I'm talking to Maya," he said, his voice so low it was almost a growl. "Um, no, you're stalking her." His whole body went rigid at that. His gaze flitted my way. "We were just talking," I said. I didn't mean to defend him, but there was something about the way Sam lobbed her insults that got my back up. "Well, I need to talk to you now, so…" She flicked her fingers at Rafe. "Shoo. I saw a bunch of eighth graders outside. They're probably more your speed.
In this scene from Kelley Armstrong's "The Gathering," a tense interaction unfolds between the characters. One character, speaking to Rafe, insists he is merely speaking to Maya, but the other character accuses him of stalking her. Rafe's reaction suggests that he takes the accusation seriously, and his body language changes as he becomes defensive. The speaker, despite not wanting to support Rafe, feels compelled to counter the insult.
Sam's dismissive attitude...
