Page 115 of Stitches

Actually, it was the best start.

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“So I was thinking,you could come hang out at my place,” Bryce finished, glancing at Church while we stood in the science building after classes.

“You got to eat lunch with her yesterday and today. You’ve been to our place three times this week, now you’re asking if she can go to your place? Alone? And…watch movies?” Church shook his head. “No.”

“Why can’t she be alone with me? She used to be alone with me all the time,” Bryce protested.

“Because she’s not your girlfriend,” Church snapped. “You lost that privilege when you two split. That’s how breakups work.”

“She’s still my friend,” Bryce said. “She deserves to have me in her life. You’re not the only guys she cares about.”

Church rounded on him so fast that I barely had time to react. As quickly as I could, I darted between them. Church knocked me into Bryce which sent him against the wall, my back to Bryce’s front.

“Stop,” I rasped, my voice all scratchy.

Church stopped in his tracks and took me in.

“Sirena?” Bryce asked from behind me.

I reached out and cradled Church’s face, silently pleading with him to understand that I cared for Bryce too. A lot. He mattered so much to me and was my first and only friend when I’d gotten here. He’d protected me.

“I don’t want to,” Church’s voice shook.

“Hey, Church,” Asylum called out, coming down the hall. “Let her go. She’ll have fun.”

“Shut the fuck up, Seth,” Church snapped.

I was still shoved up against Bryce whose warm breath was on my neck, sending goosebumps across my skin.

“Why the hell are you calling me Seth?” Asylum cocked his head. “I’m Asylum.”

“You’re a moron,” Church muttered, shaking his head and focusing back on me and Bryce. “My answer is—”

“Church. Seriously. Let her go.” Asylum was standing next to him now. “The voices told me it’ll be OK.”

“Fuck you and your voices. You don’t get to decide what she does—”

“You shouldn’t either,” Asylum cut in. “Let her. She’s an adult. She can choose. Besides, I’ve been sent to retrieve you.”

“What? Why?”

“Your father is here. They sent me for you.” Asylum became somber.

My breath hitched, and I instinctively reached for Church’s hand. He took it and squeezed it tightly.

“I’ll handle firefly and her boy toy. You handle your old man. It’s far more important than anything happening here.” Asylum leveled his gaze on Church. “You hurt the son of man. He stumbled home all bloodied and beaten. To the Underground he ran. To tell some truths and a few little lies. Church must go, lest someone dies.”

“Fuck,” Church snarled. “He works with him too?”

“Many do. Many don’t. He will ask you. And you won’t. Tell him your secrets and some lies. Buy us some time. We need it to commit the perfect crime.”

“Get out of here, Mother Goose,” Church said, shoving Asylum away from him. The move only made Asylum’s blue eyes sparkle and a cackled erupt from his lips.

“I can’t believe I’m leaving you with him,” Church said, looking back at me.

“Then leave her with me.” Bryce stepped around me. “I kept her safe before.”

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