𝙄 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨

Leaning In

She went down to the bar after everything was settled.

James met Aries and was delighted to have another male companion, while Tal suppressed her rage.

She booked two separate rooms.

She stayed with James so she could keep an eye on him.

Ares was in the room next door.

She didn't know why he even stayed.

She didn't want to know.

"Whiskey. Neat." she said to the bartender as she sat on one of the stools.

Her feet were tapping on the ground nervously as her mind wouldn't leave her alone.

She needed something to numb it down.

A distraction.

"I see you still like to drink." Ares murmured taking a seat next to her.

She rolled her eyes and left a ten dollar bill on the table as the bartender gave her the drink.

She took the glass and chugged the liquid quickly, closing her eyes as it started to burn her insides.

She wasn't going to speak to him.

She would ignore him, until he left.

That always worked on all the others.

She was sure he was no different.

"The boy is sleeping." he said, motioning to the bartender to bring him the same as her.

She wondered why he called him boy.

He must have been at least twenty three.

But then again...compared to him...he was a boy...compared to her as well.

She glanced at him momentarily before catching his gaze.

She quickly looked away and chugged down the rest of her drink before getting up.

She couldn't look at him. He reminded her of everything. All she had lost.

She blamed him for that. But mostly herself.

She turned her back on him and went to walk away before he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her to him.

She still couldn't look at him, but made no attempt to move away.

He noted that as progress.

"Atalanta..."he murmured softly.

They were too close now.

She was standing between his legs,feeling his breath hitting her neck.

The hair on the back of her neck rose.

She took back her hand and pushed him away before going for the exit.

She needed some fresh air.

Away from him.

Away from everything.

"Atalanta!" he called from behind her.

She clenched her fists and closed her eyes tightly.

Her walk turned to strides, breathing deeply at the fresh air,hoping it would lull her senses.

Before she knew it, she had reached the forest.

She looked around.

He wasn't following her.

She sighed with relief and sat on some leaves, resting her back on a tree.