Chapter 5: Explaining to Do
Warren walked into the cafeteria's doorway. He smiled at his friends across the room. They were smiling back. That's how he knew Verity wasn't beside him. He sighed and turned to his left.
"Why are you still over there?" He walked over to her and entwined his fingers with hers.
Verity whimpered. "I'm not ready yet, Warren."
Warren's brows creased in frustration. He had been trying to bridge the gap between his friends and Verity for two weeks now and he was getting really tired of her chickening out. He could understand why she was scared; she had tried to kill both Stronghold and himself. But she was taking her medication dutifully and the voices hadn't returned. Now was the time.
"Verity, sweetie, I know you're scared. But this has to be done. They've been on my case for the last two weeks about my girlfriend." He smiled down at the ring on a chain around his neck; it was Verity's class ring and he was proud to wear it. "Please can we just try?"
Verity's eyes were filling with tears; the look of terror hadn't left her pretty face since he suggested they make amends today and her skin had blanched. But, slowly, she nodded and took a step toward the cafeteria doors, Warren at her side.
Will looked up as they entered, hand in hand. His smile for his best friend vacated his face. The girl who tried to kill him was Warren's new girlfriend?
"Oh, no," Layla whispered in his ear. "I was afraid of this."
"Hey, guys." Warren sat down across from them, Magenta and Max sliding down the bench quickly to get away from Verity, who flinched. Warren ignored them and pulled Verity gently onto the bench beside him. "I believe you all know Verity."
Verity looked shyly down at her hands. "Hi," she managed to squeak softly.
"Hello." Will's voice was gruff and unwelcoming. Layla shot him a look that made him soften. "Haven't seen you lately."
Verity glanced up at him, surprise in her big eyes. Then she turned to Warren and smiled softly. "I've had some things to work on." She looked back to Will. "I am so sorry about what happened that day, Will. If I had known I could do that, I never would have played you in Save the Citizen. Honest. Hurting people is not my intention."
Warren stifled a laugh. "And what exactly do you call flipping me the first day we met?"
Verities laughed whole-heartedly, her face lighting up in complete happiness and making her look almost like her old self. "That was an accident and you know it."
Warren rolled his eyes, his grin growing. "Likely story."
Layla leaned over and whispered in Will's ear. "I'm not saying I forgive her for trying to hurt you, but she does make Warren happy." She kissed his cheek.
Will blushed furiously. Layla normally wasn't one for public displays of affection, so he wasn't used to her getting that close to him at school. He took her hand and squeezed it. "I think, given time, we can let it go. He's our friend and she does make him really happy."
They watched as Warren and Verity argued over the 'accidental' flip of their first meeting. Their smiles grew as the two got more giggly and close. Then, to their surprise, Warren kissed Verity in the middle of one of her defense speeches. As bad as Layla was with pda's, Warren wrote the book on their unacceptability.
The bell rang and Warren smiled wolfishly at his girlfriend. "Do I win?"
"You win the battle, buster, but not the war." She kissed his cheek. "I'll see you after school, okay?"
He nodded as she stood up and walked toward the door, everyone giving her a wide berth.
"Okay, Warren. Explain." Layla stood up, holding Will's hand.
Warren shrugged as he fell into step with them. "What's there to explain? We liked each other, she made a big mistake that she feels really terrible about, I made her start talking to me again and then we decided we could make a relationship work."
"What about the fact that she almost killed your best friend?" Will pointed out, almost in a grudged tone.
"Look, there are things about Verity that you don't know. She got help for what happened and she's doing loads better now." Warren's eyes clouded over. "Stronghold, you're my best friend and I'll watch your back. But I think Verity's the one. I love her."
Will and Layla stopped in their tracks, Warren stopping a few steps ahead of them, his back still to them. "Did I just say that?"
Layla nodded, unable to find a voice. Will was in too much shock even to move. Warren turned to them. They were staring at him, mouths wide open. "I love her."
Layla ran to Warren and gave him a hug. "That's great Warren." She stepped backward and bit her lip. "But how can we be sure she won't try to hurt someone else again?"
"You'll just have to trust me, Layla. She and I are working on it together." Warren smiled and started down the hall to his next class.
Will walked up behind Layla and wrapped his arm around her. "I trust Warren. But I'll never forget the way Verity looked that day. She looked like she enjoyed hurting us. I don't think she's changed." He looked into Layla's eyes. "And I don't think she ever will."
A/N: I decided to keep Warren true to his word by not having him tell Layla and Will…I dunno if I like this chappie or not…Anyway, R/R…ttyl XOXOXO Nellie
