"I just want to say one thing," I cut Jasper off and looked at Kyle. "You don't like me, that's cool. Not many people do. However, I'm not in the mood for smart ass remarks or comments so if you make one I will not hesitate to stab a pen through your eye." I turned to Jasper. "Will you lend your darling little sister a pen?"
"I'm sorry," Kyle said. It looked like it pained him to say it. "I didn't know about... you. I didn't trust you, but now I know the truth."
"You still shouldn't trust me. I've been known to shoot my best friend."
"She won't shoot you, or stab you," Jasper said and rolled his eyes. "I won't let her."
"You won't be able to stop me," I smiled.
"We'll see about that," Jasper said and matched my smile.
I narrowed my eyes and turned away from Jasper and faced the front of the room.
"It's nice to see you, Daisy," Jasper said lowly. "Eli said you were refusing to leave your room."
"Don't talk to Eli about me," I said stiffly. "Don't talk to anyone about me."
"I'm concerned about you, Daisy. You've been through a lot."
"We've all been through a lot," I said dismissively.
"Talk to me," Jasper said lowly.
"Why? You don't know me," I snapped. "Why would you want to talk to me?"
"You're my sister."
"Yes, I'm aware."
"Oh really? Because you're not acting like you give a shit," Jasper snapped.
"If you knew me then you'd know that's what I do. I don't give a shit about things."
"That's a lie," Jasper scoffed. "You just don't trust people so you isolate yourself. You pretend. This tough act, it's all a front."
"Shut the fuck up," I sighed. "I'm not in the mood to talk to you... brother."
"I have a feeling you'll never be in the mood," Jasper muttered.
"Bingo."
"You may be stubborn, Daisy, but it runs in the family," Jasper said into my ear and I rolled my eyes. "I'm not giving up on you."
"Great," I said sarcastically.
"You're my sister."
"So you keep pointing out."
"I want to get to know you."
"No you don't," I said. "You really don't."
"How about you let me decide that," Jasper said.
"No."
Jasper gritted his teeth. "Let us in, Daisy. Let your family in. You agreed, Daisy. You agreed to get out of the Agency, but not us. Not your family."
I turned to Jasper and raised my eyebrow. "What family?"
I was sat by myself at lunch. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I didn't want to have to put up a front, I was tired of it.
Jasper was right.
It was a front. It never used to be. Being tough, being cold, being a bitch just came so naturally, but now all I wanted to do was cry.
I was broken.
I felt emotions I didn't want to feel and I hated it.
I looked down at my hands and sighed. I had taken so many lives.
"Innocent," I whispered and closed my eyes.
"Hey." I didn't open my eyes when I heard Eli's voice. I felt his hands cover mine. "You weren't in class, where were you?"
"I went to my first lesson," I said, "then I thought sitting on the field for the next three hours sounded more interesting."
I slowly opened my eyes and looked at Eli who had sat down next to me. "You can't push Jasper away, princess," Eli said. "I heard what happened."
"Don't," I said sharply. "Don't talk to me about him. Don't talk to him about me!"
"Daisy-"
"No!" I snapped. "Eli, I can't do this. I can't get close to anyone! I can't! I'm going to help take down Rob and then I'm gone. I can't deal with a family."
"What about me?" Eli wondered.
"What about you?"
"You want to leave. Do you still want to leave with me?" Eli asked lowly.
"I... I just ruin everything. Everyone I'm close to."
"Don't do this, princess," Eli said sternly and I gasped softly when his lips touched mine. He was gentle, soft.
"Eli," I whispered.
"No. I won't let you push me away," Eli growled and he kissed me again. Rougher. Harsher. He tangled his fingers in my hair and I found myself kissing back.
"No, stop!" I gasped and pushed him away. I sighed and closed my eyes.
I cared.
I never cared about anyone before, but now... now I cared.
I hated it.
"I can't," I whispered and ran my finger over his cheek. "This isn't me. I don't do this, Eli. I don't get close to people, I don't get feelings. I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I always end up screwing everything up," I muttered.
