You Distract Me - Chapter 26: Chapter 26

"You're so lucky. What I wouldn't do to get the attention of the Shayne West."
I rolled my eyes at the handful of girls surrounding my bed.
Tatiana, Reign and Penny had all started around the same time I had at Vogue. They weren't overly dramatic, neither were they boring; we all just complemented each other's personalities.
"She actually carried you out of the building?" Penny, the most hyper of the group said. I nodded as heat rushed into my cheeks.
Tatiana swooned. "That's so sweet! It must have been amazing being taken care of like that. Especially by such a gorgeous human being."
Reign shook her head. "Don't be so dramatic. It was simply logic that drove her to do that. Anyone could have been in Shayne's shoes, and they'd have done the same thing." Of all of us, Reign was the most serious, but she was also honest and kind.
"Reign, don't be jealous. Olivia did say that Shayne stayed with her. And that she might come back today," Penny said as she squealed with excitement, her blonde waves bouncing.
I laughed. "It's only nine in the morning, guys. For all I know she won't come back for several hours. She might not even come at all."
I actually didn't know if I wanted her to come. It's not like I'd simply forgotten what had happened at the party. However, I hadn't given her any chances when I'd stomped away. Plus, a lot else happened the previous night.
I felt my heart squeeze when I remembered how Shayne had broken down in front of me. I desperately wanted to be the one to sooth all of her pain.
"It's possible. Did you guys see that slutty woman she'd come with? I wouldn't be shocked if she'd keep Shayne in bed all day."
I winced at her words.
"Tatiana!" Reign scolded.
"It's fine. I wouldn't be shocked either." Shayne might have let me see a different side of her the previous night, but who's to say whether I was the one she wanted or not.
"I know we all find Shayne cool and dreamy and let's not forget intimidating with those hazel eyes and that amazing body that just drives me crazy, but are you like lesbian or something?" Penny asked me.
I shrugged. "I don't know. I've always liked guys. Shayne is just . . . you know? Shayne."
Tatiana nodded. "I think we all feel the same way. She's in her own delicious category that one. If I were in your shoes, I'd have already jumped her, and she would just have been saying my name."
We all laughed at Tatiana's words, and to my relief the topic diverted away from Shayne. Although I'd never have told a soul about our private moment, I didn't like her being the topic of any discussion. It was unsettling.
A knock sounded at the door and interrupted Penny's gossiping rant.
And we could all but stare.
Standing so tall and deathly attractive, Shayne easily dominated the room in a simple navy blue button-down shirt and black jeans. Her body really was everything.
I subtly squeezed my thighs together when those heart-stopping hazel eyes landed on me. And only me.
"I can come back later," she said coolly, finally taking in my awe-stricken visitors.
"No! We were just leaving," Tatiana burst out, grabbing Reign and Penny's attention.
Reign cleared her throat. "Right, we'll leave you two to talk."
Illogically panicked, I gripped Penny's arm before she could jump off the bed.
"It's okay, you guys can stay," I rushed out.
"We wouldn't wanna impose. We'll come see you later." Mischief evident in her eyes, Penny pulled my hand off and stood from the bed. "Bye, Shayne," she said as she passed the tall beauty with a shy flirtatious smile on her face.
Reign just followed behind without a word, while Tatiana actually walked up to Shayne and stood in front of her.
Tatiana was an adorable little red head, and Shayne's height didn't help.
She took a deep breath. "I'm Tatiana."
"Hello, Tatiana," Shayne said with a lopsided grin.
She squealed happily with a look of accomplishment on her face before practically skipping out of the room and closing the door, leaving me and Shayne alone.
Without those little traitors, I was hyper aware of Shayne's presence. I looked everywhere but at her. If only she'd take her eyes off of me.
"Good morning, beautiful."
I felt her come up to the side of my bed. "Morning."
Why was I so nervous?
"How's the hospital food?" And just when she said that, the most amazing chocolatey smell reached me.
My head snapped up and for the first time, I noticed that she had brown paper bags in her hands.
"Shayne, I could kiss you!" I blurted out, only sparing myself a second to realize what I'd said and try to rephrase my words. "I mean, I'm grateful. Th-the food here is horrible. That's why I really appreciate the gesture. And I don't wanna kiss you, don't worry. I mean I'd like to, I don't know if you'd like to. Oh god, what am I saying? . . . Thanks."
My cheeks were beyond blazing, my hands trembling with nervousness and my teeth digging into my poor lip. I had royally humiliated myself.
When I heard Shayne start chuckling, I risked a glance at her but then I couldn't look away. She had on an easy smile that showed her straight teeth, and there wasn't any mocking glint in her devastating eyes.
"Let's eat," she simply said, sitting on the space at my feet. I tried not to dwell on the fact that she was further than she had been the night before.
She handed me the chocolate truffles and coffee from the Vogue/Reyvox cafeteria while she pulled out her own.
As we ate in total silence, I gave my undivided attention to the food. But I was anything but calm on the inside. Didn't she tire of looking at the same person for too long? I knew I'd never tire of looking at her, she was gorgeous. As for me, I wasn't the most beautiful girl on the planet.
"It wasn't what it looked like."
I blinked twice before looking up at her with a puzzled look.
"What?"
"The woman at the ball, she wasn't who you thought she was."
Great. My appetite and the once comfortable silence vanished.
The feelings I had at the balcony came back in a rush. "What makes you think you know who I thought she was?"
"You were upset, Olivia. It's obvious you thought I was having an affair with her."
I briefly closed my eyes. "Fine, I did, and I still do. You'll probably explain to me how wrong I am, but honestly I don't wanna hear it. Now I understand what you're going through, but that does not mean I've become a complete fool. I think it would be better if we just became—"
"Don't fucking say it." Her voice came out low and slow, and I mentally scolded my body for divergently responding to it. If only I weren't so attracted to this creature.
"Shayne, I—"
"No. I opened up to you because I want to be more than just a fucking friend to you. We both established that's what we wanted. What changed, Olivia?" Her tone was still calm and icy.
"Are you kidding me? I don't want you to open up to me in order to gain something. I want you to open up to me because you need and want to. Who's to say you won't run off to the next whore again because your poor feelings were attacked by me. That's why we should be fr—"
"Take care, Olivia." She abruptly stood and walked out.
I remained staring at the door, but twenty minutes later I realized she wasn't coming back.
Didn't she realize that was exactly what I was talking about? Cutting me out the moment I gave her a hard time. If she'd expected me to be one of her fangirls, then she was dead wrong.
Maybe my words had been a little harsh, but she'd angered me first.
The door opened and in walked my mother with a duffel bag hanging from her shoulder.
"I swear traffic is the works of the devil. I got everything you asked, and some more incase you needed another shower. Wait, where did that food come from?"
"The girls came by."
I ignored her suspicious stare and turned on my side. Too exhausted to finish my food, I succumbed to the sleep with one person on my mind.
I'd probably give into the guilt and accept that I'd have to personally apologize to Shayne for my impoliteness.
I myself wasn't sure I had total confidence in the words I'd said to her. 'Friends' had been a little bit of a far fetch.
It was either I'd give into her, or she'd forget me.
Not very fair choices.