Loving Ashlynn (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 35 - Happy to See Me (Brennan POV) Pt. 1

A/n: reposted. Many said the chapters are choppy and missing pieces so I just reuploaded it. I'm not writing that way. If this reload doesn't fix the mistakes maybe try deleting and then redownloading wattpad or refreshing it somehow... 

Chapter 35 – Happy to See Me (Brennan POV) Pt. 1

"The reason that families trust me Brennan, trust your mother, is because we put our family at risk by helping theirs. But these last deaths of werecats that have gone missing in the middle of being aided by us – their families are under the impression that it happened not because of something we did. Not once has anyone that we've helped come and say that they're sister isn't alive or with them because mom and I placed them in danger."

"They had no reason to believe that because we successfully helped them," dad explained while Aunt Angela sat resetting his network.

Halfway through the movie The Perfect Score, I stand and offer to get Talia and I snacks. Easily avoiding everyone I get to our kitchen where I of course run right into Devin.

Unmoved for a moment I can only gaze into her eyes.

Why did she keep re-entering the network? I ask now that I know the full truth. I had helped her Devin wasn't the only one in the wrong. However, once she was able to successfully gain entrance, she was supposed to remove her backdoor access.

It was just for practice, I told myself at the time. Never once did I fathom that we were placing anyone in danger, much less people I didn't know. I knew them now though.

Dad had practically made me memorize the names, showed me the pictures. Placed on my shoulders the burden that he's worn for the last nine months.

"Hi," Devin whispers after what feels like forever. Unsure of herself and shy-like, she even waves at me awkwardly before dropping her hand. "Uhm," she licks her lips and I follow the movement, while mostly just staring at her.

It's not all her fault, I repeat silently. I'm more than half to blame, I add.

We had no business doing what we did.

I accepted that mindset easily.

"You knew what you were doing was wrong Bren," my aunt Angela told me, "It wouldn't be eating you up this badly if you thought you were in the right. You also wouldn't have come to your father about what else you've learned," she further explained.

"Some people aren't good for you-"

"Devin isn't a bad person-"

"No, she just lied to you and was – is – planning on hurting someone that your parents and siblings all care about. She hacked into a private conversation you were having with your brother for her sister and on top of everything else... Brennan she's let you carry the blame for what she's done. Those are not good qualities – and those are not the actions of someone who loves and cares for you," Angela rationalized, not lecturing me, but just showing me another opinion with much more objective.

"Who knows Bren, maybe Devin is bad for you now but with time apart, you'll grow to be stronger people independently. After then, maybe-"

"You're – you've kind of been ignoring me," Devin murmurs, eyes on me intently. I open my mouth, but she isn't finished, "Is – what's wrong?" I shake my head.

"No, no, something is wrong... this – this break," she waves a finger between us, "It doesn't feel like just a break."

My mouth goes dry; my heart stops and flips quickly without my accord and everything about what is thought, felt, everything, now, pains me inside.