Cole barked a laugh, sharp and unkind. "Kieran? Cool and understanding?"
The Kieran he knew exactly was different from any of those words.
He leaned in, eyes gleaming with mockery and his lips curling up with a mocking grin. "Orange butterfly, that guy doesn't understand the meaning of understanding."
Her jaw clenched. "At least he doesn't treat me like a walking disaster."
Cole's smirk faded, just slightly. "No. He just treats you like a fragile glass doll. I'd rather call you out than pretend you're okay when you're not."
She scoffed, folding her arms. "You think yelling at me is helping?"
Cole's voice dropped, quieter now but no less intense. "I think pretending you're fine when you're clearly not is dangerous. I see through the act, Orange."
"For the last time, I wasn't going to jump!"
"Then stop standing on ledges like you want the world to notice!" he snapped, then immediately looked away, running a hand through his hair.
