He had gone to far and he was slowly realizing this in the way she turned the talks on him. Silently, he pulled back his head. Although his eyes remained on her, his sinking, slipping ears were completely against his own control. Saith wanted to interrupt but he couldn't. She was the first--well, actually the second--to speak her mind with regard to him. The only other woman that called him out was some mod online. She had become probably his closest friends and was a friend without a face. He knew she was female (assuming she wasn't lying) but aside from that, he knew little about her. Other than he was drawn to her, much like how he was drawn to Mae.

The teasing flicker that once wavered in his eyes had died down. Now a dull, blue gaze soaked up her words. Everything was like a dagger. Was this how his words were to her? Saith mulled over his tone and choice of words. He had to try so hard not to say "I" or "me" when addressing her. He tried so hard not to let his adoration for her spill into his words. Saith didn't want to admit it because it just didn't make sense. And perhaps the worst part was that this was all happening too fast. He shouldn't have stayed. He shouldn't have teased. Hell, he shouldn't have gotten her lunch.

Space. Space, that's what he, they needed.

This wasn't love, he had to keep telling himself. Just a stupid infatuation with a difficult woman. Like she said, he was just going to hit and quit it. Too bad that thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. He wasn't getting any younger either. If he even wanted to start his own family, he would need to start thinking about... well, settling down.

Disgusted with himself, he tried to fall back to her words. But he couldn't. They were just too much. It was all just too much. What was he thinking? Honestly, it was stupid. All of this was stupid. Did he crave attention? Was he just trying to pick a fight? Was all of this just his way of putting space between them by completely destroying everything that could have been between them.

And to think, all he wanted was to go on one little "thank you" date.

When Mae's tongue stopped, Saith shot a quick glance at the clock. Her words about the theme of the ball fell on deaf ears. A cold, low ring bore into him. He felt so naked, stripped down and beaten. And by words. No, not by words. By her--the woman who flawlessly described his dream woman.

The worst part?

Mae was everything she spoke of and then some. But Saith couldn't confess this. He couldn't let her know she was right. That she was the woman he sought.

Too bad the silence spoke more words than he ever could. Lying was futile. She knew she hit the nail on the head.

Scooping up his bags, he kept his eyes on the floor. He couldn't look at her. The chill of being exposed was too much. The frigid reality of it all just drained him. Right now, he needed distance. And a lot of it. Also, a good distraction.

Bag on shoulder, he moved to the door. Hand on it, he began to turn the knob but paused for a moment.

"You're right. I do want someone like that. The only issue is that no one wants a man like me. It's easier to flee from woman to woman. I don't have to worry about getting hurt because, let's face it, rejection is never easy. And knowing that no one will ever love you..." he pulled the door open, "is undoubtedly a punishment worse than death."

Quickly, he escaped into the hallway. Much to his surprise, no one was there. It made it easy. He didn't have to hide the look on his face.

Cheeks burning and eyes losing focus, he flitting his lashes several times to force the tears back. His nasal cavities felt plugged and his hearing was only just starting to come back. Teeth grit and heart heavy, he weaved his way out of this hell.

Kevlar was the only thing he could think of right now. He needed a distraction and who better than his best bud. Okay, and maybe ranting to his favorite online person.