Gamble (1)
“Wait, I need your help.” Lia made a move to prevent the other girl from leaving but stopped midway. She thought Charlotte would just leave her, but surprisingly, she stayed, narrowing her eyes. Lia inhaled to steel her nerves, “You’re the only one who can help me.”

“I’ve got nothing to help you with,” Charlotte replied coolly.

“You do. You’re the only one who can help me. I know you don’t like me but I needed to know. And there are many things I don’t know.” Lia swallowed.

“It’s not my business to lecture you. Besides, it’s better to not know everything.” Charlotte avoided Lia’s eyes and shrugged. “Better to save yourself from the ugly truth.”

“Believe me, that’s what I would have wanted to do. But before I save myself, I need to save someone or, at the very least, help them. I need to be there for my mother.” She paused, chewing on the insides of her cheek. This was it. She was going to risk everything in her next words. Before she could change her mind, she opened her mouth to speak, “My mother is Tamara.”

It was as if the air stilled around them, but Lia did not waver. Instead, she crossed her fingers until they hurt. She hoped that what she revealed would help her and not cause more trouble.

Dropping Tamara’s name had been a gamble. If her suspicion that her mother was from Sallan then Charlotte may be able to help. From what she could gather, Charlotte was from the north too so that was a chance Lia was willing to take. If Lia could establish that they both know the same people, then there might be a higher chance of Charlotte to trust her. Granted there was only a handful of Tamara in Sallan.

Time ticked slowly, and the air grew colder. But Charlotte did not speak nor move.

“–ying.”

Lia could not quite catch what Charlotte said so she leaned forward. “What did you say?”

Charlotte looked at her, so fierce that Lia took a step back. “You’re lying is what I say! And how dare you use that name! How dare you!”

Lia could only blink in front of this outrage. She did not understand the other girl’s reaction. But if there was anything she could not stand was being called a liar when she was risking one of her secrets. “It’s the truth! She took me when my parents died, so now she’s my mother. Or she was or is, I don’t know!”

That made Charlotte pause. “What do you mean was or is?”

Lia felt a headache coming. Her temper whittled just as soon as it arrived, replaced by anguish and frustration. “I don’t know. I don’t know anymore. I saw our house burn then there’s — there’s a letter. But! I just want to know if you know about my mother or the people of Sa–oomph?”

Charlotte slapped a hand over Lia’s mouth. “Can’t you be quieter? Do you have to shout?”

Lia swatted the other girl’s hand away and glared. “You were the one who started shouting.”

“It’s because you’re being impossible!” Charlotte hissed. She studied Lia before sighing. “Fine. But we need to get out of here. It’s dangerous to talk outside, not knowing who might be listening.” She muttered to herself, “I would have never imagined hearing that name here. Especially not from you. Took me by surprise.”

Lia waited, unsure if she made the right decision. Charlotte started walking away, but Lia did not follow. When the rich girl noticed, she furrowed her brow.

“Let’s go. I’ll tell you what you want to know.”