Rianna decided she had witnessed enough of the scene. However, before she could turn to walk away, she felt a large, hard hand fiercely grab her upper arm and push her back against the wall.  Her scream caught in her throat when her amethyst eyes met burning fierce blue eyes. 

Why did life have to be so unfair?  Why did it all seem so hopeless? So lost? Would there not be a happy ending for all those who loved?  There were so many questions, so many different possibilities, and so many unknown answers that all remained enigmas.  How life worked was a mystery alone.  But one thing for sure, Rianna knew she could never forget the fierce dangerous look that flickered in his blue eyes, when he pinned her to the wall.  His eyes that very day pierced not only her soul, but her heart as well.  The Rufus she once knew, his icy smile, his deep eyes, his warm touch, his pride, his courageous soul, were truly revealed only then.  The man who stood before her was no longer her lost friend, or her enemy.  He was a stranger. 

The very moment he threw her harshly against the hallway wall, Rianna diverted her purple eyes away from his gaze and looked towards the floor.  She didn’t have the heart to show him how much he intimidated her that very moment.  Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, her heart rate increased, her body trembled so much in fear.  For all the long years she had known Rufus, never before had he acted so straightforward towards her.  Usually he’d let it all pass, let it all go, or let the grudges hold on. They shared a very strong connection despite everything in between. But now, Rianna did not know what would come next. 

He spoke in a harsh tone. “What a surprise.”  

Rianna deterred from making eye contact. She remained silent, still pinned to the wall.  

“Thought you could get away so quickly.” He stared at her waiting for an answer.  

No answer.  

“The next time you decide to barge into my privacy, I’ll make sure you’ll regret it forever.” Demanded Rufus, his voice cold, his grip tightened, threatening to crush Rianna’s wrist. 

“The hell I will.” She looked up at him, countering with her own fierce glare. She pulled back and began to walk away. Rufus beat her to the door and blocked her way, cornering her once more.  

“I don’t think you really understand the situation you have brought yourself into Rianna. There are serious consequences awaiting you.”  

Rianna smirked and quickly pulled his arms away from her. “Oh really Rufus? And what are you going to do? Kill me?”  

His facial expression became more deliberate. He struggled not to let her go.  

“Just as I thought.” She said looking away 

“You mean to tell me I’m weak?” he asked 

“No, just not what you claim to be” 

She lied. She had to. There was no way she could ever tell him that he had scared her, that he had finally won, that she really had never seen him bleed or cry. All her past struggles to break him out of his solitude, to break him out of his shell had shattered the moment she had seen him in his eyes. It was true, she loved him, and that was even harder to admit. 

For years she had loved the single example of what made her fight, of what she had been fighting to destroy: conceited power.  

She never understood why he was the way he was, and now she found herself knowing she’ll never find out. What would she do now? Surrender and admit all she felt?  

Rianna is not that type of person.  

“I never understood you Rufus. That’s all that I can truthfully say to you. Nothing more” 

Rufus turned around agitated. Rianna sighed. 

“You say that so much, it’s lost all meaning.”