the woman who hunts

"how could you?!" ayla's voice was raised, her lips trembling, "he broke up less than a week ago and you go and get coffee with him?"

nezzie stared at her, dumbfounded. her lips parted slightly, and ayla could see the white glint of her teeth through them. "you said you didn't mind; i- i thought it'd be okay!" tears welled in ayla's eyes and she angrily wiped them away; she hated crying, it made her feel weak.

"that..that doesn't mean you can just go and-!" she broke off her sentence with a frustrated cry. she had met nezzie earlier during the school year, and they had quickly become close. she had of course known ayla's boyfriend, ranec, but ayla had assumed it was only by association. finding out that they had spent time together so soon after ranec had dumped her ached with betrayal and humiliation. was she not good enough for any of them? for a split second she thought that maybe nezzie would be better off if they broke contact. she might as well fall in love with him and be done with it- then she could replace me completely. the paranoia clouded her mind, almost making her forget that nezzie was still there, standing in front of her.