Masked Facade

Chapter 21: Stacy

Alice's POV

Six years ago...

Hot. That was how I felt just by thinking about it. The term intimate would be a shame to address the events that took place on the other night. I, at first, initiated certain actions to comfort him. But never in a million years did I imagine he would do the same for me given his history with woman and girls.

Sharing a bed with any men would only imply sharing your body with that person. But Ryan kept his integrity which he never seemed to consider with others. I wasn't really into hesitation when situation demanded certain smart actions. But it wasn't true when it came to other than emergency. The feeling of secure crept in which was induced by Ryan when he held me by my waist. Never had I allowed myself from experiencing such a contact from anyone, especially guys.

Because for one, I believed every guy was the same and their head would be only filled with filthy and lusty thoughts. Ryan was one of them, but his other side proved otherwise. It was as if that guy was never Ryan with whom I shared one of my darkest secrets. But with morning sun, came reality of my doings. The aftermath of that wouldn't favor me in any way and I was damn sure Ryan too wouldn't see me the same way. He may pity me which I thoroughly despised. He may even use the fact of me being adopted against me to make my life a living hell. But then he demanded from me to have a blind faith in him more than I wasn't supposed to.

"Do you want to say something?" Thea eyed from the chair that sat opposite from the one I was seated on while I tried to ignore her scrutinizing gaze by focusing my attention towards the cup which contained the secret ingredient to keep me alive. I could give up literally anything for a sip of my coffee.

"Nope. Not really." I shook my head with that and quickly tried to make her feel uncomfortable by saying, "You tell me. How is it going between you and Jeremy?"

Eye roll was what I received from her end while from my end, it was a drum roll for getting her under my control. Like always.

"Nothing is going on between us for the hundredth time, woman." She seethed while baring her thirty-two teeth at me dangerously. But she had to just try much harder to kick me in the guts. "Stop doing that to me."

She almost pouted in irritation. Her face was so serene, and she seemed cute at that moment. If any guy was occupying my seat, then he'd drool all over her. But I wasn't a guy and certainly wasn't a lesbian. So, the only reaction she got out of me was roaring laughter.

"What?" I sobered up partially since my chuckles never seemed to stop arising from my throat. Giving her an innocent look, I continued my stupid accusation, "I was just stating what I heard."

I couldn't resist the involuntary movement of my shoulders as they shrugged. If glaring with narrowed slit sized eyes had the power of forcing the target thousands of feet underneath the ground, then I was thankful for my reality since it wasn't a part of it.

Suddenly, a gleam surfaced in her eyes with satisfaction while her lips didn't betray her as they obeyed her mood from twitching at a corner to form the damn smirk.

I did not like the way she looked at me. Like she had the leash in her hand and finally had the power to control me.

"Speaking of which, I too heard stuff about you." Raising her cup to her lips, she eyed me while silently prodding me to come up with a response.

"Yeah, nice trying." I waved her off like it did not affect me. Her methods, that is.

"Why have you been staying away from your so-called responsibility?" I knew what she implied. She realized what she meant by that. She didn't seem to notice how my demeanour changed at that and I patted myself mentally for tricking her.