"No," Eli snapped. "You run away! You always fucking run away! I won't let you this time, princess. Not from me."
"Oh, so I can run away with you but not without?"
"Definitely not without me," Eli said.
"Eli, I think you should stay away from me," I said stiffly.
"Don't fucking do this, Daisy. You're choosing to screw this up! It's your choice!" Eli snapped.
"Just stay away from me," I whispered and stood up.
"Look me in the eye and tell me that," Eli said and grabbed my hands. "Tell me you want me to stay away, and I will."
I looked at Eli and bit my lip. My eyes travelled over to Jasper and I swallowed when I saw him watching me. Watching us. He was sitting close, he'd seen the whole thing.
"I just want everyone to stay away," I whispered. "It'll be better that way."
"For who?" Eli asked. "Me? Your family? You think by trying make everyone think you're a cold emotionless bitch it's going to help? We can see right through you, Daisy! For once in your life accept that there's people who want to be with you. Staying away isn't going to help anyone. It will make you as lonely and as isolated as you're trying to be. You need to let yourself open up. Let people in."
I looked down at our hands and sighed. "I'd rather not do that, Eli."
"Princess-"
I pulled away from Eli and walked out of the cafeteria. I found myself walking out of the school and past the gates.
I didn't know where I planned on going, but it was nice to be alone. It was peaceful as I walked down the pavement and into town. My mind wandered to Eli and I groaned angrily.
"Get out of my head!"
I thought of Jasper and kicked the dirt beneath my feet.
"Get out! I don't do this! I don't get close! I can't!"
I sighed and stopped walking. I had nowhere to go and no plan. I sat down on the pavement and ran my fingers through my hair.
"Sorry," I whispered. "I'd love a family. I'd love to have people there for me. I'd love that. But I can't have it." I rubbed my eyes. "It won't last. And I can't stay here."
Gosh, I was so screwed up.
"Fuck," I muttered and sniffed. The wind had picked up and I rubbed my bare arms, regretting not taking a jacket.
"Daisy?"
A car pulled up beside the pavement and I narrowed my eyes when I saw Richard.
"So not a good time," I said and stood up, wiping away a stray tear that had fallen.
"Daisy, please," Richard called and I started to walk away. "Get in, it's cold out."
"I don't need your help, Richard," I sighed.
"I know," Richard called, "but let me help you."
I stopped and looked at him. He was wearing a casual white tshirt and his short blonde hair was messy on his head.
"You're so different," I murmured. Richard seemed so relaxed, care free. Rob was always tense. I barely ever saw him out of a suit and there was never a hair out of place.
"I'm nothing like my brother, Daisy," Richard said softly. "I know you're closed off. Not trusting. I know that and I'm not asking you to change, I'm just asking you to give me a chance. I'm also asking you to let me be selfish."
"Selfish?" I questioned.
"I want to look at my daughter for more than a few minutes. I want to talk to her properly. I want to just be with her."
"I... I don't want a family."
"I do," Richard said. "I want my little girl."
He seemed broken.
I swallowed and crossed my arms over my chest. "I push everyone away," I said. "Tell me why I shouldn't carry on walking."
"Because I'm your dad," Richard whispered.
"That means nothing."
"That means everything," Richard said. "I just want to make you happy."
"Then leave me alone. You and Jasper. Stay away from me."
"I would do that, if I believed it would make you happy," Richard said seriously. "You've been strong for so long, Daisy. I understand that you might not know what it's like, to let people in, to trust them-"
"Don't," I sighed.
"Please," Richard said. "Do it for me. For my own selfish reasons. Give me some time with my daughter."
"How can you still want me?" I asked. "All I've done is try to push you away. I've tried to push Jasper away. I've... I'm pushing everyone away."
"Daisy, I need you to listen to me," Richard said seriously. "No matter what you do or say to us, we'll still want you to be apart of our family. We'll still want you."
"I'm hungry," I said and walked up to the car. "If you want to talk then you're buying food."
Richard smiled at me. "Whatever you want, Daisy."
I sighed and grabbed the door handle. "Fuck it," I muttered and opened the door.