Page 105 of Encounter

How could I be so wrong? How could I be so damn stupid?!

Standing abruptly, Chast’s body filled my vision, finally allowing my eyes to focus on his tense, desperate face. “You’ve gotta listen to me!” He raised his voice and slowly put his hands toward me like I was some docile doe in the forest. “It’snotwhat you’re thinkin’ right now, alright? M-Maybe at the beginning, but there’s more to this. To...this,” he mumbled, gesturing between us.

For once, he was the one unable to gather his thoughts, to get out his words with confidence. But I didn’t care what he had to say.

“I c-can’t listen to you right now,” I said, feeling like the pressure building inside of me was going to tear me apart if I didn’t leave. “I don’t want to be here. I—” Not even finishing the sentence, I turned around and started looking for my things in panic.

When I grabbed everything, I dashed to the door. Chast was frozen in place, and I even thought he wouldn’t go after me, but when I reached for the handle, he finally snapped out of it.

His heavy steps and loud breathing stalked me; his voice desperately clawing at my attention. “Galen! Just—”

Why did he have to ruin everything? Why couldn’t he just care about me forme?!

“Please, don’t go hurtin’ yourself!” I heard him shout after me as I ran through the small hall outside his door and down the stairs.

Too late for that.

Too damn late for no one getting hurt...

“He’s been sittin’ inhere like a rotting pile of potatoes the past few days. Do somethin’ with him, I beg you,” Gregory mumbled with his hand pointed at me while Mia sat on the edge of my couch with a deep sigh.

“Can you just shut up?” I gave him a tense glance.

“You’re not some teenager who broke up with his first girlfriend.”

Tilting my head back, I let out a loud growl. “We didn’t fuckin'... break up.”

We didn’t break up, I fucked up.

“Did you try calling him?” Mia asked, using the melodic tone she did every time Gregory would get drunk and start having too much fun playing poker with the wrong people.

“‘Course I—” Cutting myself off, I pressed my lips together, realizing she was only trying to help me. Mia frowned at me and gave me the ‘keep explaining’ nod. “Of course, I called him. The day after the fight. Wanted to... give him time to cool off, but I keep thinkin’ he’ll—” An uncomfortable tremble passed through my body, forcing me to press my hands together.

“Do you really think he’d hurt himself?” Mia asked with slight worry.

“I don’t know...”

---