Slices

Riane

------Present day------

Riane sat on the floor with her legs crossed. A soft smile rested on her lips and her anxiety vanished like the money in her bank account. "So you broke up with her why?"

Trojan was running his hands through Riane's tangled hair, his fingers lost in the swamp of curls. He paused for a moment and stared at the back of her head. "Well, I didn't love her."

Riane slowly nodded. Anger was beginning to boil deep in her soul, but what was the point? Riane had no right to trojan, so why be mad? Also, Riane had done the same thing as Trojan... used a person to get over her sadness. What was Alexander up to anyway? Raine shook her head, casting out any thoughts of Alexander. "Trojan."

"Yes?"

She paused, turning her head and staring at his shirt. He had a bloodstain. She silently lifted the front of his shirt and stared at large bruises on his chest. She winced, remembering the blows she'd dealt to her kidnapper three days ago. Releasing the shirt, she turned completely around, facing him.

Riane gently touched Trojan's hand then clasped it in her own. Her eyes flicked up to his face. His sharp jawline and ruffled golden hair made her  heart flutter and her breath catch. His face was just as clear and full of passion as it'd always been. She had missed this for so long.

"Why am I here?"

He seemed to draw into himself- his expression suddenly losing all power and becoming completely blank. He opened his mouth, then closed it.

Riane intently searched his face for any out of place emotion. Anything that would strike her as odd or expected.

He was shockingly good at keeping a poker face.

"I don't know." His words crackled in the silence of the room.

Riane flinched. His response had been different the past two days. She had asked him the same question and stared at him, silently willing him to break- but he had suddenly stopped whatever he was doing and stood up with a painful abruptness. Then, he had walked out the door and locked it.

Riane nodded, feeling if she asked anymore questions, he would flee like before.

The day Riane had first seen Trojan, (three days prior) tension had prickled between them and Riane had apologised profusely. Trojan had nodded and forgiven her- he couldn't bare to hold a grudge. Then, he had pulled her into a warm, tight, silent hug.

The next few days Trojan had been coming in after work and talking.

Even though Trojan was here and he had forgiven her, Riane wanted to cry just looking at him. All of the guilt she felt pushed at the wall she'd built to keep away bad memories. His soft expression and humor filled eyes were almost too much.

She turned away and stared at the floor. "I just don't understand this. We've forgiven each other and you have no explanation to why I'm here... But you won't let me go?" She felt so confused and conflicted. When she looked in his eyes... His expression only reflected fear and pain, yet his mouth stayed tightly shut when she questioned him. "Trojan?" Riane looked back at him, turning her body. "Is someone making you do this?"

He recoiled, his face contorting in astonishment and betrayal. "No! Riane I'm here because I want to make sure you're okay! I can't leave the person I-" He cut himself off and nervously ran a hand through his hair, his intense gaze flicking down. "I have to make sure you're okay. That's all." He stood up and crossed over to the door.

Riane sat up straight, watching him stand. What did he mean when he said all of this? The gears were turning. He was protecting her? Who did he think he was? Locking her in here then saying he was 'protecting' her? A sudden swell of anger took Riane by storm. "I can fend for myself!" She spat as he closed the door behind him.

"Sigh!" Riane let out a a heated breath and dramatically fell onto her back. Staring at the ceiling, she went through their conversations in her head. "Protecting? I don't know? You're beautiful, I forgive you, I broke up with her.. I didn't love her." She recited different lines she'd locked in her head from his visits. "His face!" Riane's eyes grew wide. "His face was clear! He didn't have any black eyes or bruises! Yes! Oh my gosh!" Riane jumped to her feet and hopped on the bed in excitement. "Trojan couldn't have been my kidnapper because I kicked him in the face and Trojan had no bruises!" She froze, the image of his bruised chest flashing across her memory. He was bruised. Not in his face though... But it was definitely possible Riane miscalculated her kicks and only hit him hardest elsewhere.

"Ugh!" She flopped down onto her back, staring at the ceiling once gain. "Back to square one."