Bella:
Ryder's nerve was brain-racking. He came back in the middle of the night, spooning me as if he hadn't done anything wrong, while a used condom lay underneath his bed. The sight made me uneasy, sending sharp, jabbing sensations to my chest that became unbearable with each passing minute. When I couldn't take it anymore, I slipped his hands away from my body and pushed my feet off the bed.
"It's too early to get up, come back to bed," he murmured lazily, which only heightened the anger surging through every muscle in my body.
I gritted my teeth, taking steady breaths while my hands gripped the sheets tightly. Then I stood up and walked towards the curtain. With a firm grip, I pulled it open, allowing the early morning sunlight to flood the room and disrupt Ryder's sleep.
"Hey, what gives?" he questioned, throwing a pillow over his head. "I'm trying to get some sleep." His words made my eyebrows shoot up as I marched towards his bed, grabbing the pillow, and flinging it away.
He raised his head slightly, his eyes locking onto mine. "That look on your face. Have I done something wrong?" he asked, and I folded my arms, tapping my right foot on the ground.
"You think?"
He sat up immediately. "I'm sorry I wasn't around when you arrived, I-"
"And you still won't tell the truth. I am tired," I said, releasing my arms and widening them while shaking my head. He stared at me with confusion, his brows furrowing as if trying to recall something. "You mean to tell me you have no clue there's a used condom underneath your bed?" I asked, and he frowned.
"That's a lie because..." He paused, his eyes widening as he jumped out of bed.
He crouched down, and when he saw it, he stood up and approached me, but I took a step back, trying to calm the rising feeling in my chest.
"It... it isn't mine."
His words made me scoff. That was what he came up with? Then who was it for? The last time I checked, I had just arrived and hadn't touched a condom. To think he would lie to my face like I was some dumb kid.
"You must think I'm dumb," I said, shaking my head. He moved to grab my shoulder, but I turned my face away.
"I swear, Bella. It isn't mine, it was... it must have been from the party... it must have been one of the guys," he said. I grabbed his hand, taking it off my shoulder while looking into his eyes.
I was about to speak when he grabbed my hand.
"I left the CCTV on for the night, including the one for my room. I'll show you, please," he pleaded, causing me to relax a bit.
He released my hand, then rushed out of the room like someone who had lost his mind. Shortly, he returned with a laptop and a flash drive. He played the tape, which showed a guy and a girl entering his bedroom.
"Stop it," I said, and he paused it. I made my way to the bed, then sat on it, burying my face in my palms. There was something wrong with me. Why were all these feelings attacking me?
"Bella, is everything alright?" he asked, sitting close to me with his hand on my thigh.
"I think there's something wrong with me," I said, refusing to lift my head from my palms.
He gently pulled my hands away from my lap, lifting my head.
"I'm so sorry, and I can't even look at you." He got up, moved a seat to the front of the mirror, and then I stood, attempting to walk away. But he grabbed my hand, leading me to the mirror, sitting down, and pulling me onto his lap.
We sat in silence, peering at our reflection in the mirror.
"What are you doing?" I managed to ask, and he tilted my face towards the mirror with a finger.
"Look at the mirror," he replied, and I did, unsure of what I was supposed to be looking at. "Do you even see yourself sometimes?" he began, clamping me to his body with his hands. He ran a finger across my face, down to my neck. "Your features are perfect, and it makes me sad sometimes that you don't see this. I blame myself for being an asshole. You are perfect, Bella."
When he said this, I turned, throwing my arms around his neck and burying my face in his shoulder. He kissed the back of my neck and ran his hands down my thighs before whispering, "Keep your eyes on the mirror."