Gretchen startled me when she jumped up from Andy’s lap, grabbing my hands in hers and pulling me towards her.
“Come inside The Cell with me real fast. Andre from second period is selling his family’s infamous street tacos inside. They usually only have them at Saturday market, but he brought a whole shit ton for tonight’s special occasion; and I’m dying to get my hands on some before they are all gone.”
I signaled to Sully who was content drinking next to Robbie, that I would be right back. Walking into the old shell of a building that once detained crazies still held a residual aura of unease, and a musty stench in the air.
There were just as many people inside as there were outside. Most were here for Andre’s tacos, but the others I predicted just wanted to get out of the cold that was still lingering around on these spring nights, even though the days were beginning to be much warmer.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Bernadette laughing with her minions across the way, and behind her stood Davin looking as unentertained as I could imagine someone would be, having to listen to the ridiculous and unintelligent gossip she was undoubtedly stirring up over there. She was too involved in herself to notice me, but Davin had already spotted me within seconds. I turned away quickly when I caught him watching me. Even after all these months my heart still jumped whenever he looked my way, even if it was only a glance in passing.
“Let’s get our tacos and get out of here. Davin and bitch face are over there. I prefer not to be in the same vicinity as them any longer than I have to.”
Gretchen turned the direction in which where they were standing. “Bernadette is over there, but I think Davin is heading our way.”
“What?” I turned back around and saw that Davin had broken away from Bernadette and was definitely heading straight towards us.
“Go for a walk with me, Adelay.” His voice was next to my ear. The voice that always gave me butterflies in my stomach. I glared up at him.
“What’s the point?”
“Does there have to be one?”
“Well, considering you haven’t said more than two words to me since Halloween I assume there has to be at least one.”
“Quit being stubborn as usual, and just go with me.” I rolled my eyes offended. “Please?”
“Fine, I guess. I’ll be right back, Gretch.”
She nodded wide-eyed and just as confused as I was. Honestly, I had no idea what the reasoning for going with him was, but maybe deep down I wanted any excuse just to be with him, even if he wasn’t mine anymore.
He took us out a different way than we came in. An empty archway where a door used to be was on the far wall, hidden behind the crowd of partygoers. I assumed he brought us this way to avoid running into Bernadette, or Sully for that matter. Once outside, he walked us in the direction of the woods.
“Can you tell me what this is about Davin?”
“Can you just tone down the need to be feisty for a minute? I want to get away from all the damn commotion.”
We walked a ways before stopping in front of the all too familiar weathered down stone staircase that was embedded into the side of the snowy hill. It would ultimately lead us up to the other secluded building at the top. I kicked away some of the leftover snow that was hiding the first step underneath it.
Davin had already begun to ascend them with a flashlight and was holding his hand out to help me up the slippery area. I hesitantly accepted his gesture, grabbing onto his cold hand. A sudden spark of memories flooded my brain, displaying glimpses from all of the times we had formerly shared together, imitating a personal movie reel playing itself out inside my head just from the mere touch of the skin on our hands. I had seen Davin’s memories before, but I hadn’t been awake when it chose to happen; thus, this proved that there was still a bond between us even if we were forced to ignore it.
Chills etched down my spine at the sight of the abandoned building standing before me, the one that I had gotten well acquainted with the night Gretchen and I were brutally attacked by Dalton and his helper.
Autopsy tables were still strewn throughout the room inside, and rusty instruments scattered across the floor from the altercation. I shook off the dire feeling that still hung close in the musty air.
Dalton was dead but the terror still remained. I didn’t wait for Davin to say anything first. Something was eating at me, and I was going to get it out before I took one step further inside.
“Why did you choose Bernadette when you turned your back on me?!” I blurted out the question that was tearing me apart every day. He didn’t answer me right away; so, I asked him again. “Why Davin? Out of every girl possible why did you choose Bernadette, the one scenario that would hurt me the worst?”
I felt warm tears welling up as he contemplated his answer, but still didn’t answer me. He owed me at least some sort of explanation even if it was one I didn’t want to hear. “Tell the truth and shame the devil, Davin.”
His black eyes slit into a glare as he intently studied every feature on my face. For the first time I thought I sensed threatened tears hiding behind his
