Sonia stopped walking and regarded her for an uncomfortable moment. She didn't say anything but continued to stare. Shelly knew how fast the woman could think, making her prolonged silence feel even worse.
"You're a real bitch," Sonia said right before Shelly lost her temper. The statement made in an off-hand manner set Shelly's mind stumbling. She knew she'd mistreated the other woman, and knew she deserved the comment, but Sonia acted as if she didn't care about what she said. "You treat me like a second-hand citizen, a fill-in for someone who has more screws loose in her head than I have in my whole body, then you get all clingy before we come face-to-face with her."
Every word acted as a blade slipping between Shelly's ribs and into her heart. Tears formed in her eyes, but she blinked them away as she worked to keep her emotions under her control. She knew she deserved the sentiment, if not necessarily the callous way it was delivered.
