The Girl Who Dared to Think Bella Forrest (best classic literature txt) 📖

I wrinkled my nose playfully at him and smiled. “You’ll burn those clothes as soon as you’re out of them later, right?”

“Look at you,” he said dryly. “Already trying to get me out of my clothes.”

He winked at me, and I rolled my eyes before offering him some help. “Put your arm over my shoulder and follow my lead,” I told him.

“Wait—the Medics have released me already? Nobody came in to give me the after-care speech or a condescending lecture about my rank.”

“I’ll be more than happy to give you a lecture about your rank, if you want one so badly. I’m pretty sure I’ve got the important bits memorized.”

I had no intention of telling Grey about Jasper, because I still wasn’t sure what to make of the computer. It seemed like Jasper had wanted to keep himself a secret, so I opted to respect that. He had offered us his help, after all.

“Hard pass. Not because I think you couldn’t do them justice, but because I’ve pretty much memorized them as well.” His arm settled onto my shoulders while my own arms went around his waist.

Together, we moved out the door and into the mostly deserted hallway, and I began guiding him toward the exit. We had been out of the room for barely ten seconds when a woman with bright red curls gathered in a massive explosion of color around her face walked up to us.

“And where do you think you two are going?” she asked.

I put on my best guard face. “I was told he had been released,” I said, scrunching up my face in confusion. “I was ordered to help him back home.”

“This is the first I’m hearing about it,” she said, slipping a pad from her pocket and presumably pulling up the patient list. I watched her face closely, noticing the little line forming between her eyes.

“Apparently... I signed these orders,” she said after a moment, her eyes flicking up at us in accusation.

“Oh. Did you forget?”

Grey made a sound in his throat, and I realized he was fighting back a laugh. I ignored him and met the woman’s bright green eyes head on, daring her to challenge me on it.

She arched an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing. “No, I didn’t. Because I didn’t sign these.”

“Are you sure?” I pressed. I took a step forward, leaving Grey to stand on his own. “I know it can get quite busy here at times.”

“I’m sure,” she insisted, slipping the pad back into her pocket. “There’s something going on here, and I’m going to find out what.”

I held up my wrist and yanked down my sleeve, revealing my nine to her. “Are you doubting my word?” I asked, trying to spear her with my gaze. “Are you doubting the rank and honor bestowed upon me by Scipio?” Beside me, Grey made another noise that sounded suspiciously like laughter, and I resisted the urge to turn back and smack him. If he gave us away...

“I... No!” she exclaimed, suddenly flustered. Her eyes darted around the hall for a second, and she licked her lips.

“And are you denying signing the orders to release this man? Even though you did it right in front of me?”

“I... I did?” Now she looked downright confused, and nervous. I decided to ease up then, and rested a gentle and concerned hand on her shoulder.

“Maybe you need to get looked at,” I said softly. “Or get some rest.”

“I... well... I have been tired lately,” she said hurriedly. “I guess maybe I... I’m sorry, honored Knight. Please carry on.”

I inclined my head toward her and began moving Grey to the elevator. The woman followed us for a few steps, but then fell back. A glance behind showed her still watching, though, and I raised my hand and gave her a concerned smile.

She smiled back and turned to leave, and I exhaled slowly.

“You’re a good liar,” Grey commented softly, and I pressed my lips together, uncertain whether that was how I wanted to be seen by him.

Grey must have noticed my discomfort, because he immediately began to backtrack. “Not that I think you’re a bad person—your lies got me out of that horrible place, after all. I mean, not all lies are bad, if you really think about it. There’s lying to make someone you care about feel better, lying to save a life, lying to protect someone, lying to...” He fell silent as we got to the elevator platform. “Does it bother you?” he asked, after a pause.

“Lying?” I asked, and he nodded. I considered it while the elevator’s voice chided Grey about his number. Then I shook my head. “I’ve lied all the time, Grey—about who I am, what I am, how I want to be, my feelings toward the Tower and Scipio... My entire life is based on that lie, and I’ve hated it. But this time... I did the right thing, and if lying was the only way to do it, then I have no regrets.”

“None whatsoever?” he asked teasingly.

I frowned, my mind instantly going to the woman Gerome had gassed. At how I had been too late to react and save her, even though I had desperately wanted to. In retrospect, if I had done that, then it might’ve been me in Grey’s place, with no one able to get me out.

“How can you joke at a time like this?” I asked it without derision—I was legitimately curious—and he looked at me, surprise radiating from him. I glanced down at my feet as the elevator began to move. “I mean... you were almost dead. I thought you were dead. The Champion was there, and it was so... scary. I mean, how can you even laugh about anything right now?”

Grey’s face sobered for a second, and he ran a hand down the back of his neck, massaging it. “I mean, I’m alive, Liana. When they dragged me into that cell, all I could think about was that my life