TITLE: Green
DISCLAIMER: Nightworld concepts belong to LJ Smith. Characters belong to me...ask if in the unlikely event that any take your fancy and you want to use them
SUMMARY: "...Joseph would never use her like he had used other girls. He had never fed from her and never would unless she let him. Harri's name entered her mind unbidden; Harri was with her soulmate right now. Harri who's innocent smile made Gracie want to slash the girl's throat with a nice sharp and pointy kitchen knife...." Gracie Bismarck always knew that her relationship with her soulmate Joseph Hannah wouldn't be easy, but she never expected so many humans to get in her way.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Coffee-Freak: I don't think that Harri is meant to be likable.... I mean she is after her friend's soulmate.... I'm glad you like Gracie though...it would be bad if my main character wasn't even the tiniest bit likable although I've read stories where I didn't like the main character at all but I just wanted to see what happened. I think it was The Devil Latch by Sonya Harnett. Kitten was freaky...ok I'm rambling. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you like the next bit
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :
GREEN: CHAPTER II
Harriet Miller wandered to her car, her back laden with a backpack full of textbooks. Rosie Willow walked next to her. She glanced around the student car park for a car she didn't really expect to be there. Joseph Hannah wasn't really the type to stick around school for a whole day.
Her eyes fell on Joseph's girlfriend speaking to Ari Lindsay. She smiled at Ari who caught her eyes. Gracie Bismarck followed Ari's gaze and the expression on her face soured. Harriet felt guilt stab at her.
She knew that she shouldn't be interested in Gracie's boy, but Joseph Hannah was way too interesting for her not to be. Rosie waved next to her and headed to where they were standing next to Ari's car.
"Hey," Rosie greeted her friends. Harri tossed over the decision to follow her classmate but found she was following the leggy eighteen year-old.
Ari smiled at Rosie but his expression diminished at seeing Harri. She smiled back at him, but his golden eyes lacked lustre as he turned to look at Gracie. Harri saw what surfaced when he looked at her rival.
It was unmistakable, his warmth was brighter than the sun and Ari was glowing with emotion. Ari Lindsay was infatuated with Gracie Bismarck.
Harriet had to choke the laughter that had risen to her throat. Ari gave her a quick glare but ignored her. Gracie made pleasant conversation before leaving them. Harri watched Gracie go, she could see the submissive way that she walked. Harri's blood became thicker as it pumped through her heart. Somehow Harri knew she was responsible for the way Gracie was moving, the way her smiles didn't reach her eyes. Guilt emulsified her blood and she felt a heaviness fall over her, greater than the weight of her school bag. It moved her from her position beside Rosie and Ari to her friend's side.
Gracie glanced at her, the disgust in her grey eyes filled Harri with discomfort. Sorry formed on her lips, but it wasn't true. Harri wouldn't apologise to Gracie. She had done no wrong, still shame moved around her body.
"How's Hannah?" the wrong question strayed from Harri's lips. Gracie's granite glare ploughed through Harri.
"Fine," the words were ice.
"Pete?" Harri inquired, hoping that asking about her stepbrother would melt the words spoken from Gracie's lips.
"An annoying little bugger," Gracie replied. Her tone was still frosty.
Harri grinned, "What about Phyllis?"
Gracie rolled her eyes. "Incompetent."
Harri laughed and surprisingly Gracie laughed with her. Forgiveness had not passed between them, but a truce had formed. The treaty would hold so long as Harri did not mention or go near Joseph Hannah. It was a treaty that Harri had no intention of upholding.
"What about Ari?" Harri smiled knowingly at her friend. Gracie turned to face her.
"What do you mean by that?" Gracie voice was tight. Laughter glinted in Harri's green eyes. Harri smiled, shaking her head. "Harri?"
"Never mind," Harri laughed, Gracie's eyes filling with distrust again.
"Tell me, Harri."
"It's just my imagination," Harri laughed moving to her red Ford Laser. Gracie stood behind her car. Her grey eyes searching Harri's face; clouding over with confusion.
"Whatever," Gracie walked to where her stepbrother was waiting. "See-ya tomorrow."
"Bye," Harriet Miller fell in to the drivers seat, watching Gracie in the rear vision mirror. Her eyes drifted over to where Ari was still talking to Rosie.
