Don't You Ever Repeat What Happened Tonight

With a mixture of curiosity and perplexity, Hayden examined Emily. Perhaps she was unstable; perhaps Trent was correct.

She felt a sudden resolve. "I think it's time for me to go. Goodbye, Hayden. I must be somewhere else. Teetering perilously near a fall, she turned sharply toward the edge. With a lurch of his heart, he sprang forward and grabbed her hand, pulling her back from the edge.

She yelled angrily, "What are you doing?" but he disregarded her and dragged her firmly off the edge and onto the sturdy bridge road. Their breaths mixed in the cold air as he found himself on top of her. Though the darkness obscured the slight reddish tint he knew still existed, her large brown eyes met his, bright and wide. On the chilly asphalt, they lay with their eyes locked, a delicate moment paused—until Emily broke it.

"Leave me alone!" She yelled, her voice full of annoyance, but he remained motionless.

"Are you going to refrain from running and jumping off the edge?" He asked, maintaining a steady tone while maintaining an intense gaze on her.

Yes, I promise. Now, before I kick you off, get your enormous self off of me. You won't like that, I promise you," she shot back, her words brimming with defiance. After observing her for a moment more to assess her sincerity, he rose gingerly and extended his hand.

She brushed it aside, getting to her feet alone and frowning. She abruptly grabbed the front of his sweatshirt and drew him in while her eyes were deadly serious as she stared into his. Her voice was low and venomous as she hissed, "Don't ever tell anyone what happened tonight, or I'll personally take you out, you stupid fool."

Startled by her intensity, Hayden blinked. Was she snarling? He briefly questioned whether this was a nightmare. Whether he dreamed or not, he was frozen in place by the icy gleam in her eyes. She pushed him away and stalked away from his house, the other way.

With his adrenaline still pumping, he awoke from the daze and made his way home. The urge to get into bed and act as though he hadn't just had a tense encounter with a volatile, possibly insane girl who was dressed like she was trying out for a Gothic tragedy made him move more quickly.

With a harsh edge, Xavion said, "I heard what happened last night." Emily turned to look at him and muttered a curse. The following morning, her mentor showed up out of the blue just as she was ready to open a portal to the Human Realm.

"Yes? She met his disapproving gaze with a dark snap, "Well, what's done is done, so drop it."

With a sharp accusatory tone, he shot back, "True, but if you'd listened to me, last night wouldn't have happened." She knew him well enough to recognize the anger he was using to cover up the hurt and betrayal.

"Yes, it's regrettable, but the past cannot be altered. In addition, I failed, and I paid a heavy price for it. She had paid, boy.

Xavion gave a dry laugh. Indeed! I'd heard the Queen was really mad at you.

"You find that amusing?" Her voice rose in annoyance as she shot back. His amusement was interrupted by her question.

Unwilling to linger, she said dismissively, "Well, I could argue with you all day, but I've got to get to school." She turned, opened the portal, and entered the Human Realm without waiting for a response. She made her way to the school by walking a few blocks down an alley. She wore a basic black outfit that day, consisting of black jeans, her go-to black jacket, and a black top. She pondered why a school had been constructed so close to the impoverished areas as she passed the bleak brick structures. When she noticed Loren at the front of the school, her thoughts became disorganized. It appeared that Loren was not happy to see her. In an oddly haphazard ensemble, even for her, she wore blue sweatpants and a short-sleeved blue shirt with a knitted light-blue design. Even more disturbing was her expression, which showed worry and frustration in her eyes as though she was aware of Emily's careless behavior from the previous evening.

Emily said, "Hey, Loren," with a slight smile to conceal her suspicion that Loren knew about her suicide attempt.

Loren took a while to respond. Rather, she took Emily by the arm and dragged her to the building's side. “What the hell were you doing?” she said in a low, urgent voice after she was certain no one could hear.

"What do you mean?" Maintaining the act, Emily asked naively.

Loren said, her eyes piercing Emily's with ferocious intensity, "You understand exactly what I mean." "What made you attempt suicide?"

Emily quickly shushed her, looking around to make sure no one was listening. "Slow down your voice. She hissed, "I'm done for if this gets out!" before lowering her voice. "Now, how did you learn about it?"

With her arms crossed, Loren obstinately demanded, "First, answer my question."

Emily said in a firm but remorseful tone, "I'm sorry, but I can't give you that information."

"You don't believe me?" With a hint of hurt in her voice, Loren inquired.

"I certainly do. However, Emily quickly clarified, "I don't want you involved because I'm an Obsidian Angel Hybrid. Although Loren was aware of who she was, he was unaware of her upcoming coronation.

"All right," Loren said sharply, "but at least you have to swear to me that you won't do it again."

Excellent. Uncertain if the promise was true, Emily teased, "I swear I won't attempt to bring my bleak and gloomy life to an end." "I guess only time will tell."

Loren, not to be outdone, insisted, "Shake on it." Emily gave her a frantic glance.

"I apologize... "I can't," she said, her voice laced with sadness. "I don't want to break the sacred promise I made when I shook hands on deals. Although I don't have any plans to try again, I'm not sure I wouldn't.

Loren stared at her with a hurt, upset look, then turned away, stifling a cry.

"Loren." Emily, silently cursing Hayden to the depths of Hades, called after her in a tiny, hesitant voice.