steps of the stage and down into the dance pit where the air seemed to clear up somewhat, making it easier to breathe. I had to get myself together somehow, before I fell apart. I hadn’t let anyone affect me so much since Arron, my ex. He’d been from a different life, another time—one which was best not dwelled upon for too long.
As I made my way to the bathroom to slam the faucet on and splash my face with the icy cold water, I closed my eyes. It wasn’t Arron’s face I saw now behind my lids anymore. It’d been a long time since I’d felt the anxiety of my heart beating in my chest for that man. He’d been the last to kiss my lips, the last to set my skin on fire with one soft caress…the last to break my heart.
Now, here was this Saul guy, who sent my skin into shivers without so much as a touch. His voice could ripple a lake with its rich, intense tones, yet was calmer than a meadow before the rain.
It wasn’t him I was running from. I knew that much.
No. But who was I running from, really?
I glanced at my reflection in the grungy mirror, my pink face surrounding my deep hazel eyes that shined like liquid gems in the harsh incandescent lights. Long brown hair ran down the sides, framing my high cheekbones. I was pretty, but I wouldn’t compare myself to Audrey Hepburn. This girl wasn’t that confident.
I was running from any stir of feelings whipping up inside me like a flooding river ready to crush the levies holding it back. To let anyone in would be my downfall. It would be the end of me as I knew it. That’s what I was scared of. I’d continue to flee from any kind of relationship as fast as my feet and reluctance could carry me.
“Audrey?”
Ripping a paper towel off the ream sitting on the counter instead of in its broken holder just above it, I dabbed my soaked face. Hearing my sister’s voice snapped me sober, and I glanced at my reflection. I hated looking like a drowned rat, which was how I appeared right now. Swiping back the snakes of hair sticking to my cheeks, I finally turned toward my sister’s voice. “Yeah, what’s up?”
“I saw you run in here. You sick?”
“No.”
Liv eyed me up and down, searching with her accusatory eyes before she shrugged and headed to the sink, dropping her little bag of cosmetics on the counter. “I need to put my pretty girl face on. Can’t be looking like I beat the next door neighbor down to a pulp, can I?” She dabbed some concealer around her purpled eye, studying the healing yellowing bruise under the skin and frowning. “Remind me that I owe Jonas a nice black eye.”
“You think he’d let you give him one?” I huffed.
Liv snickered and sighed. “I’ll disguise it as an accident.” She winked before reaching for the foundation. Watching Liv transform for the show tonight made me feel underdone. She motioned toward the bag as if reading my mind. “Knock yourself out. You could use some stuff on that blotchy skin.”
“Hey!”
“Just saying.”
“Thanks. Love you too.” I snatched the concealer and smeared it on the still red spots across my under eyes. Unfortunately, she was very right. “That jerk better not come near you again. I’ll make him regret it.”
“Well, you better restrain yourself because he’s here.”
I dropped the cap of the foundation bottle and stared at her through the mirror, my mouth hanging wide open. “What? Here? Tonight? I told you not to call him.”
“It’s done, so you might as well cooperate with this, Sis.”
“You’re not my keeper. You always say that I’m not yours either.”
Liv pressed her lips together, the lipstick outlining her pouty lips in a striking way. “I know, but if you mess this up, we’re dead. Want to be dead?” Her one drawn eye brow lifted at me, mocking my years with every little pencil mark.
“Dammit, Liv.” I finished lining my eyes and stuffed the makeup back into the bag. “You’re always so difficult. Nothing is ever easy street with
As I made my way to the bathroom to slam the faucet on and splash my face with the icy cold water, I closed my eyes. It wasn’t Arron’s face I saw now behind my lids anymore. It’d been a long time since I’d felt the anxiety of my heart beating in my chest for that man. He’d been the last to kiss my lips, the last to set my skin on fire with one soft caress…the last to break my heart.
Now, here was this Saul guy, who sent my skin into shivers without so much as a touch. His voice could ripple a lake with its rich, intense tones, yet was calmer than a meadow before the rain.
It wasn’t him I was running from. I knew that much.
No. But who was I running from, really?
I glanced at my reflection in the grungy mirror, my pink face surrounding my deep hazel eyes that shined like liquid gems in the harsh incandescent lights. Long brown hair ran down the sides, framing my high cheekbones. I was pretty, but I wouldn’t compare myself to Audrey Hepburn. This girl wasn’t that confident.
I was running from any stir of feelings whipping up inside me like a flooding river ready to crush the levies holding it back. To let anyone in would be my downfall. It would be the end of me as I knew it. That’s what I was scared of. I’d continue to flee from any kind of relationship as fast as my feet and reluctance could carry me.
“Audrey?”
Ripping a paper towel off the ream sitting on the counter instead of in its broken holder just above it, I dabbed my soaked face. Hearing my sister’s voice snapped me sober, and I glanced at my reflection. I hated looking like a drowned rat, which was how I appeared right now. Swiping back the snakes of hair sticking to my cheeks, I finally turned toward my sister’s voice. “Yeah, what’s up?”
“I saw you run in here. You sick?”
“No.”
Liv eyed me up and down, searching with her accusatory eyes before she shrugged and headed to the sink, dropping her little bag of cosmetics on the counter. “I need to put my pretty girl face on. Can’t be looking like I beat the next door neighbor down to a pulp, can I?” She dabbed some concealer around her purpled eye, studying the healing yellowing bruise under the skin and frowning. “Remind me that I owe Jonas a nice black eye.”
“You think he’d let you give him one?” I huffed.
Liv snickered and sighed. “I’ll disguise it as an accident.” She winked before reaching for the foundation. Watching Liv transform for the show tonight made me feel underdone. She motioned toward the bag as if reading my mind. “Knock yourself out. You could use some stuff on that blotchy skin.”
“Hey!”
“Just saying.”
“Thanks. Love you too.” I snatched the concealer and smeared it on the still red spots across my under eyes. Unfortunately, she was very right. “That jerk better not come near you again. I’ll make him regret it.”
“Well, you better restrain yourself because he’s here.”
I dropped the cap of the foundation bottle and stared at her through the mirror, my mouth hanging wide open. “What? Here? Tonight? I told you not to call him.”
“It’s done, so you might as well cooperate with this, Sis.”
“You’re not my keeper. You always say that I’m not yours either.”
Liv pressed her lips together, the lipstick outlining her pouty lips in a striking way. “I know, but if you mess this up, we’re dead. Want to be dead?” Her one drawn eye brow lifted at me, mocking my years with every little pencil mark.
“Dammit, Liv.” I finished lining my eyes and stuffed the makeup back into the bag. “You’re always so difficult. Nothing is ever easy street with
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