Unexpected

Chapter Twenty-One

THORNE

The light on the top of the Kesley-Benoit front door shone directly on Thorne's face. He tugged the hood of his sweatshirt over his forehead just a bit more while he squirmed under Scarlet's fierce scrutiny.

"Are you on drugs?" she said.

"Scarlet," said Thorne, rocking on his heels. "What do you take me for?"

"Look at him," said Scarlet, finally taking her eyes off of him and looking to Kai for confirmation.

Kai glanced sideways at him. "Thorne's going through a bit of a...rough patch."

"Me?" said Thorne. "We're here for you."

Scarlet looked between them. "Am I to understand that you two are friends again?"

"Never weren't," said Kai.

"Thick as thieves," added Thorne. Though his voice was casual, he was dying to get inside and re-inspect his appearance. Sure, he'd thrown on the first thing he could find, and had known his hair had no salvaging after more than two days without washing it, but really, could he look as bad as Scarlet was making it seem?

"Z!" called Scarlet. "We have company."

Kesley's giant form appeared behind Scarlet, though Thorne couldn't make out his face from the intensity of the light.

"Hey guys," said Kesley. "Come on in."

Scarlet's curls whipped as she turned to Kesley. "It's 8:00 P.M. and both Kai and Thorne show up at our residence, one of them looking like he's had a mental breakdown, and you're unconcerned?"

Thorne thought that Kesley had shrugged, but either way, Scarlet stepped aside and finally ushered them in.

"Thanks," said Kai. "We won't be long."

"Yeah we will," said Thorne. He stepped into their hallway but changed his mind about the mirror. Instead, he walked straight to their living room, where he let himself collapse onto their couch. He had already exerted way too much energy just driving over here.

Energy. Food.

Yes, he probably just needed some food. When was the last time he had eaten, anyway? "Got any leftovers, Scarlet?" he called.

Kai groaned. "Don't."

"Scarlet likes feeding me," he muttered, slipping the hood over his eyes completely. Ah, the familiar darkness. He felt better already.

"Guys." Scarlet's voice. "You know we love having you over, and you're welcome whenever you want, but I must say my curiosity is peaked with both of you just showing up like this."

"Well, it's somewhat of a long story," Kai mumbled.

"Kai didn't tell Cinder about Levana and she found out," Thorne offered. A gasp and the click of a tongue followed his statement. He rolled to his side and snuggled into the couch pillow.

Someone prodded his shoulder and he grunted. "What?"

"I thought you were snapping out of it," said Kai.

He had obviously snapped out of it already. Why else would he have offered to drive Kai all the way over here? Couldn't a man just relax a little without annoying questions and comments? "I'm tired and hungry."

"What's wrong with him?" said Scarlet.

"Cress dumped him," said Kai.

Thorne grunted again. "Technically, I dumped her."