" Denver..., it is so nice to see you, nobody has heard from you since high school, how have you been", josh asked , by now everyone was settled and this time Rhea had been forgotten , she was relieved as she gulped down a glass of wine, she was going to make up an excuse and leave now , " I'm doing great...., I own a restaurant , we just recently opened it and I'm the chef there, it would be nice if you could all come ....", said Denver, his voice cool , it had always been calm, " of course,.....who won't like to see a handsome chef at work", said Ashley as she giggled flirtatiously, they all laughed at her statement.
In the midst of the laughter, Claudia attention turned back to Rhea, " aren't you having a little too much to drink Rhea, you are still going to drive aren't you?", she asked , a smirk playing on her lips , everyone's attention turned to her once more and the whole place was silent, it became awkward once more..., " ahhhh...., I will just order a ride ", she said , " a cab?..., what about your car?", Ashley asked , a hint of mockery laced in those words of hers , Rhea still smiled, " I don't have one...., due to some issues", Rhea said, she was not going to meet anyones eye but once again she was caught in his gaze , it was still warm but a certain emotion glazed over, " aahhh....., things must he tough huh, the cases, debts and losing your fiance from the author you stole from hahahah....", said Rebecca ending it with a sardonic laugh, she no longer laced it, she no longer hid it, " Becca ....!", Ashley called her out sternly, Rebecca used her palm to hit her head, " oopsie....., sorry I got carried away, I must be drunk right now...", she said as she chuckled, Rhea felt her hands tremble once more, " we believe you Rhea...., we know you can't do such a thing...", said Ashley as she attempted to touch her shoulder but on reflex Rhea shifted, it was unexpected , the sudden shift knocked the table making the wine glass to stumble and fall on Rheas sweater, the wine glass fell and shattered, " oh my God Rhea are you okay...?", she asked as she attempted to brush it off but Rhea shrugged her off , she knew she looked rude right now , all eyes were on her as she stood up , her hands shaking visibly now , " sorry,....excuse me , I want to visit the restroom..", she said , her voice trying to stay calm , she attempted to leave but Ashley grabbed her by her arm, Rhea was shocked as she felt the grip on her arm tighten, you could see the flicker of hatred in her eyes, " are you angry at me Rhea....I said I am sorry", her voice was cold but she covered it with a devious smile, Rhea felt numb all of a sudden , she could not speak, could not move, it felt like she was drowning, all of a sudden the restaurant was empty and a heavy chain clasped on her arm weighing her down the one Ashley had held, " failure , theif", those words echoed as she tried to break free but the weight was too much , she felt dizzy.
Then she felt warmth on her snapping her back to reality , his arm wrapped around her shoulder as he pulled her away from Ashley's hold , she looked up at him and his eyes met hers , he still had that scent he always had, it was fruity, the whole place was silent as everyone looked at them surprised, the tension so thick , Denver gave Ashley a cold look before he pulled Rhea to himself and walked her out, she didn't hesitate, she didn't complain as they both quickly walked away, Claudia scoffed, " what the hell....", she mummured as she sipped her wine, everyone in the table began to mummur as to what just happened, Ashley tightly clenched her first , her expression full of resentment.
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Everything was like a trance , his warmth rubbed on me and his scent was still intoxicating, it made me feel nauseous, was it the wine ,the pressure at the table or the act I had to pull like I was okay , even so I hated this warmth I was feeling, as soon as we reached the females restroom I removed his hand from my shoulder rather roughly and I rushed into the restroom, my steps felt disoriented as I quickly entered one of the stalls , I bent over and threw up, my hands gripped the toilet seats as I trembled uncontrollably, I felt parched yet I still continued throwing up , i heaved my breath heavy as I reached over and flushed the toilet, I was exhausted, I sat weakly on the bathroom floor trying to catch my breath, the scenerio kept playing in my mind, what was that?, the way they all spoke it was obvious they were happy for my downfall and then I remembered his arms around my shoulders as he pulled me away from Ashley's hold , his warmth and his scent non of those had changed , a sudden thought rushed through my mind, how did he see me now ?, to him was I pathetic?, I sighed deeply , I never knew I would run into him and at a reunion for that matter, I didn't even know I will run into any of them , it is a big world and somehow everyone I was running away from all came together in one place, just my luck, I reluctantly stood up and took two breaths before I opened the stall luckily no one was here, I went over to the sink as I bent over and washed my face , I remembered those hazel eyes staring at me , it was warm, kind but a certain emotion was hidden in that warmth.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror , I wondered if he was still there , I hoped he was not there, this situation was already embarrassing enough , how was I going to look at him, I tilted my head, what was I thinking right now , why do I care how he sees me eventhough he is there I would walk out and just not look at him .
