More Issues In Aruba | ??

Chapter 15

Chelsea lowered herself against the ground and crossed her legs, making herself comfortable. I finally got a good look at her. She was still very pretty. Her hair had gotten longer and wrapped around her torso, and her tan skin was glowing. Gone was the thick makeup and now, I think she only had some blush and mascara on her. The natural look really worked for her.

"What are you staring at?"

When I realized she caught me hardcore examining her, I sat down on the opposite corner of the elevator. "You look different, that's all."

"So do you," She shrugged. "Nice hair."

I froze. What was this? A compliment? Kindness? Chelsea had a heart?

Be careful, Haley. Proceed with caution.

"Thanks?" My answer sounded more like a question.

She answered with a grumble and folded her arms across her chest. "Yeah, yeah."

There were a thousand things I wanted to say, I million questions wanted to ask her. The words were fighting each other to come out, but I didn't know where to start. I wanted to yell at her for what she had done - or at least accuse her what I thought she had done, I wanted to ask her what her problem was, I wanted to throw something at her.

But the only thing that came out was, "How are you?"

I bit on my lip a little bit when the words escaped my mouth, I could taste instant regret on my tongue.

That's the best you could come up with?

Chelsea shrugged and stared at the opposite wall. "Could be better. You?"

I sighed. "Same."

"So, the New Yorker, huh? I didn't think you were one to downgrade your career," She softly chuckled.

"The New Yorker is historic and one of the most respected magazines in the publishing industry. I don't think I downgraded."

She narrowed her eyes. "And how many EPAA Magazine of the Year awards has it won in the past decade?"

Ugh.

"None, that's right," She answered before I could.

"That's funny, I don't recall seeing you on the Time's list of 抖阴社区rs on the Rise. I saw my name, and Bessa, and Kevin, and surprisingly even Tony's. But my mind can't seem to remember reading yours," I replied out of spite.

"Nobody reads the damn newspaper anymore anyway. You didn't win a Nobel Prize."

I couldn't win with this girl. I also didn't even know why I was even bothering trying to argue with an adult child, but for some reason, I didn't have any intention of stopping myself.

"I don't understand, Chelsea," I shook my head.

She turned to me with an unamused look. "Don't understand what?"

"What the hell your problem is. What did I ever do to you to make you hate me so much? And why, after three years, are you still acting like a high school teenager?" I felt my voice shake a bit in the end.

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "If you're going to attack me at least make sure you sound confident in what you're saying."

My nostrils flared. She was just as difficult as before. "I thought in three years time you would have grown up but I should have known you're not capable of acting your age."

"You talk a big game for someone who had to learn the hard way about acting your age and keeping things professional," She snarled at me.

That was a low blow. Expected and quite frankly, true, but a low blow nonetheless.