Chapter 17

GRAYSON

Grayson

I can't take the tension anymore. The silence is suffocating, and I don't want to sit in it for another second. I'm tired of Emmett staring at me, and I'm tired of Prue being pissed at me because of how hard I pushed her during training this week. I'm also irrationally irritated that Prue and Emmett seem to have further cemented their bond after he told her about their parents and what they all could have been. I have no real idea why that pisses me off so much, but it really does.

"Let's go," I say, standing up abruptly and breaking the quiet. They both turn to look at me expectantly.

"What's going on?" Prue asks, she tilts her head in confusion.

"I need a break," I grab the keys to Emmett's car off the table and pocket them. "Let's go." I repeat and the words come out harsher than I intend, and I don't bother to give them any form of an explanation.

Prue and Emmett exchange a look, which makes my hands curl into fists. I shove the feeling down and head towards the door, knowing they'll follow me.

I jump into the car and wait for them to join. To my surprise, Prue slips into the passenger seat while Emmett takes the back.

"What are we doing?" Prue asks, running a hand through her hair. The light catches it, highlighting the subtle red undertone she has.

"Blowing off some steam."

"Excellent," Emmett says easily, and I hear his seatbelt click into place.

"Like sex club blowing off steam or having a beer at a bar blowing off steam?" Prue asks cautiously, her hand now on her door handle. I pull out of the driveway before she can think about returning to the house.

"Not sex club blowing off steam," I reply, glancing to the side. For a second, my mind flashes back to Prue watching everyone lose themselves in the moment at the club, and how captivated she seemed by it. Like she couldn't quite understand how everyone could just be there enjoying the moment and not worry about anything else.

No one replies as we drive in silence. I let my mind wander, trying to figure out why I'm so on edge. It's not just the pressure of what we need to accomplish getting to me. Every minor inconvenience has triggered me since my conversation with Prue the other day and I can't seem to shake it, my mind doesn't want to go back to focusing on our task of trying to restore all the time streams.

As we approach the town, I spot a neon sign for a bowling alley. Perfect. Something normal, something that might help me forget everything for a couple of hours.

I pull into the parking lot, and Prue raises an eyebrow. "Bowling? Really?"

"You got a problem with bowling?" I challenge.

She holds up her hands in mock surrender. "No problem here. Just didn't peg you for the bowling type."

I grunt in response and get out of the car. The normalcy of a bowling alley, with everyone around just having a good old fun evening out, strikes me as the most absurd thing for us to be doing but maybe that's exactly what we need.

Inside, the alley is a riot of color and noise.

I weave my way through a group of people and head to the counter to get our shoes and lane. When I return, Prue and Emmett are standing awkwardly by the entrance.

"Come on," I say, tossing them each a pair of shoes. "Lane 12."

We settle into the seats at our lane, and I input our names into the scoring system. I can't resist and dub Emmett "The Blonde One" and Prue "Savior of Worlds."

Prue opens her mouth to protest, but I cut her off by handing her a shot glass filled with a vibrant red liquid that I ordered for us.

"Come on. Drink up," I say, holding up my own glass. Emmett doesn't hesitate, downing his immediately. Prue looks at the drink suspiciously before shrugging and knocking it back.

"That was tequila." She hisses and places the glass down. She clearly didn't like it because her one eye is twitching a bit. I laugh at that, already feeling slightly better and head back to the bar to grab more drinks. My aim was really to relax tonight with the help of some alcohol for all of us.

I hand Emmett a beer, then pass Prue a colorful cocktail. She eyes it skeptically.

"What, girls can't drink beer?"

"Of course they can," I say, holding out the glass. "But you don't strike me as a beer drinker."

Something flickers in her eyes at my words, but before I can decipher it, she takes the glass. "Thanks. And let's get started. I'm looking forward to beating you both."

"Sure," Emmett laughs and waves a hand indicating she can go first.

Prue steps up to take her turn, she turns to look at us, then looks back at the lane, gives us a shrug and a grin, pulls her arm back, then releases the ball with a graceful flick of her wrist. We watch as it rolls down the lane, curving at the last second and knocking down all but one pin.

"Oh, come on!" Prue groans and huffs while walking back to us.

I can't help but chuckle. "Looks like the 'Savior of Worlds' isn't perfect after all."

She turns to me, her eyes narrowing. I just can't tell if they're doing so in a playful way or in a wants-to-hurt-me type of way.

"I'd like to see you do better, darling." I narrow my eyes at her, she's using the nickname I normally use for her on me, and I can hear just how condescending it comes across.

I raise an eyebrow at her not giving her an inch of a reaction. "Is that the best you can come up with?"

Emmett interjects, "I don't know, I think it suits you. Maybe we should start calling you darling all the time."

I shake my head, but I can feel the tiniest of smiles tugging at the corners of my mouth. I genuinely haven't felt this at ease in a while. "You two are impossible."

