The Merciless (h.s.)

Chapter Fourteen

Arabella

"Bells, you're supposed to get the paint on my nail. It looks like you're avoiding it at all costs," Elle complains from beneath me.

Elle's ass is flat against the tile floor, her right leg curled to her chest so her chin can rest on her knee, while the left is raised so her heel can sit comfortably on my knee, her knee bent in the air.

I squint my eyes once I catch a glimpse of my roommate's dissatisfied expression. Elle's lip is curled up in disgust at the paint smudged around her perfectly trimmed toenails, masking her pristine grooming.

"It would be a lot easier if you stop moving," I snatch her bobbing ankle in my palm to steady her movements. Like clockwork, Elle freezes at my touch.

"Make sure you clean that up..." she reminds me of the messy edges lining her toe nails, even going out of her way to precisely point my mistakes out with her top of her nail.

"I'm getting there..." I sarcastically snap, taking a few moments to let my cautious eyes linger on her own for a few resounding seconds before digging a cotton swab out of its package, officially giving into her complaints.

I flick the cap protecting the nail polish remover off, and dip one end of the q-tip into the bottle until the cotton is soaked. Then, I attack the paint purging from the boundary lining Elle's toenails.

"Trust me, my way is quicker."

"I'm not worried about quick. I want my toes sucked tonight, and you're definitely not helping," Elle huffs.

I smack my tongue against the roof of my mouth. "I brought the q-tips over here for a reason. Stop complaining...." I gently squeeze her ankle in my grip to compliment my sarcastic tone "...and let me work my magic!"

I don't wait for a response, and continue scraping at Elle's big toe with a cotton swap.

"I never really liked magicians. They always gave me the creeps," Elle remarks. 

My icy eyes flicker over to Elle slumped beneath me.

"My magic will fix that fear," I proudly announce.

"Speaking of fears..." Elle'a grimace transforms into a mischievous smirk, "Halloween is coming up next Friday..." Elle sings. Excitement is laced in the pitch of her voice as she beams at me.

"What? Are you going trick or treating or something?" I beckon.

Elle's poisonous grin quickly vanishes as fast as it appeared. Her eyebrows skyrocket into her hair line.

"Be serious, Bella," Elle pleads.

"What?"

Elle smacks her lips together at my ignorance. "Do Michiganders seriously not recognize the best national holiday there is called Halloween?"

I gape at her. "Not if you're over the age of twelve."

"Jesus, Bella. Some life you had," Elle huffs out of frustration . "I don't care if you have to move in with your retarded aunt for most of the week—no offense, by the way. You're still coming with me to the Halloween party of my choosing next Friday."

I try my best to not show my indifference in my facial expression after Elle vocalizes her request.

After Harry stormed out of my dorm on Monday, I was left alone for a good hour to brew up an excuse as to why I would be packing up my stuff so soon. Elle eventually came back to the dorm. I didn't want Elle to think my absence would be her fault, especially because of my overly excessive reaction to a stupid secret being kept from me on her behalf. It stings a little more understanding that she had every right to keep that to herself. I'm just nosy.