Page 67 of Unspoken Words
The door swung open behind me, so I stood straight and alert, the hairs on the back of my neck charged when I discovered Tristan to my right.
“Bourke,” he said, unzipping his junk.
I wanted to look down, to compare, because hey … I was a masochistic bastard like that, but I didn’t give him my full attention, instead mumbling, “Perez” before finishing my business and washing my hands.
He, too, zipped up and joined me at the basin. “You need to talk to Ellie,” he said, before tossing a crumpled piece of paper towel past me and into the bin. “She has a few things to say to you.” Not waiting for my response, he grabbed the door handle before pausing. “Oh, and one last thing …”
I didn’t answer.
“Don’t hurt my sister.”
Tristan left the room, and all I could do was lean back against the sink and look up at the ceiling.Don’t hurt my sister?Hurting Lilah was the last thing on my mind. In fact, Lilah as a whole was the last thing on my mind. It was all Ellie, from one corner to the next and back again. It was always Ellie.She has a few things to say to you.What the hell did that mean? And what was it to him?
I didn’t like that Tristan was in my business. He didn’t belong there. And I certainly didn’t like that he seemed to know more about what Ellie needed to say than I did.
“I need another fucking drink.” I pushed off from the basin and quickly pulled the Jim Beam out of my pocket, this time skolling pretty much all of it. If what Ellie had to say to me was goodbye, then all I could do was pray I wouldn’t remember a single second of it.
“Connor!” The door creaked open, and Lilah’s head popped into sight. “Hurry up. They’re starting the announcements.”
“I’m coming,” I snapped, shoving the bottle back into my pocket.
Opening the door wider, she grabbed my hand and led me back into the hall. “You may want to stop drinking.” She raised an eyebrow then smiled and winked before adding, “and save some for me.”
Rolling my eyes, I couldn’t help but chuckle. She was the polar opposite of Ellie. Where Lilah was championing my downward spiral, Ellie would be horrified.
“Now why would I do that?”
She looped her arm back over mine and whispered, “Because drinking with someone is better than drinking alone.”
Lilah guided us to a table at the back of the room where we sat and listened to both school principals praise every student for exceptional behaviour and diligence throughout the years. They expressed their gratitude and wished us well with our future endeavours, and then they presented the Valedictorians with their awards. I was boring, and by the time the drivel was said and done, my head was light, my burdens lighter.
Pushing up from the table, the room spun a little. “I need to talk to Ellie,” I announced, my words less crisp than when I arrived.
Lilah grabbed my arm and pulled me down again. “Why?”
“Because Tristan said so.”
“What?”
I scanned the room like a Spanish bull for a hint of red, ready to charge.
“What you need is to sit down a little longer.” She leaned closer and practically dove into my eyes. “How much did you drink?”
“Not enough.” I laughed.
“Connor,” she warned. “Technically, school is not yet finished. You can still get expelled. Trust me, you don’t want that.”
“I don’t give a fuck about school.”
“Yeah, you do. You’ve spent the last thirteen years of your life giving a fuck about school. Don’t ruin it now.”
“All I give a fuck about is Ellie.”
She moved back. “Yeah, don’t I know it.”
I was about to stand up again when the speakers beside us came to life, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers kicking in. “I know this song,” I said, laughing to myself.
“I wouldn’t admit that any louder.”
