Between Silence and storm

pte

chool

the apartment, Dway

ching the top of her head where his hand had rested just moment

, she glanced a

n

ofessor Oliver-a notorious stickler for attendance. I

the door. But the moment she yanked it open, she nea

f them

Ariana, right? I'm Margot, sent by Mr. Rickshaw to

stily, sidestepping her. "Sorr

for a response

ink of an eye, and Dway

in, if she needed anything, if everything was alright. His ton

rself letting go of the re

morn

ring to head to her part-time job when her ph

tepmo

expressio

she a

ou been? Do you know how worried your father and I hav

t a cold chuc

d her and planned to throw

ed evenly, "I've rented a place. I won't be coming home

oung girl-living alone isn't safe. Come home, Ariana. From now

. "Is there anything else

Cynthia finally got to th

ur uncle about our

o that's what thi

y. We only had lunch once, and I haven't seen hi

ou hurry

ou think I don't want to?

fish! Your father is

more of the same emotional manipulation. The

hat eve

istening on her forehead as she

rry, I'

g a garment into her hands. "Never mind that!

the outfit. A pl

, she pulled it on-only to sta

ment. And the dress's v neck dipped low, revealing her cleavage... It w

ace b

ng in there? Hurry up! Th

out. "Kira... can I wear someth

hter. "You? Acting shy? Come on, Aria

ut

suck it up an

urther, Kira shoved her

rced herself to stay comp

but as she scanned the audience, her gaze

eath c

e Dw

omach

as he

washing over her. She glanced down at he

nted t

many people... esca

own her temple as Dwayne's

ing. Un

ly focuse

ection, his deep, frost

d invited him as a courtesy. They had agreed it would take just half

g time on point

d an arm over his shoulder, his signature

e drawled lazily. "Nice figures, soft sk

eup of hostesses, then zero

n, maybe eighteen-legs that could keep yo

"Hey, bro, aren't you still a

, his expression indifferent-until his

her, his gaze tu

ia

ssure filled the

is the AC on too high?

finish, Dwayne a

rippled through

are you doing?" Morgan

elf. A few seconds passed before he forced himself

is gaze, Mo

en't interested? And now you

f all the ushers, she is the pr

ut

ping Morgan's tie. His voice

er again, I'll go

an:

t, Ariana sen

an down h

-and locked ey

od drained f

s o

de

nd her eventually... but she hadn'

here was nowhere to run. She was trapped on

stretched i

press confe

ost dismissed th

you going?" Kira

led over her should

eat, pushing past Morg

g out, deep a

stop righ

legs near

ropelled h

hes me, I'

out into the open hallway. The heavy weight of

hange out of th

h the dressing room, a fi

with a beer belly and yel

n Dalton, the manager

ure. "I noticed you on stage. Do y

stomach

y not a g

ack. "I'm sorry,

st him, but his hand

beautiful," he sneered