Chapter 23

     They both gaze at me with different expressions. Aaron looks at me as if begging me to believe him, while Wyatt looks like he caught his hand in the cookie jar and can't get it out.

     "Look, Ivy. We would have told you, but would you really have believed us? Especially with him around? You think you're in love with him. I mean come on think about it. When have you ever fallen in love that fast? Boys have surrounded you for years and you didn't even give them second glances, but Chris comes and you're in love with him after a couple of days? Think, Ivy. Use that prominent emotion in his voice is frustration, but I could still hear the underlining doubt he pretty head of yours and actually do some thinking," Aaron says. The most has.

     I think of everything he just told me. He's right though, even when Aaron told me I am his soul mate, I still didn't fall in love with him right off the bat. Honestly, I didn't like his cocky attitude at all in the beginning. I try to wrap my head around everything that Aaron is telling me.

     "So, he just used me," I ask with tears evident in my eyes.

     "No, Ivy. It's all part of the prophecy, and I'm going to tell you the rest of it. I don't care about being sworn to secrecy. Keeping secrets from you tears me up inside."

     His face softens when he looks at me, how did I never notice that? How could I have listened to the lies that Chris told me? I prepare myself for whatever Aaron has to tell me, "Okay, tell me."

     "Will you sit down? I think if I'm going to break an oath for you we should be sitting," he says while flashing me his trademark smirk.

     I laugh at him as I jump onto the couch as gracefully as a newborn deer. Expectancy is written all over my face. Glancing between Wyatt and Aaron, I wait for one of them to actually start talking instead of staring at me with grimaces on their faces.

     "I'll go get Cynthia," Wyatt says and stands up from his chair across from me.

    "Why does he need Cynthia? I ask as Wyatt leaves the room.

     Not making eye contact with me Aaron answers my question, "Breaking an oath kinda hurts?"

     "That sounds like a question more than an answer. How bad does it hurt?"

     He doesn't answer making me narrow my eyes at him in suspicion, "Tell me Aaron, or I'm keeping the bracelet forever."

     His eyes flash a stormy grey color and he glares at my arm in hatred, "You wouldn't."

     "You wanna bet?" I ask him knowing fully well that I would never actually live on fake emotions, but still wanting to test him.

     "Fine, it's excruciating. It makes what you did to Clay earlier seem like a pinch on the arm. You get it now? It hurts, okay?"

     "You're not doing it."

     "What?"

     "You're not telling me the prophecy. I don't want you in that much pain. I don't think I could take it. Even if I don't love you, I hate seeing you hurt. So, as leader I say, you can't do it."

     He jerks out of his seat in rage, "Are you kidding me? All this time, you talk about how you hate when we keep secrets, but now you want me to keep this from you? I'm telling you, and there is nothing you can do about it!"

     His chest rises while he takes sharp deep breathes. I have to momentarily forget our discussion to admire how hot he looks when he is mad. I mentally slap myself and prepare for the small battle of wills me and him are about to initiate.

     I keep my eyes locked onto his as I slip the bracelet off my hand. Gasping at the depressing emotions that hit me, I clutch my chest while my eyes are still gazing into his. I'm sure he can see the life die out of them as I realize that life isn't worth fighting for. Nothing is worth fighting for when your worthless.

     I turn my head and look intently at the knives in the display case with longing. How easy would it be to walk over and plunge one into my stomach? I would die slowly with the blood trickling down my body. I begin to stand, but am shoved back into my place.

     Aaron lets out a harsh laugh, "Are you kidding me? First, you threaten to never take it off, and then you threaten to keep it off. I'm not giving in, Ivy."

     "Why wouldn't you give in? It's not like anyone cares what happens to me anymore."

     His fist springs out causing me to flinch, but I soon realize that he is just hitting the side of the sofa over and over again in frustration. Once he notices my flinch though, he stops and looks at me with hurt in his eyes.

     "You thought I was going to hit you?" He asks sounding heartbroken.

     I shrug at him, "It would be an easy way for you to make me go away like you want. Beat me to death."

     He glares at me and his nostrils flare, "Put. It. Back. On," he says with anger trying to keep his cool.

     "Why?"

     "I won't tell you okay? Are you happy now? I won't tell you the damn prophecy. It's not like you won't find out in the end anyway. Plus, we don't have time for games. So, put the stupid bracelet back on."

     I nod satisfied with his words and slip the 'stupid bracelet' back on my wrist. As I do, the depression leaves me once more, and the love I have for Chris blossoms once more. That is when I realize something else. When I took the jewelry off, I still felt love towards Chris it just wasn't the kind of love you would feel for a boyfriend. It was more of a friend or brother love.

     "Sorry, I had to do that," I tell Aaron.

     "You didn't have to do anything. It was my choice whether or not to break the oath, and you should have let me."

     "And what? Let you go through that much pain? Don't you get it, Aaron? It would have hurt me too! We're connected. As much as I don't want to admit it, we were made for each other. When you feel pain I feel it too," I whisper the last part not wanting to admit to myself that Aaron means that much to me.

     "Look at me," my head tilts up to look at his face, "It hurts me too. That's why I wanted to tell you. I know that me not telling you the truth is hurting you. If going through that much pain would stop your's, I would do it."

     "Why do you do that?" I ask him while chocking on my emotions.

     He looks at me with confusion, "Do what?"

     "Make me fall in love with you when I'm trying so hard not to," I whisper but know it's loud enough for him to hear. I turn not wanting an answer and stroll out of the door. Shutting it gently behind me, it makes no noise as it closes. I glance at the stairs and decide to walk up them.

     Chris and I need to have a little chat, and this time he is going to tell me the truth even if I have to torture it out of him. Okay, so I wouldn't torture him, but I'm getting answers.