I am sorry this update took so long. I'm becoming busy with the Fall semester starting back up and moving. I wanted to give you guys a perfect new chapter, but it's been a while. This is the reason why the chapter in unedited. Thanks in advance for understanding!
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I spun around to find myself extremely close with the mysterious man. Shrieking, I jumped back. He was gorgeous, but strangely familiar. His dark green eyes reminded me of a forest. His brown hair was in a tousled quiff as if he had ran his hands through them all day. It looked so soft. His tuxedo was straightened out, without a single wrinkle in sight.
"It's not nice to sneak up on an innocent and defenseless girl, you know." I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest.
Chills crawled up my spine as his eyes traveled down my body, examining every aspect, before trailing back up to my face, intensely staring into my brown orbs. His eyes squinted in confusion.
"You don't remember me," he murmured in thought.
I slowly backed away, suddenly finding the situation becoming creepy. "I'm sorry, but I think my mom's calling me."
"Who was your first boyfriend?"
I halted in my steps, my blood instantly freezing at the mere question. A scowl replaced my frightful features.
"I don't see how that's any of your business."
As I tried to escape, a hand grabbed my wrist, forcing me to return the creep's gaze.
"Who was your first boyfriend?" He repeated, rougher than the first.
Was this psycho a robot?
"Look, I don't know how you species operate, but we humans don't like to be manhandled...well most of us anyways."
His grip tightened and I struggled to mask my wince with a blank expression.
"I won't repeat myself again." The stranger's lips were set straight in a line and his brows furrowed at my lack of compliance.
"Good, because I almost believed you're an actual robot." A low animalistic growl emitted from him. "Kidding! Totally kidding...not really."
"Answer the damn question."
"Just some guy," I muttered, refusing to shut my eyes at the painful memories I tried so hard to keep buried.
My answer didn't seem to be sufficient enough. Instead of releasing me, he yanked me towards his chest and glared down at my petite figure. I crashed into the stone wall of muscle and allowed a scowl to show.
"Name?"
"Look Thanos, I don't have to tell you anyth-" My wrist was on the urge of being crushed to ash. "Eric! His name was Eric! Are you happy!"
Silently, he maneuvered his hand towards my chin and harshly lifted it up to meet his dark emeralds. My body was on fire as my eyes delved into his.
It was happening all over again. The familiar spark shot down my spine at his mere touch when it should be cowering in disgust.
Eric...
No.
I didn't realize I was literally shaking in fear until he demanded me to stop. I flinched as his other hand moved a stray hair away from my face while wearing a sadistic smile.
"I almost thought you forgot about me." Kindness reappeared in his eyes.
It was nothing but lies.
"That's not possible," I croaked. "I saw you that day..."
My head instantly clicked. Andrew.
"What did you tell Andrew?" My eyes narrowed up at him despite the immense fear coursing through my veins.
His lips widened into a smug smile. "The truth. Nothing but the truth."
He closed the small distance between us; his nose skimmed past my cheek before hovering above my ear.
Eric's sickeningly sweet tone transformed into a murderous growl. He released his hold on my chin, moving his hand up to grab a bundle of hair and yanking it to the side.
I swallowed the scream threatening to exit my throat.
Classy move, Eric.
"That you left me for dead."
"No, I didn't," I hissed through clenched teeth.
The anger I felt was nothing compared to the guilt and anxiety consuming my soul.
"No..."
"Don't you feel guilty, Lia?" His deep voice echoed in my ears, tauntingly. "I had to leave town. I was in the hospital for two years because of you."
My mouth suddenly felt dry. Every single word spewed from his lips hit me like a ton of bricks. I was rendered speechless. Pathetically speechless.
"I'll leave you to drown in your guilt." The back of his hand softly stroked my cheek - a large contrast to the contact I had received earlier. "You look beautiful Lia."
The crunching of the grass ricocheted in my head as he returned inside the house. I was left alone with the cool breeze whipping my face...and the surfacing memories.
It wasn't my fault. It wasn't my fault. It wasn't m-
"Rosalie! There you ar- Are you alright?"
My eyes were glued to the spot Eric once stood, unable to snap back to the present. The ghost of the past haunted me with wicked taunts.
No! It wasn't my fau-
"Vi! Did you fin- oh..."
I could see my body being shaked, but I was numb. The color drained from my face at the constant thought of Eric.
"Rosie, are you alright? You're pale as a ghost," Vivian whispered to me.
Her voice was full of caution as if she was talking to a baby holding a knife. One wrong move and game over. But I wasn't fragile. I didn't need anyone walking on eggshells around me.
