“What’s up?” Breakfast asked, eyeing Lily’s tear-streaked face meaningfully.
“It wasn’t me,” Tristan replied.
“That’s a first,” Una said, smirking. She looked at Lily and her face pinched in sympathy. “What happened?”
“We’re going to be late,” Lily said, gathering her things. “Let’s walk and talk.”
As the day went on, Lily recounted the situation for Una and Breakfast. She spent more time fleshing out the dire situation the Outlanders were in, how they didn’t even have antibiotics to treat a fever, and the barbaric cruelty that Lillian exacted on anyone who even attempted to study science—even doctors who tried to heal sick children. The more Lily explained about Rowan’s world, the more she painted herself into a corner. By lunch, she wasn’t getting much sympathy from her mechanics.
“Lillian hanged Rowan’s father,” Una said delicately as she opened her vintage My Little Pony lunchbox. “That would make anyone a little revenge-y.”
“She’s also slaughtering what’s left of his tribe because they’re trying to make a better life for themselves,” Breakfast added, frowning down at his sandwich. “Damn, I’m not even from there, and I want to go fight.”
“Aw,” Una said, like she was looking at a fluffy bunny. “He’s so cute when he wants to kill people.”
Lily looked to Tristan for help. “I get where you’re coming from, Lily, and it sucks that he kept it from you, but come on,” he said, shrugging sheepishly. “Rowan’s going back to fight alongside his stone kin—one of whom happens to be another version of me. How against that can I be?”
“So you all think I’m being selfish,” Lily said, frustrated. Silence. “Thanks, guys. I feel so much better after our little talk.”
“Lily,” Una said through a laugh. “You have every right to feel hurt. Secrets destroy relationships.” Una’s face suddenly fell and she looked down at her hands. Lily saw a memory flash of a woman with Una’s black hair and fair skin. Lily guessed from the feelings of anger, blame, and love she felt that the woman was Una’s mother.
“But you all think he’s doing the right thing,” Lily said, finishing Una’s thought for her. Her mechanics nodded in agreement. “And you’re right,” she said tiredly. “He is doing the right thing. I just wish he’d do the wrong thing in order to stay with me.”
“No you don’t,” Tristan said bitterly. “When you lose respect for someone, Lily, you’re done. You’d stop loving him.”
Like you stopped loving me, he added in mindspeak.
Lily dropped her eyes and stared at her carrots. She’d gotten used to the Tristan in Rowan’s world—the one who didn’t know all of her faults and call her on them.
The day lurched on for Lily, in the most torturous way imaginable until last period when Lily felt Rowan’s mind brushing against hers as she and Tristan walked to their last class.
Make sure they come home with you after school. They need to train.
I told them you were leaving. They think you’re doing the right thing.
What about you?
I know you’re doing the right thing. I don’t have to like it, though.
“Lily!” someone called out urgently. Lily turned around and saw Scot making his way toward her through the crowd. She stopped and waited, surprised.
Who’s that? Rowan asked in mindspeak.
A friend of Tristan’s who put something in my drink and tried to jump me at a party the night before I disappeared.
He did what?
Easy. I can handle him.
Careful. He’s got the potential to be a mechanic.
Huh. You’re right.
He’ll chase you.
I can handle him.
Lily shoved Rowan out of her mind before he could get too worked up.
“I told you to stay away from her,” Tristan said angrily. Scot recoiled slightly, but gathered his courage. Lily noticed a red scar on Scot’s cheek that hadn’t been there before she disappeared.