·I’ll die but I will not fear·

[❀ Melíssa]

      “I told you that you’d look beautiful in that dress,” he said as she entered the room, suddenly grabbing her arm as she glided near him. “Just don’t let me catch anyone else checking you out tonight.”
      She pried her appendage from his grip. “I don’t control other people’s eyes.”
      “But you certainly can control how nice you are to look at. If I see these hips moving even one inch to either side when you walk,” he slid his hands to her waist, and down her hips. “Just one inch. These are mine. Mine to look at. Mine to touch,” he pulled her close and tried to kiss her.
      Uncomfortable, she pulled her head away. “You’ll smudge my lipstick,” she offered, a lame excuse.
      “You shouldn’t be showing off your lips anyway. No one else needs to be looking there,” his dug his fingertips into her left hip, his left hand coming up to wipe the lipstick from her mouth.
      “You’re hurting me,” she worked to keep her voice steady, no intention of letting him know that she was about to cry.
     ”Okay, you lovebirds,” her older brother came into the room, and her boyfriend abruptly stepped away. “You okay?” her brother looked in her eyes, concerned. “You look a little pale. Do you need to eat something? Sit down? Are you sick?”
      “No, I’m fine,” she lied. “Just nervous about tonight.”
      “Relax,” her brother said as he linked his arm through hers, ignoring her boyfriend glowering at them both. “Who else could possibly take home the Best New Artist award but the two of you?”
      “I suppose.”
      “Come on, the limo’s here, everyone else is already out there,” he gently prodded her, pushing her ahead of him out the door, and her boyfriend followed.