x
This was a joke.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAD79depgJQn
It was a—
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I took a moment to swallow down the bile that spontaneously crept up my throat.
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It was a fraternity. It was a goddamn frat house!
567Please respect copyright.PENANA9o3XineoS6
I learnt this from a guy who came had just come out of that despicable building. Apparently, he was a "fraternity Brother", or some crap like that. And then, just before going back into the house, he proceeded to yell a few chants our way, because my "accent" made him think I was "part of a chapter". Whatever that was.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAUSVCICEFNX
"What do you mean, what? She's in there," Arya ever-so-casually stated, as if it were a five star hotel that Gemma was inside.
567Please respect copyright.PENANA8YO2P4d7ot
"This is a fraternity."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAvZzW6d7qcC
"Well, duh."
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"Gemma Reynolds lives in a... a frat house?!"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAZKm3nB6xLr
"She doesn't live in here, genius. Fraternities are for guys."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAVaTgKXUWZh
I smiled bitterly. "Oh? That's nice, well, okay, erm yeah, here's the thing... why did you bring us here, then?" I practically screamed that interrogatory question.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAmaT39qYMow
Everest interfered, before I could burst someone's cochlea. And by someone, I mean Arya's.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1AznfWduY
"Where is Gemma?" Needless to say, there was more life on Saturn than there was in his voice.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAiFxd7kga7o
Arya backed away a little bit. "Hey, hey, first of all, get your girl under control. I can't think when she's all up in my face like that." She wiped fake sweat off her forehead. "Although, I do admire the feistiness," she added, with a wink. "And second, I swear it! Gemma's in there!"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAOEV9T7pmv9
I grabbed her watch. "Listen, sister, it's eleven pm!" I yelled, showing her, her own watch. "Do you know what that means? It means, it's six am in Britain! I may be a supersuperhuman or whatever you wish to call it, but one privilege the Front did not give me is enable my body to manipulate fatigue! That means, when it's late some people get tired! That means I'm tired! So, either you stop playing games with us and tell us where Gemma really is, or I kid you not, I will—"
567Please respect copyright.PENANA0DUvOsEt5C
I stopped.
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I blinked.
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I cocked my head. "His girl?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANA20LELNQRIr
Hmm, that sounds nice.
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No it doesn't! "That's objectifying women! I will not stand for it!" I inner feminist dribbled out some nonsense.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAmvs6FEblcP
And I definitely won't stand for those those loathsome, repelling, abominable quivers that just ran down my spine.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAXBrP4imLSj
"Oh, is it? Sorry!" Arya apologised with lack of conviction. "But, Emerald, you look like a smart person, so when I say she's in there, I'm sure you can understand that what I'm trying to say is; she's in there."
567Please respect copyright.PENANArufT9vgq6e
I glanced at Everest who was standing there with his arms crossed. Always making me do the work! I couldn't complain, it was to find my cure anyway. He glanced back at me before I turned to face Arya again.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAxG6bGOJpXL
"Why on Earth – or any other planets in the universe for that matter – would Gemma Reynolds – and when I say Gemma Reynolds, I don't mean Gemma smith, or Gemma Carson, or any other Gemmas in the world, I mean, Gemma Reynolds, the daughter of a late evil billionaire – be in a frat house?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAf9bY3aOWsE
She scratched the back of her head in response, "Well... there is that thing... no, I really shouldn't say."
567Please respect copyright.PENANA8l0DtnFJuV
"Say what?" I interrogated.
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"Nothing!"
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"No, go on, there is something."
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"I don't know if should..."
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"Tell me."
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She fiddled with her thumbs. "Weeeeell..."
567Please respect copyright.PENANATOkAvWhCse
"Arya..."
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"Don't "Arya" me! Gemma will have my head if I told anyone, let alone you."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAuEC75Nj3Sn
I smiled an evil smile. "Oh, but, Arya! I will have your head if you don't tell me! Literally." I batted my eyelashes at her. Okay, obviously not, I loved this girl; she was like another super-powerless version of me.
