At Sinclair’s question, I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering about the edge in his voice, an edge that was barely there.
I didn’t think he was even aware of it.
We had both agreed that personal questions were off the bet. That had been the reason I hadn’t asked him about the thriving issue between him and Raul.
Yet, here he was talking about me and Raul like we had something going, like he was curious about knowing what exactly we had going on.
I ignored him.
“I want to go to college when I’m done here, or rather I want to use it as an avenue for exploring the world, before taking up my responsibility. But my parents want me to take up my responsibility after school.”
I stopped my movement then and looked at Sinclair in shock.
He had answered my question, the first I had asked him earlier, after my registration at the principal’s office.
I had asked him what his plans were after school, and he had told me that he didn’t owe me an answer.
My ignorance of his questions must have not sat well with him.
“I am supposed to work in the palace as the chief of the warriors, or one of them, but I don’t want that for myself yet, neither do I want that for my younger brother, but if I don’t take up the role, it falls to him.”
Sinclair has stopped walking too, but he won’t look at me. He was looking far ahead as if he was reading the script from the distance.
“It’s not like I am running from my duty. Just a year or two in the outside world, and then I will be back to take up my duty. But my father thinks if I go, I won’t return again. That I would be tempted by the outside pleasures so much that I wouldn’t want to return.”
“Sinclair…”
I didn’t even know why I called his name. To stop him from talking, or to stop him from sounding like that?
Sorrow mixed with the taste of giving up.
I hated the mixture. It reminded me of my case when I had been left for dead at the borders of the pack.
“Honestly, I thought of running away from the community, but that would mean a death tag on me, and the outcast tag on my family. If I can manage to convince the queen..”
How many people with unrequited dreams are in this community? I wondered, remembering that Peter had dropped his responsibilities to get married to Laura.
I could tell that he was happy, and didn’t regret that single choice. Yet, Sinclair’s was different. He was leaving the community. Would the Queen let that happen?
I wanted to console him, but I didn’t know which words to use.
It will be fine? The queen might change her mind?
I shook my head, but placed my hand softly on his arm.
He jerked but didn’t remove my hand. He stayed silent, probably waiting for me to talk. But I couldn’t.
I couldn’t divulge the secret that I wasn’t from the community at all, that I wasn’t any relative of Laura, that I was just someone that had been left for dead by the lycans because I was trash.
What do I tell him then to even the score? Why did he even open up to me?
It’s not like I was ungrateful, but all this truth stuff and friendships like that put some kind of pressure on me.
“Raul and I met at the party. We got talking the following day however, when I put his sister and her friends in their place, after rejecting the Lycan’s three sons…”
Sinclair chuckled now, and I was glad that I had made that happen, that I had at least turned his attention from his own miserable existence.
“The rest is history. He was curious about knowing me, and since he isn’t as stupid as his sister, I let him into my space.”
Sinclair And I shared a private laugh, about the stupidity of Rachel.
“But you know that he likes you though?”
I shook my head, denying with all the strength I could muster. “We are just friends. I already told him I was not looking for any form of relationship.”
The second sentence was a lie of course, but Sinclair didn’t need to know that.
“I see..” He mentioned, when I was done, and I wondered if he actually saw.
“Let’s continue our tour then. Thanks for sharing that with me, my lady.”
I laughed, when he took a bow.
Dramatic headboy. I mused to myself, throwing a light jab in his arm before walking ahead, knowing that he would catch up, if his laughter was any indication.
There was no one around in the hallways, except the teachers. Students were in the cafeteria.
Just when will I be heading there?
***
“Finally…” I sighed in relish as the scent of food and snacks enticed and engulfed me.
I ignored Sinclair’s chuckle, as my eyes roamed the cafeteria, looking for Raul.
Maybe, I could even eat with him and his group. There seemed to be more than ten minutes before the recess was called off.
“We can stay over there, and eat. But don’t get dazed by the stares.”
It was then that I noticed we were the object of attention. It was then I reasoned Sinclair’s statement. He wanted me to eat alone with him.
I saw the desk he pointed at, and it was empty. Where were his friends? He didn’t have one?
“My friends are over there. I’m sure they kept a space for me, but I don’t think it will be enough for the both of us.” He said, as if reading my mind. ” Do you want to stay with Raul?”
My eyes scanned and stayed when they found Raul. He was staring at us with a blank look on his face. It was at that same moment that I heard a shriek.
I turned aside, to the point of event, my eyes widening when I saw Rachel smirking at another girl who had just been doused in milk.