Crescendo

Chapter Nine (Ruelle)

I blinked awake to the sterile smell of antiseptic and the bright fluorescent lights above me. For a moment, I felt disoriented, as if I'd just been yanked from a dream. But then the memories flooded back, vivid and painful—the sight of Verena leaning in close to Nevan, that moment hanging between them, the way my heart had plummeted, and then darkness. I must have fainted.

As my vision cleared, I realized Nevan was sitting beside me, his expression a mix of concern and relief. "Thank god you're awake, goddess," he said, a soft smile breaking across his face.

The term twisted in my stomach like a knife. Goddess? The flattering nickname now felt slimy coming from him, like a cheap pickup line meant to charm me into submission. I turned my head away, disgust creeping into my chest. Did he really think that would work? That he could throw around compliments and I would forget everything else? It felt manipulative, a way to keep me under his spell.

"Are you okay?" he asked, urgency creeping into his voice. "You scared me. You weren't responding, and I didn't know what to do."

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block him out. The tightness in my throat felt unbearable. Why was he here, acting as if everything was fine? Did he even understand how much I'd seen, how much I'd felt? The thought of him and Verena together burned through my mind like fire.

"Ruelle?" He tried again, his voice softer now, almost pleading. "Please, talk to me."

I didn't want to talk. I wanted to scream, to tell him to get out. "Just leave me alone!" I snapped, frustration spilling over. "I don't want to see you again."

"Why not?" His brow furrowed, confusion mixing with hurt. "I'm worried about you."

"Worried?" I echoed, my voice rising. "I saw you with Verena! You two looked like you were about to kiss!"

His expression shifted to one of disbelief. "What? Ruelle, no. There's nothing between us. I promise."

"Nothing?" I scoffed, bitterness lacing my words. "It didn't look like that from where I was standing! You had her right in front of you!"

"Please, you have to believe me." He ran a hand through his hair, frustration visible in his eyes. "Verena cornered me, Ruelle. I didn't want her to get close, but I didn't know how to handle it. I pushed her off."

"You expect me to believe that?" I shot back, unable to contain my anger. "That doesn't make any sense!"

"Ruelle, listen!" He leaned closer, desperation clawing at his voice. "I swear, I pushed her away. I didn't want any part of that. I was trying to be nice, but she wouldn't back off!"

"You should've pushed her away harder!" I yelled, my chest heaving.

His eyes widened in hurt, and for a moment, it looked like he wanted to reach for me, to comfort me, but I flinched away. "I'm not trying to hurt you! I'm not interested in her. I like you, Ruelle. Only you!"

"Then why were you even in that position with her?" My voice wavered, the anger slowly being replaced with a mix of vulnerability and fear. "How am I supposed to believe you when everything looks so... so wrong?"

"Because it's true!" He pleaded, desperation lacing his tone. "You mean everything to me. I didn't want her to think she could come between us. I just wanted to talk to you!"

"Talk to me?" I laughed bitterly, the sound harsh in the quiet of the nurse's office. "You're calling me your goddess while she's practically throwing herself at you! Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Ruelle, that's not fair. I'm trying to make this work!" His voice was shaking now. "I've liked you for a long time. I thought we had something special."