24 — What a liar.

*“Eric?”* My voice comes out faltering, and I hate myself for sounding so weak at that moment. “W-What are you doing here?”
“Is that all you have to say after keeping me waiting for half an hour, Angel?” He approaches with a gentle expression and an equally meek tone — one that, for some reason, makes me feel anxious…
“I didn't even know you were here.”
Because if *I had known*, I would have called Julian to go with me.
“You blocked me from everything… This is the only way I can talk to you.” He stops in front of me, closer than I would like, to the point where he allows me to smell his cologne mixed with the sweat that, honestly, is making me sick.
“I did this precisely so you would stop contacting me... I was clear when I said that things were over between us. So, what are you doing here?” I cross my arms, as if that would somehow protect me… But to my misfortune, I forgot that my clothes are entirely different from what Eric is used to imposing on me.
Even though my blouse doesn't have a low-cut cleavage, it marks my waist and defines nicely the shape of my breasts, which seem bigger thanks to the bra. And I feel his eyes slithering over my skin like a snake, nauseating, painfully.
I know he's staring at my midi skirt, my exposed ankles and the delicate jewelry on it, something he never thought I would wear… and the high heels… *Yes, Eric… I can use high heels too,* like the ones Laura dropped off at your house while you were fucking her.
Honestly, I don't understand why I'm reacting this way... why I feel intimidated by his presence… But I just want to run off.
“What happened to you, honey? It's only been a few days, and you look… *different.*” I know he swallowed some insults as if they were bitter. Slutty, maybe that's what he thought. At least, that's what he used to say about other women who wore tight clothes like this.
“I'm asking what you're doing here, Eric.” I stir restlessly, ignoring his question.
“I came to talk to you, of course.” Eric reaches out to touch my shoulder, but I take a step back, looking around at the people passing by the reception, who also cast discreet glances at us.
“We already talked on the day we broke up. There's nothing more to talk about, Eric.” I squeeze my arms even tighter, trying to get rid of this insecurity, these horrible chills in my body… and it makes my breasts bounce slightly. I know that this movement attracted his eyes, and this makes me feel a great disgust….
“So that's it? You're just going to let all these years we spent together go to waste like this?” Eric's voice is resentful, and I can see hurt shining in his eyes.
And again, he's sounding like it's *my* fault…
“I'm not the one who threw our relationship…. You did that on your own, when you slept with my friend behind my back.”
“But I'm telling you, Angel… I made a mistake, and I'm trying hard to make up for it.”
“Make up for it? You think sending me flowers in my office is enough to make up for the fact that you cheated on me?” I give a dry, humorless laugh, “You should be after *Laura*, not me.”
“Laura? There's nothing between us…. Believe me, darling…. It was just that one time…”
“Just that one time?” I shake my head, feeling my throat narrow and a bitter taste rise in my mouth, “She's expecting your child! How dare you lie like that…?”
Eric's expression is one of complete surprise… the way his eyebrows rise and his lips half-open make my heart skip a beat…. I even feel the air being stolen from my longs.
“No. It's not mine.” He says with conviction, shaking his head.
Hah… What a liar.
“I'm tired of your lies-”
“You need to believe me, Angel.” Eric says, taking a step toward me, causing me to step back instinctively. “If Laura is pregnant, it's not my child.”
“How can you say something like that?” I frown, “How far do you intend to go, lying like that?”
“Angel, please-”
“Stop looking for me. Stop sending me those flowers, it's a waste…. They're in the trash. Save your money for the child you're expecting.” I say with the same resentment, harshly… and I know I sound cruel.
But I couldn't care more.
“Please, honey… believe in me.” He wrinkles his lips and reaches for me, digging his fingers into my arms, pulling me into his embrace, “I love you so much… You don’t even have any idea of how much I love you…”
… W-What…
“If you could only forgive my mistake… I promise, I'll change… I won't do it again, Angel. It was just once, it was a weakness, it’s not my child…”
“Take your hands off me, Eric…” I push him by the shoulders, feeling disgust at being touched by these dirty hands, “You're damn crazy.”
