Page 44 of Haze of Obedience
Anger flares and rushes through me. "What?"
He shakes his head in disgust. "I've traveled the world and lived all over. So you know, I can hang in the city or the country. I can be cultured when needed. Just because I wasn't born in glam town doesn't mean you have to look down on my upbringing."
I point my finger in his face. "You're an idiot."
"Because I called you out?"
"You're clueless." I spin and stomp away.
"Why is that?"
I pick up my speed. "You think you know everything. You figure it out."
"You're...stop! Zoe don't move!" he says in a stern voice.
"Don't tell me..." My heart beats hard, and I freeze. A brown and tan snake slithers across the path. Its body is about three inches round, and possibly as long as I am tall. I tremble but remain still.
It's almost across the path when it turns it's head toward me and changes directions.
Within seconds, a knife flies past my head and lands on the snake's neck, pinning it to the ground. It flails in the dirt, and its body writhes. Dirk steps forward and slices it's head off with a second knife.
My pulse beats in my neck, and I stare in shock as the snake's body moves for several minutes.
Dirk turns. "Zoe, you okay?"
That was gross.
It was also pretty hot.
"Yeah."
He removes a plastic bag from his backpack and puts the snake's body in it.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking it with us for dinner tonight."
"Ewe."
He scowls.
"What are you upset about now?" I ask.
"Let me guess. You're going to tell me how disgusting it is and that you don't want to eat it."
"That would be correct." I trudge past him.
"Such a diva."
It's the first time he's called me a diva that feels derogatory, and my heart sinks.
He thinks I'm a snob.
You were greedy and switched managers for fame and money.
If he's such a big fan of my music, he would know my roots.
He's right about you. You're only in this predicament because of your desire to be the best.
