Chapter 45

Thomas kept staring at his phone. Countless times he had dialed her number and countless times he decided not to call. He was being a coward. He couldn't deny that. He didn't feel happy about the way he left things. He regretted leaving when she screamed at him too, he should have stayed. He should have comforted her, but he didn't know how and now time had passed by and their relationship was falling deeper and deeper into a grave.

He could very well fashion a guess on who told her about him and Lilith, but before he could repercuss the culprit he needed to fix things with Avril. He didn't like the fact that they were in this state. It had been a month since he was home and not a call or message went through to either of them. He had to focus his mind on the mission, it was nearing a conclusion.

Lilith peered into Thomas' room again, for the entire month all he did was stare at his blasted phone! She felt angered. She was sure the uproar between him and Avril would make him seek comfort elsewhere. But it had failed. All he did was think about her. She thought that perhaps she needed to give him a reason to want her instead.

Lilith wrapped herself in a robe, she knocked on his room door.

"What!" He growled, not wanting to be interrupted. Especially when he was thinking about Avril.

She pushed open the door, his eyes didn't even flutter to her. She lost a bit of her nerve and wondered if she should just leave.

No! She couldn't. She waited far too long for an opportunity. She couldn't wait anymore. She wanted to taste him again, to feel his body throbbing inside of her. She aroused with the reminder of his prowess. No man had ever pleased her the way Thomas did.

"I came to say something to you." She said seductively. This time his eyes did look at her. A scowl on his face, his eyes holding on to daggers, ready to release at any moment.

"What?" he barked, hoping she would hurry up and leave. She was the last person he wanted to lay eyes on.

She dropped the robe to reveal her milky flesh. She did a spin and looked at him. His eyes began glowing red.

Thomas could feel common sense leaving his body. All things rational were suppressed by the rising anger in his chest.

"It's more of a physical communication." She purred as she walked closer to him.

"Lilith." He warned as she came closer and closer, but she would not be deterred.

She placed her palms on his shoulder, slightly bending her face towards his.

He pushed her off then and stormed to the other side of the room. "For fuck's sake woman," he growled.

"I don't know nor do I care what game you're playing, but it has to stop." The ice in his voice making her lose her composure for barely a second, anger rising up.

"It's not a game, Thomas. I want you." She paused to let the words sink in. "Isn't it obvious?" she motioned to her naked self, every bit of her just as Thomas remembered.

The problem was that he didn't want to remember. The biggest mistake in his life was getting involved with her, it had almost cost him his father and now it was due to cost him his relationship with Avril.

"I don't want you," he said through gritted teeth as he pulled the door open to leave. If she couldn't take no for an answer he would distance himself. "And stop meddling in my personal life." He warned before shutting the door behind him.

The sound of the door echoing like an explosion, a characteristic ringing sounding in her ears. Lilith plopped down on the edge of his bed disturbed. How could he have the heart to reject her? Her entire being heaving from irritation.

***
Avril had tried her best not to have her mind invaded by Thomas. After all, her exams were once again approaching. Her main concern being to pass them all. Over the month she and nine other students were offered internships for the summer vacation. She quite liked the idea of getting first-hand knowledge. She had already confirmed with her parents the intended plan. She would spend a month home with them and then head back here for her internship.

After such exciting news, she didn't know why she felt restless, she had been working non-stop for the past four weeks, never taking a break for fear her mind took her to unpleasant places. But now that she had kept up with her notes and studying, her schedule was a bit empty which meant her mind conjured the fight with Thomas.

She still felt angry that he hid such an important instance from her, she hated him for reacting the way he did. Such reactions didn't rate well in her mind.

She kept thinking of countless absurd things...but then again, how would she know for certain that they were absurd. He didn't give her anything else to go on and she was now left with herself to make assumptions and her mind assumed the worst.

All she knew was that despite it, she loved him. Part of her hoping it wasn't so and part of her telling her that maybe she overreacted. She was torn. Her feelings and assumptions not following through to one particular path.

***
Thomas slammed his phone down onto the table. He closed his eyes and clenched his fists into his hair.

He had got off the phone with his father, asking if there was any way Lilith could stay at the organization. He was to return home for two days and he didn't want her polluting Avril's mind again. He needed space to fix his relationship.

It was just his luck that his father told him there was no way Lilith could be unsupervised. They couldn't risk her having access to their organization while she was in the possession of top-secret information. If she stayed with Thomas she would have no way to contact anyone from her organization secretly.

