Page 41 of Becoming His
"What were you doing with him?" He demanded, his voice suddenly cold. I blinked in surprise as I searched his eyes with mine.
"He was just outside; he walked me in." I stammered as he nodded wordlessly. "I looked for you, but I couldn't see you."
"I was here, in the kitchen, as I said in the text." His voice was blunt and emotionless, and I chewed on my lip nervously. His face softened as he touched my cheek, his other hand on my waist as he pulled me close to him.
"I'm sorry. I'm glad you are here."
I looked up at him and leaned toward his lips as he smashed his mouth against mine, kissing me roughly. He lifted me onto the counter as we kissed, and I forgot we were in a room full of drunken people until I heard catcalls and whistles around us. We broke apart as he smiled, his hand on the small of my back as he gazed at me.
"Shall we just leave?"
He suggested as I laughed throatily.
"Yeah, because that's exactly how I pictured losing my virginity," I teased as he let out a low growl.
"Don't mention that to me, please. It drives me insane."
"Okay." I bit my lip, and his eyes burned into mine.
"Don't do that either."
I pouted then, and he groaned, his eyes closing as he buried his head in my neck.
"What did I do to deserve this torture?"
Eighteen
White
Bailey pulled me by the hand toward his friends, turning back to send me one of his delicious smiles. I squeezed his hand as we made our way through the crowd of people to a group of guys surrounded by pretty girls watching us intimidatingly.
“I thought she was here with Sam White for a second, Fenton,” Chase smirked, his arm slung around a beautiful Asian girl with waist-length black hair who smiled at me kindly. She introduced herself as Kelly, and I smiled back at her gratefully as the other girls stared at me as if challenging me to be in their space. I wondered what Kelly was doing with Chase when Axel spoke. His voice was deep and gravelly.
“Good of you to come, Annabelle. I didn’t think I would see the day Bailey would settle down.”
“Please. It’s been five minutes; he will get bored soon enough.” The redhead by his side smirked her hand on his arm possessively. I didn’t recognize most of these girls; they must go to another school or be dropouts, I thought wryly.
“Bailey, you can do so much better. Who even is she? What does shedo?”Spat another.
“Girls, be nice. She’s not used to being around people like us. Not everything is about looks, right Bailey?” A blonde guy I recognized as Gareth Jun from school said.
Suddenly I felt a fire in my belly; who were they to speak about me that way?
“Iamstanding right here. Can you at least address me if you are going to insult me?” I snapped, much to everyone’s surprise. “I’m leaving,” I said to Bailey as he threw a glare in the girl’s direction while they just smiled smugly. I pushed my way outside and felt Bailey grab my hand, turning me towards him. Tears stung my eyes as I spoke, my voice threatening to break.
“I can’t do this; this isn’t me. I’m sorry. I can’t do this,” I repeated as he stared at me with confusion.
“Annabelle, please, give them a chance; they aren’t used to me being like this.”
Is he serious? They’re nasty!
I pulled my hand away as he flinched, his hand hanging limply at his side.
“I’m not going to ask you to choose your friends differently. They are who they are. But I sure as hell don’t have to be part of any of it. That’s what comes with being with you, Bailey, those judgemental rich kids who haven’t got a clue what it is like to live in the real world!”
I stopped, realizing the tears had spilled down my face, and I wiped at them with my arm, mascara streaking on my pale skin. Make-up was so damn inconvenient when I wanted to cry; how dare it claim to be waterproof then let me down? Bailey watched me silently, his eyes full of hurt.
“I’m so sorry, Annabelle. Is there anything I can do? Please, I don’t want to lose you.” His voice was low as he pleaded with me, his hands reaching for me again. I felt my heart breaking as I realized I was going to have to be the one to end this, and I wasn’t sure what hurt me more—seeing his face when I said it or saying the words myself.