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She returned the smile; sarcasm written all over it. "Don't forget to put it in a cooler. Decomposition occurs in less than a week."
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"Arya!" I warned.
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"Ok, alright!" She finally gave in. "But you heard none of this from me."
567Please respect copyright.PENANA2PDx7uTI8o
"Okay. Now tell us."
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"The news said Gemma attended MIT, and graduated last year in July, right?"
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"Yeah?"
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Arya smirked. "What if I told you that she attends MIT?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAkuNUx2IPsl
I raised an eyebrow. "What?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAfZ5QFPiqqG
"How do I put this?," she paused, thinking. "Gemma... hasn't graduated yet."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAM4oQgoJxMy
My jaw spontaneously dropped. Everest didn't go as far as dropping his chiseled jaw like me but his narrowed eyes loosened the tiniest bit.
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"She hasn't... what?" I stuttered.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAhT9n3dZhfJ
"You heard me."
567Please respect copyright.PENANATkCXSSi5tJ
"You're messing with us." This was beyond unbelievable. "You're messing with me."
567Please respect copyright.PENANA16TlapQ5FT
"The whole world knows," Everest spoke, "that the sole heir to Reynolds Corporation enrolled into MIT two years prior to the age requirements, because of Robert Reynolds' influence and that she graduated, making her eligible to run the company after Robert died." Nicely worded, Everest! You tell her!
567Please respect copyright.PENANAbeQtVBbyUx
"The world thinks she graduated," Arya replied. "True, her IQ point score was high enough for her to enroll early, but no, she hasn't yet graduated."
567Please respect copyright.PENANARp4YJu4KVA
We stood there in utter silence as reality wept over us. The only noise that could be heard was the beat of the muffled music that oozed from inside the frat house.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAbSMeSqi8QX
As per usual, I did it again. I laughed in a situation typical people wouldn't have found funny. I seriously couldn't help it this time. In fact, I threw my head back and laughed, tears gradually inching out of my eyes. I felt myself going off balance and had to hold on to Everest for support. "Gemma Reynolds hasn't even graduated from university yet!" I choked out. "Could you believe...? Oh, this is gold. No, this is platinum!"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAtxjl6FHeUH
"Is she always like this?" Arya asked Everest, as if I weren't there.
567Please respect copyright.PENANA9MbC8XFHBQ
"She's worse," the traitor replied.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAu0sJonDNM0
Then, abruptly, I stopped laughing as I realised something, which seemed to scare Arya even more so. "Wait. Who's running Reynolds Corporation if Gemma is still studying?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAQGjwSsUmY3
"Robert's associates. The management team agreed with Robert years ago that the company must only be run by Gemma after she gains her degree, you know so she can maintain the company with some logic. Until then, technically she's just a college student."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAlhg7fDUGRa
I fell into another hysterical fit of laughter at that. "A c-college student! Do you know what they say about her on the news? That the Gemma Reynolds is a 'strong, independent woman' for taking the role of her father at 'such a young age'. But then, oh god..." I paused to catch my breath, "she's just a college student!" At that moment, Everest moved away, causing me to stumble forwards.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAVQfoy7a6pI
"You realise," he pointed out, "regardless of whether or not she graduated, Gemma is the one who made your cure, right?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAwPXBJX7oCq
Again, my laughter ceased, this time, because reality slapped me in the face.
"Alright then, I guess she deserves some of the praise," I muttered, bitterly, before turning to Arya. "One more question. Why is she in a frat house if she's, you know, a girl? I mean, at least I think she is. But as I was saying, aren't American frat houses meant to be for guys?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANALYRjyLA19p
"It's a frat party, genius."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAcIPCiz6jCS
Of course.
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"So let me get this straight: Gemma Reynolds is actually a university student who is currently partying away in that house, at this very moment," I clarified, pointing at the colossal house.
567Please respect copyright.PENANArMCwcCuZNI
"Yes."
