UNGIFTED

CHAPTER 6

A s part of the defense team, having enhanced senses had always come in handy for Ben. It did not only allow him to be one step ahead in many situations, but it also helped him find others. Something he was currently struggling with. Roaming the main building halls, he had come across many people and yet none of them were her.

He could hear clear footsteps approaching around the corner but they were not hers. He could hear voices echoing through the corridor walls, but none of them sounded like the one he longed to hear. A deep mixture of different perfumes filled his nostrils as he inhaled deeply risking a strong headache, and yet he could not distinguish hers from the lot.

"Where are you?" He wondered under his breath. His senses failing miserably at finding her, as it seemed she had gone off his radar. Or so he was starting to believe when he felt it.

A faint smell of lavender that lingered in the air. Closing his eyes, he focused on the flowery smell as he inhaled deeply. Subtle hints of vanilla petals carefully laced with it in what felt like a magical match. Dreamy, he decided. And there was not doubt on his mind, it was her scent. As unmistakable as it was intoxicating.

Following the invisible thread before him, he walked deeper into the corridor. Stopping only when the scent was clear enough. Only then he was able to see her. Inside an office, through a door window. Vividly talking to someone out of his line of sight.

Placing his back against the wall, he waited. Fingers tapping impatiently at his sides. With his eyes aimed up at the ceiling he prayed she would listen to him and accept his apology. But not every prayer is answered with a 'yes'. Sometimes the answer is 'not yet'. And sometimes just a 'no'. He could only hope for the best.

"Ameria..." He said as soon as she walked out the room. Her name coming out of his mouth like a prayer. "Ameria, please. Can we talk?" He insisted, trailing behind her. Bluntly ignoring the fact that she was ignoring him.

"I can't even express to you how much I would rather do literally anything else." She said. Eyes focused on the way, never spearing him a glance.

"Ameria, please." He asked one more time.

"What do you want Ben?" She asked with exhaustion. Stopping at the door that separated them from the main hall.

"I want to apologize." He told her.

"Well, I don't want it so, keep it." She told him letting go of the door, allowing it to slam on his face. But it did not stop him as Ameria would have expected. Instead, he quickly opened it following her.

"Ameria, wait." He begged. His hand reaching to wrap around her wrist making her stop in place. Her body abruptly turning towards him. Her eyes staring down at his hand on her arm before they traveled up to lock on his with eyebrows furrowed. "I'm sorry. I understand it-"

"No, actually, you don't understand. And you never will, because it's not something you're ever gonna have to go through." She responded. "If you understood you wouldn't act the way you do." She stated and Ben simply looked at her with his mouth slightly opened but without managing to get any word out.

"Hey, guys!" Jax's cheerful voice was heard in the distance as he approached them with a broad smile on his face. Ameria quickly pulled her arm away from Ben as he reluctantly released his grip on her. "I've been looking all over for you."

"Are you alright?" Jax asked Ameria, studying her face with confusion.

"Yeah, why?" She responded.

"You look mad." He said.

"That's just my face." She stated. "I'm sorry, I have things to do." She added quickly before walking away. The two guys left staring at her back as it faded in the distance.