Retort

"Oh, you're back?" Cadmus started coolly, unbothered.

It looked like she overheard their conversation, and going by the affronted expression on her face, she must've been there from the beginning. He didn't care regardless, knowing that he's most definitely of higher standing than her in all aspects.

Her hand was trembling again, the glass of juice moving slightly along with it.

She could give him that look all she wanted. There's nothing for him to deny.

And in fact, this would even help save Cadmus the trouble of explaining.

"So, what do you say? Wanna be my pet?"

His friends' mouths dropped, eyes blown wide. He puffed out his chest, swelling with confidence.

"You're the rumored transfer student, aren't you? Being talked badly about must be rough. It's hard to make friends the way you are now, isn't it? I can help you with that if you'll accept my offer," Cadmus continued, standing up and walking closer.

He wanted to back her to the wall and corner her with his arms to her side. That would be cool – or at least, it was in movies. But she didn't move an inch from her spot or even do so much as flinch.

Weird.

This wasn't how she was a while ago. This wasn't how she's supposed to react.

"Blair. My name is Blair," she then said all of the sudden, surprising him a bit.

"Oh, right, you still hadn't introduced yourself. So, ready to be my pet, Blair?"

"I already told you. My name is Blair," she said once more, a little firmer this time.

He blinked, head tilted slightly in confusion. Then, he frowned and crossed his arms.

"Yeah, and? Why are you telling me again? I get it, okay?"

"No, you don't. I have a name."

"I said I already get it. So, what-"

"So, clearly, I'm not a stray who can be taken in as a pet."

Cadmus stilled.

She looked and sounded furious. He suddenly felt a little bit unnerved.

His friends were about to pipe in to defend him, but she beat them to it.

"The reason why I agreed to get you this drink was because I truly felt sorry. I wasn't letting you boss me around for whatever reason you're thinking," she muttered through her teeth, shocking him to the point he couldn't speak.

Deep within Cadmus, though, a raging storm was stirring.

Soon, his flabbergasted expression contorted into an exasperated one. He wasn't going to let her continue talking back to him like this, of course.

He shot her a daunting glare, sharp as a dagger. But then, all she did in return was shoot back an indifferent one.

Their positions had reversed.

"I'm not an animal to be tamed, and I'm absolutely not a toy for your games…" she taunted with the smuggest look of apathy he'd ever seen on someone, and before he realized it, she had lifted up the glass of juice and was pouring it down on him.

"So, go shove up your stupid lil' offer to your poor lil' butt, shorty."

At that moment, the world stopped for Cadmus.