Michelle's eyes blazed with vehemence as they landed upon him. Sera found herself trapped between them, her face on fire. She had no idea how to get away from either one of them, but she desperately wanted to bolt from this awkward situation. "Well Michelle, it is like you to be a bitch." Kathleen appeared at Sera's side, her jaw clenched angrily as she leveled Michelle with a fierce look. "Even I, who am well aware of how much of a bitch you can be, am astounded by this new level."
Michelle's eyes settled on Kathleen. They burned with an intense hatred unlike anything Sera had seen before. A chill shuddered through Sera in the face of that hatred. Kathleen seemed not to notice it as she grabbed hold of Sera's arm and steered her away. She found herself pulling Liam behind her through the crowd as Kathleen plunged onward. They made their way outside where Kathleen released her arm, slid to the bottom step, and hugged her middle as she burst out laughing.
"Did... you... see... her... face?" she managed to wheeze out. "That was great!"
"Kathleen..." Sera started.
"Oh I know, she's a friend of yours," Kathleen waved a hand in dismissal as she sobered up. "But I love putting her in her place. Besides, I don't know how you can consider that stuck up bitch a friend."
"She's your friend?" Liam inquired.
"Yes."
"Good friends you have," he commented dryly.
"Hey!" Kathleen protested. "I'm a very good friend. By the way, my name is Kathleen, and you are...?"
"Liam."
"Nice to meet you Liam."
"You too, Kathleen."
Kathleen climbed to her feet and absently brushed at her wrinkled skirt. "I'm going to head back to the room; are you coming with me Sera?"
"I'll be there in a little bit."
Kathleen's gaze darted nervously to Liam. "Are you sure you're going to be all right?"
Sera smiled reassuringly at her. Regardless of Kathleen's carefree demeanor, Sera knew that Kathleen worried about her. "I'll be fine. Why are you heading back so early?"
"I've had my share of entertainment, alcohol, leering guys, and bitches for the night," she said with a huge grin. "I'll see you later." She hopped off the stairs and skipped down the sidewalk. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" she called over her shoulder, "Which is nothing!"
Sera could hear her laughing all the way down the street. She turned back to Liam, who was watching Kathleen's disappearing figure. "She seems like fun," he commented dryly.
"She is. Lots of fun, and my best friend."
"I don't know you, or your friends very well, but I would suggest rethinking at least one of them."
Sera turned and headed down the sidewalk, kicking at a few loose stones. "Michelle is a little funny about some things," she admitted.
"I must have missed her sense of humor."
She laughed and turned to walk backward in front of him. "She doesn't have one, but she's a good person, once you get to know her. She's just used to getting whatever she wants."
"And what did she want that she didn't get?"
Sera looked away, a blush stained her cheeks as a wave of shyness swept her. "She wanted you," she mumbled, unable to meet his eyes.
"And she always gets what she wants?"
Sera looked up at him, expecting him to be laughing at her. Instead, his face was expressionless, and his eyes were cold and remote. Sera stopped walking. He halted before her, his eyes focused upon her, but remained distant. "Yes," she said carefully. "Michelle always gets what she sets her mind to. She's beautiful, and smart, and not easily denied."
Liam's gaze searched her small, delicate face. He hadn't been wrong in his assumption earlier; her eyes were spectacular. They were a swirling combination of sapphire blue and vivid purple. The violet mingled with the blue in such a way that it was almost impossible to discern one color from the other. He could become lost in those beguiling eyes if he wasn't careful.
Which he always was. He couldn't allow himself to become involved with someone, or to get attached. But, he found himself becoming intrigued with her. If he wasn't careful, he might actually find himself liking her. That was something that he couldn't do, wasn't capable of doing. He needed to stay aloof, and distant from her.
"I see," he finally replied.
