Room 217, Monday Afternoon/Evening

[walks_two_paths]

After classes, Savannah retreated to the comfort and relaxation of her room.

The weekend had been exhausting.

She had been happy to see Benicio, but there were times she was wound way too tight waiting to see what he was going to say or do. After all, he wasn't known for not making his views and wishes known.

She changed into a pair of leggings and a t-shirt she had "borrowed" from Johnny before dropping down on the bed with her notebook and Destiny.

The talk with Benicio on Saturday night had given her a great deal to think about.


[[OOC: Open!]]

Comments

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"He does," he repeated. "Think about it."

Yes, Johnny's logic was his own, dammit.

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"How so?" She demanded, her voice a surprising even tone. "Because he has put the life of his own family on the line to protect and care for Eve and I? Because he knows from personal experience what one of the other Cabals will do to me if they get their hands on me? Because he decided that the next time he saw Paige and Lucas he was going to reassure them that the best place for me is here where you are?"

She closed her notebook and tossed it from her lap to her desk.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"The line has to be drawn somewhere, Savannah. Hell, you act like you'd jump from the bridge if he asked you to."

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah's eyes went dark.

"I do not." Her voice went the flat tone she used when she was trying to fight back hurt or anger. "Benicio gets told quite a few times no by me... and I'm one of the few that will actually do so."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

He noticed.

"You sure seemed to agree readily enough to any forced suggestion on his part." He was being childish and referring to the penthouse.

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah took a deep breath.

"Johnny, would you like to know why Benicio was so insistent that he put us up in his penthouse and you not pay for it?"

Dear god, if the two of them ever ganged up on her she was so out of luck.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"No, not really," he stated flatly. Wouldn't erase the way he felt about it.

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

It was testament to how nerve-wracking the weekend had been for her when she didn't push, she just merely started picking at the blanket on the bed.

"All right," she said quietly.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Johnny sighed heavily and set his water aside.

"Do you really think it's important that I know?"

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

She nodded. "I do," she said quietly. "Mainly because I don't want you to be upset or hurt about it... and the reasoning is important to some."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

He sat down in a chair in their room and looked at her. "Alright, I'm listening."

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah took a deep breath. "By securing hotel accomendations for the murderer of the Nast heir and her boyfriend in his name, Benicio is stating publicly for all of the Cabals to know that the Cortez Cabal has placed me under their protection." She looked at him her eyes begging him to understand. "Benicio didn't insist upon it to insult you, Johnny. He actually thinks a great deal of you. He's doing it to make a very provocative political statement. We can't stay at his place, so he's doing the next best thing."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"I see," he said, trying. "Why would anyone else have to know you're there if there is that much of a threat against you? Hell, I wouldn't risk it to be honest with you."

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"Because I can't stay in Fandom forever, Johnny. Benicio realizes that and he is taking what steps he can to lay the groundwork for after I graduate." She looked at him. "He figures if he starts now... he'll have time to build it up and have extra safeguards in place."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"Why the fuck go back there at all?" Yep, not getting it.

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah shook her head. "You don't understand, Johnny. It doesn't matter where I go, they will find me. The Cabals aren't just in one town... they're all over the world. It was only by luck that we discovered that there was no Cabal headquarters on the island or near by it." She looked at him. "I don't want to live a life where I have to try to hide all of the time. I would rather die than live like that."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"Instead you're going to live with bodyguards."

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"The hell I am," and there was heat in her voice. "I plan to live my life the way I want to, but along the way, if Benicio wants to make a stand on where the Cortezes fall, then let him. I. Will. Not. Have. A. Fucking. Bodyguard. My life is my own." She shook her head. "He keeps insisting and I keep fighting him on it."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"...and yet here they are, those that want you dead."

He shook his head.

"You can't have it both ways."

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"I have no desire to die, Johnny. It's why I've been working so hard on my power. I want to be able to protect myself and those I love when I need to." She looked at him. "Would you love me as much as you do if I let the Nasts beat me and I hide away, afraid to go out anywhere?"

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

He didn't say anything.

Not yet.

He just stared at her, picturing certain things in his head.

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah didn't realize he was picturing things in his head, so when he didn't say anything, she looked back down at the bed. Her hand moved nervously along the blanket, picking at it.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"You know I love you, right?"

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah looked up. "Of course I do."