Reverence - Book 2

- 20 -

I wasn't sorry that I made a fool of myself in front of a room full of strangers.

I wasn't sorry that I looked up ashamedly as I gathered Yanyah from the floor, and met the harsh reality of him standing before me. His handsome face was drawn with a quiet contention, his jaw clenched tight.

It was the look of utter disgust that made me sorry.

I could ignore Asa standing there, so close to me. Close enough to reach out and strike me dead. For all that I cared, she did not exist in that moment. It was only I and he, everyone else, including the girl in my grasp, nothing more than the ideation of ghosts in the wind.

I swore I saw the room darken as they all fell away.

I looked up at him, head craned searching deliberately for the fire in his eyes to invite me. But they were hard, disheartening. I saw the turn of that strong jaw, the words swarming messily against his lithe tongue.

I hadn't embarrassed myself.

I embarrassed him.

His knowing hands crept down her back, pushing her lovingly into safety. Away from the burning spire of mess that I had become.

The jarring slam of the town cars door snapped me back into the light.

I watched Yanyah through the cracked window, her prissy arms crossed. Careful face bruised from my brutish finger tips. I watched as the driver hoisted her too heavy luggage up the obnoxious stairs to her apartment.

I didn't want to be alone with her.

I shouldn't be alone alone with her.

"You should know where we stand."

She breathed, her hard shoulders turned away from me.

"I think it's pretty obvious now."

I retorted, picking at the threading seat cover beneath my legs.

"No, I think you need to hear it."

I let my eyes roll under the cover of fluttering lashes. Yanyah, always the flair for dramatics.

"I hate you Yelena. And not, 'Oh my god you skinny bitch I can't believe you pulled off that posh spice micro skirt moment' hate you. I fucking hate you and all that you're worth. You're a selfish, absorbed narcissistic forest fire. I can't believe I ever let you drag me down to your pathetic level. I hope that you realize what you're losing."

I bit back the urge to laugh.

The driver appeared again, a fine bead of sweat running across his brow. Yanyah flicks an annoyed finger at him, shooing him back into the reclusion of his car.

"I hope you get what you deserve Yelena, I really really do."

She sighed, stealing a final glance at me.

"Because Karma loves a two faced bitch like you."

With a flick other box blonde extensions, she was gone into her building, shielded by the flimsy escape of the front door. I met the man's eyes in the rearview, and with an easy nod, we set away.

As her home became nothing more than an after thought, I let out an easy sigh.

"Fuck you too."