Chapter 26 Smile for the Camera
I was shocked that Ezra killed someone who hurt me. Why would he do such a thing? He was my parents' enemy. He should love the fact that someone wanted to hurt me. To hurt me was to hurt my parents. There has to be more to this than I can think of. I am missing something.
I spent the two weeks recovering in the makeshift hospital bed. I still had to keep my eyes closed because I didn’t have any brown contacts in order to hide my unusually bright green eyes. As Ezra promised, he and Griffin did not leave me alone again. Ezra was often pulled away by James the butler. Griffin kept me company. It was weird how interested he was in my likes and dislikes. He was my teacher. He seemed to be trying to understand something. Whatever it was, I had no clue.
“Here, we are alone, you can put these in now.” Griffen placed something in my hands.
If it was what I thought it was, relief filled me as I slowly opened my eyes. It felt strange to open them after keeping them closed for the past week. I smiled to myself as I held a container of contacts and they were brown. I didn’t hesitate to put them in.
Once they were in, I glanced over at Griffen, who was smiling at me with warmth and what looked like affection. What the hell was up was up with him? I must have been looking at him funny.
“What? Do I have something on my face?” He began rubbing his face. I couldn’t help but to crack up laughing. “What? What is so funny?”
“You,” I tell him.
“What about me?” Griffen’s puzzled expression almost made me crack up again.
“You’re acting funny.” I tel him pointedly.
“How so?” He asks.
“Like, you're nice and don’t have a stick up your but.” I tell him with amusement in my tone.
With that, I swear his eyes bugged out of his head. “I DO NOT ACT LIKE THAT!”
I laughed harder, “Yeah, you do,” Before he could say anything else. The door opened. I held my breath. Preparing for the worst.
“What is so funny here?” Ezra Eyed us suspiciously.
“Elizabeth here was just telling me I have a stick up my ass.” Griffen crossed his arms like he was mad, but dropped them as soon as Ezra buckled over laughing.
“You do tend to have a stick up your...” Ezra started.
“DON’T YOU DARE FINISH THAT!” Griffen was practically growling.
“Ahhh the stick has returned.” I teased.
I could not begin to describe the look on Griffen's face, but it was some form of anger, shock, and amusement. Like he wanted to be mad but couldn't stay mad.
“Okay... okay... okay!” Ezra tried composing himself. “I didn’t come down here to make fun of Griffen, I came to let you know, you get to go home today mouse.”
“What, really?” I really wanted to go home, but a part of me didn’t want to leave.
“Yeah, it is for the best,” Ezra said, not getting close. His body language read that he was closed off about something. I wasn’t sure. From what I gathered in the week I have been here. There were spies everywhere. He was the bad guy, but he wasn’t the true bad guy. It was unclear to me who that was. I had to trust that there was a reason for this. I was a lot better thanks to the meds they gave me. 90% of my burns were also healed. The technology was insanely good here.
Almost as good as my parents. I am sure he wouldn’t let me go home until I was one hundred percent, but something was going on, and that was why I had to go.
The past three days, Ezra was hardly here. Griffin spent all his time here. He even had a cot brought in. Even Griffen was studying Ezra’s body language.
“So, when do I leave?” I asked, eyeing Ezra.
“Now.”
“Okay,” I replied. Just then, he looked up at me and smirked. Clearly relieved, I didn’t fight him about or ask questions.
Within five minutes, I am loaded into a black SUV with Griffen and a random driver. Ezra didn’t join. Griffen seemed uneasy. The soft Griffin I came to know was gone. The hard, cold one from school was back, but now seeing his two sides. This one was his defensive one. Something was definitely going on.
“Do I need to give you the address?” I asked the driver as I climbed in the back seat. Griffen took the front passenger seat. When he turned to buckle, he gave me a look. For a moment, I wasn’t sure what it was, but then I realized he was trying to tell me to play along.
“No, Master Ezra already gave it to me.”
“Oh! okay cool beans!” I tried my best at annoying that teenage girl with that. Having the driver underestimate me is probably the best thing I can do until I figure out what is going on. I would bet money Griffen was trying not to roll his eyes at me.
Unsurprisingly, the driver brought me to an apartment building that was not mine. If I was correct, it was also nowhere near my actual apartment. I did my best not to react as I got out of the car. Griffen followed right behind me.
“I have your stuff along with your key. Let me help you by walking you in seeing how you are still injured.” Griffen said with no emotion in his voice. He was good. I will have to remember that.
“OH MY GOD! Thank you! I am still in sooooooo much pain. I was worried about how I was going to carry my stuff!!! UGHHH you are a life saver!” Drumming up the extra drama teen in me. Thankfully Griffins Back was to the driver so he didn’t see his very dramatic eye roll at my antics. I had to turn like I was walking in. So the driver wouldn’t see my struggle to hold in a laugh.
Griffin leads me inside. I stay quiet as I follow him. I notice cameras in the halls. Since I don't know who might be watching, I shadow Griffin in the manner of a disengaged, sassy adolescent. Griffin unlocks a door and holds it open for me. He doesn’t fully come inside. He sets the bags down and nods at a table inside with a letter on it.
“I will see you in a few days at school, don’t forget to lock the door when I leave.”