8 Bribes

True to his word, Thane not only buys me dinner, he also buys me several sweets. A slice of chocolate cake, some jello, and even some ice cream to top it all off. I was in heaven!! Every time I finished one, Thane would push the next in front of me without a word.

Halfway through my ice cream, I look up to him with a frown. He lifts a brow up in question at me as I ask "Why are you suddenly being so nice to me?" He awkwardly clears his throat as he says "I thought you would be one of the first to die... I didn't want to get involved with you."

My ice cream suddenly doesn't taste as good... "So... what changed your mind?" I ask twirling my spoon around in my ice cream. He sighs and leans to the side before saying "You're obviously very talented and show a natural talent for fighting. You're just a little on the small side but don't worry, if you eat more you'll hit puberty and grow."

I choke on my own spit and quickly take a drink of my water. Hit puberty and grow!? I already hit puberty, okay!? My poor smooshed boobs are proof of that! I awkwardly smile and slowly nibble at the ice cream.

"Valen!!" I hear someone call me from behind. I turn around to see Conner heading over with a large smile. He slides in next to me and throws his arm around my shoulders as he says "I was worried about you! How'd your first training session go?"

I look over to Thane to see him giving Conner a board and slightly bothered look before saying "Don't interrupt him, Conner. He needs to finish all his food or he'll never grow." Conner blinks in confusion before pulling his arm back and asking "You two are friends now?"

I look back over to Thane in question but he quickly says "We're roommates and he's now part of the Elites. It's my duty to look after him." Conner slowly nods his head and asks me "Do you want anything else to eat? I'm about to go grab my food."

I quickly shake my head and say "Oh, no. I'm full!" Conner nods and takes off to get in line as I turn back to Thane. His ice-cold look is back as he asks "So, I take it you two are friends?" I bite the end of my spoon and nod my head a little.

"He was the first person to be nice to me... he's not a bad guy," I say still biting the spoon. Thane looks to the spoon before looking back up to me. His eyes dart to the spoon once more before he says "So you just become friends with anyone who's nice to you?"

I frown at him in confusion but before I can answer, he quickly reaches over and snatches the spoon away from me while saying "Stop biting the spoon like that! If you're done eating, you should shower and head to bed. You'll have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."

I awkwardly reach up and touch my upper lip before saying "That hurt! Why are you being such a jerk again!?" Thane's ice blue eyes harden on me before he grabs his tray and walks away in silence.

What is his problem!? Conner takes the seat next to me again and asks "So we're gonna be in the Elites together now?" My head snaps over to him in surprise as I ask "You're an Elite too?" Conner pops food in his mouth and nods his head before saying "Yeah... I thought you knew that?"

I look at him in disbelief and shake my head before growing quiet. Conner inhales his food as my mind drifts back to Thane. I turn to Conner and ask "Hey, what's with that guy Thane?" Conner looks over to me with confusion before asking "What do you mean?"

I bite my lip and say "Well, you know... like... is he always so... angry?" Conner tilts his head in thought before nodding and saying "Yeah. He always seems like he's in a bad mood but he's not a bad guy. I don't really know him that well though."

I nod my head and say "Thanks" before grabbing my stuff and saying "I'm gonna head out." Conner quickly scarfs down the rest of his food before saying "Wait! I'm coming with you!" I chuckle at him and wait for him to finish before the two of us start to walk back.

Conner burps a few times before I ask "Have you... have you fought in the Void before?" Conner looks over to me in silence before nudging my shoulder a little and saying "Don't worry. If we get called out there, I'll be there to watch your back. It's not too bad, I promise."

I give him a grateful smile and follow after him. Maybe he's right... or maybe he's just trying to make me feel better. My fight with Thane showed me that I'm nowhere near ready to go out there and face Ragers. They'd wipe the floor with me...