In Between The Lines

I stabbed myself

4am came by quickly. Too quickly in my opinion. I knew that I was already leaning on the edge of Quinton's patience though, so I forced myself up and into the shower. I put the water on ice cold, hoping it would numb the soreness and pain a little, and it did somewhat.

I re-wrapped my wrist and then I put on a white blouse with a black pencil skirt, and black heels. I put on a black cardigan, which was oversized and hung all the way to my knees and then I throw my hair up in a bun with a few loose ringlets. Then I painted my face with thick makeup, and tried to cover the dark spots all over.

By the time I'm done getting ready and taking a few pills, my breathing is slightly labored. I grab my purse, stuffing my phone into it: which I don't look at, out of fear, and I make my way out to catch a taxi, not bothering with breakfast.

•••

An hour later I'm sitting in my office filling out papers and setting up meetings when my office phone rings.

"Hello, you're speaking with Ms Ellington, Mr Hyghs Secretary, What can I do for you?" I say into the phone, pausing to listen.

"Hey babe, I just wanted to call to apologize and you weren't answering your phone..I know you don't approve of me calling you during hours or calling your work phone, but I needed to say sorry." Keaton's voice says quickly, "I wanted to apologize for what I did, I was bei-" he begins but I slam the phone down, hanging up. My breathing has picked up again and my eyes are gazed over.

Where the hell does he get off? An apology over a phone after what he did to me? I mean, I don't ever wanna see him again, so phone is fine, but shit. Did he think I'd forgive him?

*ehem*

A sound comes from my door. My head whips to see who it is and my vision goes black. I blink rapidly, dizzy. My vision clears and then zooms in on Quinton, who is frowning. He walks up to me and puts a hand to my forehead. He lets out a soft "Tsk" and frowns deeper. If that's even possible.

"Get your stuff, you're going home, I'll finish up here" he says, putting my bag in my arms. I scowl at him and put it down, turning back to my laptop. I begin to type rapidly, continuing my report on a case that we had recently finished. Then the phone begins to ring again. I reach over to grab it but I'm beat to it.

"Hello, this is Mr Hygh, What can I help you with?" Quinton asks, and I watch as his frown deepens. He pulls the phone away, pressing it to his chest, "its for you, some guy named Keaton" he says. I feel my face drain of color, and I shake my head mouthing "No thanks". He raises an eyebrow at me suspiciously. "Sorry, Ms Ellington is busy at the moment" he says and hangs up.

I let out a rough breath that I didn't know I was holding. I go back to pounding my keyboard. This time with a spark of anger.

"Ms Ellington.."

Cause I mean, who does he think he is? Here he is, beating me up one day and then the next he thinks it's perfectly fine to do the one thing I kept telling him not to do.

"Ms Ellington"

I told him not to call me when I'm at work and to never, never call through my work phone. Seriously what the he-

"MS ELLINGTON" Quinton yells at me. My hands shoot up from the keyboard. "What?" I ask him, pulling myself out of my own thoughts. He's standing right in front of me, glaring.

"I said go home, it's obvious you aren't feeling well" he says, his eyes daring me to say no. I think about going home, sure it might help, I could rest longer and chill..but I'd have to deal with the fact that Keaton has keys to my house..and I do NOT want to deal with that right now. Not even the temptation of sleeping in my warm bed with a hot chocolate can change that.