Accept Me

17: "Rhea."

I'm not sure when I finish talking, but when I do realize, the silence is loud in my ears. I can't take my eyes off of Tristan's frozen form, my hands clenched tightly together in fear of his reaction. He seems considerably pale, his mouth hanging open almost comically. 

His entire body seems to deflate as he lets out a shaky breath, his eyes tracing over my body, as if the answers to his questions are written on my body.

I guess they kind of are, I think to myself as I trace over where my surgery scars would've been if they were deep enough and I healed like a human. His eyes follow my fingers, his brows pinched together, and I'm not sure if it's in thought or anger.

The minutes drag on as I wait for him to say something, too scared to break the silence myself. Finally, he stands and makes his way to me, slowly kneeling down in front of me with his hands on either side of me. Something sparks in his slightly glazed eyes, the iris flickering, weird smile growing on his face as he stares at me.

"Rhea?" He breathes.

I recoil back as if he had physically hit me, my heart bursting painfully in my chest. My heartbeat smashes against my ribcage and my breath comes out in painful pants, my entire body frozen in shock and hurt.

"You're Rhea." He says firmly.

I manage to find my voice after a choked sound leaves my lips.

"No I'm not, I'm-"

"You've been my childhood best friend this entire time. You've been the girl I've been hopelessly in love with. You've been the one person in this world I wished was my mate."

"No-"

"I got my wish." He laughs joyfully, but there's a trace of disbelief and, honestly, hysteria. "This is just perfect. I don't care what body you're in, you're still my Rhea."

"Stop-"

"Don't worry, baby, no matter what body you're in or what name you go by, you're still my Rhea. You're still my best friend, who left me for eleven years without saying a goddamn thing. Still the Rhea who came back and lied to my fucking face, no matter how many times I wanted to talk to you. You're still the Rhea who dreams about bunnies and loves to go swimming. You're still my Rhea." With every sentence, he inches closer to me until I'm laying down and he's hovering over me, his voice deeper and rougher than usual.

Every time he says Rhea, my heart jolts painfully and spreads heat throughout my entire body. I try pushing back the tears, but they simply fall down my blotchy face, choosing to succumb to gravity's desire instead of my will.  

He tries to kiss me, the dazed look still on his face, his eyes not focusing on me at all. I turn my face to the side and place my hands on his face, pushing him away to the best of my abilities. He must be completely out of it because I manage to push him away from me, keeping my arms held out in front of me in case he decides to come at me again.

He stands there, staring at me. Just staring.

"Rhea." He whines, reaching out to me.

"STOP!" I growl, finally losing my shit and punching him in the face.

I barely feel the sting to my knuckles as he stumbles to the side, a red spot already forming on his cheekbone. He stands there for a second before coming to his senses and turning back to me, the glaze over his eyes dissipating. 

"Dylan." He chokes out, his fingers brushing the forming bruise.

"Get out." I whisper, the adrenaline leaving my body as fast as it came.