The golden boy glanced up suddenly and looked over to her car. Harri flinched as she found herself staring into those gold eyes.
~*~
Peter looked over at his stepsister as he pulled into their drive. Her expression was faded. Gracie was not the vibrant girl he knew. He also knew that Joseph Hannah was responsible for the way Gracie was behaving.
"What did he do?" Peter risked being torn limb from limb.
Gracie turned her tearstained eyes to her stepbrother. "Nothing, I told you he would never hurt me."
Peter raised an eyebrow questioningly, not trusting what Gracie had to say. "You've been like this the whole day. If it wasn't Hannah, it was someone else." He was certain Gracie's soulmate was screwing her around. Couldn't she see that she didn't have to be with him?
"Pete, lay off. It's none of your damn business," Gracie got out of the car, slamming shut the car door. "Goddess, Pete. You have no idea what it's like for me, to have everyone telling me that the guy I love is wrong for me. If he was wrong for me, why did the old powers put us together? Dammit Pete! Can you tell me why?" Gracie shouted at the chocolate haired boy, "Tell me why?"
Peter's eyes grew wide at his stepsister's frustration. He didn't expect her to morph into an erupting volcano. Her grey eyes were wild with pent up stress. He saw how much damage Hanna had done to Gracie. He wanted to hurt Joseph Hannah. He wanted to show that boy just how much he was destroying the girl he supposedly loved. "Sorry, Gracie. I can't tell you why," Peter mumbled meekly as he followed her into the house.
Gracie ignored her five-year-old half sister who had run up to greet her. Pete looked down at the little girl who had deep chocolate brown hair like him and hard grey eyes like her older sister.
"Gracie angry," the younger girl stated, puzzlement fusing with her cuteness.
"Yes, Lils. Gracie very angry," Peter agreed with his half sibling.
~*~
~Can you tell me why? ~ The shout echoed in his head. Joseph groaned. He did not want this. He had never asked for someone to care about. ~Tell me why? ~
His hands went to his ears; he knew this would happen sooner later. He was just betting on later. The fury vibrated through the link. Mind to mind he knew exactly what she was feeling. Her heart was bleeding, and every tear that dripped down her cheek was blood. Every tear that dripped down her cheek trickled down his. His blue eyes cried oceans because she was.
Joseph shut his eyes. Trying to reach for a barrier he knew he could put up, instead a hand betrayed him and he reached for the phone, emotion pouring through the link in a one-way torrent.
The number he dialled was insignificant; he knew who he needed to speak to. He knew that they would yell and scream and he would drive over and they would be together crying tears that would separate them more.
"Hello?" a male voice answered.
Joseph choked back tears, forcing himself to speak calmly. "Hi, is Gracie there?"
There was pause and it put him on edge. He needed to speak to Gracie, he had to hear her voice and tell her that it didn't matter. Tell her that he cared and that they would work it out, each time it was getting harder to lie and even harder to believe.
"She doesn't want to speak to anyone at the moment. Can I take a message?" the man replied.
"No, Mr Bismarck. It's Joseph...I need to talk to her. Tell her its Joseph," urgency crept into his voice. Tell her that it's her soulmate who loves her.
"I'm sorry, Joseph. She said she didn't want to talk to anyone. She's had a trying day," the politeness of Gracie's father hurt him more. The man should understand. Why didn't he understand?
"Mr Bismarck. I need to speak with her," he could feel every ounce of her misery, and was crying every one of her tears. Every thought that passed through her mind, he could read. But he couldn't contact her. She was too obsessed with her woe. Too enamoured with the despondency she had created in herself.
"I'm sorry, but she won't answer her door. She doesn't want to talk with anyone," Mr Bismarck was firm, "Try later. I'll tell her you called."
The dial tone filled his ears and he smashed the handset back into its cradle. He knew what would happen now. It happened every time he broke one of the promises she had extracted from him. He would go to her, and make more promises to break. Only to repeat the experiment over and over again, it was an endless cycle. He knew what would happen and he would do it. She was his soulmate, and she was the one the made him feel things. She made the world worthwhile.
He locked his door mindlessly, heading to his car. Her thoughts getting dark, swirling into precarious whirlpools. Incidents bubbled to the surface, his actions throbbing through her mind and falling through into the link. Hazel eyes and brown hair filled his mind, and he knew what had triggered this.