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"In this frat house?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAzvkp9WsiPn
"Yes."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAb2yZQOddRK
I turned to Everest. "Figures, she's American after all."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAD224BfDggb
"What you just said is highly controversial. Especially with Americans," he replied.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAK47QwDfz5T
Arya cleared her throat. "I'm also American, and yes, I'd agree with Everest about the whole controversial thing, exccept, this came from Emerald, so I'll let it slide," she remarked, giving me a wink.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAf7boNYKkol
"See, Everest? You're not always right," I commented, rolling my eyes just to tick him off. And ticked off he was, for his jaw clenched for a millionth of a second. "So, Arya what were your limited uni days like?" I asked, suddenly interested.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAP3C0fdexhj
"Let's go." Everest instructed, before she could answer, taking my arm.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAXN4MONIpZU
"Wait—" Gosh, it was bloody mission impossible trying to keep up with his long strides – even for me. "Don't pull me like I'm some inanimate obje— woah!" We stood in front of the door. It was huge. And open.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAN0x55hVHXi
"Once we're inside, locate Gemma," Everest said. "That's it. Don't waste time. We locate Gemma, and you speak to her. We're leaving with her cure."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAH8Z64jaxiC
"Woah, woah, woah. Why do I have to speak to her?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAyimzzUx15b
He gave me an almost bored look, and it clicked.
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"Oh. Right. Because she doesn't know you exist."
567Please respect copyright.PENANA39QY2DX8hj
"And we're going to keep it that way."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAWQtQOWBWJe
"If you say so," I started toward the door when he pulled me back.
567Please respect copyright.PENANANIJh6aqyun
"Stay by my side."
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I smiled. "Okay, Romeo."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAiQwAFlXbhF
"I mean it," he said, more sternly. "We haven't got time to waste, we need to stick to the plan, so don't leave my side. Is that clear?"
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I nodded.
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Before fully pushing through the door, I turned back to Arya who was still standing at a far distance near the car. "Sorry for the, uh, integration!" I yelled. "Have a safe journey ho—"
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"Come on," the iceberg demanded and pulled me into the frat house.
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***
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People. A lot of them. In a small space. And it was not a good feeling.
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Okay, the house was huge, but with this many people in it, it felt like a being inside a mockingly narrow cave.
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Why so many people? Did the person hosting this party even know all of these people? Or, was it a group of people hosting the party together? I mean it was a fraternity. How could a sole person afford this much food for this many people, anyway? And what is that pretty looking bottle of brown tinted liquid over there, and why were so many people fighting over it? Oh wait, it was that malicious substance Director never let me try. Alcohol. Evil stuff. And, more importantly, people.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAJD2bWcRUtY
Keep it together, Emerald. Keep it together.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAgCpJskNPPs
But I couldn't. Walk, that is.
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Of course you can, Em! With legs! You know how it works. Left, right, left, right.
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"Move," Everest ordered.
567Please respect copyright.PENANApXVqWPew22
When he realised that I doing the opposite of what he had instructed, he turned around. Ugh, now I looked all vulnerable and stupid. Way to feed his ego, Emerald.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAQIFRB9peHi
But, he didn't look at me as if I were a vulnerable or stupid. And trust me, I knew that look. No, he looked me intently, a definite lack of frostiness in his expression.
567Please respect copyright.PENANA6u8r6qIHjy
"What?" I asked, innocently, attempting to blanket the low level anxiety growing in me.
567Please respect copyright.PENANA2QSmvm3FHS
"What's wrong?" It was two words that were asked just as quick as finger snap, in the epitome of monotone voices. Yet they breathed to life, the none existent butterflies in my stomach.
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"No they didn't!" I exclaimed aloud like some madwoman. Now, he looked at me as if I had lost my sanity. Stupid extrovert personality! "Ignore me."
567Please respect copyright.PENANADtXUbEInYu
However, one more shove from a pair of dancing couple was all that was needed for, what I was not prepared to call anxiety, to come sprinting back to me. I closed my eyes, hoping it would go away soon. My undisciplined legs seemed to be planted to the spot, which unfortunately for me, was in the middle of the dance floor - and yes, they had an actual dance floor.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAVlZsEBSyo3
Seconds later, I felt stern hands on either sides of my shoulders. When I reopened my eyes, I saw Everest's face inches before mine. "What's wrong?" he asked, more persistently.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAN8S4OBiLXv
Ha! If he thought I was going to utter anything about this maybe-anxiety business, he thought wrong!
