Phoenix

14. Façade

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Ugh!

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Don’t pay attention Ash, he would eventually go away-

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Ok, that does it.

Sighing, she leapt up from her seat in the living room and headed for the entrance of her apartment. She knew who was knocking, and she had intended on ignoring it totally but little did she know that his knocks would be so loud.

You’ve forgotten the extent of his physique.

She was incredibly hurt by Jason’s action back at UAE to the extent that she went out of her way to book a flight back to New York, despite the little amount of money she had on her. She just couldn’t stand another fifteen hour journey with him back to the country, not after what he did.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Okay now, he was exceeding his limits. He was knocking at the door with such authority like he resided in the apartment with her or she was the one who hurt him. She finally arrived at the door and pulled it open to reveal a furious Jason.

Why the hell is he angry?

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She queried in a low tone before he could say anything. He was still wearing his tux from the previous night and his eyes looked worn out and tired. By the looks of it, he hadn’t slept and probably came rushing to her apartment after the jet landed.

His gaze scorched at her with incredulity as he braced himself with his right arm on the door for support, his eyes never leaving hers. “Why the hell did you leave like that?”

She scoffed. “Oh I’m sorry, you don’t trust me enough with myself also?”

He wasn’t in a good mood.

“We needed to talk and you left, just like that.” His voice was husky and dragged. She started feeling guilt as she understood the true extent of his weariness.

I didn’t tell him to come rushing here!

“I didn’t feel like talking to you” She blurted out and then turned to head back into the house. She didn’t exactly know what her end-game was, either to lead him inside or to snub him totally, but whatever it was; he wasn’t letting it happen.

She suddenly felt his large fingers wrap around her right arm to spin her back to face him. His frown had disappeared and his current stare was one of remorse. “I’m sorry Ash, I acted rash as usual”

She wanted to succumb to his plea, she wanted to melt in his arms, she wanted to float away in the bliss of his touch and the sweet agony of his kiss. She wanted him to fill her again, and she definitely knew he was sorry, but the developments of late didn’t exactly give her the choice to have her way.

She had to hurt him.

She wasn’t much of an actress but she could feign anger well. “That’s just the problem with you, you’re always quick to judge all the time. You’d say you’re sorry now but days later, you’d be doing the same thing again!”

She didn’t know how it happened, but in a flash; she was in his arms. His right arm snaked round her waist, his other arm twined in her hair and her head against his rock-hard chest. “I swear Ash, it won’t happen again. If it does then believe me I’d be the first to let you go”

Oh, Jace!

I want you t-

Fight Ash, you can’t give up.