to her closet. “Now it’s your turn to help me.”

“With?” I question.

“Deciding on something to wear for tomorrow,” she says, rummaging through her closet.

“What’s happening tomorrow?”

She stops and turns around to face me. “We’re going to a ballet tomorrow.”

“We are?”

She nods.

“How did you find out?”

“Rebecca. Grayson was supposed to tell you.”

“He seems to be forgetting things these days,” I mutter, mostly to myself.

Vern sits back down on the bed. “He’s just dealing with a lot. Imagine getting married and becoming leader of an entire region of werewolves all at the same time.”

I sigh. “Again, you’re right. What is wrong with me?” I groan.

“You’re also just stressed and need to go a little easier on yourself. You are only human after all,” she jokes.

I throw a pillow at her, but she dodges it.

“Speak of the devil,” she mutters.

“What?” I question just as a knock comes from the door; Grayson peaks his head in. “How did you know?” I ask her.

“By the sound of his footsteps.”

“Footsteps?”

“Yeah, everyone’s footsteps sound different.”

“Am I interrupting something?” Grayson asks, confused by our conversation.

“No,” I say just as Vern gives a blunt, “yes.”

I throw a look at her.

She ignores me, keeping her gaze on Grayson. “What do you want?”

“Always so forward,” Grayson utters.

She shrugs. “I like to get straight to the point.”

“Clearly.” He looks at me. “Can we talk? In private, please?”

“Sure.” I stand up and throw one last glance at Vern before following Grayson out the door.

“Bye!” Vern calls out from her room.

Grayson mutters something under his breath that I couldn’t quite catch. I have a feeling I don’t want to know, so I don’t ask. Instead, I continue to follow him downstairs and to the kitchen where he holds the back door open for me.

“What happened?” I ask as soon as were far enough from the house.

He slows down his pace as we walk through the garden. When he doesn’t say anything, I grow nervous. I grow even more nervous when he stops walking all together.

“Grayson—” He holds a finger up to his lips, telling me to be quiet. I wait, patiently.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “I thought I heard someone.”

“Grayson, what’s going on?”

He shoves his hands in his pockets. “It’s about Sydney.”

“What about her?” I press.

“She’s sick.”

“Sick!”

He puts his hands on my shoulders. “The doctor thinks it’s just a cold and she should get better in a few days.”

“I should probably go see her—”

“No,” Grayson says without missing a beat, “it’s best if you don’t see her until she gets better.”

“But—” I try to protest.

“The doctor and Jensen are with her, she’ll be fine.”

I give him a hesitant look.

“I promise,” he reassures.

“As soon as she’s better, I’m going to visit her.”

Grayson chuckles. “I won’t try to stop you.”

“And you’re sure she’s okay?”

“The doctor is with her as we speak.”

I sigh.

Grayson takes his hand in mine. “Come on, let’s go do something to get your mind off of it.

“Nope,” Vern says, popping the P. “I have to disagree.”

“Of course, you do,” Jensen replies. He leans forward in his seat. “Alright, I’ll bite. Who’s the best superhero of all time.”

“Easy.” She snaps her fingers and says, “Batman.”

Jensen looks outraged. “Let me get this straight, you think Batman is better than Superman?”

She nods. “That’s what I’m saying.”

I glance at Grayson as they continue to bicker from the backseats. For some reason, someone had thought it was a good idea to have all the adults in one car and us in the other.

“There’s no way he’s better than Superman! Superman can fly.”

“So? Batman has the bat mobile.”

“Superman has superhuman strength.”

“Batman has a super brain.”

Jensen sighs. “We’re getting nowhere like this.”

“You’re right,” she agrees. “Let’s ask people, shall we?” Vern turns her gaze to Isabel. “What do you think?” she asks her.

Isabel shrugs. “I like them both?”

Vern turns her gaze to me. “What about you, Juliette? Batman or Superman?”

“I’m impartial.”

“Grayson—”

“Don’t drag me into this.”

“Boo, you’re no fun.” Vern looks back at Jensen. “Well, I tried. Looks like we just have to call it a tie.”

Jensen digs around in his pocket. “Or we can just look it up online.”

One of Vern’s brows peaks. “You have to be right, don’t you?”

He scrolls through his phone as he says, “It has nothing to do with being right.”

“Mm-hmm, sure.”

“We’re here,” Grayson says as he pulls the car into the parking garage. I think it was safe to say the three of us were relived as this meant Jensen and Vern’s conversation had to come to a pause.

Grayson pulled the car into an open space and we all piled out with Vern and Jensen still bickering. At least this time we didn’t have to listen to it.

“You look beautiful,” Grayson says quietly to me.

I smile. “And you’re handsome.”

He really did look good with his navy-blue button up, black slacks, and black oxfords. As were walking up the stairs to the main plaza where the theatre is, I happen to glance back and see Isabel trudging along behind us all by herself. I almost felt bad. Almost.

Jensen and Vern were still arguing by the time we were standing in front of the theatre waiting for the parents.

“I’m going to run to the bathroom,” I tell Grayson.

“Would you like me to go with you?” he asks.

“To the ladies’ room?” I ask, surprised. “I don’t think you’re allowed in there.”

He chuckles. “I would wait outside.”

“I’ll manage,” I say and plant a kiss on his cheek.

It wasn’t hard to find the restroom – I just had to follow the signs and the large group of women making their way towards the same building at one end of the plaza.

I’m making my way back when I notice Isabel and Grayson off to the side, talking. The blood in my veins boils as Isabel lays a hand on his arm and she leans in closer to him. I pick up my pace to confront her when someone runs into me.

I’m able to catch myself just in time before I fall on my ass. When I look for the culprit who ran into me, everything stops.

I recognize the figure. Barely, but I place where I’ve seen them before. The lake. And just like that, the fear sets in and I realize I’m being followed.