All Your Fault

Chapter Eight

The food was ready and laid out on the table when Andrea called the boys in. I was unsurprised when only Jace walked through the kitchen door a smirk embedded on his face. "Your boyfriend isn't coming, he left, cursing and slamming doors."

I shrugged, what he did was of no concern to me, as long as he stayed away from me. Though in the back of my thoughts I knew that wasn't true and I hated it. "He's not my boyfriend." I muttered crushing up the shell of a taco, for a taco salad. Ignoring the glare he gave me across the table.

"Yes I know you hate me, can we move past that please." I muttered sprinkling cheese over the steaming meat.

"For now" he growled, turning to Andrea, effectively ignoring me to my pleasure.

Dinner passed by fairly quickly, the conversation was limited to Andrea and Jace who chatted as if I wasn't sitting right next to them, they flirted and made gooey eyes at each other. I stabbed at my bowl every time I heard the name 'baby' or 'sweetheart' it was just too much.

I studied each of them separately, it was easy, they paid no attention to me. Jace's sandy hair was shaggy and fell into his stormy eyes that were trained on Andrea's icy blue, her white blonde hair long even in the high pony. How could they be married, my gaze flitted to their ringless fingers. They seemed so in love, it made me gag. They head swiveled to meet mine, I blinked out of my daze.

"Sorry I wasn't listening." I twirled my fork.

"I said" Jace growled threateningly, "Andrea is staying over at my place tonight."

I tensed, "Oh?" I bit out angrily.

I looked at Andrea who smiled sheepishly, "yeah, we are married and all. But really thanks for everything." She stood to put her plate in the sink.

"I've got it." I snapped. I was angry, she was leaving, with a guy from school I barely knew and who openly hated me.

"But I was just going to…" she started.

"I said I've got it. Go." I gathered up the bowls and plates and waited until the door slammed to grip the edge of the sink.

My throat ached from the tears of anger, frustration, and abandonment I felt. I clenched my jaw, squeezing my fists together; I winced and opened my hand. The cuts from earlier were scabbed over, the edges of the shallow wounds red and puffy. I decided to leave the dishes for tomorrow, I had nothing to do anyways, it was Saturday.

I desperately shed my clothes and climbed into my bed, the cool sheets chilling my fevered skin. I dropped into a dreamless sleep, one I welcomed. The emotions roiling to a stop inside the cage that I thrust them into.

Two days passed and Monday came quickly, I had done the dishes and laid around the house for two days; wallowing in my own misery. I hadn't seen Andrea, Jace, nor even the tattooed hooligan Dorian for two days, it felt oddly disheartening.

The doorbell rang Sunday evening as I was pulling a shirt over my head, "coming!" I called.

Opening the door a tall, lanky UPS man in a bland brown uniform held out a plain nondescript box out to me. "Delivery for Jillian Grant."

Anger poured through my veins as I snatched the package from him, his eyes widened, I sighed, "sorry thank you. Have a nice day." He nodded; I shut the door firmly behind him.

I pulled on a pair of shoes and grabbed some money off the counter for a cab. The looming building of my mothers work was hulking against the American flag that flew from the side. I paid the cabby and stormed into the building, passed the secretary who scrambled after me, and down the white walled hall.

I slammed open my mother's door, she looked up at me indifferently, her lips pursed.

"What are you doing here Kasey I thought that I cut…never mind." I winced inwardly at the signs of being sorely unwanted; I shoved the package at her.

"The next time you remove yourself from my life mother," I spat "make sure you reroute your deliveries."

I spun on a heel and stormed back out the door, I almost stumbled when I found Dorian standing like a statue in the middle of the lobby. His tattoo arms crossed over his chest, boots characteristically unlaced, and his usual toothpick rolling around his mouth.

"What do you think you are doing here girl" his heavily Russian accent slipped like velvet along my skin, my lip curled as I realized I had missed it, I hated that too.

"Just leaving." I growled, walking passed him; his hand flashed out and gripped my upper arm.

"I repeat what are you doing here." His dark eyes narrowed as I glared up at him.

"Let go of me. You don't control me." I ripped my arm from his grip and all but ran out the building.

DORIAN'S POV

I could smell her, a mixture of lavender and lilies. It wafted through my office, my nose twitched, my mouth watered. I gripped the edge of my desk, trying to resist. Giving up, I growled and strode out of my office. An assistant thrust her breasts out at me, puckering her red lips, but my mind was focused only on the sent that trailed through the hallways.

I waited for her, my muscles thrummed as she drew closer, the beast lashed around inside its cage. My eyes caught sight of her dark hair, my fingers itched, I clenched them.

I could hear her heartbeat, it pumped wildly when she saw me, the pulse at her neck fluttering; my mouth water.