I took a deep breath, trying to maintain the thin veneer of composure that I'd painstakingly constructed. Placing my hands on my hips, I forced a smile, hoping to trick my brain into quelling the rising tide of anger threatening to engulf me. I avoided meeting Maria's gaze, instead opting to fix my eyes on the ceiling, for fear that if I were to confront her annoying face directly, the urge to stab her with the pen lying in my pen holder might become irresistible.
"Did you really have to be this rude to her?" I spoke, my voice strained with the effort of keeping my emotions in check. "She already has issues that she's dealing with, and now you want to add more guilt to it?" Gathering all my calm, I finally look at her, meeting her gaze with steely determination. "The moment she finds out
