The Rainbow at the end of my storm

•11•

I stood up straighter, my back as stiff as a wood of plank, while his arms were still engulfing me.

"Why are you here?" I asked through gritted teeth. I felt his fingers grip harder as his whole body tensed.

"Does it matter. It's a good job I was." His hot breath made a shiver shoot across my body. The rain had gotten faster, making me cold; his warm breath was comforting and soothing.

"You're always the hero aren't you?" I scoffed. "Well, Mr Hero, you can let go. I'm fine" I shrugged out of his hold, surprised he'd let go so easily, straightening my jacket and T-shirt.

"What did I do?" He grabbed my arm as I headed towards the doors.

"What did you do?" I asked, incredulously. Was he for real?

"Don't walk away from me please. Who was the guy?"

"Go. Away. And He's somebody who had the decency to drop me off." I stormed off towards the doors, pushing them open with aggressive force.

"Victoria. Or shall I call you vick-"

"Don't you dare!" I swivelled around, my voice raised in anger. How dare he. He saw the way I reacted before, why was he doing this?

He looked terrified. Guilty even. He knew he shouldn't have done that.

"Shit, I'm sorry. I just want to talk." He came closer.

"Talk about what? Don't you get it? I don't want you here. I want you to leave me alone Mason"

Hurt laced his features, but he didn't back down. He edged even closer until we were toe-to-toe, nose to nose, mouth to mouth.

His lips descended on mine in one swift motion, landing on the stray tears I hadn't noticed had fallen until just now. That electrical spark filtered through me, sending shock waves of tingles and pleasure everywhere he touched and everywhere I touched him. My hands on his cheeks, stroking the recent stubble coming through, his hands on the swell of my hips. Everywhere was ignited with pleasure. Want and need fluttered through me like a butterfly first experiencing its wings. I'd never felt this way before. I didn't think it was humanly possible.

A soft moan let my mouth. He swallowed it as his tongue invaded mine. Two peas in a pod, attached and growing. Growing with need for each other.

Our kiss became more heated as I felt him push me inside the recent opening elevator, only moving his mouth to press for my floor. I shook. He was coming upstairs with me.

I used all my power to push him away. His face dropped, his hands trying to reach for my cheeks, but I stopped him. "No. We can't do this" I shook my head frantically, breathing erratically at what I'd just done.

"Why not?" He shouted, raking his fingertips through his hair.

"Because" I couldn't give him a dignified excuse without revealing all and having an emotional meltdown on him. I just couldn't do it.

"That's not a fucking excuse, Victoria"

The elevator opened and I pushed past him to get to my room.

"Don't walk away from me" he said it more to himself, it was too quiet. I just about heard him. But I still did.

"Just leave me alone. I asked you to, and then look what happened because you didn't!" I shouted behind me, still facing forwards.

It was roughly midnight and I'm sure we were about to wake up the whole dorm.

"Kiss me" he demanded, getting closer again until I could smell his familiar aftershave.

I shook my head, forcing myself not to cry. He'd got to me. Emotionally and mentally. I couldn't do this again.

"Kiss. Me" he said it more softly, but he was still demanding.

My body's automatic response was to obey. I edged closer, until our lips were hovering against each other. His breath mingled with mine as our eyes searched each other's. But I couldn't do it.

"No" I cried, pushing my hand against his chest.

I opened my room door, shutting it before he could attempt to get in. The tears finally fell now I was behind closed doors. No one could see and no one could ask or judge.

I pressed my ear to the door, listening to the agonising silent coming from the other side. I heard a small shuffle then his footsteps descending down the corridor. They got quieter. Each time they became more distant, the more sick I felt.

I crossed the room, stripping my clothes without discarding them in their correct place. And chucked an oversized T-shirt over my head. They were in a pile on the floor and I didn't care for once. I just wanted to lay down and cry. I wanted a friend to talk to, somebody at least. Bree wasn't here, I didn't start my new counselling sessions till later this week, and I couldn't discuss it with mom. She had too much on her mind recently, she would only worry about me too much.

I lay on my side, watching the stars from my window. I was a broken mess. Why did I let Mason get to me so much? I barely knew him, this wasn't right.

What was Mason Leighway doing to me?