âThereâs no reason; thereâs no rhyme. I found myself blindsided by a feeling that Iâve never known; Iâm dealing with it on my own. Iâm praying, but itâs not enough. Iâm done; I donât believe in love. Learning how to let it go. Dealing with it on my own.ââLany.
Chapter Theme Song: âMalibu Nightsâ by Lany.
THIRD PERSON
Harmony is doing her best to match Blazeâs long strides as they make their way across the pool deck towards the hotel building.
As soon as they step into the spacious lobby, Blazeâs hand slips from hers. Her heart sinks as she looks at her fingers, which were intertwined with his just moments ago.
He opens the door to his room, and as they step inside, she starts to speak.
âIâm sorry, Blaze. Kite kissed me; I didnât want it. I would never hurt you like that.â
He turns to her, his face expressionless, and a wave of fear washes over her.
His gaze is empty, reminiscent of the vacant look he used to have when they first met. She canât read his thoughts, and that scares her more than anything.
âI know you donât believe me,â she whispers, her eyes fixed on the floor. Her voice wavers, a sign that sheâs on the verge of tears.
He doesnât respond, and when she looks up, heâs just standing there, silently staring at her.
He sighs softly, his hands buried in his shortsâ pockets. Despite his sigh, his distant gaze doesnât waver.
âI know. I know he was the one who kissed you.â
âDo you?â A flicker of hope mingles with her relief.
âI do.â
âThenââ
âBut it doesnât make sense, Harmony.â
His words hit her like an arrow. Sheâs not sure what he means, but she knows itâs not good.
Sheâs scared to ask for clarification, knowing it might hurt, but she gathers her courage and asks anyway.
âWhat do you mean, Blaze?â
âYeah, I trust you. I know that Kite was the one who kissed you. But Iâm not ready.â
~Not ready?~
âIâm not ready for what comes with being with someone; with having feelings for someone. I canât do it. You know better than anyone that Iâm not cut out for relationships. Iâm not fit to date.
âI need time to understand my emotions and how to deal with them. Iâm a mess right now, Harmony. So itâs best we just cool off.â
~Cool off?~
Her eyes narrow as her shoulders slump in defeat.
âAre you sayingââ
âIâm saying that we should just be friends. Whatever this is, we need to stop.â
Her eyes well up, and she takes a deep breath. âDo you mean that?â
He nods, his expression still detached. ~If he trusts her, then why is he still so distant?~
âSo, you want me to just give up on what we have?â she manages to ask, her voice trembling.
Blaze doesnât respond for a moment, then he lets out a harsh breath heâd been holding.
âYouâll get over me,â he says. âI ainât worth shit anyway.â
A single tear rolls down her cheek, and she quickly wipes it away. She feels pathetic, crying in front of him like this.
Seeing her tear-filled eyes finally stirs something in him, and his eyebrows furrow.
âI should go,â he mumbles.
He turns to leave, but she steps forward. âDonât you remember? We signed a contract, Blaze. You told me I couldnât leave you...â
He freezes for a moment before turning back to face her. She studies his face, realizing that he doesnât seem as hurt as she is.
If heâs hiding his feelings, heâs doing a damn good job of it. He was wrongâmaybe he does have control over his emotions.
âWell, as of today, itâs null and void. You shouldnât be tied to someone. Youâre free to do whatever you want, Harmony. You donât owe me anything,â
~Thatâs not what she wants to hear.~
âFine.â She nods. âThen letâs end the contract the way we started it.â
Confusion crosses his face as she steps closer to him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she rises on her toes and presses her lips to his.
Blaze is taken aback by her sudden move but closes his eyes and starts to kiss her back.
Her stomach flutters at the softness of his lips, and the realization that he might not kiss her again makes her heart ache.
She moves closer to him as he places his hands on her hips, his tongue seeking out hers.
The taste of his mouth is intoxicatingâitâs a drug that keeps her coming back for more. She can taste the liquor on his breath, and she knows itâs because of her.
His kisses become more urgent, and she matches his pace, but just as the desire reaches a fever pitch, he pulls away and looks away.
Breathing heavily, she drops her arms from his neck and glares at him. Her eyes are filled with tears, but heâs not looking at herâheâs looking everywhere else.
He rubs his forehead. âWe canât do that again, you hear me? Iâm serious, Harmony.â
The last bit of hope she had drains away, replaced by a wave of embarrassment.
âConsider that the end of the contract. Itâs the last time. We canât...we canât kiss each other again.â
~He means it. She can tell.~
âCatch you later,â he mumbles, his eyes flickering with a mix of annoyance and sorrow as he turns his back on her.
She yearns to call him back, to beg him not to go. But she canât. She canât be that girlâthe one who clings and needs too much. It would only make things messier.
This has to be the most gut-wrenching moment sheâs ever lived through.
They were never officially together, so why does it feel like theyâve just gone through a breakup? Sheâs on the verge of running out of tears, and she canât help but regret ever setting foot at this pool party.