567Please respect copyright.PENANANOxZNngP5m
I kept my mouth shut for several seconds. Then, out of nowhere I was pulled by the arm through the crowd, and when we were out of the human mess, I was led up a stairway. When I say led, I mean, I dragged up it. The first thing that came to mind was that there were less people up here. Good. I sat on the floor against a wall, mind half spinning.
567Please respect copyright.PENANABJyYp6MdFP
Everest crouched in front of me. He regarded my face for a moment, and then backed away. "You're claustrophobic."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAbJz2CqNmft
"What...?" I found trouble paying attention to what he was saying. However, the newly given space already seemed to make everything a little better.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAFWvV2Yu7mG
"Breathe," he instructed, curtly.
567Please respect copyright.PENANA1DOK9ijvUz
"I am breathing!" It was just hard to.
567Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZTKlhK5lm
"You're not breathing properly. You need to inhale a full breath, and then exhale a full breath."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAjODxlODitu
"I—" can't. But I didn't finish off that sentence.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAhhifD8QKII
"Look at me," he said, "into my eyes."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAGx10KBPcAS
I followed as instructed, staring into his almost black eyes, his enigmatic eyes which possessed the thinnest blue—No, that's definitely worse. My blood pressure certainly just just shot up.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAckoayZtoY7
"Breathe."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAmjHdyHKy46
Stop looking at me! It's not helping!
567Please respect copyright.PENANAR6nPJrgfWx
He took my hand in his, and my heart rate shot up about fifty more beats per minute.
567Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZyAFHAwq5
What are you doing?! You're making it worse! You're going to be the reason I suffer cardiac—
567Please respect copyright.PENANANNXeQkM4B7
"Do you know Fick's Law? he asked, out of nowhere, my hand still in his.
567Please respect copyright.PENANA9lwriTP5Ir
What the hell?
567Please respect copyright.PENANAHUUmwx6MLZ
"Rate of diffusion," he continued, "equals surface area multiplied by concentration gradient over—"
567Please respect copyright.PENANArvB8jROWqe
"Diffusion pathway, yeah, what—"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAbemt4539Xl
"It helps explain why diffusion of oxygen from your lungs into the bloodstream happens quickly."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAp8Mcz91HMF
I was incredibly confused – not because of what he was saying, but because of why.
567Please respect copyright.PENANANNuMRa9Fc0
He went on, "the huge surface area and thinness of your alveoli walls creates a short diffusion pathway for oxygen to rapidly diffuse from the alveoli to the capillaries," his voice was low and didactic, like an adult telling a story to child. "The alveoli's walls are also elastic in order to recoil when exhilaration takes place. This pushes the oxygen-poor air out, so that once you inhale, oxygen rich air can replace it – which creates a concentration gradient for your alveoli and capillaries, so that by laws of diffusion, the oxygen will diffuse into your blood."
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"I don't understand..."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAgEECPqyi16
"But none of this can happen if there's no oxygen entering your lungs in the first place," he looked me more sternly now.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAE7YPk2noeB
"I— why are you educating me on biology?" I asked, dumbfounded, not gasping for air as much as I was, about a minute ago.
567Please respect copyright.PENANA2OodMhwLxL
"I'm not educating you," he said, coldly. I'm trying to stop you from dying of oxygen deficiency.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAWSDUaFBAS8
I frowned. "What?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANANzIISZN5qm
"You were distracted enough to focus on something other than not being able to breathe. Now you're fine."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAcKZ7ubv0f0
Strangely, I was. So, all I had to do was breathe better? A simple task that only required the unconscious part of the brain to undertake? Even infants were capable of such a thing!
567Please respect copyright.PENANAwLiAH3KdyP
"Why, couldn't I...?" I halted on the last word – the result of a lack of oxygen in my lungs, yet again.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAr5Q7xMbPPZ
"Don't think about it," he said, almost scoldingly. "Just do it."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAjfj6mL2jJZ
I took an identical breath to before.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAkmWl06Q96m
"Like I said, you're claustrophobic."
