Thanks, guys, for sticking by me even though I haven't been updating as much as I should be.
Anyways, this chapter is pretty much just Jinx and Wally getting to know each other, so it's a bit of a filler, but it's sort of important, I guess. I hope you enjoy! Please R&R.
Broken
The car ride was long and silent, despite the fact Wally sped wherever he was free of police or security cameras.
The car stopped outside a long, two-story building made up of several units. It easily beats the usual sleazy motel she's taken to. Just as she reached for the door handle, Wally suddenly appeared and unlatched the door for her. He offered his hand to her, but she ignored it and pushed past him.
"I don't need your help," she snapped. "I'm only here because it's the only way to stop you from asking me again."
"Sorry, I was only trying to be polite."
"Well, don't. I'm fine." She brushed him to the side as she trudged up the stairs to the front, waiting impatiently for him to catch up. He jingled his keys, searching for the right one and unlocked the door, which lead to a large, open lobby.
The columns looked as if they were made of solid white marble, as did the floor tiles. She could hear the echo of her every step against the hard stone. She tilted her head from side to side, evaluating the room. "Not too shabby, West."
Wally ignored her comment and walked straight to the elevator doors next to the spiralling staircase. He flicked the "up" button and, almost immediately, the doors opened before him. He had to hold the door to wait for the mesmerised Lucky. She drifted through the doors of the elevator, leaning into the far corner. She watched the floor buttons light up as they rose. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The doors opened at the sixth floor to a long, white hallway. It seemed so clean and perfect she could imagine it belonging in a movie.
She followed Wally through the high-ceiling hall until he stopped at door 608. The tumbler lock clicked and the door swung open to reveal a large, modern apartment interior. She scoped the room, evaluating the colourful furniture and ornaments.
"Uh, yeah. Just make yourself at home." Wally disappeared into the hallway as Lucky sprawled across the red couch in the main room.
Within a moment Wally had returned and jumped into a nearby armchair. His eye caught the reflection of light shining off the silver box. "What's in the box?"
"Money."
"You... Take it everywhere you go?"
"No, but did you see the neighbourhood I live in? What kind of idiot leaves a box of money lying around?"
"Good point."
"Don't you have somewhere to be? It's Sunday morning. You have a job or church or anything?"
"Sure I do. But I guess you could say it's casual, so I just go when I'm needed, and I don't go to church all that much."
"What about school? I've seen you outside my window on weekday mornings."
"I stop by on my way to school."
"You go to school on my side of the tracks?" she asked sardonically.
"Well, it may not be in that direction, but I guess I just like taking the long way."
She shook her head and rolled her eyes. This guy is so stupid. "So how does a guy like you afford all this stuff, anyway?"
"A guy like me?"
"Well, you know. Young, irresponsible."
"I'm irresponsible? This is coming from a girl who sells her body to make a living?"
"The same girl you took home."
He scowled slightly at her comment. "There's a difference, you know."
"Whatever. So do your parents buy you this stuff? They must be loaded."
"Nah, I just know people."
"Oh, I get it. Five finger discount, right?" She lifted her hand, wriggling her fingers.
"I don't need to steal to make a living."
"Please. We've all done it."
"Not me," he said proudly, pressing a thumb to his chest.
"Oh? Then how do you afford it?"
"They're gifts."
"Because people always give away million dollar cars as presents."
"Maybe gift isn't the right word. It's sort of like a repayment."
"A repayment for what? Washing their cars? Walking their dogs?"
"Saving their lives."
Lucky glared at him. "Yeah, right. What're they really from?"
"Seriously. For example, last year there was a fire here, on the third floor. I helped put it out, so they gave me a big discount on this place."
"And the car?"
"An armed robbery."
"So they gave you a car?"
"Would've lost it either way, right? I guess I just deserved it more. Plus the guy kinda broke the rear window."
"How do you do it?"
"What? Help people? I dunno, because it's the right thing to do?"
"Please, don't get all "Good Samaritan" on me. I mean, you put out fires, catch criminals. How?"
"That's just one of my many secrets."
"Yeah, I know how that goes," she sighed.
"Everybody has secrets; it's nothing to be ashamed about."
She grimaced at his words. Is he always this optimistic? "But you don't know me. You don't know what I've done, what I can do."
"I know that none of that matters."
"It doesn't matter? Breaking the law doesn't matter? I've hurt people. Are you telling me that doesn't matter?"
"Not when you're willing to make a change."
She looked back at him, into his honest, crystal-blue eyes. They were soft and forgiving. Sympathetic, almost. For a moment his calm expression reflected onto her face before she snapped her eyes shut, frowning. Trust no one.
She shook her head dismissively. "What do you know, anyway?"
"I know more about you than you think."
She remembered the first time he said that, in front of her apartment. "Stop saying that!" She could feel the anger building up inside of her. She kept her eyes shut in fear Wally would see them glowing.
"Saying what?"
"Saying you know me! You don't know the first thing about me, nobody does!" Her fists balled up as she strived to contain her energy.
There was a silence before Wally spoke. "Maybe you should let people get to know you, get closer to you."
Suddenly all her anger dissolved and her eyes dimmed. She opened them to see him still gazing at her. "Everyone I grow close to gets hurt."
"You feel like you can't have friends or family because you might reveal your secret."
It wasn't a question, she could tell. She was silent for a moment. He seemed to be the first person to understand her. Her throat tightened as she imagined the possibility of someone knowing exactly how she feels.
"Exactly," she whispered.
"Then you're just looking in the wrong places."
"I used to fit in, but I lost everyone I knew, when our school was destroyed."
Wally's eyes momentarily flickered to the ground and he shifted awkwardly in his seat.
"What was that?"
He looked back up at her. "...What?"
"That look, what was it?"
"What look?"
"That nervous glance. Do you know something about the destruction of H.I.V.E?"
Well, well, well. I finally finished, and I'm so sorry about the five-week wait. And for the people leaving comments, if you have criticism, please make it constructive so I can change it for the better. If anyone has suggestions for my story or writing, or anything else, feel free to email me at .au
Thanks.