The journey was not just worse than Viella had imagined—it was also oddly strange. She wasn't a stranger to abusive behavior; it was something she had dealt with her whole life. But now, as she faced yet another abusive individual, it felt more like a competition.
In the past, when Viella had to deal with hurtful people, it was always in the position of a subordinate. She couldn't do anything besides nod her head and apologize for something she didn't even realize was a mistake. Last time, it wasn't.
Now, for the past two days, Iris had been nothing but prickly and mean, making comments about how ugly and generic Viella's black hair was. Which was strange, considering the only difference between their hair was that Iris's was curly, while Viella's was wavy—almost straight from the weight of its length.
