Chapter 7 PARTY

Holding him close, I inhaled his smell and was overwhelmed with emotion.

But as I searched for a response, I came to realize that he wasn't feeling it.

His body was rigid, and he didn't embrace me in return. It felt like I was holding a statue. A twinge of disappointment went through me.

I could see he was uncomfortable with the hug, and it made me recoil. What kind of use am I being all loving if he isn't the same?

Elias's face changed and his eyes glowed in surprise as soon as I took a step back.

"Elias, when will you stop treating me coldly?" With a hint of frustration in my voice, I enquired.

"I am no longer a child.I am now eighteen. Can't we discuss our engagement? I blurted out, "You can give me the ring now." I sounded desperate, and it irritated me, I sounded like Naftali a while ago.

"Are you crazy or stupid? I suppose both." He shot back,with words that cut me like a knife. I stood there speechless.

He gave me an intense look from head to toe. He said, "What do you want, anyway?" I had a chance to talk because of his question.

I tried to sound sincere as I said, "I..."I just wanted to thank you for coming home, tonight. "It truly means a lot to me." I waited to hear his reaction to my statement.

When Elias eyes moved over me it felt like he was examining every detail of the Hawaiian print yellow dress I was wearing, and I felt uncomfortable with the silence, I felt like he was waiting for me to speak again.

When his eyes fixed on my cleavage (which was bare) I felt exposed and instinctively covered myself with my hand.

"Want to join the party downstairs?" I asked, attempting to divert attention from the way he was examining my body.

Elias responded quickly, turning to face his bed. "I'm tired. I don't want to go down." Uncertain of what to do next, I stood there.

"Want me to get you some food?" I wanted to make things less awkward between us, so I asked.

I was confused by Elias's succinct response and wasn't sure if I should ignore him.

Elias's response was short and curt; I guess he was already annoyed by my company, "I'm not hungry," and then he walked over to his bed, clearly dismissing me.

I hung back in the doorway feeling a little hurt as Elias sat down, scratched his head, and started running his fingers through his hair in an irritated fashion.

He squinted as he looked up at me, speaking flatly and sarcastically - "Are you going to stand there and watch me sleep?"

I started to feel overwhelmed.

I was shaking when I finally said, "Elias, why are you treating me like this? Have I not gotten to that age, for some kindness?"

But that didn't come out right, so I quickly said, "O-okay, I'm sorry... good night." The last words almost a whisper. I walked out of the room and close the door behind me with a deafening sound.

The party outside continued, but my heart was not present.

I rejoined the group of guests and grinned while they laughed and chatted.

After some time for the crowd to die down, guests began to say goodbye.

Finally, we got to the last guest. Our yard was then quiet. It was 3 AM; thus, the night had come to an end.

Later on I found comfort in Mom's bed, wrapping my arms around her and holding on tight, afraid to let go incase the tears I had been biting back would flow.

I was holding her tight, knowing that it was the only comfort between me and breaking down, so I just wanted to cling to her and try and be free of feelings at all.