After Effects

Chapter 55 • After Effects

I pulled on the baggy black and white, jogging pants and socks Riddian had gotten for me after my shower.

Comfortable and appropriate, I thought, taking my hair down from its bun and braids and throwing it up into a looser and simpler one, a grin blooming on my face.

Riddian was sitting on one of the chairs at the small table by the wardrobe when I left the bathroom. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows as he went through the process of removing his shoes again.

A frown marred my features as he looked up for only a second at the sound of my entrance and movement to the wardrobe I set my dress inside of. A feeling of uneasiness settled in the pits of my stomach as if to serve as a warning of something to come.

"Crap!"

I spun around with wide eyes to find Riddian standing now. His eyes were wide as a hand went to his head as if he was remembering something bad. I could tell that the gut feeling had been right.

I took a few steps towards him, worried.

"What's wrong?" I asked nervously. He didn't even look at me as he strode over to the bathroom and hurried inside. I followed him, guessing it was safe since he hadn't attempted to lock the door.

I found him wiping the fog from the small window above the toilet and then he peered out. Seeming very unsatisfied with what he saw, he turned and rushed past me and into the room area again. Then he was pacing, grunting things to himself and pulling at his hair. The lack of comprehensible words from him was killing me so much that I had to take a seat on the side of the bed and just watch him in annoyance.

Finally, when I couldn't take it anymore, I got up and marched up to him, stopping right in the path he had been pacing the entire time so that when he turned from completing his series of steps in one direction he had to stop as soon as he turned around. He halted abruptly, just as I had wanted, but then he glared at the obstacle in his way... me.

I cleared my throat, determined to not cower away and find out what exactly his problem was, and so I asked. The response was not favoured... well, because there was none.

"Hey I'm talking to you!" I hissed after a while of him just glaring. He turned his head away for a moment and just laughed bitterly. The sight was so scary that for a moment I just wanted to leave... but I wouldn't.

"I think you've done enough Ms. Harrington," was what he replied with once he had completed his laugh, only confusing me more.

"What have I done now?" I couldn't help asking. His response was immediate.

"This! Being stubborn and putting us here!"

I looked at him upset. I thought we had passed this! Where was this coming from again?

"I was not being stubborn! You were being an ass looking down on everyone out of your class," I hissed, turning away.

"Well you have to admit Ms. Harrington that people like you normally are scheming for something more behind our backs so I may not be so far off to be cautious, looking down at you as you so thoughtfully put it."

I turned around.

"Excuse me?"

He stared right at me, arms crossing firmly over his chest.

"We're in this stuffy motel room because of you. If you hadn't run off because of a reason so stupid we would either be at home or spending the night in separate rooms back at the mansion-"

"I'm sorry mister Blame-Katherine-for-everything!" I snapped angrily, tired of him blaming Katherine for everything! I should've known the nice atmosphere wouldn't last long. "You do remember that I had told you to not follow me right? But you, being the stubborn and high-and-mighty ass that you are, decided to do that just so you could come make me miserable!"