Chapter 21: Stomach Acid Burns the Throat

The peaceful silence that was surrounding the kitchen became tense, and instinctively lowered my eyes to the ground at his words. Memories were flooding my mind from last night, and they coincidentally stopped rolling in as soon as my head hit the toilet, past that, wasn't even a blur, it didn't exist.

I racked my brain for what seemed like forever, until Cooper spoke again, assuming I wouldn't be the first to start this conversation.

"Before you ask, no nothing happened, but Oakley, you were dangerously trashed last night. I'm sure you know nectar has a far worse effect on nymphs than any other species, correct? So why would you go and put yourself at risk like that?" It brought some comfort knowing nothing happened, and I could tell he was being truthful by the look on his face. He was genuinely concerned for my well being. My being truly was not well at that moment.

I kept my eyes trained on my bare feet, and wondered were my shoes went, before I looked out the kitchen's window into the back yard. When my eyes landed on the tangled vines, made by yours truly, I couldn't suppress the giggle that escaped my lips.

"This isn't funny, Oakley." His voice trailed off when his eyes found what mine had been locked on.

"Why are there vines completely tangled around one of my trees? Were you playing in the trees drunk off nectar?"

I couldn't help but notice the faint amusement in his voice, but it was drowned out by the parental nagging element to it.

"To answer your question, I tried to play in the trees while drunk on nectar. Ainsley stole me before I could. Even if that was the case, why would it concern you, Coop?" It was an honest question, hell, I thought I'd pushed him away enough for him to not care at that point. I guess I was wrong, because he only ran a hand through his golden locks in frustration.

"It is my concern when you put yourself at risk in my house. That isn't you, Oakley. That guy would have taken advantage of you, and who knows what could have happened!" He shouted, throwing his hands to his sides.

"What if I wanted him to, would that change things?" I didn't, but I threw that in for argument's sake.

"You didn't know me before, and you sure as hell don't know me now." My voice was laced with its own poison, and maybe it was excessive, but I was over the whole situation already. I needed to get out of this house. Granted, it was better than the dorm, but sooner or later, I would start to freak out. Cooper's words sent chilling memories to the front of my mind. Cooper didn't need to see what happened when those affected me.

"No, Oakley, it wouldn't change things, because no matter how hard I try to get you out of my head, I can't. I do know you though, better than you think. You won't let me in. You push me away, but I can tell you that you love your coffee with extra cream, no sugar and a bottle of honey. You like to garden, lavender brings you a joy that I can't even put into words. You truly are one of the sweetest girls that I know, and for some reason, I am the only one that had the pleasure of facing your wrath. Tell me Oakley, why is that? Because you don't want to associate yourself with love?" He was rambling on in anger, throwing his hands in the air, and pacing the length of the kitchen.

I stood by the kitchen sink, glaring in his direction. He was right, about everything he was saying, and it only fueled my own anger.

"I don't want to associate myself with you because I don't want to be any closer to romance than I have to be. Unfortunately, I can't be around you without wanting to bone you, and you're not the type I can be casual with, alright?" I winced at the volume of my voice, and my eyes widened in shock. I threw my hands over my ears and shut my eyes tight, before opening them again to see shock take over his features as well.

"Oakley." Was the only word that I was able to process as I darted past him and out the back door. There was no turning back at that point, so I ran, with a splitting headache, all the way past the treeline and into the thick forest. I could hear him calling my name, and each time he seemed to be getting closer, so I panicked.

I wove my hands through the air creating a mess of vines, flowers, and branches in my path to avert him from my direction. I heard him mumble a string of curses when a particularly messy string of vines caught him. My feet were pounding against the ground with a good amount of force. It allowing me to gain the amount of distance needed from him before leaping into a nearby tree. I didn't need to catch my breath, but the pain in my head had gotten to the point were my vision had grown blurry. I lost him, and that's what mattered.