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"Claustrophobic?" As if!
567Please respect copyright.PENANA2JH5TtCJ1D
"Fear of small spaces—"
567Please respect copyright.PENANA2Y7r59MtpE
"I know what it is! And, I'm not that! I mean, I don't have that."
567Please respect copyright.PENANArXYunIQV9h
"Yes, you do."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAHsuY2OY2fm
"Oh yeah?" I rebuked, feeling a pang of irritancy. "And how would you know?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAlnxTgmlIMQ
"Medical records."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAs45Y31hoIl
I arched an eyebrow. "You studied my medical records?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAP5CIbE04vg
"If you're under the impression that I did it willingly, I didn't. It was just the necessary protocols, set by Director, in order to carry out the termination without any complications."
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Charmer.
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"So you studied my medical records to kill me better?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAsvsiyeApJJ
"If you want to oversimplify it." He locked his eyes onto mine. "But, right now, it's the only thing preventing you from having an anxiety attack."
567Please respect copyright.PENANA5QUNetUpew
"Anxiety attack?" I scoffed. "I don't even know the meaning of the words."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAi35MwEBNTb
"Now you know: it's what you just experienced."
567Please respect copyright.PENANASFv9Oyxh0J
"I did not experience an anxiety attack!" This was him making me seem weak! As if I were foolish enough to fall for such an absurd illusion! No, I was strong — stronger – and smart, and independent, and most definitely not weak—
567Please respect copyright.PENANANrpsk4YZl9
"Then, what do you call that?" he inquired.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAt7CtzXOYWE
"That was... that was..." I stuttered.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAFnKsvYqGcj
No, no! Get a grip, Emerald! Adjectives, nouns! We need them!
567Please respect copyright.PENANAF5XglRpCcl
"Well?" he provoked.
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Now would be helpful!
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"It..." I groaned in frustration, "just shut up!"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAwmOAl4TdPv
"So, you accept the reality of the matter?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANA8y7oOQ8pOB
"No! This is... this is..."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAFJBCL6UojR
Words! Now is not the time for a vacation, brain!
567Please respect copyright.PENANADAgImsYtsZ
"Ridiculous?" he offered.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAn5BysZZwzA
Oh, that son of a—
567Please respect copyright.PENANAIi1pv3yqlv
"What part of shut up don't you understand?" I snapped.
567Please respect copyright.PENANABviwEVlQEU
Suddenly, he leaned close to me. "Just handle the truth, 202. We are not always as strong as we think we are."
567Please respect copyright.PENANACVmdEMtCjQ
Translation: You are not as strong as you think you are.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAUSYbe9m0G1
How dare he!
567Please respect copyright.PENANAVRR9jNqUwv
Just then, something occurred to me,
that caused me to swallow my fury. "You just said 'we'."
567Please respect copyright.PENANA1t0vHkyp3O
He cocked his head.
567Please respect copyright.PENANA7S0mIFel1M
"What you just said means you are just as fragile, then," I remained calm – or as calm as one could be, as they are being degraded by someone else.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAVmCAzhSlrn
He didn't say it, and he certainly wore no expression to mirror this thought, but somehow it occurred to me that he was probably thinking something along the lines of: she has finally lost her marbles.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAYqKTD9eTX1
I couldn't exactly blame him. I'd say I had lost my marbles too, if I weren't me, because I had just called him fragile! Granite is anything but fragile. And, he was granite. But then again, he was also human – with a few upgrades – but a human, nevertheless...
567Please respect copyright.PENANAaiZ7akxWSV
"If you think you are stronger than me, you are wrong," I deadpanned. "Sure, you might not have claustrophobia – not that I'm accepting that I have it. But there's a whole world full of fears that just may bring out the— what's the word again? – ah, anxiety in you."
567Please respect copyright.PENANAlzn3DsmM7n
Where are you going with this, Emerald?
