Next To Love [Book 2]

Chapter 11 : Give Me Back My Panties *

Melanie

I stare at my phone screen in agony, reloading it a couple of times hoping that it was just a text message sent by mistake, but the texts stays there.

"Shít." I murmur under my breath.

Hastily, yet still trying to appear like a normally functioning human being I put my phone away (calling up an uber first) and reach to put my coat back on before standing up.

I clear my throat before speaking. "Hey guys," I call out, buttoning up my coat before they all stop what they are doing to turn around once I get their attention. "I think I'm gonna go. I'm not feeling too good." I scrunch my face to present some sort of aching feeling.

Leo is the first to acknowledge. "You don't look so good either," he steps closer to me, placing his warm hand on my cheek as he observes my features. "You look pale." He concludes.

"You should go home and get some rest. It's okay, at least you came." Yovann says with a reassuring smile and I return the gesture.

I turn to Vitani who had an unreadable expression on her face. I know she knows exactly why I've been completely out of the need of human interaction this entire time, but she doesn't know about this whole pantie situation.

I smile with gratitude up at Leo before leaning in to give his lips a short peck. "Thanks for understanding," I sighed. "I'm sorry I was the one that forced you to come and now I'm leaving." I purse my lips.

He snickers. "Nah, it's fine, babe. I'm having fun, I should be thanking you that you got me to come." He finishes with a smile.

I give Leo, Yovann and Vitani goodbye hugs before I leave. The entire time I felt Marcus' eyes narrowed at me and by the time I got around to thinking I was going to wish him a simple farewell he suggested something else instead.

"Melanie, can we speak?" He places his hand on my forearm which causes me to feel uncomfortable.

I look over at Leo who was the one looking at our interaction whilst Vitani and Yovann continued playing against each other.

I throw him a pleading look, hoping he'd understand that just wanted to leave, but I guess he thought I was asking for permission to talk to Marcus because all he did was give me a simple nod.

"I hope I wasn't the reason that you've been out of it this entire time or the reason that you're leaving," he sounded sincere, but there's many wannabe actors here in New York City. "I just hope that we're way past what had happened." He scratches the back of his neck hastily.

"Oh for sure, I can totally forgive the person who nearly raped me when I was sixteen." My tone drips with sarcasm and I hold it together with a fake, tight smile.

He clenches his jaw and uncomfortably looks around the spacious place to make sure no one heard me. "I'm guessing you're still holding a grudge." He concludes.

"No Marcus, we're not friends nor will we ever be, we're simply acquaintances who don't have an emotional or physical relationship whatsoever. You can be friends with my boyfriend, I don't care, but stay away from me."

He smirks. "But I'm not sure if your little guy friend with auburn hair can stay away from me." He speaks in a tsk tone.

Was he really talking about Yovann right now?

"Stay away from him, stay away from Vitani, and stay away from me." I grit between my teeth, staring at him dead in the eyes before I march my way out.

I shiver and hug myself when I reach for the door and step out into the cold, night winter air of New York as I await for my uber.

I hear the door open which was followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. I don't turn around, assuming it was someone who got bored and decided to leave just like me. Until I suddenly felt a pair of hands place themselves on my forearms and I turn around instantly, ready to attack.