Chapter 9 The Kiss Of Death
Celene's POV
God, i was going to throw up! Disgust raked my body over and over again as Daniel kept trying to force access into my mouth. My body came back to me as soon as I caught sight of that black car.
I shoved him hard in the chest, harder than I thought I could. He stumbled back a step, his eyes shining with more surprise than hurt, but that was enough to get him off me.
My hand moved and connected with his cheek before my brain could even catch up. The slap landed so loudly, echoing off the buildings around us. Even my palm burned instantly, but I welcomed it. The sting grounded me. Pulling me back into myself. Served him right.
“Don’t ever touch me again,” I said.
My voice still shaking. I tilted my head and yes, the blackcar was still lazily parked, the drivers seat was facimg me directly.
I brought my attention back to Daniel who was staring at me like i had just ruined his male prode. Of course a slap could bruise his fragile ego. His cheek was already turning red, his mouth slightly open.
“You... you slapped me? You know how i gwt wjen you do stuff like this, right?” he asked.
I chuckled drily. He had to be kiddomg me. The entitlement was oscar winning, for real.
“I slapped you. I absolutely did, you deranged fucker. I need you to leave.”
Some people walking by us slowed down, some of them stopped completely so they could enjoy the show.
“You don’t get access to me anymore, Daniel,” I continued. “You don’t get my body. You don’t get my feelings. You don’t get reactions just because you’re bored or insecure or trying to prove something to yourself.”
He scoffed. “So that’s it? You just moved on that fast?”
I stepped back, putting space between us.
“I moved on the moment 'made a mistake' slipped on a fucking banana peel and ended up in another girls pussy. I moved on wjen you decided to parade another girl around just to see if I’d bleed.”
His eyes darkened. “You’re acting like I did something wrong.”
That told me everything I needed to know.
“Stay away from me,” I said. “If I see you again, I won’t be this calm.”
I turned and walked away before he could respond. My legs felt shaky, but they held me up. Thank God. I didn’t look back, even though every instinct screamed at me to check if he was following. Or worse, if the black car was following.
I made it to my apartment before my hands started trembling.
I locked the door. Then I locked it again. Then I leaned my forehead against the wood and breathed heavily. What the fuck was happening to me?
One moment I was bored.and needed a vacation, now I've got an ex from hell forcing himself on me.and a potential stalker.
I touched my lips lightly, hating that my lips still tingled. I hated that my chest hurt in that old familiar way. Hated that some small part of me felt stupid for ever loving someone who could look at my fear and still think he was entitled to me.
I washed my face, and brushed my teeth until my gums hurt. Changed my clothes even though they were clean.
Still, I couldn’t settle down.
Every sound outside made my head lift. Every passing car sent a jolt through my stomach. I kept thinking about the way he’d grabbed me. About how easily it had happened. About how sure he’d been that I would fold, that I would allow him do that to me.
I went to the window and peeked through the blinds.
The street looked normal, cars were assimg, bit i knew what i was lookimg for and yup, I was not disappointed.
A black car.
Parked across the street. Not moving. Engine off. Windows tinted so dark they looked solid.
My breath caught.
"Relax, Celene. It could be anyone. People love black cars these days anyways. Theses are all different cars. It could be anyone. A neighbour. A rideshare. Someone waiting on a friend. A coincidence stacked on top of a bad day. That's it" I said to myself, but my skin prickled.
I stepped back from the window and pressed my back to the wall. My heart pounded so loud I was sure someone could hear it.
'You’re safe. You’re inside. You’re fine. You're fine, Celene."
My phone buzzed in my hand, startling me again.
I flinched so hard I almost dropped it.
A text from Daniel popped up on my screen.
Ex: You didn’t have to embarrass me like that.
I stared at the screen, anger flooding my already tight chest. Whonthe fuck did this fool think he was?
Me: Do not contact me again.
Three dots appeared immediately.
Ex: You think you’re better without me? I know tou, Celene. Okay... You'll be back. You always come back.
I blocked the number immediately.
My chest felt lighter and heavier at the same time.
I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the floor, and my knees pulled to my chest. My palm still burned from the slap. My throat felt tight. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not for him.
On a different day, I would have asked Maria to come out so we could go out and fet drunk together, but not today.
All I knew was that something had changed. My life was changing. And whatever this knew craziness in my life was, it wasn’t going to let me go quietly.