Page 116 of The Order

He lands his hand atop my own again, making me pause before completely throwing out my work.

“I was going to say it looks like you genuinely tried.” A smile creeps along my mouth at his statement.

“I don't… I don't normally get to do things like this,” I say, watching him create a perfect shape from my disorderly lump.

“Why is that?” he questions, pausing his work to pull up a nearby chair.

“My life revolves around school and preparing for my future. I feel like all I do is study.” My hands rest on the counter, folding together anxiously. “And now, it feels like what I was working towards doesn't even matter. What's a Judgment Day if I can no longer stand by my people's ideologies?” I question. I know he can see the regret painted on my face, the shame I feel on full display.

“It wasn't your fault. You were raised to believe my people were scum-”

“And I was wrong,” I say, turning to face him.

“How could they stand there and try to tell me people like you and your grandmother were beneath us?” I question, once more feeling comforted as he looks at me with a tender smile on his face.

“It’s refreshing to know that you don’t hate us,” Hunter says, rubbing the back of his neck.

“It was a pretty weak way of thinking,” I mutter, pressing my head to my hands.

I hear his laugh again, lifting my head to meet his gaze.

“What?” I question, feeling my cheeks grow red with embarrassment.

“It's nothing,” he starts, pulling off his glove before reaching his hand out. I go rigid as his hand passes over my cheek, wiping away a trail of flour that I must have accidentally left behind when I touched my face a few moments ago. It’s no doubt coating the rest of my face as well. “You have a bit of pastry on you too,” Hunter says, his fingers swiping at the sticky residue. His fingers are gentle as he runs them along my cheek to work to clean me up. I don’t move, surprised by my reaction to his touch.

Nervousness bubbles in my stomach.

“Hunter!” Valerie's voice shouts from the front, his hand yanking away. He gets up from the stool, noticing how close our knees are. He gives me a wide-eyed look, motioning me to be quiet so as not to alert Valerie that I’m here.

“Are you back there?” I hear the familiar voice of the redhead that my sister almost pummeled earlier. Aaron must be back from wherever he went after helping Hunter with the cart full of baking supplies.

“I-I’m a bit busy, just wait out there,” Hunter says, pacing back and forth.

As I get to my feet, my elbow knocks the scraper to the floor, and it clatters loudly. I curse at myself for being so clumsy.

“If you need help, just ask,” a hand passes over the curtain which separates the kitchen from the front of the store, and my eyes lock with the blonde who was always following Fallan around at school like a lost dog. Her eyes go feral with rage. My throat goes dry in an instant.

“Let me explain,” Hunter begins, stepping in front of the woman to block her from charging at me, only to be pulled back by Aaron. Hunter curses at him, my heart dropping once her hand reaches my front.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” Valerie whispers, yanking me past the curtain and tossing me to the floor.

Forest

The bakery is lively with motion, bodies moving back and forth behind the pastel curtains. Fallan and I keep our distance, both hands tucked deep in our pockets. We stand side by side in front of the building, listening to the commotion from inside the small shop. I hear my brother yell, not giving Fallan a chance to try and stop me, as my hand meets the handle of the front door.

I force myself inside, pausing at the sight of Valerie on top of Kai. She sits atop his back, shoving Hunter back each time he tries to pry her off of my brother. She holds Kai in a chokehold. His hand slams against the floor in a struggle to get away from the girl and all of her fury.

Fallan quickly comes in behind me, giving the pair a wide-eyed look, moving directly to Valerie. I watch his hands grab her waist as she relaxes into the touch. Pulling her up and away from my brother, she pauses her brutal assault. Kai grasps his throat, taking Hunter’s hand to pull himself up. Valerie lunges for Kai again, stopping once she takes notice of my searing gaze.

“You crazy bitch,” Kai says, struggling against Hunter’s firm grasp as he tries to get to Valerie.

“I should callyoucrazy for being in my sector, you Untouchable scum,” she spits, leaning her back into Fallan, expecting his embrace. He keeps his hands on her lower back, urging her away. My chest is heavy as a wave of jealousy overcomes me. At this point I’m ready to squash her like the pest she is, wondering how much she’d squirm if I put her in the same hold as she’d had my brother in.

“We could drag her out of here by her hair,”it says silently, my mouth curling into a smile.

“Easy, Little Dove,”Fallan says, my eyes shooting to him.

Can he hear that other part of me, too?

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