Page 68 of Firestorm
‘You’ve been so disappointing, Aiden.’
Skye blew out a breath, but didn’t speak or tell me to stop, so I continued.
“I know I told you a bit about my family…” I swallowed thickly, wondering how the fuck I was about to explain my situation, when Skye spoke.
“I heard Lana’s threat loud and clear, even if I didn’t know what it meant. I’ve heardeveryone’sthreats.” she said quietly. My eyes dropped in shame. “I may be angry with you, but I saw the look on your face. I can’t allow you to get in trouble over defending me. You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Aiden.”
“Thank you.” I croaked.
We sat in silence for a moment before Skye spoke again.
“So is that going to be a regular thing? Your mom says something mean to you and you go off with some other girl? Go pop some pills so you don’t have to feel bad?”
I squeezed my eyes shut and wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs.
“I don’t…I don’t want that to be a thing. I’m just such a fuckup like that, I can’t help but make things worse.”
“You’re not a fuckup, Aiden.” Skye said quietly.
But I am.
“You’renot,” she said more forcefully, like she’d heard my thoughts.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t– I don’t ever want to hurt you again.”
“Why?”
Why?Fuck if I fucking know. I couldn’t say that to her, though. I ran my hand over the sweaty back of my neck while I considered what to say next.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
Skye stared at me.
“What did your mom say to you?” she asked quietly. “What could she possibly say that would make you ignore me and go right toward a bitch you told me doesn’t matter to you?”
I squeezed my eyes shut, hating her words becauseshe had a fucking point.
“This is why I’m in counseling,” I mumbled. “I need fucking help. Idon’t know why I do the shit I do. It’s like…” I trailed off, blowing out a breath and then looking at Skye, needing to see the disgust on her face to keep myself from completely unraveling. But it wasn’t disgust looking back at me. It wasn’t even pity, otherwise I’d bolt. No, Skye looked at me with the sad expression of understanding.
I was caught between blind fury at the thought that she knew exactly how I was feeling, and crying in relief that she could see right into my soul like I’d hoped.
“What did your mom say?” she asked again.
“That I’m a disappointment,” I muttered, turning my head so I didn’t have to see her expression anymore. The pity would come any minute now. “It’s always something like that. Or I’m an idiot. Or I can’t do anything right. I only have one affinity, I’m an embarrassment to the Chain, fire is a bottom-tier affinity, it goes on and on.”
“And you love her? Your mother?” Skye asked.
I snapped my head back toward her. “I– of course. Obviously.”
“It’s not obvious.” Skye replied.
“She’s my mother.” I insisted.
“And that’s enough reason to love her? Why keep giving her attention? Why prove her words right?”
“Because they are right!” I snapped. “I don’t have to prove anything, the words.Are.Right!”
“They’re not!” Skye raised her voice slightly, and I took a step back, surprised by her intensity. My back bumped the wall behind me and I gulped. “They’rewrong, Aiden. She’swrong. You’re not an idiot. You’re not weak. Fire is not a bottom-tier affinity. It’s literally the strongest element. I’m an uneducated nobody and even I fucking know that.”