Prue grins and she sits back down next to Emmett. "Thank you."

I don't dignify that with a response, instead step up to take my turn. I line up my shot, acutely aware of Prue and Emmett's eyes on me. The ball leaves my hand, rolling straight down the middle of the lane. For a moment, I think I might get a strike, but at the last second, it veers slightly to the left, leaving two pins standing.

"Ha!" Prue crows triumphantly. "Not so perfect yourself, are you?"

"I feel like I may need some popcorn while watching you two." Emmett laughs, shaking his head. "But it is my turn and I'd like to show you both how it is done." He sets his drink down and goes to pick up the bowling ball.

We watch as Emmett lines up his shot. His form is textbook perfect, but as he releases the ball, it veers sharply to the right, ending up in the gutter.

"Ouch," I try to sound sympathetic, but Emmett's failure entertains me greatly.

Prue pats Emmett on the back as he returns.

"It's okay. I'll beat Grayson for us."

As the night progresses, I'm surprised to find myself genuinely enjoying it. We've laughed and had drinks and there hasn't been one serious conversation thrown into the mix.

We're on our third game when I notice Prue eyeing the bar.

"Another drink?" I ask, already standing up.

She nods, a soft smile forming on her lips, and I notice that perfect little freckle there again on the right side of her bottom lip. It always looks so inviting.

"Yes, please. Same as before?" she asks, interrupting my train of thought.

I'm oddly pleased that she liked the drink I chose for her. "Coming right up," I say, heading to the bar.

As I wait for our drinks, I turn back to find Prue and Emmett laughing about something. This time the sight doesn't set me off and I finally feel like my head can focus again. My head is back in the game, and as I'm about to grab our drinks, I feel it.

A shift in the energy of the room, a prickle at the back of my neck that screams danger. My body tenses instinctively as I scan the crowd.

I can't see them yet, but I know they are here.

Shit .

I abandon the drinks and rush back to Prue and Emmett. Emmett must have sensed it too because he's already on his feet, his posture rigid. He has Prue directly behind him.

"We need to go," I say, my jaw clenching as I glance between Prue, Emmett, and the door.

"There isn't time," Emmett replies, his voice low and urgent. "And if we jump, they'll follow the stream. We won't be able to mask it."

I barely have time to process his words before I see them. Cole and Marissa, standing near the entrance, their eyes locked on our lane. I grab Prue's hand, pulling her up and positioning myself in front of her now. Her skin is warm against my cold touch, and I try to ignore the jolt that runs through me at the contact.

"Well, isn't this cozy?" Marissa's voice reaches us, dripping with false sweetness.

She runs a hand through her golden blonde hair and smiles, and then she lets her hand move over the back of the couch we were just sitting on, she jumps up, sitting on the top of the couch, one hand behind her steadying her, legs crossed. She tilts her head towards me. Cole stands beside her, his eyes fixed on Prue.

"I hope you don't mind us crashing," Marissa adds, her smile sharp and dangerous.

I tug Prue closer to my side, feeling her warmth against me. Emmett steps forward, creating another barrier between them and Prue.

"Oh, that's just cute," Marissa says, looking at Cole. "They think they can protect her."

Cole laughs, the sound sending chills down my spine. The dynamic between Cole and Marissa is as electrifying as it is terrifying. I can feel Prue tense beside me, and I tighten my grip on her hand.

"We asked nicely, Grayson," Cole says, his eyes never leaving Prue. I can feel the subtle shift in energy as he tries to manipulate the streams, attempting to coax Prue towards him.

"Pull back, Cole," Emmett warns, his voice low and dangerous.

"If she wants me to stop, she can make me," Cole replies, his gaze sliding over to Prue with an unfriendly smile.

"Maybe she can't," Marissa interjects, sliding off the couch and sauntering towards us. I shift my stance, ready to move if she gets too close.

Marissa's eyes flick to Emmett, a predatory smile on her face. "You've bulked out," she purrs, walking two fingers up his chest. She ignores Prue and walks back to the couch.

I watch her carefully, my senses on high alert and that's when I feel it – Prue's hand slipping from mine. I turn, panic flooding through me as I see her step around us, walking straight up to Cole.

"Prue, no!" I reach for her, but she's already beyond my grasp.

My heart races, pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. A cold sweat breaks out across my back as I watch Prue approach Cole and before I know it, she is there standing in front of Cole as if she is just about to casually say hi to him.

Her back is straight, and there is no hint of fear as she stands in front of him.

But all I can think about is how unprepared she is. Fuck. I haven't trained her nearly enough. She has no idea what Cole is capable of, what he could do to her in an instant. My fists clench at my sides, my mind races, desperately trying to come up with a plan, any plan. But I'm coming up blank. Prue's standing there, just out of reach, and I've never felt more fucking useless in my life.