Harriet Miller.
The girl that had captured something in him, Gracie knew this. It was eating away at her. It had caused this momentary grief. Joseph stared, glaring at the red lights glowing above him. He needed to get to Gracie now.
Turns blurred as he sped down her street, stopping a few houses from hers.
Joseph calmed himself, trying to stop the feelings Gracie was inserting in him. Trying to stop the emotions that were acid to his mind.
He jogged softly and silently, using the abilities that came naturally to him. The light in her room, made him smile. The window was open.
The air felt cold beneath his legs as he climbed up the trellis, ignoring the splinters that dug into his palm. They were nothing compared to what a stake could do.
"Why wouldn't you answer the phone?" Joseph asked, going to his sobbing soulmate. She started and the mahogany haired girl pushed furiously at her tears.
"Damn you Joseph," Gracie whispered.
"I haven't done anything wrong," Joseph stated plainly. Watching her reaction, she was locked in her place. Bolt upright on her bed. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and feel her relax among his arms and against his chest. He wanted to look into her eyes that wouldn't be tearstained and puffy. He wanted the world to be perfect, but it wasn't and he would never be.
"I can still feel it. You want her," Gracie told him, anger jumping around her vocals. Despise deep in her voice. "Goddess Joseph, I can feel it. I don't get it. Aren't I enough for you?"
Joseph tried not to roll his eyes, "I do not lust after Harriet Miller."
"Then why? Why do you think about her? She's human Joseph. I know what you used to do to girls like her," Gracie's voice wavered.
Joseph went to the witch; she didn't flinch when he sat beside her. He took her hand and he felt her gasp as the link flew to life.
She felt him in his mind, and he wondered what she saw.
~I don't know, my sweet~
He felt her fall against him and he held her close. Relishing the fleeting peace between them, it should always be like this he decided.
~Then we wouldn't be people,~ Gracie commented from inside his psyche. Her thoughts brushed his mind like fingers being dragged through a still pond.
~It's nice, here~ Joseph felt his eyes closing, and he lay down. Gracie curled beside him on the bed.
~I don't trust you, ~ Gracie told him. Her honesty sparkled like a diamond and hit him twice as hard.
Joseph breathed in. He already knew that, if she trusted him, she wouldn't be torturing herself with thoughts of Harriet Miller.
~I realise that. I guess I have no reason to be offended. I'm not the most reliable soulmate, ~
Gracie gave the mental equivalent of a sigh. ~Harri's after you, ~
~Can we not talk about that? ~ Joseph backed away from the subject, he didn't want to the mar the situation.
Joseph felt indignation rise up in her, and he wanted to quell it but he knew she would press the point. ~I'm with you, Gracie. I know it's hard sometimes. So many things to do with us are new to me~
~ So you go after other girls? ~ Gracie accused. He felt her try and rise out of his mind.
~I've never done that. So don't even go there. ~
~What about Harri? Joseph don't lie to me~ her thoughts were pained. Every word stung Joseph's mind.
~What about her? This isn't about her it's about us. ~
"Don't avoid the question," Gracie sat up, slightly dazed but immediately angry at her soulmate.
"There are a lot of things about Harri we could discuss, but I haven't done any thing wrong," Joseph defended himself verbally.
Gracie's eyes were stone. She would not believe him. "Out!"
Joseph fixed his ocean blue eyes on her, "No."
"Why not?" she said angrily. Standing over him with her hand on hips. Joseph sat up reaching to pull her closer to him.
"Because I don't want to leave you," he intertwined his fingers with hers, "I haven't betrayed you."
Her grey eyes gave him no mercy; they plundered through his like a crazy hacksaw. She dug her nails into his skin, knowing that it wouldn't hurt him that much.
"Haven't you?" her question reverberated through the link, and Joseph absorbed it, "You shouldn't make me feel like this. You shouldn't make me defend you from myself. Damn you Joseph, why did you have to turn up in my life?"
"I don't know, but I'm here. I don't know how to make you happy Gracie. I only know that when you're like this. I feel it," Joseph felt tears creep to his eyes, "I don't want to feel anything Gracie. I don't want you to feel like I do."
Joseph felt Gracie's grey eyes fall across him, and a reassuring hand slid to his shoulder.
