The man's expression darkened, his lips twitching slightly. "No," he muttered, low and clipped. I couldn't help but let out a scoff, my ears flicking back with quiet amusement. "I'm afraid someone as plain and ordinary as me could never hope to converse with someone as high and mighty as you," I said, my voice carrying a sharp edge as I picked up my bag and turned away, tail brushing lightly against the floor.
It was then that Hayley appeared, plates balanced in her hands, moving with deliberate carelessness. My senses immediately picked up the shift in her energy—she was leaning slightly into me, setting herself up for a collision. My instincts warned me, but I let it play out silently.
