Living In The Past

Chapter Twelve

* Recap *

Everybody had looked their way now. Everyone.

Yasmine felt so embarrassed. What had she just done? Cheeks flaming, and tears down her face, she ran away. Not sure where she was going, but just away from this place. This party. These people. This building. That jerk.

Just somewhere far away.

* Chapter Twelve *

It wasn't long before James caught up to Yasmine.

"Yasmine, where are you going?" He grabbed her wrist, stopping her from heading towards the elevator. "Wait."

They were in the hallway, and she was trying to get as far away as possible.

Yasmine snatched her hand away. "Away from here, James. Just somewhere else."

"I'll take you, Yasmine. Just slow down."

"No," her weak voice replied. She kept running towards the elevator.

Looks like we're going to have to do this the hard way, James thought.

"Wait, Yasmine!" another voice called from behind them. Yasmine didn't bother to turn around, but James did. Aaron was running towards them, waving his arms to tell them to stop.

"Leave me alone, Aaron!" Yasmine cried, already recognizing the voice. "I especially do not want to see you. Go away!" Her eyes were puffy from crying, and her make-up was long gone. She looked miserable, yet angry at the same time.

Just then, the elevator opened, and Yasmine ran inside. James stepped in behind her. She kept tapping the button that closes the door, but it took a while.

A hand pried the doors open again. It was Aaron.

"Leave me alone, Aaron!" she cried at him.

"Let me explain!" he said.

"There's nothing to say!" Yasmine yelled.

"Wait, just ---"

Before he could finish, Yasmine kicked him where the sun doesn't shine. He landed on the marble floor of the hallway with a thud, as the elevator doors closed.

"Crap," Aaron muttered, still on the ground. He got up, decided not to mope around, and actually fight for her for the first time. He got up and ran down the stairs, fast as he could.

Yasmine started sobbing in the elevator, as it slowly descended to the first floor. James pulled her in for a hug, and patted her back.

"He's a jerk," she said between sobs, against his chest. "I trusted him!"

"It's all right, baby. I'm here for you," he soothed, as he rubbed her back. Inside, he was angry as hell too. Nobody messes with his girl. But, because Yasmine was crying, comforting her was currently more important.

"I love you, James."

James' eyes widened. That was probably the first time she ever said that. "I-I love you too, Yasmine." He had said that a million times in his lifetime, but this time, it felt different. Good different. It made him feel warm and cozy inside. Weird.

While they were doing that, Aaron was running down the stairs like he was on fire.

Ding!

The elevator opened, and Yasmine and James walked out, heading to his car. Aaron was nowhere to be seen. He didn't make it in time, he was still on the other end of the hallway.

It was cold outside. The sky was pink, purple, and orange all together. The sunset looked amazing. There was a small breeze, and when that breeze hit you, it felt like summer. The smell of the flowers by the entrance lifted to Yasmine's nose.