slid open with a soft whoosh,

im. Mark

logetic smile plastered on his face. He was holding two

f safety I had built around mysel

ersistent, you go

Classic. Let' s see

confident and unhurried. I felt a surge of pure, unadulterated hatred

reasonable. "I am so sorry. I think w

m, my jaw clenched.

just trying to be nice, and I made you uncomfortable. That was my mistake. I felt terrible

ps to me. It smelled like

just a clueless guy who didn't understand boundaries. He looked so sincere, so regretful. The exhaustion of the

ed into view right beside t

. Drink up, little archi

he force of a physical

A warm, comforting drink. But the comment

. His smile was perfect, but his eyes... his eyes were wa

I said, my voic

a coffee. I promise it's not poisoned or a

Abort? No, double

u'll drink f

ant it," I

p, something bitter and medicinal that was almost, but n

The edges of my vision started to feel fuzzy, the br

itched. Had

the smell... was it possible to drug someone just through

sconnect between my mind and my body, a scary, floating sensation. He ha