He advised Thomas that Lilith could occupy Trish's home for the two days. Thomas didn't find this alternative any better, she would yet be too close for comfort.

He arrived home at midnight, the house was still. He knew Avril and Trish would be asleep. He half expected to see Avril curled up in his bed but wasn't surprised that it was empty. He didn't blame her for being angry at him but somehow it made him restless. His bed felt empty without her occupying the other half.

He kicked the covers off and made his way downstairs. He thought he could review his strategy for the bust as he trudged to his study. He was alerted by the faintest sound of a chair grating against the floor. His steps paused, his instincts roaring to life as he followed the sound. The living room was emersed in light, he saw the profile of a woman.

"What are you doing here?" He walked into the room and pulled the remote away from Lilith.

***
Avril woke up at the sound of her alarm. It was time to study. She blinked back the daze in her eyes. She reached out for a glass of water, not noticing that the glass and mug beside her bed were empty. She groaned and dropped back into the bed. She took a deep breath and dragged her body off the soft cloud.

She almost slipped walking to the kitchen at the gruff sound of a man's voice circling throughout the house.

She knew it was Thomas, her senses roared to life. She followed the sound and saw him standing in front of Lilith in the living room. Avril stuck close to the doorway, ignoring the impulse to run back upstairs.

"Trying to watch television." She responded coyly.

"You were supposed to stay at Trish's house." He growled.

"I am more comfortable here." She shrugged.

"Why the fuck would you be comfortable in my house?" Thomas' arms clenched at his sides.

"Because I have so many fond memories of when you brought me here to occupy your bed." She responded nostalgically.

Avril placed her palm over her mouth to muffle her gasp. But it was too late. Both Thomas and Lilith heard her.

She stared at them in horror. Thomas told her before that no other woman had been in his room. She didn't know what to do with this second revelation. The lies just got worse, her mind wandering what else he lied about.

"Get out Lilith." He turned his attention to her for a second.

"Why? Don't you think she should know how well we made use of that space?"

"Lilith!"

"Especially the bathroom...that was one of my favorites." She managed to say as Thomas grabbed hold of her arm and pushed her outside.

When he returned Avril was gone. He raced up to her room, but the door was locked. He pulled out the bunch of spare keys and pushed open the door.

"I can't look at you right now." She said between sobs.

"Can't you see she is trying to get into your head?" Thomas tried to make her see reason.

"I am.." Avril swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Fully aware of what she is doing. Everything made sense when she told me about your relationship."

"Then why are you taking what she says to heart?" He asked unsympathetically. How could she be angry at him for something that happened when she wasn't in the picture?

"You are the one that made her capable of getting in my head." Avril turned to face his unapologetic expression.

"This is not my fault." His anger started coming to the surface.

"If you had been honest with me, this never would have happened." She half screamed.

He sighed. "I don't understand why my past is such an issue?" He growled.

"Because you lied to me." She said again unbelievably. How could he not understand why she felt this way.

"You even told me that you never brought a woman into your room before, and she just..." Avril felt sick thinking about it. She herself had spent nights there with him.

"I didn't lie about that." He defended.

"Then was she lying?" Avril was accusatory.

He seemed to think about this for a while. "Not exactly." He looked at her shamelessly.

"Then where?" Avril whispered, all the hairs on the back of her neck standing on edge.

He didn't answer but his gaze fell back onto her bed.

Avril scoffed as tears rolled down her eyes. "In the bed, I've been sleeping on?" Her breath turned labored. "And the shower she spoke of was also mine?" her voice was cracking, her heart-shattering.

His silence confirmed her thoughts. Her hands gripping her stomach as waves of nausea swept over her.

"It was my past Avril, can't you be mature enough to leave it there?" He sounded impatient. He didn't understand the big deal, he didn't want Lilith, he wanted Avril. So why was this such an issue?

"Mature?" The words blazed on her tongue Like lava. "Your past only remains your past as long as it doesn't affect your future." She said.

"You are the only one allowing it to affect us." He responded.

Avril suddenly felt exhausted, she gave up on him trying to see her point of view.

"Are you not over her?" Avril questioned.

"I told you it's my past." He responded hotly.

Avril sighed. "You still have your feeling to sort out." She voiced her observation.

"Goddamn it, Avril."

"You're not ready for a relationship." She said to him

"And, you..." He paused as he clenched his jaw. "Know me well enough to know what I am or am not ready for?"

"No." She shook her head slightly. "You saw to that when you lied to me." She said as she grabbed her books and pushed past him.

She couldn't stay in this room. It reminded her of his deceit.