Chương 17: Chapter Seventeen

Pulling her unto the dance floor, Josh held her hand in his and draped the other on his shoulder. Van's jaw slacked in a stunned disbelief.

''Vanessa are you alright? Say something.'' He held her as they waltzed, but she was unresponsive.

Was heaven punishing her right now? Why did Josh Hamilton have to be here...?

It was her best friend's wedding reception not their high school reunion! and those two bitches, were they waiting to make another humiliating video go viral on the net?

Was she going to let that happen again?

No.

In a flash she snapped out of her daze and snatched her hands from his taking a giant step back. To his credit Josh didn't look surprised at all.

''Why are you here Josh Hamilton and what do you want from me? What was that all about?'' she gritted irately.

''I'm here for you, I want you, and I was only defending you.'' He replied answering her questions.

''Defending me?'' she said incredulously, she could feel her anger sizzling to life. ''Who do you think you are? Or better yet who gave you the right to come charging here like you own the damn place? I was doing alright, I could defend myself!'' She jabbed a finger at his chest furiously. ''Look here,'' she inhaled deeply and exhaled through her mouth. ''I don't know why you're here or what you want but I'm not stupid Josh.''

''No, that's not what I meant.''

''Stay. Away. From. Me.'' She warned and walked away.

Jake stormed out furiously. He kicked an imaginary pebble off the bridge, his fists tightly clenched itching to punch at something.

Josh Hamilton, he thought with disgust. How dare he?

What was he trying to prove?

He inhaled deeply and exhaled.

''What was that all about?'' Jake ignored the question and stared ahead. Christian stood beside him, his hands buried deep in his pants pocket. the sun was at its peak now, its bright orange rays kissed the water surface making it glimmer. ''You know that talking about it would make you feel better right?'' he said.

When the silence stretched on, Christian sighed. ''Dave is also tight-lipped about his problems.''

''And you think that I would talk?'' Jake snapped.

''Geez calm down, I didn't know that the jingles were that loud.''

''What do mean by that?'' Jake looked askance at his friend.

''that girl, Vanessa or something,'' he said. ''I can feel the tension between you two don't try to deny it.'' When it was clear that he wasn't going to dispute, Christian continued. ''so which is it? "

''Go away, you're starting to annoy me.'' Christian rolled his eyes but smiled nonetheless and patted his friend's shoulder.

''When you need someone to share a drink or two with, I'm just around the corner.''

After Christian had left, Jake decided it was time he got back to the party but he froze as soon as he'd taken a few steps down the bridge.

Van halted in her steps as well, their eyes locked in an intense stare down.

Tucking back a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, she tore her gaze away first and changed directions obviously not in the mood to fight with him.

''How do you know Josh Hamilton?''

his question made her stop and she turned to face him. He had the nerve to glower at her as if she'd done something wrong.

Van scoffed. ''Are you serious?'' she demanded. ''All day you keep ignoring me and treating me like I was trash but now that you've decided that I was worth your time you ask me this ridiculous question?''

''If you're looking for an apology I'm sorry to disappoint you.''

Van shook her head in contempt. ''you're so cynical and heartless.'' She gritted.

''So I've been told.'' The cocky bastard said. ''Now answer the damn question. How do you know Josh Hamilton?''

''Go to hell!'' She turned away from him.

''How much will you charge him huh?'' the anger and disgust in his voice fuelled her own rage.

''You sick bastard!'' she stormed toward him stopping close enough for her palm to connect with his left cheek, the impact so hard she could see the imprint of her fingers.

Oh how much she'd been dying to do that for a long time now and the opportunity finally presented itself and it felt so good to be able to get the anger out. ''What is wrong with you? Why do you keep on taunting me? Is it because you were so lucky to be born into a prestigious family and I'm just a nobody to you or have you suddenly made it your past time to bully lowly people like me?'' she angled her face to look him squarely in the eyes. ''Listen to me, I might be poor and have nothing to my name but that doesn't give you the right to insult me.'' Her face was red with anger and she was moments away from clawing his beautiful face with her nails.

''How dare you say such a thing to me? for crying out loud what did I ever do to you? Why do you hate me so much to want to see me hurt?'' she couldn't control the tears any longer and let it roll freely down her face. What kind of game was he playing now? He knew perfectly well that he was her first.

''My father just died and you're not even sympathetic. Will I ever go another day without you throwing in my face the worse moment of my life.''

A muscle ticked in his jaw as he struggled to contain his emotion, he needed to remain unaffected. He couldn't believe that that night meant nothing to her when it meant so much to him.

''I don't want you to ever see him again.'' He said in stern finality.

''You're nobody to me so don't tell me what to do.'' She furiously wiped the tears off her face hating the fact that he always got to her, always seeming to know the right buttons to push.

''He'll only use you.''

Van scoffed in derision, ''would you look at that, the pot calling the kettle black. Between you and him I don't know who's worse, but I'd say you're both demons from hell!''