Page 55 of Marek

“Of course I am,” I say, holding Marek’s furious glare. “But for safety reasons, it’s best if Fred comes. He won’t get in our way.”

I can see Marek’s eyes flash, and part of me wonders if he was hoping I wouldn’t bother going if he made Fred come. I don’t mind, actually, because I don’t know Aleksander and I don’t want to just go off with him alone. Fred makes me feel a little safer. I know I’m pushing all the wrong buttons, but my strong determination isn’t wavering.

Marek deserves it for locking me in that damned cage.

“One hour,” Marek growls, before turning and disappearing out of the tent.

“He’s a moody one,” Aleksander mutters, before offering me his arm.

I take it.

I don’t know him, but I sure as hell know it bugs Marek that I’m going, so I’ll take it.

He can stew on that for a while.

“TELL ME, ELLIE,” ALEKSANDERasks, taking a sip of his coffee. “How did you get wound up with my brother? Were the stories true, did he kidnap you?”

I should tell the truth, but I’m not going to feed into the stories when we’re trying our hardest to stomp them out. Nobody needs to know that this all started in the darkest possible way. They only need to know that it is different now and we’re going to make something of this show.

“No,” I say, casually, as I pick at my fries. “He watched me dance and asked me to join his show. It was my choice.”

“Are you two involved?”

“No,” I answer, quickly. “Marek doesn’t have a heart big enough to be involved with another person other than himself.”

“You know,” Aleksander murmurs, “when he was a boy, he was the sweetest thing.”

My eyes widen. “Marek?”

“Yeah. He was constantly trying to please everyone. He loved momma, even though she was an abusive piece of shit. He always tried to make her happy. She beat the soul out of him.”

That breaks my heart.

It really does.

“Why don’t the two of you speak?” I question, wondering if he’ll answer me truthfully.

“I left him,” Aleksander explains. “I was fucked up, too. I didn’t want to deal with him, and I was hooked on drugs. I disappeared and when he finally tracked me down, I wantednothing to do with him. I was in a bad place, real dark. By the time I cleaned myself up, Marek had gone down his own dark path and wanted nothing to do with me. We got into a massive brawl one night, and that was the last time I saw him.”

Is that why Marek thinks Aleksander is evil? Because he left him.

I can understand why that would do damage. If your brother is the only person you have, and they leave you, then you’re going to resent them. Especially after the life they lived. I hope one day they can find their way back to each other.

“It’s a shame,” I say, exhaling. “You two are all the other has.”

“Which is why I’m back,” Aleksander answers. “He hates me, but I think he’ll come around.”

Has he met Marek?

“You’re wishing for the impossible,” I point out. “Marek doesn’t care about anyone.”

“You’re wrong about that, I saw the way he looked at you when I asked you out.”

I scoff. “Because I’m his little treasure, without me his show isn’t to the level he wants. That’s the only reason he acts like that.”

Aleksander grins. “I think you’re wrong, but we’ll agree to disagree. I’m fine with you two not being an item, it means I get more of a chance to get to know you. Tell me, Ellie, what made you want to dance?”

Aleksander and I spend the next hour talking about my career, how I got into dancing, and what I’m going to do with the show tomorrow. He is easy to talk to, and so wholly different from Marek. He’s friendly, funny, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes, too.

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