DISCLAIMER: Nightworld concepts belong to LJ Smith. Characters belong to me...ask if in the unlikely event that any take your fancy and you want to use them
SUMMARY: "...Joseph would never use her like he had used other girls. He had never fed from her and never would unless she let him. Harri's name entered her mind unbidden; Harri was with her soulmate right now. Harri who's innocent smile made Gracie want to slash the girl's throat with a nice sharp and pointy kitchen knife...." Gracie Bismarck always knew that her relationship with her soulmate Joseph Hannah wouldn't be easy, but she never expected so many humans to get in her way.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Coffee-Freak: I don't think that Harri is meant to be likable.... I mean she is after her friend's soulmate.... I'm glad you like Gracie though...it would be bad if my main character wasn't even the tiniest bit likable although I've read stories where I didn't like the main character at all but I just wanted to see what happened. I think it was The Devil Latch by Sonya Harnett. Kitten was freaky...ok I'm rambling. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you like the next bit
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :
GREEN: CHAPTER II
Harriet Miller wandered to her car, her back laden with a backpack full of textbooks. Rosie Willow walked next to her. She glanced around the student car park for a car she didn't really expect to be there. Joseph Hannah wasn't really the type to stick around school for a whole day.
Her eyes fell on Joseph's girlfriend speaking to Ari Lindsay. She smiled at Ari who caught her eyes. Gracie Bismarck followed Ari's gaze and the expression on her face soured. Harriet felt guilt stab at her.
She knew that she shouldn't be interested in Gracie's boy, but Joseph Hannah was way too interesting for her not to be. Rosie waved next to her and headed to where they were standing next to Ari's car.
"Hey," Rosie greeted her friends. Harri tossed over the decision to follow her classmate but found she was following the leggy eighteen year-old.
Ari smiled at Rosie but his expression diminished at seeing Harri. She smiled back at him, but his golden eyes lacked lustre as he turned to look at Gracie. Harri saw what surfaced when he looked at her rival.
It was unmistakable, his warmth was brighter than the sun and Ari was glowing with emotion. Ari Lindsay was infatuated with Gracie Bismarck.
Harriet had to choke the laughter that had risen to her throat. Ari gave her a quick glare but ignored her. Gracie made pleasant conversation before leaving them. Harri watched Gracie go, she could see the submissive way that she walked. Harri's blood became thicker as it pumped through her heart. Somehow Harri knew she was responsible for the way Gracie was moving, the way her smiles didn't reach her eyes. Guilt emulsified her blood and she felt a heaviness fall over her, greater than the weight of her school bag. It moved her from her position beside Rosie and Ari to her friend's side.
Gracie glanced at her, the disgust in her grey eyes filled Harri with discomfort. Sorry formed on her lips, but it wasn't true. Harri wouldn't apologise to Gracie. She had done no wrong, still shame moved around her body.
"How's Hannah?" the wrong question strayed from Harri's lips. Gracie's granite glare ploughed through Harri.
"Fine," the words were ice.
"Pete?" Harri inquired, hoping that asking about her stepbrother would melt the words spoken from Gracie's lips.
"An annoying little bugger," Gracie replied. Her tone was still frosty.
Harri grinned, "What about Phyllis?"
Gracie rolled her eyes. "Incompetent."
Harri laughed and surprisingly Gracie laughed with her. Forgiveness had not passed between them, but a truce had formed. The treaty would hold so long as Harri did not mention or go near Joseph Hannah. It was a treaty that Harri had no intention of upholding.
"What about Ari?" Harri smiled knowingly at her friend. Gracie turned to face her.
"What do you mean by that?" Gracie voice was tight. Laughter glinted in Harri's green eyes. Harri smiled, shaking her head. "Harri?"
"Never mind," Harri laughed, Gracie's eyes filling with distrust again.
"Tell me, Harri."
"It's just my imagination," Harri laughed moving to her red Ford Laser. Gracie stood behind her car. Her grey eyes searching Harri's face; clouding over with confusion.
"Whatever," Gracie walked to where her stepbrother was waiting. "See-ya tomorrow."
"Bye," Harriet Miller fell in to the drivers seat, watching Gracie in the rear vision mirror. Her eyes drifted over to where Ari was still talking to Rosie.
