- We need to talk, - his voice wasn't gentle but what startled her was his proximity when she'd turned round to the sound - he was right behind her.
Catherine swayed away:
- Vincent, what the..?! Geez, you scared me!
His voice was sarcastic:
- Oh my, I thought you're getting accustomed to this. You didn't seem to mind when that Lowen guy was all over you earlier today!
She looked surprised… shocked actually:
- What? What does Gabriel has to do with this?
The poison from inside of Vincent kept coming, as it has breached some sort of a wall…
- So you run on first name basis now? Am I too late to congratulate the happy couple?
- What the hell has happened to you, Vincent?! I work with Gabriel to…
- You call it "work"?! It was called differently in my days! Because dates and breakfast implies much more than just "work"!
He was screaming by this point in a time. But he couldn't help it - so much expectation was laid out for this moment, so much heart pain…
Catherine was gasping for air… She could not process the idea that Vincent was accusing her of this! Sure thing she could hear the booming undertone of jealousy ... but could not understand where was it coming from - he had no interests in her of these sorts, what could he possibly be jealous about?
Yes, there was a moment when she thought they had something. Something beautiful, precious, something she was cherishing and was about to act on… when Alex came into their lives. And so simple, so quick… she took it all from Catherine.
Catherine tried to hate on Alex, she really did. Not because it was this girly non-rationally rational thing to do… she was actually trying to find some core flaws to this woman that would prove that Vincent is better off without her.
But she couldn't. Alex was genuinely nice person, caring and warm. And she was good for Vincent; Catherine could see how he was with her - simple, at ease…
It was good that Alex had found Vincent…
But what bloody right had he to accuse her of having a fling, even if he was so damn wrong about it? What was it to him?!
- You know, Keller, you overstep your boundaries! You have no right to interfere with my personal life should I have one and certainty you have no right to demand explanations of any sorts! And stop spying on me; it's getting out of hands!
- I wasn't spying! I came to talk but couldn't interrupt idyllic picture of two young lovebirds too caught up at each other to notice much around them!
Catherine pushed him so he would step away and let her go. He caught her forearms in his and held her tight to his chest while Catherine screamed back:
- What is it to you, Keller, huh? You have your happily-ever-after, why can't I? I'm not that bad looking, I have guys fighting over me and yet you, supposedly dead man, get more action than I do! How is it even fair?
Every word she screamed was piercing through his brain clouded with anger and need… living shards of self-control behind… starting adrenaline frenzy…
- Let me go, Keller! You're hurting me!
His eyes beamed open in surprise when she'd freed her right hand and grabbed a gun from behind her back. Catherine pointed it on Vincent and said in a hushed voice:
- Vincent, get out of here! Now! For your own good - just walk away!
- That's… unexpected. - Vincent's voice was hushed, - You've never threatened me with a gun before. At least, not ME me…
Catherine lowered her gun and set down to a chair near her. She looked away to the dark street and her voice was so tired, so exhausted…
- You are an idiot, Keller. In so many aspects…
She looked him straight in the eyes, her gaze was… examining:
- You have had that yellow glow in your eyes, JT says it's your tell that you may snap any moment. He said if this ever happens when tranquilizer is not around I should try to distract you with something rational. Clear thinking may help you to calm down. So I flashed a gun at you. It worked… You're fine now.
She left her gun at a kitchen counter and turn around to leave towards her bathroom. Her last words to him were:
- You have said just about enough. Go away, Vincent. And… don't come back.
When she'd turned around to see if he'd heard her… he was already gone. She came to the window and watched an empty fire escape for a moment.
- Have a happy life, Vincent.
Catherine closed a window and went to the bathroom… As if water can strip her clean off everything that has washed through her head lately.
Around the corner Vincent was standing with his back against a wall. He'd heard the sound of closing window…
That's it then…
He started running…