The Best of Her

Chapter ten

June.

I had so many questions swimming in my head. So many whys? And how? But the look she gave as she said those words clearly told me that I have run out of questions I could ask.

But Jesus, I knew she was dangerous but I didn't take her for the kind who burned down buildings. Maybe it was an accident.

I look back at her once more, she was looking out of the window deep in thoughts. It wasn't an accident, the tone she said it in, held no regret, almost no emotion rather than some deep-rooted anger. I wonder what happened in that house, did they do something to her? she doesn't look like the type who would join a sorority.

"I want to get to my house in one piece, stop staring at me and focus on the road." her voice brings me to reality and I immediately look back at the road, even though I wasn't staring at her for that long. "I've always been told I'm an excellent driver."

"We all have been told many things through our lives, you shouldn't believe all of them." she retorts, still not giving me attention. It somehow irks me because I like having her eyes on me.

"Is that your inner psychology student talking?" I shoot her, trying to get some reaction out of her. After the revelation that she told, she seemed to close her walls back again. I barely had a glimpse of vulnerability till she retrieved it back.

I glimpse at her from the side of my eyes and I could see a ghost of a smile dancing on her lips. "You don't want to hear what my inner psychology student has to say."

"Try me."

"No, I want to get home safe and sound."

I narrow my eyes at her for a second, "you have that little faith in me?"

"Why should I have faith in you? I don't know you." she shot back and I nod, "fair enough. But you haven't made an actual effort to know me,"

She shifts in her seat, turning her body to me and then I feel her gaze travel all over me. "Why should I try to get to know someone who I'm not going to see again?"

I raise my eyebrow in question. "Who says you will not see me again?"

"Me. We don't have anything holding us together anymore, the project is done."

Not going to lie that hurt a little. I shouldn't want to be this girl's friend but I do. She is mean, rude and harsh, everything I usually dislike about a person, but yet here I am trying to get her to warm up to me. I somehow know she has a soft side, she is not the villain she is trying to make everyone believe she is. "Who do you hate Mavis?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you hate yourself or just people in general?" my question seemed to catch her off guard, she leans away from me. Maybe that was too personal, maybe now is the time when she slaps me and tells me to fuck off, but she didn't. She just says, "I don't hate myself, I hate a part of me. And I hate people because they will never understand."

That was real.

I stop the car in the middle of the empty road. She lives in a fancy neighborhood.

I turn fully to her and I'm struck by the most vulnerable Mavis I've ever seen until now. Soft gaze and so much hurt behind those soft brown eyes. I should stop now, but I can't help the question falling from my lips. "Understand what?"

Her lips parted and she let out a sigh, like she was exhausted. Exhausted from how much she has to hold back. "The incomprehensible."

Silence falls on us, I couldn't ask more, because from what I see there is no more she is willing to give. I took it too far, I fucked up. She is pulling away instinctively, and I can't do anything to pull her back. "I will walk the way to my house, it's just down the road."

She shuffled with her buckle, she seems nervous like she was trying to escape. She opened the door and gave me one more glance, a glance that held a lot of raw emotions than I would have expected. "Thank you for the dinner."

As the door closed, the quiet became a harsh breeze against me. I watch her silhouette walking away, her arms enveloped around herself. I bang my head against the wheel and groan. "Jeez, I made her have another panic attack." I said to no one but myself. Why do I have to open my stupid mouth and say stupid shit like this?

I didn't mean to hurt her, I was just trying to understand her. And I guess I took it the wrong way by asking the wrong questions. I don't even know what I expected from her, the words just left my mouth before I could stop them. I wanted to know what makes her see the world the way she does, but I've gone with it the wrong way.

I'm not usually like this, I know how to talk to people and make them feel comfortable around me. I'm not bragging, I just have always been good at making friends. since I was a child, I always wanted to be friends with everyone, I don't know why, I just didn't like seeing people alone so I would approach them, make the first move and things would go nice and smooth from there. I understand some people naturally want to be alone, but it's never a bad thing to give out a hand. It's their choice if they want to take it or shove it away.

My point is me and Mavis started the wrong way, I knew from the start that she is the kind of person that will shove the extended hand away, but I still pushed it and ended up saying things that hurt her. I wouldn't be surprised if I never see her again.

I exhale and drive back to my house. when I open the door I find the guys splattered around the couch in the living room watching a movie. Jamie was the first one to ask, "where were you?"

Then Axel was after him, "since when do you stay out so late?" and Nale being Nale didn't say anything just narrowed his eyes at me.

I shrug off my jacket and roll my eyes at them. "It's ten-thirty and I didn't know I had to report to you about my whereabouts." I walk myself to the kitchen and grab me a drink before I head straight to my bedroom. "He is being snarky," I heard Jamie say, which Axel responded loud enough for me to hear. "That girl is having too much influence on you."

She is not. But she is indeed clouding my thoughts at the moment. I hope sleep will help with that.