“Why are you saying these things?”
*He doesn't let go of me…*
No... his touch gets harsher… I feel his fingers dig into my skin, making me grunt.
“Let go off me, Eric…”
“Wearing those clothes, saying things that don't suit you…. It's all wrong! You're not like this, Angel… They're getting inside your head. It's Julian, isn't it? He's trying to turn you into someone you're not….”
“What the hell are you saying?” I say between teeth, pressing into his chest even harder, trying to push myself… But I seem so weak right now, so pathetic.
Eric’s heat is painful.
His smell is rotten.
His touch is nauseating.
… Everything about Eric makes me *hate* him — and hate myself.
“You can't forget the four years we spent together in one week… there's no way! I know you love me, Angel. You’re hurt from our breakup and Laura’s lies, but we can overcome this… After all, you can’t forget me overnight… I know you still love me, and-”
Eric stops talking and pulls me suddenly.
His touch is rough and clumsy as he throws my hair behind my shoulders, showing off my neck.... “Who did this?”
“Let go of me!” I shout, disengaging myself from his touch, taking several steps backwards, with my breath panting and my face burning with hatred, disgust, and most of all, shame… *shame* because now, everyone is standing still, looking at me.
Eric is also looking at me confused, with his face slowly contorting into an expression of madness.
I feel the air being stolen from my lungs…
*“You should be pure.”* Eric mutters, trying to convince himself in his broken mind. “Angelee, you should be pure.”
Pure? I'm not pure, never was.
If I'm an angel, I'm a **fallen** one.
And the fire Julian burns in me is more than proof.
“You know what… It's okay.” Eric says, turning to me, approaching in a burst, grabbing my arm, “It's okay, honey… This won’t shake our love because we're made for each other. You wouldn’t slept with just anyone… I know it.”
“Stop it…” He starts to drag me away, and even though I scream with loud grunts escaping my lips…
People just watch the scene with apathy, as if this is really a damn show.
“Let me go, Eric......”
“What’s the meaning of this?” I hear Julian's voice and an immediate relief runs through my body. Eric freezes in place, wavering his grip just enough for me to disengage myself — however, I can't keep my balance… And as my foot twists, the heel breaks.
I'm going down for the most humiliating fall of my life, and can do nothing but close my eyes, hoping that hitting the ground wouldn’t hurt like the pain in my ankle…
But to my surprise, my back crashed into a wall… a warming wall.
I feel firm hands holding me around the waist, and his scent… this scent makes me open my eyes to find an extremely angry Eric.
Julian is holding me so easily, so carefully… My heart flushes a little, especially because my back is pressed on his abs. And with his hands still holding me, he helps me straighten up, supporting me so that the broken heel won't be a problem.
“Did he hurt you?” Julian asks me softly and huskily… almost thoughtfully.
I swallow the pain of Eric's marked fingers on my skin and shake my head, “I'm fine.”
“Can you walk to the parking lot by yourself?”
“I have to take off my shoes-” My words fail immediately… Because Julian is kneeling behind me, still holding my waist tightly with one hand, while the other is sliding down my ankle, searching for the broken heel strap. And with a surprising agility, he manages to free my foot from the heel.
Then Julian switches hands, so that while he's searching for the next shoe, he can still hold me by the waist. I only breathe again when the soles of my feet meet the cold porcelain tile, and a shiver runs up my spine.
“Wait for me in the car, okay?” He takes the car key and puts it in my hand, releasing my waist to take a step toward Eric, placing me gently behind his broad body, assuming a protective posture I've never seen before…
And he’s still with my heels on his one hand.
My chest tightens so much… tears threaten to wet my eyes.
So, I just turn my back and hurry to the parking lot, not daring to look back.