Firecracker (On Hold)

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Aryia's P.O.V.

I quickly take a cold shower before heading for lunch. That training session was amazing. Justin is very very good and his deal is sweet. I'll learn a lot from him and I'm going to be able to keep my anger at bay. Well, unless he keeps trying to befriend me. We're totally going to lock heads if he carries on questioning me like that.

I think he might have seen the bruises and possibly the scars. He hasn't mentioned anything and I'm obviously not going to start that kind of conversation with him. If he tries to bring that up in conversation, then he's going to get shut down very quickly. My life is none of his business and I intend to keep it that way.

As I step into the kitchen for lunch, I actually feel pretty good. I'm a bit sore from the fight last night and the recent training session, but it's nothing I can't handle. That move Justin did, completely taking me off my feet, was awesome. Even if I did land on my back. I need to learn that move for sure.

Louise hands me a plate and I literally hear the room stop when I say, “Thanks.”

Mike does a double take and Louise's smile could probably be on a dental surgeon's ad.

“You're welcome.”

I don't smile, I don't even acknowledge her any further. I just take the plate and sit down. I'm eating my sandwich when Justin sits next to me. He eyes me carefully for a while before finally whispering, “Thank you for being nice to Lou.”

I don't respond, not even a nod or anything. I don't want to give him the satisfaction of it. Although, I do find it strange that he would thank me for something he thinks I should be doing all the time. This guy is weird. He laughs at my remarks, he tells me I did good on the horse and now he's thanking me for being nice, even though he's furious with me. How does that even make sense? Maybe that's his plan. To confuse me and make me think he's backing off so I'll let my guard down. He's very mistaken if he thinks that's going to work. By now, I'm a pro at this game. I've been playing this most of my life and I won't let him win.

I finish my food faster than everyone else, and I stand to take my plate and glass to the sink. Justin reaches for my wrist and I grunt at him.

“Where do you think you're going?”

I almost shove my plate and glass in his face, so he questions, “Lost your voice now, have you?”

I snort at that, “You wish. You obviously didn't make me scream enough...”

I send him a wink for added effect. The guys nearly choke on their food, while Louise turns the deepest shade of red imaginable. My work here is done.

I'm at the sink before the guys can recover and I hear Mike and Todd start to chuckle at Justin's expense. Justin doesn't look embarrassed though. If anything, he looks amused and slightly horrified by my remark. I don't know if I should be offended by that. He must find me really repulsive to allow such a look of horror to accidentally be shown. As far as I can tell, he doesn't like to let his expressions slip. Well, not in front of me anyway. Which means the disgust he felt at my comment must be real and strong.

I'm not going to lie and say I'm physically ugly, because I don't think I am. I've got a good body and naturally olive skin. My dark hair and green eyes are pretty boring, but I'm not bad looking. My personality, however, is pretty darn ugly if you ask me. I'm a nasty piece of work and I'm always angry. Being 'nice' doesn't come naturally to me, so it's something I don't really know how to do. Not for any great length of time anyway. I struggle with socially acceptable things, as I'm sure you've discovered. I'm not like a recluse or anything, but people make me angry, then I want to smash their faces in and then the cops show up. I just can't help myself though. I can't keep my mouth shut, especially when people set themselves up for a sarcastic remark.