The Great Ritual

His eyes were colored with shock, mirroring mine. As if he, too, had not expected what he'd done. Quickly, Lavi regained his composure and attempted to walk away. Just as his shoulders brushed past mine, I grabbed hold of his forearm, making him stop. No, not just yet... you can't leave and act as if nothing happened.

My steely gaze sought for his as I tightened my grip to prevent him from running from me. "What was that?"

Those hazels flickered, panicking. "Calla, I… I'm sorry—"

"Spare me the bullshit, Lavi." The mask of complacence remained on my face. But not on his. Slowly, the calm on his expression began to crumble. "Tell me why you… did that."

Breathing uneven breathes, heart hammering in odd beats, I forced myself not to think of the feeling of his lips on mine. I was confused, that's all. Lavi… he's my friend. The same went for him. And you don't kiss your friends.

Unless he'd been seeing me differently? But that couldn't be.