The Choice

47) Dionne

In the whirlwind of cheering and whistling for Aurora and Mughrabi at the top of the avenue, I applause smiling so big. I let my eyes slide catching Joe's to be met by a view that makes my face fall. I feel a pang of I don't know what in my whole body watching a girl so close to him that if he looked sideways, they'd brush lips. He's smiling to the front too for his brother and Aurora, but lowers his head whispering in the girl's ears and she giggles nuzzling into him.

I feel disappointment and disgust. His eyes meet mine above her head and I snap my head to where Aurora and Mughrabi are standing. I try to let their happiness calm my nerves, but my mind keeps drifting to what I just saw. The real question is why am I feeling that? This isn't even my concern. I feel regret that I opened up to him, that I spent a whole day with him, sharing my time with him and enjoying it.

I close my eyes breathing through my nose then open them catching Aurora's concerned eyes watching me from the front. I smile warmly and blow her a kiss; she too smiles and descends the stairs for me. I close the distance to get to her opening my arms wide for my sister. We wrap each other in an embrace, she soothes my back sensing my change of mood. I let her comfort me laying my head on her shoulder.

I whisper, "I want to have some air, I'm okay just... I'll come back, sweetie. Congratulations my sister!"

I look back at her and she nods kissing my forehead, "we'll talk." She says and I nod heading for any exit.

I walk through the halls aimlessly wandering through the building. I try to push back what's bothering me. I take a deep breath lacing my fingers through my hair when his voice stops me.

"Is that a Lamrani fiasco?"

I look back at him, he's leaning against the wall eying me. I suppress the urge to curl my lips in disgust and just shrug.

"You're back to hating me now?" he drawls and smirks.

I smile, "never stopped."

He closes the distance in slow strides, "didn't seem like that days ago when we were having quality time."

I shrug, "I was having some free time."

He closes the distance towering over me, "are you sure about that, cocaina?" he purrs

I push at his chest and strut around him walking out of that hallway raising my hand flipping him off, "go fuck yourself, Joe."

I didn't hear him close in but I feel the air whip out of my lungs when he wraps his hand around my wrist whirling me slamming my body against his.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" I try to free my hand from his grip. He backs me away slamming my back against the wall smirking,

"Just one taste, cocaina"

My lips part barely registering what he said and I blink up at him then seethe, "go satisfy yourself away from me, didn't you have someone to play with tonight?!"

He hums, "jealous, Lamrani?"

I bark out a laugh, "jealous? Who are you even?!"

I feel blood roar in my ears at his smirk when his hands roam my middle shamelessly. I suck in a breath and he murmurs,

"Your body is saying otherwise, cocaina. It's responding to me blindly betraying that sharp tongue of yours."

He licks his lips and I find myself breathless as he lets his fingers draw imaginary shapes on my stomach. I push his hand away from my belly, the most insecure place I have. Because I do not have the perfect body that he might want.

He removes his hands from my belly to grip my hips pushing me against the wall. My chest heaves and he hikes my leg around his waist so slowly. I close my eyes breathing in then whisper,

"Fuck you."

And slam my lips against his.