Side Story 4

Aira Owen stepped closer, his presence heavy enough to quiet the air between the three of us. For once, I didn’t feel like teasing him. I just let out a slow sigh. “This isn’t the first time he and I have been this close, Owen,” I said gently. He blinked… then looked away so fast it made my brows knit together. “I’ll take my leave then,” Benson said suddenly. My head whipped toward him. “Are you chickening away?” He wasn’t about to leave me alone with this version of Owen, the one acting like a complete weirdo. “What did you say?” Owen asked sharply. Both Benson and I turned toward him. “I asked him why he was chickening out,” I said, keeping my voice steady. He shook his head. “No. The other thing you said.” Benson and I exchanged a confused look. “Uh… she didn’t say anything else,” Benson offered. Before Owen could press further, another voice cut in. “So this is where you ran off to,” someone said. I turned to see a guy approaching, tall, sha