"I'm fine," I murmured.
Surprisingly, Justin stared at me with worry flooding his feautures. His eyes scanned the surroundings before returning to me.
"No, you're not." The harshness of his tone immediately snapped me out of my daze.
My blank facade returned, masking the trembling fears troubling me. It wasn't long until a reassuring smile lifted my lips.
"Let's go inside." I spoke robotically, brushing past Vivian and Justin.
"You should give her space," I heard Justin murmur to Vivian as my feet moved on its own accord. His voice growing quieter and quieter as I moved farther and farther.
"I'm not going to leave her agai-" At this point, the loud chatter of strangers around me fully severed her voice.
How can you feel so alone when there's so many people around you?
"Darling."
The irritation I would usually feel towards him was nonexistent. I felt empty, unable to function from the fantastic meeting with Eric. My lips were set in a frown and refused to convert into a scowl.
"Hey." I blankly watched his smirk morph as his lip pulled downwards.
"What's wrong?" I didn't know whether it was a genuine question or pure mockery.
"Nothing."
Before I could walk away from the vulnerable situation, Nathan secured his hand around my wrist and hauled me away to a secluded corner where the noise was a minimum.
I wouldn't have mind shoving my knee up his lower region for manhandling me, but the lack of emotion and energy surging throughout my body refrained me from doing so.
I felt nothing. Empty.
"What's wrong? I won't ask again." I immediately flinched at the similarity of his words.
Eric's words.
"I won't repeat myself again."
Nathan intently stared into my eyes which were blank and staring downwards. The harsh grip on my wrist loosened as a look of confusion past his face.
"Are you okay?"
No
"Yeah," I breathed out. "Perfectly fine, why?"
The slight twitch in my lips forced a grin to light up my face.
Nathan looked taken aback at my sudden switch in moods. He inspected me with suspicion. The thumping of my heat increased as he opened his mouth. But he didn't say anything. At all.
Copying my sudden transformation, a smirk lifted his lips, yet his eyes remained dull and calculating.
"You look absolutely gorgeous. Almost good enough to cut in line to bed me." He winked.
My facade broke as a real feeling of pure disgust surfaced. An evil thought crossed my mind, making my eyes twinkle in mischief.
As if knowing my planned actions, Nathan slammed my back into a wall not so gracefully. Now that I think about it, can you even do it gracefully?
"Before you do it, know that I don't tolerate disrespect." He hissed, aggravation present in his features.
"Neither do I." I spat.
A staring match soon unraveled as each fought for dominance. His stone cold grey irises chilled me to the core, but I couldn't look away. It was intoxicating and deadly, luring a person in like a siren. My eyes squinted at his refusal to back down.
After what seemed like centuries, Nathan stepped back. He jutted his chin out and tilted his head back, showing superiority.
"For a second there, I thought you had lost it. Glad to see it back."
My eyes squinted in confusion. What was he talking about? I couldn't help but stand frozen in place as I watched him saunter away but not without throwing me a smug smile.
"Rosa!"
I was snatched out of my daze, instantly straightening my dress and hair. My mom hustled straight towards me with a frighteningly bright smile. In fact, this is the happiest I've seen her in a while.
"I found Candice and Adam!"
Who?
"Really? I've been looking for them forever!" I feigned excitement when in reality, I had no idea who the hell they were.
It's like greeting people at a family gathering, pretending you know them. Pretty sure you didn't even know they exist.
How many cousins can a person have?
My mom then bounced on the balls of her feet, resembling a small child. Her excitement only increased as she dragged me through the large crowd, shoving people out the way.
"Rosalie! How are you sweetie?"
A young woman greeted me, enveloping me into a tight hug. A strapless emerald green dress hugged her figure with the ends stopping at knee length. Thick, straight blonde hair framed her heart shape face. Next to her stood a man who wore a gentle yet stern smile. His dark brown hair was slicked back, emphasizing his soft features.
"I'm great! How are you?"
"I'm doing well! Thanks for asking. I hope you're enjoying the party." Her nose then scrunched up, surveying the area. "Has anyone seen my son?"
"I'm right here, mom."
The source of the voice sounded strong and masculine. Instead of being attracted to it, my blood ran cold. My shoulders felt heavy as an arm was slung over it. The heat from another's body should've melted the icy feeling I was experiencing.
But it didn't. It only made it worse.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Castings. Long time no see."
While a friendly smile was plastered on his face, I didn't miss the small smirk creeping up Eric's lips as his eyes began to twinkle in victory.
He think he's won.
He made me like this.
While you may feel successful today - I promise you, Eric Coleman, it won't last for long.