Page 65 of The Two Halves of My Heart

“What do you mean?”

“There are levels, sort of anyway, and you’re paired with someone on your level. You fight, you progress. The higher the level, the harder the opponent, the bigger the purse and all that.”

“So?”

“So, Jay is the guy I need to fight if I want to progress. But he’s saying it’s not worth his time. He’s blocking me.”

“So?” I repeated. “Just ask for someone else.” It didn’t seem that hard a problem to solve.

He slammed the jam of the doorway. “It doesn’t work that way.”

“Well, if he’s blocking you, speak to Zuri. He’s supposed to cover this stuff, right?”

“Yeah, again, isn’t that simple.” He gritted his teeth, growing more and more impatient as I failed to see the problem here.

“And what did he mean by me being the price.”

“He was messing with my head. Don’t worry about that.”

Was he insane? He had unrealistic expectations of my imagination if he though comments like that weren’t going to spin me into a frenzy. I busied myself with my coffee and walked into the other room, slumping on the sofa, drawing my knees up to my chest and hugging them tightly.

Maddison and I had been friends for so long. We’d been together under a year, yet the gulf that had opened between us overnight seemed scarier than anything else we’ve faced.

“I’m sorry about last night.” He followed after me.

“You’ve said that already. But why do I get the impression that you’re more sorry about your fights, than how you treated me?”

“Don’t be stupid.”

“Really? I thought we’d always be honest with each other?”

“We are.” He protested, but it felt insincere.

“Just… leave me alone.”

“Don’t you have a lecture?” He glanced at my state of undress.

“Oh, now you’re worried about my education?” It was spiteful, but I was so mad right then, I didn’t care.

“Whatever.” He walked away, shaking his head, and I was left to sit in my own anger.

That argument was the first crack, the first sign that our happily ever after wouldn’t be as easy as I’d hoped. But then, we were still finding our own way. True love never ran smoothly. I placated myself with clichéd words to comfort the doubt that had once again taken up residence at the centre of my chest.

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