Page 73 of Quarantined
"You don't get it, do you? It's not me you should worry about."
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, Rave. Do you really not know?"
I just stare at Mia, dumbfounded, as she further shatters my world with the next bit of news that she shares with me. As if there weren't already enough reasons, her next bit of information hammers the nail into the coffin. And why I should have never started anything with Milo, nor can it ever happen again.
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Raven
Today is D-Day. Milo comes home today.
I just got back from school, and I am now waitingimpatientlyfor Milo to come home. I have been preparing this speech all weekend, and I don't want to put it off any longer. I am feeling confident, headstrong, ready to face him.
Over the last few days, I have barely spoken to Milo. He has been busy with meetings and presentation prep, so the timing hasn’t worked out between my school, study groups, and dance classes. At other times, I dutifully dodged his text messages, keeping replies short and cordial. I want to speak to him in person, not over the phone.
Reid is not home. And Mia is at a friend's house.
Mia and I did not have any more heavy talks since the day she confronted me. As far as she is concerned, this matter is behind us. And it is. Despite the lies I have gritted out, I will make this right.
I am staring at the front door, willing it to swing open. As if on cue, it does. In comes all of Milo's six-foot frame. He looks tired, puffy eyes, but the smile on his face is sincere. His whole face lights up when he sees me.
So much so that I almost lose my nerves at the thought of disappointing him.
Then his eyes darken as he takes in my school uniform. It's not any different than what I regularly wear. And it's nothing over the top sexy, like the outfit Brittany Spears made famous in her music video.
Nonetheless, he eyes me hungrily. He charges towards me with an almost dark energy. I can feel his sheer want directed at me, ready to ravish, prepared to mark me. Heat resonates through him, as his desire engulfs and suffocates the whole room.
Instinctively, I run around the coffee table. "Stop."
And he does. Milo freezes right where he is, looking surprised at my loud pitch and hostile tone. Good. I have the floor.
"Raven," he frowns. "What's going on?"
I steel my nerves and square my shoulders. I have to be direct and confrontational. Instead of rambling, I need to get straight to the point. "This… this thing between us is not working for me. And right now, I don't want you coming any closer."
Milo looks shocked, taken back, and… hurt. Damn. He stays put, which is good. I need distance between us. I am still apprehensive and nervous.
"What? What do you mean?"
"Whatever was happening between us, it's over," I say determinedly.
"No, it's not," Milo narrows his eyes, his voice is eerily steady.
"Yes, it is. We are over." I look straight at him, refusing to break eye contact or back down.
"No, we most definitely are not." His voice rises as he enunciates each word.
I stare at Milo. I might not have all the experience in the world with men, but I know this much. If one party wants to end things, the other doesn't have a choice in the matter.
"Milo… I-I um," I start to stammer. How does he always manage to make me feel like such a child? I take a deep breath. "We need to end this now, before it gets out of control. Mia already suspects something is going on between us. She caught me coming out of your room, and she can tell that you want me. I convinced her that it's nothing. But it's too close of a call."
"Okay…" Milo nods, the severity of our situation settling in. "And it's freaking you out?"
"Of course, it's freaking me out. What kind of question is that?"
Milo looks hurt, again. I hate this. I try in a softer tone, "This is too complicated. I don't want to risk what we all have here. It's better if we just go back to how it was."
