"I can take care of myself, you know." I'm being ungrateful and it hurts me, but it's better this way. I can't let him know how much I don't hate him. How much he makes me feel. It's safer, for his sake. Because once I show him what I want, what I feel — he might feel the same. "I'm no ones girl, Masen. And I'm definitely not yours." I shake my head as smoke unfurls around us.
"Stop being so fucking difficult." He says, pulling me aside in the glass entryway of the Greenview. His hands are on my upper arms, pushing me against the decorative glass. I wish he would kiss me, fuck me, take this gnawing feeling away that's settling in my stomach.
"Who was that guy?" He questions. There's an urgency to his tone that I can't quite place.
"Paul Uley. My dealer. But you seem to know everything already." I roll my eyes. I'm annoying him, I can tell.
"You don't take shit from scum like that, okay?" He shakes me and I feel tears prickle, my eyes growing hot. I don't want to cry in front of Masen, he shouldn't see me this weak.
"I-I'm not taking anything from anyone."
"Little Doe, please. Stop this."
"Stop what?"
"With this fucking wall of yours. One moment we're having fun and the next you're on a different planet with this... this vacancy in your eyes." His eyes search for mine but I don't meet them. Instead, I watch the details of the pin on his leather jacket.
"What's it to you?"
"Who was he? Does he want you dead?" He shakes me even harder, scaring me.
"Stop it." I whisper.
"Baby, come on. Tell me, I can fucking help you. Say the word and he's six feet under." I sorta believe him, his plea and want to surrender, but I'm scared for the consequences. Masen's finger traces the outline of my jaw, up to my lips until he meets the lone teardrop that escaped my eye. He wipes it away and I cave in and look into his eyes. They're kind and smoldering, asking so many questions that even I don't want answered.
See ya tomorrow xoxo