Silence

{13.2} Deep

{Aspen's POV}

"Hey love, it's been a while."

"Indeed it has Mr. Chicken Wing. Tell me, what color's the suit today?" I ask, grinning while plopping down on my bed, "Wait, don't tell me. Blue?"

"You my dear, are correct." He replies.

"I'm a genius."

"Any specific reason for the long time no talk?" He asks.

"Been a little kidnapped and all. No biggie though." I tell him with a little chuckle. My logic is, if I say it as if it's not a big deal, he won't take it as one.

Could I have lied to him?

Of course.

I really don't want to though.

"Kidnapped?" He asks, concerned.

"I mean, just a little bit." I reply nervously.

"As in kid, you know, napped?" He asks again.

"Bingo." I reply.

"You're okay now though, yeah?" He asks.

"Yep all good at home." I tell him.

"Damn are you okay? Like actually okay, physically and mentally?" He asks.

"Yes, I'm okay. Nothing truly bad happened and I was out of there fairly quickly." I reassure him.

"Are you a million percent honest darling because I will fly over there myself to make damn sure."

My stomach is doing flips right now.

"Obviously it wasn't a vacation but I made it out, and that's what counts. You don't need to worry now because I am a-okay. Okay?" I tell him.

"Okay, but you know I'm here for you, right?" He asks.

"I do." I tell him softly.

"Hey Aspen." He says after a moment of silence.

"Yes?"

"I think, well," he chuckles nervously. "I think I lik-"
He suddenly pauses, I can hear faint chatter on the other line. "What?"

"What?" I ask confused.

"Sh*t, sorry darling I'm having a bit of an issue at work. Can I call you back?"

"Yes, of course." I reply.

"Okay, text or call if you need me. Anytime and I mean it." He says.

"Okay."

"Okay, bye lov- Sh*t. Okay I gotta go, Damn it-"

The line cuts off and I bring the phone down from my ear, looking at it confused.

He kept cutting himself off, what was he trying to say?

My attention is brought away from my phone and towards the hallway where I can hear a lot of chatter. I get up from my bed, placing my phone down in the process. When I walk to my door, I open it slowly and peek outside.

Balor is standing almost directly outside my door and Caspian is not far from him. They're watching who I now see to be Wind and Yarrow arguing.

"Please just give me a f*cking chance to explain Yarrow." Wind pleads.

"Your dead. You're supposed to be dead, you were already dead! And I came to terms with that fact, so jus-"

"But I'm not! Yarrow I'm right here. I know I f*cked sh*t up but you have to understand I didn't have a choice in the matter. I had to fake my death to protect you."