The golden boy glanced up suddenly and looked over to her car. Harri flinched as she found herself staring into those gold eyes.
~*~
Peter looked over at his stepsister as he pulled into their drive. Her expression was faded. Gracie was not the vibrant girl he knew. He also knew that Joseph Hannah was responsible for the way Gracie was behaving.
"What did he do?" Peter risked being torn limb from limb.
Gracie turned her tearstained eyes to her stepbrother. "Nothing, I told you he would never hurt me."
Peter raised an eyebrow questioningly, not trusting what Gracie had to say. "You've been like this the whole day. If it wasn't Hannah, it was someone else." He was certain Gracie's soulmate was screwing her around. Couldn't she see that she didn't have to be with him?
"Pete, lay off. It's none of your damn business," Gracie got out of the car, slamming shut the car door. "Goddess, Pete. You have no idea what it's like for me, to have everyone telling me that the guy I love is wrong for me. If he was wrong for me, why did the old powers put us together? Dammit Pete! Can you tell me why?" Gracie shouted at the chocolate haired boy, "Tell me why?"
Peter's eyes grew wide at his stepsister's frustration. He didn't expect her to morph into an erupting volcano. Her grey eyes were wild with pent up stress. He saw how much damage Hanna had done to Gracie. He wanted to hurt Joseph Hannah. He wanted to show that boy just how much he was destroying the girl he supposedly loved. "Sorry, Gracie. I can't tell you why," Peter mumbled meekly as he followed her into the house.
Gracie ignored her five-year-old half sister who had run up to greet her. Pete looked down at the little girl who had deep chocolate brown hair like him and hard grey eyes like her older sister.
"Gracie angry," the younger girl stated, puzzlement fusing with her cuteness.
"Yes, Lils. Gracie very angry," Peter agreed with his half sibling.
~*~
~Can you tell me why? ~ The shout echoed in his head. Joseph groaned. He did not want this. He had never asked for someone to care about. ~Tell me why? ~
His hands went to his ears; he knew this would happen sooner later. He was just betting on later. The fury vibrated through the link. Mind to mind he knew exactly what she was feeling. Her heart was bleeding, and every tear that dripped down her cheek was blood. Every tear that dripped down her cheek trickled down his. His blue eyes cried oceans because she was.
Joseph shut his eyes. Trying to reach for a barrier he knew he could put up, instead a hand betrayed him and he reached for the phone, emotion pouring through the link in a one-way torrent.
The number he dialled was insignificant; he knew who he needed to speak to. He knew that they would yell and scream and he would drive over and they would be together crying tears that would separate them more.
"Hello?" a male voice answered.
Joseph choked back tears, forcing himself to speak calmly. "Hi, is Gracie there?"
There was pause and it put him on edge. He needed to speak to Gracie, he had to hear her voice and tell her that it didn't matter. Tell her that he cared and that they would work it out, each time it was getting harder to lie and even harder to believe.
"She doesn't want to speak to anyone at the moment. Can I take a message?" the man replied.
"No, Mr Bismarck. It's Joseph...I need to talk to her. Tell her its Joseph," urgency crept into his voice. Tell her that it's her soulmate who loves her.
"I'm sorry, Joseph. She said she didn't want to talk to anyone. She's had a trying day," the politeness of Gracie's father hurt him more. The man should understand. Why didn't he understand?
"Mr Bismarck. I need to speak with her," he could feel every ounce of her misery, and was crying every one of her tears. Every thought that passed through her mind, he could read. But he couldn't contact her. She was too obsessed with her woe. Too enamoured with the despondency she had created in herself.
"I'm sorry, but she won't answer her door. She doesn't want to talk with anyone," Mr Bismarck was firm, "Try later. I'll tell her you called."
The dial tone filled his ears and he smashed the handset back into its cradle. He knew what would happen now. It happened every time he broke one of the promises she had extracted from him. He would go to her, and make more promises to break. Only to repeat the experiment over and over again, it was an endless cycle. He knew what would happen and he would do it. She was his soulmate, and she was the one the made him feel things. She made the world worthwhile.
He locked his door mindlessly, heading to his car. Her thoughts getting dark, swirling into precarious whirlpools. Incidents bubbled to the surface, his actions throbbing through her mind and falling through into the link. Hazel eyes and brown hair filled his mind, and he knew what had triggered this.
