AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He huffed and shrugged. “We’re idiots? We’re all new to this and it’s hard to feel super secure in a situation like ours, especially with how rocky things were at the beginning. I’m not going to lie. We all hung out when we were growing up, but in middle school, we grew apart. Now, we only see each other at official events. They each have their own lives and interests and . . . anyway. As we got older, they took everything we did as a challenge. It became an us versus them situation without us realizing it. Any training we did, they treated like a competition to show us up. Then Gwyneth and CeeCee started showing interest in dating us, and that drove the wedge further. I guess, none of us have tried to fix things in a while and we let tensions stay high.”
He swallowed and scanned my face, “I would have understood if you preferred to get to know one of them. The five of us are complicated enough as individuals. As a group, we can be overwhelming.” He paused and bit his lip. “A small part of me almost wanted to introduce you to them early on just to give you a chance at a more normal life.”
“Really?” I was shocked. I thought he liked me pretty early on. I always felt a spark with him.
“It’s not that I didn’t want a shot with you. I just thought Aaron or maybe Sean would be better for you.”
I swallowed, too stunned to respond. He was willing to sacrifice his happiness because he thought I would be better off?
“Vince––”
“Our fear doesn’t make what we did okay. It was wrong to lie to you and keep you away.”
I didn’t have to voice my agreement. They knew exactly how I felt. I wasn’t the one who held back.
“What are the requirements?”
His eyes shot to mine. “What do you mean?”
“When I saw the chancellor, he mentioned me not making progress like there was a checklist I’m supposed to work through.”
His jaw twitched. “Luca asked his dad for help with a reason to keep you from the council meetings and meeting other members. His dad agreed and gave an arbitrary list that we could use to keep you occupied. Luca was supposed to give it to you last week, but I guess he forgot or maybe he reconsidered. The whole thing was a mess and it never should have happened.”
I was right. I hated it, but I knew it in my gut that something was off with that conversation in the hall.
“When?”
His brow rose, “When what?”
“When did they come up with this plan?”
He hesitated before finally speaking. “Right after we went to the movies.”
My anger was back to simmering just below the boiling point. “How could you guys do that to me?”
His face fell, “I only found out about it tonight, Ave. I swear. They told me before I came over, but it was because Luca was scared. We all were.”
I shook my head, “No, that’s not an excuse. You were scared at the beginning when we were new. That was just a few weeks ago. You came up with this plan after the cruise.”
How long were they planning on keeping me separate from everyone else? Was I going to remain a secret forever?
“We thought we were protecting you. Really. You’re just getting used to the Society and training. We didn’t want to throw something else at you.”
“We?” I repeated. “You said you just found out.”
He looked away. “I’m saying what they were thinking, at least from what they told me.”
“So you agree they were trying to protect me? It’s such a weak excuse, Vince. Please tell me there’s something else. A better reason why you guys would do this to me.”
His eyes fell to his lap. “I can’t speak for all of them.” He picked at a thread on his flannel. “I don’t always feel like I belong, with the guys or in the Society. It doesn’t matter what anyone says or how many years pass. I’m different. I don’t come from a family that’s been in the Society for generations. The abilities skipped down the line to me, so there was no one to help me. Like you.”
He paused again, but I didn’t interrupt him. The air was heavy with what was left unsaid, and I wanted to give him the opportunity to tell me as much as he wanted.
“The guys included me, and I was brought in at a young age since the council kept an eye on my family. For some reason, they suspected I might have abilities even my mom didn’t. Maybe it was because I was the same age as the other guys. I think it was Tessa and Renae who made sure I was involved and took me in.”
The other parents treated Vince like another son. They loved him, so why would he still feel like he didn’t belong?
“Plus, I couldn’t keep up with the guys. My family doesn’t have the money to even try. I know you say it doesn’t matter, but it’s something that’s been in the back of my mind since we were kids. It’s not an insecurity I can just get over, but it’s not something I let get in the way anymore either.”
