An Unraveling Rose

three

"Bye Serena," The already wide smile stretches wider against my sore face, a stark contrast to the disinterested look in my eyes. I feel like a child, one dragged around by gloating parents for the sake of impressing nosey and judgemental colleagues and friends. I bite back a pout and try my best to ignore the heartbeat in my feet.

A scowl sits on my face now, and I glance again at the retreating woman, wanting to be in her shoes, same as the previous six people to depart. William hisses when I pinch his arm, which I'd tucked my own under, glaring down at me. "I'm not a doll, and these people couldn't care less about your human insurance policy. I'm going to talk to my friends." I move to break off from him, but he grasps my waist, chuckling.

"I hear you darling, but I saved the best for last." My eyes narrow at their own accord, looking behind his shoulder and immediately realizing why he's suddenly being this disgustingly sweet. William's sister is stoic as ever, her ceiling-high cheekbones and red-painted pouty lips set in the familiar scowl reserved for me. We nod in greeting.

Seeing the man she has wrapped around her middle leaves me shocked, but I clench my jaw and keep a straight, unbothered face. He will do as he pleases, he is his own man. We've nearly been texting back and forth all day, and he never once informed me he was coming, but he will do as he pleases. He stares at me, expression blank, and I do the same. What are you doing here? The question dances freely on my face, but he stays expressionless. Will gauges my expression with a glint in his eyes, as the last piece in our, well his, thoroughly planned future falls into place.

"Laurel." He opens his arms to his gazelle of a sister, pulling her away from her partner and into his arms. Her giggle is sickening, her stiff body language changing completely as she meets her older brother. "Have you finally grown taller, Lue?" He pushes her back by her shoulders, the first genuine smile on his face all night as he looks his baby sister over. She groans, slapping his arm. "That's not my name, Winnie."

They both share a stony look, before bursting into laughter a second later. I grimace at the sound of tinkling bells and the innocence it portrays. Knowing the evil hidden behind those smiles makes it hard to enjoy such a moment.

She still has a smile on her face when as she's flipping her hair over her shoulder and turning our attention to her partner. "Babe, you've met my older brother?" The man squares his broad shoulders, sharp face sporting an even sharper smile. "We've been acquainted, for work purposes." 

William is far more comfortable with his greeting. "I see you've held onto that thing about your sister, Mason." The man across him visibly clamps his jaw, only his lips moving when he speaks again. 

"What makes you think that, Astley?" He watches William smile, then continues. "If that were the case, I'd have your sister sprawled out in your personal bed, legs reaching for the ceiling. Don't tempt me." He slides a sure arm around Laura's hip, his palm resting flat against her thigh. Her breathy sigh only proves Mason's point.

I nearly laugh when William growls, but the sound sticks to his throat as he runs his finger over the velvet cube straining in his pocket, for reassurance. Masons' eyes follow the action.

Bile rises in my throat thinking of what's to come, and I take a small step backward, ignoring Mason's burning stare on my face, his eyes finally showing some form of emotion since seeing me. "Excuse me. It was good seeing you again, Laura." No one tries to stop me, and I do my best to push through the crowd inconspicuously until I find the only two people that can calm me down right now.

A ragged breath leaves my lips when I spot an arabesque colored hand dancing in the air, vying for my attention against the crowd, and I make my way towards it.