The Game Changer

Chapter 11

Hey, loves! Take a look at the panel at the side and say hi to Rissey! :)

Dedicated to SamSykesTW! :) 

Chapter 11

"You and I. Talk. Now."

My forehead was against the door as I was contemplating my night with Noah. I was startled, and I quickly spun around on my heels and found Ian towering over me.

"Oh my god, you startled me!" I said, trying to recover from the shock. "What's up?" I walked past him and made my way to the study table at the corner. I sat on the table and crossed my arms. I looked at Ian as he walked toward me and noticed dark circles under his eyes. He was wearing the same thing he wore before I left, but he did not look as calm as he did a few hours ago.

"Guess who came by when you were gone," he said with a hint of sarcasm in his smile. He stopped right in front of me and looked me square in the eye.

"I don't know, you tell me," I challenged, my voice starting to rise to match his.

"Tanya told me you two had a little run in awhile ago," he said, crossing his arms. I couldn't deny his biceps caught my attention and I had to look away before I start turning into a tomato again.

"Oh, yeah, about that." I was about to launch a full force effort to explain why I lost my temper. I honestly didn't know what came over me.

"What's gotten into you, Rissey?" He was yelling at me and this really pissed me off. He was so loud, I bet the people in the room next to ours could hear him.

"You looked like you were going to die, Ian!" I snapped.

"Great job," he said with a chuckle. "I didn't know you had it in you. Did you take acting lessons before we got here?"

"What?" I was confused. I was pretty sure we were going to have this big discussion - scratch that- argument because I was rude to Tanya. Then he's smiling all of a sudden, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"She came by after you left and told me about it. She also apologized and," he said, prolonging the "and." "They're in the next room."

"Lovely," I replied. "That explains the sudden outburst." I sighed in relief.

"It's all part of the plan. She has to feel like she rocked the boat, even just a little," he said coolly. "However, your little tell off wasn't."

"I was really worried about you, Ian. You were blue and you were just," I trailed off, lost in thought. It replayed in my head and I couldn't bear seeing people like that, Ian included. It was always hard for me, especially after my parents died.

"Hey, hey. I'm still standing, right?" He was suddenly calm, soothing even. He walked closer and rested one hand on the table, just beside my thigh. His other hand tipped my chin upward so that I was looking him in the eye. "No need to worry about me, I'm a pretty strong guy. I think."

After what seemed like an eternity of staring at each other, the tension in the air was as thick as a brick wall. I shook my head and jumped off the table, not realizing the fact that it lessened the space between us soon enough. He stepped to the side a little to give me room and I took this as a chance to walk away.

"I'm going to bed, and you should too. By the way, Alessi wanted you to drop off by her room. Something about the gala," he said as he tucked himself in. "Night."

"Thanks so much for the heads up, by the way. Good thing Noah told me about it," I huffed.

"Where did you two go anyway?" he asked.