Free Minds Chained Hearts | ✔

Part 1 | Chapter 8

One can simply have gotten used to this seamless traffic, but I haven't. Everything's too loud, too tall, too overwhelming that it makes me feel just a little-

"-lost?"

Cold chills wrapped around my body with the voice and it's soft sultry sound. I knew exactly who it was yet at the same time I didn't know him. It's like hearing a nuclear alarm sounding.

I turn around swiftly to face the last person I wanted to. There, I find him with one leg perched up to the wall, crossed arms, and a pair of devilish eyes. They're just as I remembered from last night only this time, they were brighter and less monstrous.

I gulped the moment I saw him, the feeling of a million bricks on my chest landed. I really hope my prayers are heard.

"Never thought I'd see you again missy, " he announced, standing up straight before striding towards me, hands in his pockets.

His eyes danced around my face as if he was looking for something but I only look up at him. If only he weren't so tall them maybe I wouldn't be as intimidated by him. He basically towers above me like the empire state building.

"Y-yeah...I-"

"Words?" He mocked, tilting his head to the side and I look down.

I know I can do better than this, I could fight. But something about him just feels too restricting and heavy and strong. I'm trying to fight but all I can do is cower.

"Partners, " I spoke up, "found out we're partners." Despite my trembling voice, I managed to let out a few words with various attempts to be confident again.

"Yeah, I heard, " he chuckle.

"Well, " I sighed uncomfortably, "clearly you wouldn't want to work with me, and neither would I want to work with you so, I'll ask miss Galen to get that changed, " I said with fake enthusiasm before walking away only to stop on my tracks.

"No, you won't." I hear him say confidently. I roll my eyes before faking a smile and turning on my heel.

"Excuse me?"

Who does he think I am?

He walks a step towards me standing just a foot away and I stood my ground.

"You wouldn't do something like that." He shrugged as though he was so sure of what he said and I laugh.

"Oh really?" I challenged. It's probably not a great chance to challenge this guy but it's worth a shot.

His eyes met mine for a second looking so mused with my attitude, forgetting that we're standing in the middle of the hallway.

"Really." He mocked, "considering that you are a girl who never kissed a boy, doesn't like cursing and never drank, I would say you're too much of a teacher's pet to be complacent." He said with an ever-growing smirk in his face.

My blood boiled as he spoke and I mentally prepared myself to respond - but I couldn't.

Again, like the other time, he made an assumption about me, he got it right. Perhaps it's my fault for being so predictable but still, it hurts me to think that he can easily know who I am. He's right, he got it right the first time. So now I'm curious about what other assumptions he must have of me.

"So I'm right again aren't I?" He said proudly.

"You can't possibly work with me r-right?" I bravely asked.

"With a prude nerd? No, but it's not like your brave to do anything about that eh?" Ouch.

Why does he always have the most painful responses? It's not like I'm a robot who doesn't get offended.

I look down to my feet in shame knowing that he basically got it all right. I'm too reserved and good to actually mother someone about something small. Father said to always go by what I'm told.

"Guess not, " I mumbled in defeat.

"Then that's settled." He said, "knowing you, you'd be happy to do all the work." He walks by me, nudging my shoulder in the process and I knew that I couldn't just let him talk to me like that.

"Knowing me?" I followed him.

"Yes, knowing you." His tone says it all. The arrogance and the proudness.

"How dare you say that you know me? We met once, at a party with some interesting people. That doesn't mean you know me." I mocked his Italian accent and regretted it immediately.

He turns around making me crash into his body sending me stumbling back a little. A scowl is now painted over his arrogance as he towered over me. Like a lion angered by a little rodent. The strong smell of cigarettes lingered at how close we stood and I couldn't help but just tremble.

"You aren't rocket science missy. Anyone I fucking know can basically tell the kind of person you are. Such a sucker for being called a good girl eh?" I shiver, "maybe that's your fault. And if you think you can change that, then good-fucking-luck. You've got a whole year to do that."

And with that, his darting eyes burned through mine one last time sending shivers down my spine. I've angered him and I can see that.

He finally turns and walks away before I could even defend myself and he leaves me a little bit smaller. It's like all he wants to do is belittle someone; me.

As I walked the other way while being stared at by a few witnesses, I keep my head down low in embarrassment.

I can't believe he's that mean to do that in public. It's like he doesn't even have any sympathy for anyone.

Sure he's brooding and a ticking time bomb but that shouldn't give him permission to treat anyone like trash; treat me like trash.

Ugh! I can't believe I'm gonna be stuck with him for this one whole year. Perhaps it wouldn't be as bad since he did say he wouldn't do work and although that may be a nightmare for me, that means no him. I don't mind that.