~~Daniil's POV~~
Well well…what could I say? I sat up to entertain the suspenseful lady who already went around to make herself comfortable across of me.
What was she gonna say now?
"Thank you"?
I wasn't necessarily thinking but waiting with crossed arms and peering eyes. I mean, what else was left to say? She probably came all the way to pick up from where she left off earlier this morning.
Meanwhile, her silence was beginning to irk me. Was she just gonna sit there and feed her eyes or spread her damn lips apart and cut to the chase? The tussle with my perturbing thoughts was pretty young to be harnessed. In other words, her presence was doing me no good.
"Ma'am would you…"
"You're a total douchebag, you know?" she spat, cutting me off on a bratty note.
I scoffed inwardly. What did she just call me?
"A total narcissistic jerk who knows nothing about manners, probably after living his life on a bed of scented roses. Thanks to its soothing aroma, you've been intoxicated with the belief that the whole world revolves around you, huh?"
I scoffed again. This time, to her hearing. What even appalled me wasn't how comfortably she spewed these in my face, but how calm and unoffended I remained. All I could afford were lips and eyes spread widely apart in awe. Having succeeded in pushing back my words as usual, I could only let out huffs. She was crossing lines no one had ever dared to in the past twenty-two years of my existence…
She then heaved a sigh like she'd just relieved herself of a burden. "There. I said it," she voiced, slapping an amused smile across my lips.
"Now, that was for what you did earlier today." …oddly enough, I could not even get offended by her.
"What did I do?" I asked, feigning ignorance when I knew just what this was all about.
"For someone as proud as you, you sure have a loose memory."
With an amused smile still lingering in my lips, they let out a huff.
Her mouth never lost its vigor, thankfully. I wouldn't have her getting boring and submissive overnight. 'I take what I said earlier.' She was still as cranky.
"Well, I haven't come to fight with you." Tucking her hair behind her ears, she adjusted her seat. Seemed like she was going to say something more serious considering the switch in her expression.
Was this it? "Thank you"?
"Thank you."
Silence…
"Thank you so much for saving my life. Honestly, I cannot deny the fact that it could've been way more serious if you hadn't stepped in that night. For that, I really appreciate. Thank you."
Speechless. That best described me at this point.
I was expecting this, but the moment it came through, it sounded nothing like I expected. Who knew words of appreciation could sound this appealing… enticing … and even tempting if I must add? The warmth and feeling that followed these ones were on a whole new level. It felt nothing like it used to. This one wasn't compelled, but said of her own volition. This also didn't sound like it was obligatory, she meant every word.
Her angelic voice. Her facial expression. The gestures. Everything pointed to one fact – this "thank you" stemmed from the depth of her heart. No wonder it reached mine. My heart was acting up again. I wasn't wrong to say her words were beginning to affect me.
Oh, good lord. 'I am doomed.'
I couldn't even muster the energy to utter a word in response. I felt weak inside; funny to be exact. Ashley was something, and I was yet to figure it out.
For now, the much I could do was nod.
"But I wouldn't be needing your help anymore."
Sike!!!
She was still the same old Ashley. Was bold of me to draw baseless conclusions on my own. "Angelic", my ass. Must be a fool to have fallen under her spell for a second there. She was still as surly… yet, fascinating.
I smiled to myself, completely smitten by her.
~~Ashley's POV~~
Don't get it twisted. No way in hell could my guard have been down around this guy; or was the weird sensation I felt around him gone overnight. I only did what I knew was right. He saved me personally and it was something I needed to thank him for. I appreciated the act of kindness, but not the part where I had to be in his debts every time.
That aspect was never pleasing. I still strongly felt there was more to him then met the eye. Those hazel eyes now peering through me from over his mask said a lot, yet nothing. Eyes that could leave anyone entranced against their will had mysteries lurking inside. Cold mysteries. They also held secrets. Secrets I wasn't even sure existed. All he ever did was come to my aid until now. So what the hell was keeping me at bay? Why could my shoulders never rest whenever I was around him? Whatever it was, I could not ignore.
I couldn't care less about going on secret hunting adventures. He'd saved me again, and I came here to thank him. I did so, and now it was time to return things to how they originally were. The distance once between us, I needed to return.
Having said that, and until I walked out of his table, our glares never broke contact. They adhered to each other like there was some invisible glue between them.
Creepy. His eyes were creepy. As hell.
I walked out of the library and was finally able to breathe normally. Strange, right? It'd even gotten to the point I monitored my breathing around him. That was how much his presence was stifling. As for understanding the extremity of my position with Daniil, no one was as confused as I was. I earnestly wanted to treat him as I would someone normal because he was, yeah?
Or was he?
"Ha.." I gasped softly, avidly running my fingers against my hair to get if off my face.
Just when I made to take further steps, I received a call.
It was Carson.
Hesitantly, I picked up.
"Hey, Carson," I greeted being my usual self – bland.
"She…She's out, Ashley!" He announced, his anxiety or overexcitement aptly getting to me through the phone's speaker as his breath sounded hasty.
I did nothing but breathe into the speaker for a while, inviting an awkward silence as a result. One I didn't mind at the moment because I needed time to think!
About what, you may ask.
"Who…who's out?" I asked, my voice laced with a mix of caution and hesitation. It was as if I knew who he spoke of but wasn't ready to hear of it yet.
"Amelia." My heart dropped.
"Amelia Davies is out."
I let out a shaky breath alongside my hand from my ear. I knew it already. True, I waited quite long for this but hearing about it now felt anything but good. He wasn't wrong about sounding excited. 'I should be excited too. So why?!'
'Why, you weak asshole!' I cussed at myself inwardly, feeling all the brunts of my condition all at once. I was still taunted by ugly memories triggered by a total stranger. Why? Simply because he was a spitting reflection of Makayla's killer. Someone I never really had a chance to meet, and now?
Just one phone call.
That was all it took to render me fucking useless!! My hands and limbs were quavering like those of a puppy left in the rain to die!
I hated myself more than anyone right now. How could the mention of one name change my world in split seconds? How?!!!
Now leaning my head back against the wall, I sucked in a sharp breath through clenched teeth. Whenever this happened, I was always the one left feeling the most frustrated … infuriated… and cheesed out to the bones. I was one hundred percent sure that even if Makayla's murderer was to appear before me right here and now, despite my pent-up rage toward the son of a gun, I was going to cower like a fucking coward!
'You suck, Ashley!' I refrained from yelling. And in fact, I did suck. I hated the fact I could be rendered useless with mere words. The fact that I may never be able to face my fears gnawed at my insides. Everything hurt. I was hurting inside!
Above all, something frightened me the most. The possibility I could be stuck in this vicious cycle of woe if eventually the killer went untouched. Barely the thought sent shivers down my spine. The air around suddenly me felt cold; goosebumps surfaced on my skin.
With tears already streaming down through shut eyelids in slow motion, I whispered to myself: "You suck, Ashley. You really do."