129

I tried to look away from the sharp, piercing gaze boring into me. It was uncomfortable, to say the least. Brenda wasn't the kind of person you could ignore, though. Her voice alone was like an iron clamp.

Trying to ease the tension, I coughed lightly and plastered on my best smile—a charming one that could probably stop hearts.

But that wasn't enough to save me.

"Are you a masochist?" she asked suddenly.

I froze, feeling a crack form in my carefully maintained composure.

"Pardon?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

She crossed her arms, unimpressed. "What? Did you hurt your ears too?"

"No, I didn't!" I replied quickly, flustered. "I just don't understand why you're asking me that, Miss Brenda."

Brenda took a deep breath, then almost screamed, "Then why the hell are you always injured every time something happens? For God's sake, this is the fourth time!"

"Third!" I corrected her automatically.