Rhenna

Fourty-Eight

My stomach was completely empty, my mind was blank, and my body felt stiff, and achy.
The slight morning sun was already giving me a pounding headache. I didn't need Conn adding to the pressure.

I pressed my forehead to the palm of my hand and leaned forwards until my hair was obscuring any form of light, and my elbow was resting against my knee.

"I dont want-"

"Shut up!" Conn barked. His tone wasn't vicious, but it wasn't exactly pleasant either. His chair creaked as a shadow fell over me. He was closer when he spoke next. "If your not going to lay it all out then save the crap."

I bit into my lip until I drew blood. The metallic taste was vile in my mouth, but I couldn't do much about it.

"I know it's not my place," Conn began in a quet, yet sturdy voice, "But, as a friend, I think I at least have the right to worry about you."

I tugged gently on a strand of my hair as an attempt to occupy myself from hearing what Conn had to say. None of it would matter in a few days.

He sighed, "I just want to know if your okey Elin".

"I'm fine". I said under my breath.

"Could you maybe look at me?"

I lowered my head even further. Some part of me was aching to see Conn, but the other part, the darker part, wouldn't let me raise my head. I couldn't look him in the eye. Not like this.

I was pathetic.

While Conn was kind, smart, funny, and everything that I wasn't.

If Jae had approached him with the same threat as he did me, I had no doubt that Conn would've done something about it. He wouldn't have buckled.

"I take that as a no". Conn said with a disappointed sigh.

I'm such a fucking let down.

"Will you at least come back to the company now?" He asked.

I shook my head.

"Why?"

"I'm staying with someone else".

"Jae Ventis?"

I was quick to deny it. "No".

"Who then?"

I clamped my mouth shut and refused to answer anymore questions.

"Your mum?" He asked.

I inhaled sharply. The mere idea of me going back to my mum turned my stomach. I didn't give a shit if she was a new person or not. I would never! In a million years go back to that women.

"Fuck no". I snapped.

A moment of blissful silence passed between Conn and I.

And then. "Your shaking Elin".

I hadn't even realized it, but Conn was right. My body was shivering uncontrollably.

I wasnt sure Why.

I felt...normal-ish.

"Are you cold?" He inquired.

I was actually really warm. Maybe too warm.

"I feel fine". I said briskly.

I jumped a slight bit when he pressed the back of his hand to my forehead. It was cool to the touch.