567Please respect copyright.PENANAqQHcbn8gFE
Now he looked at me as if I had lost my sanity as well as my marbles.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAc892JZTaGq
Without warning, I moved.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAu8dt7xOTr8
"What are you doing?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANA3sij61B2U9
What was I doing?
567Please respect copyright.PENANA2IpvQ4gTJW
I pushed him against the wall. "I'm making you accept the reality of the matter," I fired his words back at him.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAZBbJAyu2fc
And then, I pressed my lips against his.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAtjxCHt1HlV
That's it. You've finally lost it.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAcnGzL6WRxO
He stiffened. He didn't do that the first time he kissed me. In fact, back then, I was the one doing the stiffening, whilst he remained as cold as ever. Now, the tables had turned.
567Please respect copyright.PENANA7YxC2OsbbK
I wrapped my hand around half of his jaw and and half of his throat, convincing myself that it was only to check his pulse, and for no other reason. It increased like the pulse of an antelope suspecting a predator. And, it proved my point! He was just as human as me! Only better at concealing it.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAQXYZ71A35M
But, what the actual hell are you doing?
567Please respect copyright.PENANAjFOhASidmq
And, why on earth did I find myself actually liking it?
567Please respect copyright.PENANArfIaOmiYEn
No, no, no, no, no. You need to find therapy, that's what you need!
567Please respect copyright.PENANAs50UmD3zni
Because in truth, I would have been lying if I said that I particularly regretted the decision.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAGILb1FtoYI
No! You do regret it! You have proven your point, now cease this immediately! You're freaking him out!
567Please respect copyright.PENANACnYRLzG4vP
And so I did. Cease the kiss, that is. And maybe freaked him out, too. I brought myself to stare into the deepest depths of his dilated pupils.
567Please respect copyright.PENANA7vAEZGW6Wq
I am so dead.
567Please respect copyright.PENANAYQvANSgsup
"I told you," I started almost shakily. Almost. "You are frag—"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAOj0gDLbJPg
Cutting off my statement, his lips enveloped over mine.
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Holy Mother of Amphion and Zethus!
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Now, I was having anxiety attack... but simultaneously, I liked it.
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Uh-uh. Nope. You did not just think that. Deleting those thoughts immediately, and pushing him away in, three, two, one...
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Grabbing his steel body closer, I kissed him back. Hard.
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What? Those were not the orders I gave you! Stop acting like an uncivilised cavewoman, and hit him over the head with the nearest object, you fool!
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His hands cupped my face, deepening the kiss. Oh my God.
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Bist du krank, Emerald?!
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Uh-oh the German came out.
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Detecting the low levels of common sense in my brain, the German also knocked in a load of this special quality, which I was lacking up until this moment. Thank you, German.
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With all the newtons I could muster, I pushed.
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And yes, as absurd as it sounded, I was having difficulty breathing. But, so was he! It proved nothing!
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Then it dawned onto me, he had just kissed me.
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I gasped.
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He just kissed me!
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I mean, I kissed him before, as well, but that was with purpose. Why would he—? And then, I kissed him back!
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I gasped again, which, by now, probably sounded like I was having respiratory problems.
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Did hades' demons escape hell? How could I..? Why did I..? Why did he...? No, you did not like it. I think. No, it's not a thinking matter, it's an 'it is' matter! The claustrophobia did something satanic to you, and now you've lost your mind! Hold on just a second! I don't have claustrophobia! I refuse to believe it! Wait, why is he looking at me like that? It sort of makes me want to grab that beautiful face again, and—
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Doing the most reasonable thing in that situation, I bolted.
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***
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Author's note:
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Wow. Well, that was um... every girl's dream kiss? No? Well, clearly, Emerald has a lot of experience in attending parties and kissing many guys.
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You may recall, in chapter 13, I touched on the topic of Emerald's claustrophobia during her train journey, very, very briefly, and also in the plane toilet, very, very briefly.
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So what did you think of the big moment?
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Thank you for reading; I hope you loved it. Remember to vote, comment and share – especially comment, because I love reading through them.
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And scene.
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Random German phrases:
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Bist du krank? - Are you sick?
ns 172.70.130.102da2