Harriet Miller.
The girl that had captured something in him, Gracie knew this. It was eating away at her. It had caused this momentary grief. Joseph stared, glaring at the red lights glowing above him. He needed to get to Gracie now.
Turns blurred as he sped down her street, stopping a few houses from hers.
Joseph calmed himself, trying to stop the feelings Gracie was inserting in him. Trying to stop the emotions that were acid to his mind.
He jogged softly and silently, using the abilities that came naturally to him. The light in her room, made him smile. The window was open.
The air felt cold beneath his legs as he climbed up the trellis, ignoring the splinters that dug into his palm. They were nothing compared to what a stake could do.
"Why wouldn't you answer the phone?" Joseph asked, going to his sobbing soulmate. She started and the mahogany haired girl pushed furiously at her tears.
"Damn you Joseph," Gracie whispered.
"I haven't done anything wrong," Joseph stated plainly. Watching her reaction, she was locked in her place. Bolt upright on her bed. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and feel her relax among his arms and against his chest. He wanted to look into her eyes that wouldn't be tearstained and puffy. He wanted the world to be perfect, but it wasn't and he would never be.
"I can still feel it. You want her," Gracie told him, anger jumping around her vocals. Despise deep in her voice. "Goddess Joseph, I can feel it. I don't get it. Aren't I enough for you?"
Joseph tried not to roll his eyes, "I do not lust after Harriet Miller."
"Then why? Why do you think about her? She's human Joseph. I know what you used to do to girls like her," Gracie's voice wavered.
Joseph went to the witch; she didn't flinch when he sat beside her. He took her hand and he felt her gasp as the link flew to life.
She felt him in his mind, and he wondered what she saw.
~I don't know, my sweet~
He felt her fall against him and he held her close. Relishing the fleeting peace between them, it should always be like this he decided.
~Then we wouldn't be people,~ Gracie commented from inside his psyche. Her thoughts brushed his mind like fingers being dragged through a still pond.
~It's nice, here~ Joseph felt his eyes closing, and he lay down. Gracie curled beside him on the bed.
~I don't trust you, ~ Gracie told him. Her honesty sparkled like a diamond and hit him twice as hard.
Joseph breathed in. He already knew that, if she trusted him, she wouldn't be torturing herself with thoughts of Harriet Miller.
~I realise that. I guess I have no reason to be offended. I'm not the most reliable soulmate, ~
Gracie gave the mental equivalent of a sigh. ~Harri's after you, ~
~Can we not talk about that? ~ Joseph backed away from the subject, he didn't want to the mar the situation.
Joseph felt indignation rise up in her, and he wanted to quell it but he knew she would press the point. ~I'm with you, Gracie. I know it's hard sometimes. So many things to do with us are new to me~
~ So you go after other girls? ~ Gracie accused. He felt her try and rise out of his mind.
~I've never done that. So don't even go there. ~
~What about Harri? Joseph don't lie to me~ her thoughts were pained. Every word stung Joseph's mind.
~What about her? This isn't about her it's about us. ~
"Don't avoid the question," Gracie sat up, slightly dazed but immediately angry at her soulmate.
"There are a lot of things about Harri we could discuss, but I haven't done any thing wrong," Joseph defended himself verbally.
Gracie's eyes were stone. She would not believe him. "Out!"
Joseph fixed his ocean blue eyes on her, "No."
"Why not?" she said angrily. Standing over him with her hand on hips. Joseph sat up reaching to pull her closer to him.
"Because I don't want to leave you," he intertwined his fingers with hers, "I haven't betrayed you."
Her grey eyes gave him no mercy; they plundered through his like a crazy hacksaw. She dug her nails into his skin, knowing that it wouldn't hurt him that much.
"Haven't you?" her question reverberated through the link, and Joseph absorbed it, "You shouldn't make me feel like this. You shouldn't make me defend you from myself. Damn you Joseph, why did you have to turn up in my life?"
"I don't know, but I'm here. I don't know how to make you happy Gracie. I only know that when you're like this. I feel it," Joseph felt tears creep to his eyes, "I don't want to feel anything Gracie. I don't want you to feel like I do."
Joseph felt Gracie's grey eyes fall across him, and a reassuring hand slid to his shoulder.