Chapter 74 The edge of fire
Chapter 74: The Edge of the Fire (Elena’s POV)
The car ride to the quarry was the longest twenty minutes of my life. The leather seats of Julian’s silver sedan felt too smooth, too expensive, and the air conditioning was blasting so high I was shivering. Or maybe I was just shivering because Julian hadn't spoken a word since we left the apartment. He just kept his hand on the steering wheel, his knuckles white, staring at the road like he was driving us into a war.
"You look beautiful tonight, Elena," he said suddenly, his voice breaking the silence. It wasn't a compliment; it felt like a command.
"Thank you, Julian," I whispered. I looked down at the dark green dress I was wearing. He had bought it for me yesterday. He said it was better than the "rags" I usually wore.
"Don't look so miserable," he added, reaching over to squeeze my thigh. His grip was heavy. "This is a celebration. We’re showing everyone that you’re moving up in the world. No more cleaning floors for the Vances."
"I just don't like the quarry," I said, looking out the window as we turned onto the dirt path. "It’s loud and dangerous."
"You're safe with me," he said firmly. "As long as you stay by my side, nothing can touch you."
When the car stopped, the sound of the music hit the windows like a physical weight. Julian got out and opened my door. He didn't just offer me a hand; he practically lifted me out and tucked my arm under his. I gripped my cane with my free hand, trying to find my balance on the uneven gravel.
As we walked toward the massive bonfire, I felt every eye in the school land on us. I saw the whispers starting. I saw Jax and Chloe by the fire, laughing and pointing. But most of all, I felt the heat of the flames and the coldness of the people around me.
"Keep your head up," Julian whispered in my ear. "You're with me now."
We stopped near the drinks table. I was already exhausted. My leg was throbbing, a dull ache that started at my hip and shot down to my ankle.
"Julian, can we find a place to sit?" I asked. "My leg really hurts tonight."
"In a minute," he said, his eyes scanning the crowd. He wasn't looking for a chair. He was looking for Liam.
I saw Maya first. She was standing near a group of trucks, looking stunning in a leather jacket. She saw us and waved, but she didn't come over. She was busy talking to someone in the shadows. My heart stopped when I realized who it was.
Liam.
He was standing there, looking different without his varsity jacket. He looked smaller, somehow, but also more intense. Maya was standing very close to him, her hand resting on his arm as she whispered something in his ear. A sharp pang of jealousy hit me, followed immediately by a wave of guilt. I shouldn't care. I was with Julian. Julian was the hero.
"There he is," Julian hissed, his grip on my waist tightening. "The loser king."
"Julian, don't," I pleaded. "Let's just stay over here."
But it was too late. Liam was already walking toward us. Maya followed him, a small, triumphant smirk on her face.
"She said her leg hurts, Julian," Liam said as he approached. His voice was steady, but I could see his hands trembling in the pockets of his hoodie. "Let her sit down."
"She’s fine, Vance," Julian snapped. He pulled me closer, my hip bumping against his. "She’s just tired of seeing your face. Aren't you, Elena?"
I looked at Liam. He looked so worried, so desperate. Part of me wanted to run to him, to tell him that I missed our quiet hours in the library. But then I remembered the library floor. I remembered him watching me clean. I remembered Julian being the one who called the ambulance for my mom.
"Liam, please go," I said, my voice cracking. "Julian is right. He’s just looking out for me. He’s the one paying for the doctors. He’s the one making sure I have a future. What are you doing? You’re just making everything harder."
The hurt on Liam’s face was like a punch to the gut.
"I’m trying to help you, Elena!" he shouted over the music. "Can't you see he's holding you like a prisoner?"
"He’s not holding me!" I lied, even as Julian’s fingers dug into my side. "He loves me! He cares about what happens to me!"
Maya stepped forward then, her eyes sparkling with something that looked like malice. "Come on, Liam. She’s made her choice. She wants the guy with the big bank account and the 'perfect' attitude. Let’s go back to the car. You don't need to be embarrassed like this."
She put her hand on Liam’s chest, leaning into him. I felt a surge of anger. Maya was my friend, but tonight, she felt like a stranger. She was pushing me away from Liam, and she was doing it with a smile.
"Let's go, Elena," Julian said, his voice dropping to a low growl. "We’re going for a walk."
He didn't wait for me to agree. He turned me around and started leading me up the path that led away from the fire, toward the dark edge of the quarry. I stumbled, my cane catching on a rock.
"Julian, wait! You're going too fast!"
"I’m going exactly the right speed," he said. Once we were out of the light and the music faded into a dull thud, he stopped. He spun me around and backed me up against the rusted chain-link fence.
The drop-off behind the fence was hundreds of feet of jagged stone and cold water.
"Why were you looking at him?" Julian demanded. The "perfect boyfriend" mask had finally slipped. His face was contorted with a rage I had never seen before.
"I wasn't! I was just surprised to see him there!" I cried, trying to pull my wrists away from his grip.
"You’re ungrateful!" he shouted. "I’ve spent thousands of dollars on your mother! I’ve given you a home! And you still look at that rich brat like he’s something special? I should have let your mom rot in that public hospital!"
"Julian, stop! You're hurting me!" I screamed.
"I'm protecting you!" he yelled back. "You don't know what's good for you, Elena! You need me! Without me, you’re nothing!"
"Let her go!"
Liam appeared at the top of the path, breathless. He looked terrified, his eyes darting between me and the fence.
"Get away from her, Julian!" Liam yelled.
Julian let go of my wrists, but he didn't move away. He shoved me back against the fence, the metal creaking under my weight. He turned to Liam with a sick, twisted grin.
"You think you're the hero, Liam? You think you can just show up and take her back?" Julian laughed. "I know things about your family. I know where your father’s money really comes from. If you don't stay away from her, I'll ruin the Vance name forever."
I looked at Liam, then at Julian. My head was spinning. "Liam? What is he talking about?"
Liam looked frozen. He didn't answer. He just stared at Julian like he was seeing a monster for the first time.
"He’s talking about the truth, Elena," Julian said, turning back to me. He reached out and stroked my cheek, his touch making me feel sick. "And the truth is, you're stuck with me. Because if I go down, I'm taking the Vances—and your scholarship—with me."