𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝘽𝙖𝙙

Chapter 17: Panic Pit

♦ ♢ ♦ Kaitlyn ♦ ♢ ♦

I won't lie, bantering with Xavier is fun. It immediately put an end to my inner turmoil, bringing me out of the grey area, that I'd like to call, 'Panic Pit', because every time I fall into it, I panic.

"Knew it," Xavier gives me a smirk, that looks so good on his face.

"Kaity?" I hear, and Xav and I both turn to the side, to find a mad looking Dexter.

Xavier's grip on me immediately tightens, bringing me closer to his chest.

Enter Panic pit?

He's so warm... Focus, Kaitlyn!

Goddamn. It's like kissing Xavier turns all my thoughts upside down. I thought I'd pulled my guard up, dammit.

"What do you want?" Xavier asks, making me look at him at his tone. He looks cold, and stone faced, like he gets when he's upset, or angry as fuck.

It's hot as hell.

Kaitlyn!

Ok, fine! Sorry, I promise I'm won't be thinking about shit like this in the middle of a party, where my 'enemy' is facing off my ex.

And, as always, when Xavier and Dexter face off, it draws all the attention from the crowd. People must be loving this shitshow, that's now my life.

I'd been fine, following my life, but ever since it's blown up, it's like every day, a million things happen. And every day, my brain hurts but my heart beats faster at the same time. It's a crazy feeling, and one I'm realizing I don't hate.

I'd been so tired of being told what to do, if I'm being honest. So damn frustrated and irritated all the time, that now, I feel free, instead of feeling sad, like I had in the initial days. Talking to my dad definitely helped me a lot. I wished I had mom... but she'd been busy moving away.

She hasn't called me once to check on me, or give me an update on herself.

Not once.

And I stop myself from letting that thought eat me up right now. Later, I can cry while hugging dad again, when I'm suddenly missing mom. Because right now, I've got bigger problems at hand.

"I want nothing from you, fucker," Dexter growls. "Kaity, we need to talk."

Oh. This makes me mad. This motherfucker has the audacity to sound authoritative?

"You don't speak to her that way," Xavier says quietly, pulling me closer somehow. And I can't help but appreciate this gesture from him, of all people. If this was Dexter's hand on my waist, it would have been for showing purposes, like I was his trophy. But Xavier doing it feels protective, and comforting.

And wow, I never thought I'd feel like any of that. But life is throwing curve balls at me, and I keep on falling on each obstacle.

But it feels nice to fall, instead of be perfect and ignore my faults. It feels liberating.

"You don't get to tell me how I speak," Dexter looks down his nose at Xavier, then turns his brown gaze on me. Expectantly.

I clench my jaw. "Where's your darling Talia?" I mock.

"Somewhere."

"Wow," I chuckle. "I bet that's what you used to tell her, when she asked about me, isn't that right?"

Dexter sneers. "No," he spits. "It's not. This," he points between Xav and I. "Isn't right."

"You don't get to comment on what right and what's wrong," I say.