I recoiled at the sight of it, and did not pick it up.
She narrowed her eyes and hurt flashed across her face.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I can’t drink that.”
“Why not?” she pressed, sitting down in the seat next to mine and sipping her own bright blue cocktail. “It’s delicious.”
“It’s blue.”
She snorted. “Obviously.”
Lila kept her green eyes fixed on me, but I said nothing else. “I don’t get what your problem is.” Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
“My problem is that I’ll look ridiculous holding that,” I snapped, hating the disappointment I kept putting in her eyes.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Who the hell cares? You’re on vacation, playing tourist, drinking a fruity drink. Who. The. Fuck. Cares?” She sat up and pointed behind me. “Do you think that couple using the selfie stick cares? Or that group, drunk off their asses in the pool? Or all the workers who literally make their living off of silly tourists like us? I can promise you, Harrison, literally no one is looking at you. Except me. And Iwilljudge the hell out of you if you don’t pick up that blue drink and enjoy yourself.”
Her outburst had my spine straightening. I swear, for such an adorable package, Lila had a sharp tongue on her. But her words hit as I looked around and saw everyone else simply enjoying themselves. With a sigh of resolve, I picked up the offending drink and sipped it.
Damnit. It was delicious. Sugary and citrusy and exactly like what sitting by the ocean and watching this sunset should taste like.
“Now was that so hard?” she asked.
I winced.
“Why are you like this?” she murmured, relaxing back in her seat. She clearly didn’t expect a response, but that just made me want to give her one. Lila had been nothing but kind to me even when I didn’t deserve it. If I was going to open up to anyone, it might as well be her.
“It’s not easy for me to enjoy myself,” I admitted stiffly.
Her ears perked up at that and she leaned over to look at me. “You don’t say?” she said, a slight teasing tone to her voice. Butshe didn’t say anything else, clearly not wanting to scare me out of talking.
“I...I feel like I always have to be on. I don’t like anyone thinking they can look down on me for anything.”
She wrinkled her forehead and turned completely in her chair so that she was sitting sideways and facing me.
“Why would anyone look down on you for enjoying yourself? And even if they did, screw them. You shouldn’t care what anyone else thinks.”
I cringed inwardly, because she was right. But I had crafted my entire persona out of being someone untouchable.
“I just...I would just prefer it if people didn’t look my way.”
“Or you’d prefer they be scared of you,” she added.
“I’m not scary,” I insisted.
She smirked and shook her head. “Think again. You’re incredibly intimidating.”
While that was usually my goal, I hated the idea that I intimidated her.
“I’d rather people mind their own business,” I said.
“Except Oliver.”
“He’s my best friend.”
“He’s your only friend.”
