“He left the room.” Alex has the cheek to move closer to me. “Did he hurt you?” His question is delivered with sincerity.
He’s sporting a mustard and dark green suit. It’s ugly, but he makes it look fun.
“No.” Yes.
“I…” He pulls his lip in between his teeth before releasing it. “I should have tried to help you.”
My anger with him splinters and I find my frame softening. “Are you afraid of him?” Of course he is, I’m afraid of him. Who wouldn’t be? Lucas is dangerous.
His smile showcases the gap between his teeth that just adds to the quirkiness of Alex.
“Not quite. I’m afraid of the power he holds. If it was just Lucas, I think I could take him on.” He ducks his head, his blond eyebrows drawing down.
I try to hide my smile at his words. My smile fades as I think about the complications of even talking to him. Alex is someone I could really see a friendship blossoming with. There is something about him that just puts me at ease, but it would be cruel to both of us to try.
“I don’t think we should be seen talking.”
The words snuff out the light in his eyes and he nods, leaning away from me. “I know, but I needed to apologize for being such a coward.”
I reach out to touch his arm. My fingers curl into a fist and I withdraw. “Apology accepted.” I smile and Alex’s face lights up.
“If I could, I would offer you a dance.”
I face the bar and smile into my glass. “You better go, Alex.” I don’t look at him but I can feel the burn of his eyes on me.
One, two, three, four…. I count the bottles on the top shelf again as I drink my water, allowing the cold liquid to douse the flames inside me. From the corner of my eye I see the space beside me become vacant. My stomach twists painfully, so I continue to count until another figure lands beside me. This one is not wanted at all.
“So you stole the first dance,” Vicky speaks while calling the bartender by waving two of her fingers.
“Vodka.” She leans against the bar so she is looking out on the dance floor. Her full-length black dress hits the floor and trails out behind her.
“I didn’t ask for the first dance.” I wonder why I’m bothering, but I don’t want them thinking I asked when I didn’t.
“You said you didn’t want him?” Her drink arrives and she takes it, turning to me with raised eyebrows. Her red lipstick leaves a print on the glass.
“I don’t.” I look away from her hoping she will leave.
She takes another drink before sneering. “I hate liars. I know it’s a competition but you’re such a liar. Playing this innocent facade like ‘he won’t leave me alone’” Her face changes and she flutters her lids like she’s trying to mimic me.
I place my glass of water back on the counter and make my way to the main doors of the ballroom. Mark is close to them and I stare at him, daring him to stop me. He reads my warning loud and clear and opens the door for me. I don’t pass him untouched, he stops me without looking at me. “Thread carefully, Miss O’ Leary.” I hear his warning, I do. Right now I can’t afford to snap in front of everyone.
I just want a moment alone, in my room that isn’t even my room. The cool banister under my hand is what I focus on.
“What are you running for?” Vicky follows me up the stairs. “Trying to run away now and look like a victim? You think he will follow you?”
I spin on the stairs and have the most horrible thought about pushing her down the steps. My hands instantly go behind my back, so I don’t touch her.
“I just want to be alone, Vicky.”
Her nose curls up and she closes the distance between us until there is only one step left.
“Alone with him you mean?”
“Now you sound crazy. I’m alone.” I look around the space before training my stare on Vicky.
“You sound crazy.”
I turn on my heel and march the rest of the way up the stairs, she’s hot on my heels and I don’t know what she wants. The moment my foot touches the wooden floor, she’s beside me. The burn erupts across my scalp as she digs her hands into my hair.
I find myself on the floor, staring up at a very pissed off Vicky. I’m in shock. No one has ever put their hands on me.
“You’re so ugly,” she sneers, standing over me.
My fingers prod at my head. My hair is all lopsided now, but it’s intact to my head. I rise slowly. Vicky towers over me as I raise my head.
“I will report you.” I make each word clear. She has no right to put her hands on me, but I’m giving her the warning as I don’t want to go that far. I just want this to end. Her hand moves quickly and the sting across my cheek is instant.
“Vicky.”
I hold my face as I glance at Hannah who’s racing up the stairs, holding up her gold dress.
“Get away from her.” Hannah continues to shout until she reaches me. “You can’t hit Ella.” She looks bewildered.
Vicky purses her lips, before calmly leaving like she did nothing wrong.
“Are you okay? She broke the skin. Come on.” Hannah leads me into my room.
I feel a little fractured as Hannah directs me to the bed. I sit down while she goes into the bathroom; I start removing pins from my hair.
The running water stops and Hannah returns with a washcloth. “Put this on, it might stop the swelling.”
The moment the cloth touches my face, I hiss. “Thank you.”
Hannah chews her lip, her eyes filled with worry.
“I’m okay, Hannah. Really, it wasn’t that bad.” I try to give her a reassuring smile.
She exhales loudly and plonks down beside me. “You know she’s just jealous that he favors you.”
Oh God. She has no idea.
“He hates me,” I say matter of factly.
When I look at Hannah, she smiles sweetly at me. “Nope. Not from where I was standing. You looked perfect dancing together. Like you were made for each other.” Her face is full of light.
I take the washcloth away from my cheek. There is no point explaining to her what is really happening. How I have requested to leave.
I take another look at Hannah. “Why are you being so kind?” I’m her competition. Didn’t her mother tell her not to befriend any of us?
She shrugs while smiling. “When you can be anything, why not be kind?”
I’m nodding at her so I don’t cry. I swallow around the lump that is forming in my throat. “Please don’t tell anyone about this. I just don’t need the hassle.” I put the cloth back up to my face.
Hannah chews on her lip. “You won’t be able to hide it. Take a look at your face.”
I’m off the bed and sitting down at the dressing table, taking the cloth away I curse Vicky. Hannah’s eyes widen at my un-lady like language.
My face is red and slightly swollen but that will go down, it’s the scratch across my cheek that will take a few days to clear.
I meet Hannah’s eyes in the mirror. “Just keep it to yourself about how this happened. Okay?”
“Of course.”
I divert my eyes from the mirror. “Thanks for helping me,” I speak to my hands.
“You are welcome, Ella, who isn’t Bella.”