ooc:
A quiet panic had nested in her heart with the creeping tendrils of worry spreading through her constricting veins. What worry was there other than rejection? With placid gaze centered upon her dark companion, she called the words of her childhood friend... his outrageous claims of the knives prepped to dig into her at any given moment. As she waited... standing calmly, quietly, such claims did not seem as strange as she was met first with silence then the thoughts of her troubled friend.
Her possessive hold slackened as she heard, but could not believe that left his maw. Then just as quickly her grasp returned full force as if coveting a precious article in fear it would be taken. But such an act was no more than to keep the protective barrier of her bundle in place to ensure in some manner than her heart would not be damaged. As if the physical could protect the intangible... Her calm facade gave way to alarm, and then disbelief as she stared at him. Twice her mouth opened to contest his claim, and twice she said nothing. Simply stared, mouth slightly ajar, still in the process of believing.
"...of course not." An endless span of silence seemed to pass between them before she could conjure the words to capture his attention. Yet as the words left her mouth, she couldn't be certain if she wanted to continue speaking. Truly, he believed she would leave him like this? After what they had accomplished together? Up and abandoned those she had come to care for and felt responsible for... "Jaden..." his name no longer held the speak tones of longing when spoken, but an overbearing weight of disappointment as she looked to him... disdain leaking into her eyes as she stared hard. "You should know me better than that..."
After the like had been down to her in the past... why would she dare condone him to the same ache of loss? Why would she dare abandon him as she had been...?