Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 44

(Angel's POV)

I couldn't get the image out of my mind. Hendrix, lying on the bathroom floor and looking up at me with those eyes filled with something I couldn't place. Hurt and disappointment and longing. I didn't even know anymore.

I shoved a hand through my hair and let out a frustrated sigh. God, I shouldn't have pushed him like that and I shouldn't have let it go this far. But what else could I have done? This thing between us was spiraling into something I didn't understand and something I wasn't sure I even wanted to understand.

I hadn't seen Hendrix all morning and maybe it was for the best, I told myself. Maybe we needed some space and some time to figure out whatever this was without making it worse. But deep down, I knew I was just avoiding the inevitable. I wasn't sure what I'd say when I saw him again. I wasn't even sure there were words for what was happening between us.

I leaned back in my chair and got lost in thought when suddenly there was a bang.

I jumped and my heart skipped a beat as I looked up. Ava stood there and glared at me with the kind of intensity that could melt steel. Her fingers were spread across my table and her nails dug into the wood. "What's your problem?" she spat out venomously.

I blinked and felt thrown off by the hostility radiating from her. "What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about?" she mocked and let out a bitter laugh. "You've got some nerve, acting all innocent."

I frowned. "Ava, seriously, I have no idea what-"

"Shut up!" she snapped and cut me off. "You're disgusting. You know that? Absolutely disgusting."

I opened my mouth to respond but she was already on a roll and her words came out faster than I could process them.

"You strut around here like you own the place and you think you're so much better than everyone else. But guess what, Angel? You're not. You're just a selfish, manipulative little "

interrupted as my confusion turned into anger. "I have no

don't," she sneered and leaned in closer. "Because you're so used to getting everything handed to you, aren't you? Miss Perfect Angel with

but I forced myself to stay calm. "Ava, you need to

course, you're not," she hissed. "You're never in the mood for anything that doesn't revolve around you, are

time for this," I muttered and started to rise

and pushed me back down with surprising force. "You're not going anywhere

patience wearing thin. "Why are you

she seethed and lowered her voice to a dangerous whisper, "is you. Acting like you care about Hendrix when all you're doing is leading him

heart skipped a beat. "What... what are you talking

haven't noticed?" she sneered. "The way you look at him and the way you talk to

her eyes blazed with fury. "You're disgusting. And I won't let you

what's happening," I insisted and

she wants no matter

was inches from mine. "You know what, Angel? Maybe I should just go to the staff and tell them what you're doing. Let them know how you're

her eyes flashed with nastiness.

tried to keep my composure. "How is this even

I care about him," she spat back like it was the most obvious

him," I said but my voice

what are you doing?" Ava challenged and her eyes never left mine. "What exactly do

but I didn't even

sneered. "You can't even admit it