As I stood there, trying to collect my thoughts, I heard the sound of the toilet door opening and closing. Footsteps echoed outside my stall, and then there was a gentle knock on the door. "Hey, are you okay in there?" a soft voice asked. I recognized the voice as Emily's.
I took a deep breath and opened the door, coming out to the empty room before the toilet, trying to compose myself. "Yeah, I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile onto my face. "Just needed a minute to myself."
Emily looked at me with concern, but she didn't push the issue. "Okay, well, if you're sure you're okay...I just wanted to apologize if I made things awkward out there."
I shook my head. "No, it's not your fault. I just...I don't know, I guess I wasn't expecting everyone to start shipping us like that."
Emily laughed. "Yeah, I guess we can get a little carried away sometimes."
"Back in high school, I used to think we were rivals," Emily said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I mean, we were always competing in class, and I felt like you were this perfect, unattainable goal."
I laughed, surprised by the admission. "Emily, I had no idea you felt that way."
Emily shrugged. "Yeah, well, I guess we were both too busy trying to one-up each other to realize we could've been friends."
I smiled. "I'm glad we're friends now, Emily."
Emily smiled back. "Me too, Blossom. You deserve all the happiness in the world."
Just then, the bathroom door opened again, and Rion walked in. "Hey, is everything okay in here?" he asked, looking at Emily and then at me.
Emily smiled. "Yeah, everything's fine. I was just checking on Blossom here."
Rion's eyes locked onto mine, and I felt my heart skip a beat. "Okay, good," he said. "I was starting to get worried."
Emily took the hint and excused herself, leaving Rion and me alone in the room.
Rion's eyes never left mine as Emily slipped out of the bathroom, leaving us alone. The air seemed to thicken, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as Rion took a step closer to me.
His hand reached out, and his fingers brushed against mine, sending a spark of electricity through my body. I felt myself getting lost in the depths of his eyes, my heart pounding in my chest.
As my mind was slowly trying to comprehend what was going on, he pulled me closer and before I knew it out faces where inches away from each other.
As Rion's lips made contact with mine, an unexpected surge of electricity coursed through my entire being, and in that split second, I felt something inside me snap—a fissure opening where clarity had once thrived.
The world seemed to still as shock enveloped me, my mind paralyzed by the sheer intensity of the moment. It was as though time itself had paused, leaving us suspended in an intimate yet chaotic embrace.
However, as our lips connected, a jolt of reality pierced my daze, forcing me to recoil in a wave of conflicting emotions. Breathless and wide-eyed, I pulled away, my heart racing like a wild animal desperate for freedom. The confusion that flooded my mind was overwhelming, like a turbulent sea threatening to drown me.
Rion's reaction, however, sent my heart plummeting deeper into my chest.
His composure dissolved into a mask of fury, his face twisting into a fierce scowl that sent a chill immeasurably deeper than the one I had felt moments before. "I knew it!" he spat, his voice a low growl that sent ripples of dread through me. "It's Vincent, isn't it? That two-faced beast has stolen you away from me!"
Each word dripped with venom, and the accusation struck me like a physical blow.
I could only stare in disbelief, utterly taken aback by his vehement outburst.
What was he talking about?
My mind raced in a frantic search for rationale, a desperate attempt to decode this angry tirade. But as his rage simmered and bubbled just beneath the surface, I felt a shiver cascade down my spine, the implications of his words lingering like a ghost in my thoughts.
Just then, a harsh buzz erupted from Rion's phone, slicing through the tension like a knife.
He glanced at the screen, his expression transforming into one of ominous gravity. "I have to take this," he growled, turning his back on me as if I were an unwelcome intruder in a place that once felt so familiar.
As he walked away, I strained to catch some semblance of his conversation, my heart pounding louder than the chaotic thoughts swirling in my head. "Yes,... I understand... I'll take care of it," he said, each clipped phrase echoing in my ears.
The icy tendrils of fear slithered back into my heart, sending a shiver down my spine. Who was Rion speaking to with such urgency? What dark plan lay behind his promise to "take care of it"?
Questions tumbled through my mind like fallen leafs in a raging windstorm, each one more disconcerting than the last. It seemed that the world had shifted beneath my feet, and I stood on the precipice of something far more complex and troubling than a mere kiss.
I turned and made a hasty exit from the party, my mind reeling with questions and my heart still racing from Rion's intense reaction. As I stepped out into the cool night air, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I was glad to be away from Rion and his unsettling behavior.
But as I walked away from the party, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Rion's reaction had been intense, almost...menacing. And that phone call had seemed suspicious, to say the least.
I quickened my pace, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't wait to get home and forget about the whole unsettling experience...
As I walked, the cool night air helped to clear my head. I couldn't believe how Rion had reacted. We had been friends since high school, and I had never seen him like that before. The anger and possessiveness in his eyes had been unnerving.
I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. I didn't want to think about Rion or his strange behavior. I just wanted to go home, crawl into bed, and forget about the whole night.
As I turned the corner onto my street, I noticed a figure standing by the corner of the street. My heart skipped a beat as I realized it was Vincent.
He was leaning against the wall, his eyes fixed on me as I approached. His expression was cold, unyielding, but as I drew closer, I saw a flicker of warmth in his eyes.
"Little de," he said, his voice low and husky.
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. There was something about Vincent's presence that made me feel safe, protected at the moment.
As we walked, Vincent's eyes scanned the surroundings, his expression unchanging. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he placed a hand on my waist, his touch sending a spark of electricity through my body.
"You're shaken," Vincent said, his voice devoid of emotion. "What happened?"
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Vincent's expression made me trust him. Something that seemed impossible.
"Rion just got weird," I said, trying to downplay the incident. "He got angry and possessive."
Vincent's expression didn't change, but I saw a flicker of something in his eyes. Anger?
"I'll take care of it," he said, his voice cold and detached.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as Vincent's eyes locked onto mine. There was something unnerving about his gaze, something that made me feel like he could see right through me.
But despite the coldness in his eyes, I felt a sense of safety with Vincent. A sense of protection. It was unlike me to feel this way towards Vincent.
As we reached my apartment building, Vincent's eyes scanned the surroundings once more. Then, he turned to me.
"You're safe now," he said, his voice low and husky.
He paused, his expression unreadable. "We'll be leaving London soon. Start packing up."
I felt a surge of surprise. Leaving London? So soon? But before I could ask any questions, Vincent turned and walked away.
Who was I kidding I knew that I'd expect a surprise notification like this.
I stood there, frozen in surprise, as Vincent got into his car and started the engine. I wanted to ask him where he had been, why he had shown up all of a sudden. But before I could even take a step forward, Vincent's car pulled away from the curb and disappeared into the night.
I was left standing alone, feeling both confused and concerned. What was going on? And why was Vincent being so secretive?
Not that he hasn't always been that way, but still this was on another level.