Chapter 18: Exchanges of Words

"Hey, Mac, wait up."

Jonathan froze, cursing his luck. He had learned from some of his acquaintances that Ian had enrolled at the junior college. So far, Jonathan had been able to avoid the guy, yet his luck had apparently run out.

With a huge smile, Ian jogged across the lobby of the student center toward him. "Why do I have the feeling that you've been hiding from me, old buddy?"

Jonathan shrugged Ian's arm off his shoulder. "You stopped me to ask stupid questions?"

"Wait a minute there, Mac," Ian drawled. "Why the cold shoulder?"

"You know why, Ian," Jonathan replied in almost a growl. "Now, let's end this little meeting."

Ian's smile changed slightly, but Jonathan couldn't really determine how. Several students bustled by them, eying the two men before moving on. However, none of them were people that Jonathan knew.

"How's your little girlfriend?"

Jonathan's jaw tightened. Without a reply, he walked to the doors of the building. Ignoring Ian, he wondered why Ian couldn't leave him alone.

As he exited building, Ian grabbed his sleeve, preventing Jonathan from going to the steps. "I know about your girlfriend. I know that she's behind the attacks."

"What do you mean?"

Ian gave a snort. "Your girlfriend isn't all she appears to be, is she? She should have done herself a favor and finished me off."

"Ian, you aren't making any sense."

"Play innocent if you want," Ian replied, "but I know what I saw. And if I thought that the police would believe me, I'd have her behind bars right now."

Jonathan jerked free from Ian's grip. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Then, if I was you, I'd be finding out," Ian stated.

With another glance, he turned and walked away, leaving Jonathan to his thoughts.

"Jonathan, what's wrong?" Celeste asked, letting him into her apartment.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me, Celeste," Jonathan grumbled, his eyes flashing angrily as he watched her close the door behind him. "I had to find out from Ian of all people. God, do you have any idea how that made me feel?"

"What are you talking about?" Celeste demanded.

"Ian bumped into at school when I went to buy my books. He knows about you being Sol, but he thinks you are behind the attacks instead of stopping them."

Celeste plopped down on the couch. "He can't think I'm behind the attacks."

"How the hell does he know you're Sol?"

"That night I showed up at your apartment a few nights ago, I rescued Ian from an attack," Celeste explained, not bothering to lecture Jonathan on rudeness in his current mood. "I had hoped that the shadows and the bump to the head he received would prevent him from recognizing me. I guess I was wrong."

"And you weren't planning on telling me anything about that. So much for honesty in our relationship."

Celeste jumped to her feet. "I didn't tell you because I didn't think that it was important and I knew that you would be mad if you knew I had rescued him. And as to honesty in our relationship, if you hate the guy so much, you could at least tell me why!"

Jonathan stepped toward her, a few inches merely separating them. "Why I hate Ian is none of your business!"

"So what is my business, Jonathan? Please, as your girlfriend, I would definitely like to know what is and is not my business."

"Like you're a one to talk!" he bellowed. "I stay awake half the night worried that you are out there somewhere risking your life and that I won't find out until it's too late. But, hey, I get to patch you up now and then, so what right do I have to complain?"

"Well, I'll be sure you aren't inconvenienced anymore."

She moved to brush past him, but he grabbed her arm, stopping her. "What are we doing?" he asked quietly.

"I don't know," she replied after a pause, still refusing to face him. "I think we're having a hell of a fight."

He laughed and turned to face her. "I don't doubt that. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too. I should have told you about rescuing Ian earlier."

"Forgiven. And me?"

She smiled. "Forgiven, too."

"Good, I hate for us to stay mad at each other too long."

"I thought we'd be pros at this by now."

"You would think," he said. "I should have told you about Ian, but it's something I don't want to go into right now."

Celeste slowly nodded. "All right, but you need to tell me sometime."

"I know, and I will. I promise."

"Okay."

He put an arm around her shoulder, hugging her to him. "So, do you have anything to eat around here?"

"You are all stomach," she laughed. "Between you and Mara, my kitchen is going to be empty."

"Well, my closet is getting close to the same shape."

She elbowed him in the ribs playfully. "I think I may have some food left. Let's go look."