And it’s understandable, considering the shit Xan has been getting himself into. Alcohol, fighting, and now, hurting his hand.
I swallow at that.
He cut his hand, and there was blood. Like me.
Only, is he? I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose. Doesn’t mean the wound isn’t hurting him, though.
Xander smiles at his father and even though his dimples make an appearance, it’s a forced one that’s hiding what seems like bitterness behind it. “Good morning to you, too, Dad.”
“We’ll talk later.” And with that, Lewis is out the door.
I stare at the place he stood in, beside Kirian, my mind filled with all sorts of messed up theories.
No, nope. I’m not going to think about that.
Xander smiles down at Kir. “I’ll go get ready for school. Okay, Superman?”
Kirian gives him a fist without lifting his head and then they make a blowing sound.
I would’ve been touched by the scene if my insides weren’t melting down.
Xander leaves from the other side – Kirian’s side. If he thinks he can run away from me, from this, he has another thing coming.
He doesn’t get to kiss me, to murmur those words to me, and to light my body on fire just to walk away as if
it never happened.
He called me Green. His Green.
After a whole seven years, he finally called me Green again, and I’m not going to pretend that it’s a play of my imagination or some sort of dream.
I’m done being pushed around by him and letting him be the decision-maker in all this tale.
We always did things together and that shouldn’t change.
I storm on his heels and plant myself in front of him, disallowing him access to the stairs. “You don’t get to run away.”
“Run away?” He laughs and the cruelty in it crushes me slowly. “Who are you so I’d run away from you?”
“But –”
“You’re nothing, Berly.”
“Fuck you,” I wanted to say it with spite, but it comes out weak and with so much pain, it’s pathetic.
“No, thanks.”
“But you did. You can’t pretend it never happened.”
The malice in his eyes is nothing like I’ve ever seen before. This time, it’s tangible and with the clear intention to break. “Watch me.”
“I won’t stay still this time.” I fight the brittleness in my voice. “I’m not the girl who waited on your approval like a lost puppy. That girl is gone. If you erase me, I’ll erase you harder.”
“By all means,” he snarls in my face. “Do. It.”
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why do you keep doing this, Xan?”
“Stop saying my fucking name.” His eyes rage until they darken into a frightening blue. “Stop talking to me. Stop being in my damn vicinity. Disappear from my fucking life.”