4: EXPECTED MORE
1172 Words
Kayla somehow found herself in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection.
The faint redness on her cheek hadn’t faded. She lifted her fingers slowly, brushing over it.
It still stung.
But not as much as what came after.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
“Apologize.”
Lucas’ voice echoed in her head.
Her grip tightened on the edge of the sink.
“Since when…” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible,
“…did I become the one always at fault?”
No one answered her.
But her mind didn’t stay quiet for long.
Lucas Grey works for me.
Kayla shut her eyes tightly.
No.
She shook her head, as if trying to throw the thought away.
But it didn’t leave.
Instead it grew louder, more convincing, more dangerous.
A knock sounded on the door pulling her from her thoughts.
Kayla stiffened.
“Kayla?”
Lucas.
Her fingers curled into fists instantly.
“Kayla” he called again receiving no response then he let out a sigh.
“I know you’re upset,” his voice came again, softer this time.
“Can we talk?”
Kayla let out a slow breath.
Talk?
Now he wanted to talk?
After everything?
After the slap?, the humiliation? After choosing Isla’s crocodile tears over the truth.
Her gaze shifted back to the mirror.
For a moment, she didn’t recognize the girl staring back at her.
The eyes were the same, but the light in them was gone. Replaced by something colder, heavier and that scared her more than anything.
“Come in.” she finally gave in her voice flat. She wiped her face quickly and opened the door before he could knock again.
The door creaked open slowly. Lucas stepped in closing it behind him like he owned the place, like he hadn't just hit her less than an hour ago.
Kayla shook her head trying to get the thought out of her head, he apologized, hadn't he? She didn't think it was worth fussing over anymore. Or at least that's what she told herself
He walked closer to her, his expression softer now, rehearsed almost,
“I didn't mean to hurt you” he said with concern dripping in his voice like it was real.
Kayla was expressionless, looking at him like he just cracked a bad joke.
He didn't mean to hurt her? He already hit her!
Lucas, frustrated at her silence, ran his fingers through his hair.
“You know how Isla is” he continued, dropping his voice like he was sharing a secret. “She's sensitive. She overreacts sometimes. If I didn't step in she would have cried all night.”
Kayla's brows furrowed
Sensitive?
That was his excuse now?
And since when was he responsible for Isla's tears and wellbeing?
“I just didn't want things to escalate” he sighed and put both hands on her arms making her face him. His touch felt foreign now. “forgive me okay? I hate it when you're mad at me.”
Kayla let out a small humorless laugh, her cheek still burned but she didn't bring it up.
Instead she tilted her head slightly watching him with cold, calculating eyes.
“So… I'm the problem?” Kayla asked, searching his face for answers she already knew he wouldn't give.
Lucas paused just for a second then he smiled. The same smile she was familiar with, the same smile she fell in love with. The smile that used to make her feel safe.
“You're not the problem,” he said softly, thumb brushing her wrists.
Then he said it.
“I just expected more from you”
Something about that sentence hit her like a stray bullet. It was totally wrong.
Expected more?
Expect her to give in all the time.
Expected her to apologize first.
Expected her to choose Isla's feelings over her dignity.
Kayla's fingers curled tightly at her sides. Nails digging into her palm.
Lucas expected her to smile back at him like she always did whenever they had issues. To pretend everything was fine and move on.
But Kayla didn't smile, nothing was funny this time around.
She didn't give him a response and the silence made him shift awkwardly. He dropped his hands from her arms suddenly unsure of himself.
That same uneasy feeling hit him again as Kayla stared right into his eyes. Like she could see through all his deceits and lies.
“Where were you last night?” she said disrupting the awkward silence
“What?” Lucas blinked caught off guard.
“Where were you last night Lucas” she asked louder this time, her voice steady.
Lucas swallowed his eyes evading hers, he stared at the wall, at the ceiling everything and everywhere except her face.
“Where else would I be? I was here waiting for you. You were out all night” he said defensively
Kayla let out a laugh like she expected it.
He'd do everything to put the blame back on her.
“Do you really not have any idea of where I was Lucas?” she asked again, the last bit of softness in her voice gone.
Lucas felt weird, guilty even and frustrated
“Look, let's forget this okay?” He reached for her again searching her eyes for answers, for the forgiveness he was used to getting.
Kayla nodded but it wasn't agreement, it was resignation, she expected it.
Lucas sighed in relief and put his arms out to hug her but Kayla stepped back evading his touch. He froze mid motion, hand hanging into the air. For a second, awkwardness settled between them like dust.
Then he forced a smile.
“Let's get married soon, okay?”
Crash
Something broke outside, turning both Kayla's and Lucas' attention to the door.
Isla stood in the hallway, clutching a broken base in her hand. She wasn't fast enough to hide the anger twisting her face.
Her fists clenched behind her back, her nails dug deep into her palms that left crescent marks.
She looked at Kayla with so much hatred it made Kayla's stomach turn. Like Kayla had stolen something that belonged to her.
“I'm sorry” she lowered her head, her voice small and trembling."Did I interrupt something”
Lucas feeling embarrassed dropped his hands and cleared his throat
“no, of course not.”
“Kayla” Isla raised her head, the smirk barely hidden beneath her innocent act. “Mom will like to have a word with you”
Kayla's heart skipped a beat, she knew nothing good was going to come off this meeting, Still she nodded at her to show she understood.
She walked past Isla without another word, leaving both Isla and Lucas alone in the room.
Behind her she heard Isla's voice drop in a whisper
“See? She's still cold to me. I don't know why you bother.”
Lucas didn't answer.
But Kayla heard the hesitation in his silence.
- Writer
