Found Obsession

Chapter 16: Emma and the experiment

Rose's words caught in her throat, her chest heaving as she fought off the overwhelming sensation of nausea. She bit her lip, her hands trembling slightly. The echo of the door slamming shut reverberated in her mind, cutting through the silence.

She sat up, trying to steady her breathing. How long had Raven been standing there? The thought made her feel exposed, vulnerable in a way she hadn't anticipated.

Will, still sitting awkwardly beside her, reached out as if to comfort her, but Rose immediately pushed his hand away.

"No, Will. Enough," she said, her voice firmer than she felt. Her chest still burned from the unease, but she wasn't going to let him touch her again.

He retreated, his face turning a shade of red, a mix of embarrassment and frustration. His eyes darted between her and the floor. Then, as if trying to salvage the moment, he mumbled, "If a kiss didn't work... maybe sex?"

Rose's face drained of all color, and the bile in her throat rose so quickly she almost didn't stop herself from retching. The room seemed to spin for a moment, and then everything became clear in her mind.

It had never been about reconciliation for Will-he just wanted to sleep with her.

She stared at him, eyes cold. "Just how naive do you think I am?" Her words were sharp, slicing through the thick tension

Will's face grew even redder, and for a split second, she thought he might lash out. But then he looked away, avoiding her gaze.

"I felt nothing, Will. Nothing." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Actually, that's not true. I did feel something. Disgust." Her voice cut through the air like ice, each syllable hitting harder than the last.

Will flinched as if her words had physically struck him. His mouth opened slightly, but nothing came out. The silence between them grew thick and uncomfortable, suffocating the room.

Finally, Rose spoke again, her tone quieter but no less certain. "Please... don't ever bring this up again. Don't try to get us back together. I tried, Will. I really did. But I can't."

Her confession hung in the air like a final blow, and Will's face fell, his bravado completely crumbling. He stood there for a moment, awkward and unsure, before taking a small step back, his hands fidgeting at his sides.

Without another word, he turned and left, the sound of the door closing behind him echoing louder than before.

Rose sat there, still trying to process everything, her body still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions. Finally, she exhaled, a deep, shaky breath escaping her lips. It was over.

Rose hadn't realized her hands were shaking until she clicked the lock on her door. Whether it was the moment with Will, the sight of Raven, or simply the exhaustion, she wasn't sure. She hurried to the bathroom, desperate to stop her racing thoughts.

Stepping into the shower, she scrubbed at her lips, the memory of Will's kiss making her stomach churn. "Ew, how could I have fallen for that?" she muttered, trying to erase the lingering sensation. The hot water helped, calming her nerves bit by bit. After the bath, she changed into comfortable clothes and dried her hair. But her exhaustion finally caught up with her, and she collapsed onto her bed, falling into a deep sleep.

When she woke, it was already 10 p.m. Rose stretched, feeling much better, though still not completely at ease. She managed to make herself dinner, but even as she ate, she knew sleep wouldn't come easily again. She tried distracting herself with a book, but her mind kept drifting back to earlier events.

Groaning, she tossed the book aside. Now Raven's never going to believe I had nothing to do with Will... The thought nagged at her, but another, more frustrating one took its place. Who cares? she told herself angrily. He was probably flirting with that nurse when we went on a date.