I heaved as I opened the door but he was not there instead I almost hit a woman, " I'm sorry...", I apologized quickly, the woman smiled warmly at me , she was pretty, red hair, fair skin and freckles, " are you Rhea?....", she asked , my eyes narrowed a little , was she someone I knew but I had forgotten about, even so I was not ready to have a conversation but....won't it seem rude , " ahh... yes,I am Rhea", I made sure my voice sounded neutral , she stretched out her hand , a leather black jacket was in her hand, " ummm..., a handsome tall man said I should give this to you", she said, I knew who owned it, the fruity smell easily gave him away and who else would have lent their jacket to me besides him, I felt reluctant, what was he trying to pull...but seeing the woman whose hands were still outstretched I quickly collected the jacket as I thanked her, she flashed me a beautiful smile before she entered the restroom, I looked at the jacket in my hand then I looked at my sweater , I couldn't go outside like this ,I sighed as I reluctantly wore his jacket over my sweater, it was large, he had broad shoulders and it somehow weighed me down, I zipped it up as I walked away from the restroom, I was reluctant to go back to that table especially now that I was wearing Denvers jacket where everyone eyes will be on me once more. I will just pick up my bags and leave , it was not like they were holding me back, I walked over to the table but strangely it was quiet, no one even dared to look at me , were they making it clear that they didn't want me here , my eyes unconsciously scanned the table , he was no longer there , those hazel eyes that watched me where gone , the silence made everywhere awkward , I took my bag and muttered a " I will be going", then I quickly left, I didn't spare a glance , I just hurried out of there , I could feel their eyes on me , it was like they were boring a hole into my skin, it felt like I was racing against time as it continuously stretched and the journey to the door felt longer, as I took hold of the fancy door handle and pushed my way out I could finally breathe , I looked back at the restaurant, it was all normal , everyone was smiling once again, chatting happily , I was the one who was bringing the bad energy.
I sighed taking hold of my phone to order a ride but...., my phone was dead, dead?, " fucking hell.....", it was not like I had brought cash today either , my day wasn't going great at all .
Lights half blinded me, I hooded my eyes with my hand as the light came closer to me finally stopping at a spot , the lights were finally switched off, it was a sports car, sleek and black , I moved away a little bit not minding it but then the driver rolled down his window , it was Denver ,just my luck today , I looked away but his eyes never strayed away , I wanted to walk away but won't it be awkward , " I thought you said you were going to order a ride", his voice was cool , calm ,not loud, it never changed , it was good I actually saw him I could give him his jacket back,but ten years..., I didn't even know I will see him and now how could I continue a conversation, " my phone is dead and I didn't bring my wallet...", what a classic, I soon as I said those words I immediately regretted it, he was going to offer me a ride , that was the next move right , why was I so stupid.
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Denver ended up winning and now Rhea was in his car, eventhough she had said she could walk back home he kept insisting , the car was silent, Rhea looked away eventhough the windows were tinted, it was better than looking straight ahead with the possibility of him glancing at her , " wolf cut...hmm it suits you", he said ,his eyes still on the wheel , it had come out so smooth and casual, thoughts ran through Rheas head seeking for an answer, she instinctively touched her hair, " ah....thank you....", she said as she turned away once more , it was silent again, she should say something, anything, " Umm..., thank you for the jacket ", she said, he smiled warmly, " no problem", he said once again it was casual then it was awkward again, that deafening silence , she needed to get out from here luckily she was near her house , " you can stop here", Rhea said, her voice had a sense of relief , Denver nodded as he parked his car to the side .
Rhea began removing the jacket , " thank you for the ride ", she said as politely as she could , she was about to leave when she heard him speak, " we can stop pretending not to know each other now..., let's talk Rhea ", Rhea froze at her tracks as she looked at him, he looked relaxed and that darn warm smile again, this was not looking good for her.