For a week, I managed to avoid Aiden and Xander.
It might have to do with the weekend. I studied as much as I could, but whenever I was left to my thoughts, it was chaos.
I keep watching the steps of my house, expecting Aiden to show up unannounced like he did the other time.
He doesn’t corner me like he used to, but he’s spending more time with Kim. His ‘Morning, Reed’ has morphed into conversations, and I don’t know how to scream that he’s manipulating her without sounding crazy.
He knows all the buttons to push and all the things to say to sound proper, and loveable even.
Kim believes him just like Aunt and Uncle did.
No one knows him the way I do. No one saw the void behind his eyes or has heard his low threats.
If I scream bloody murder, I’ll just appear insane.
I wish Aiden and I could go back to the stage where glares had been our only language. When I battled with how long I could keep eye contact before forfeiting.
Who am I kidding?
We can never go back to that stage after what Aiden has done to me.
After he touched me.
Invaded me.
Tasted me.
I’ve been having fragmented dreams about his hands, his face, and his scent. God. His scent would never leave my memories.
And his lips.
I dream about them doing depraved things to me.
If my subconscious thinks about it, what does that make me?
As if Aiden’s drama isn’t enough, Xander has been hunting me after every class about ‘his offer’. I shot him down every time, refusing to even hear it.
Xander is Aiden’s best friend. If they think I’m naive enough to fall for their games, then they have another thing coming.
I blow a long breath as I trudge through the school’s hallway during lunch break. I don’t usually hide from the bullying in the main entrance, but today is just a wrong day.
It started with a nightmare about blood, black eyes, and drowning in murky water. The seven year-old version of me has been screaming ‘Da!’ over and over again.
Seeing myself in that nightmare has been surreal. I’ve forgotten about how I looked; a dirty, blonde monster ball.
Since I moved to London with Aunt and Uncle, I didn’t have one single memory of my life with my parents in Birmingham.
No photo albums.
No mind images.
No… nothing.
Everything was burnt with the house. The only reason I survived that day was because I wasn’t inside.
Nightmares are the only episodes that tie me to that dark past. I thought I was slowly escaping them, but today proved me wrong.
Maybe I should go back to Dr Khan. He was able to stop the nightmares a long time ago.
I’ll leave Dr Khan as a last resort to not worry Aunt and Uncle.
I retrieve my phone from my pocket to text Kim. Instead, I find the two texts Aiden sent at six in the freaking morning.
Aiden: I dreamt about pounding your tight pussy until you screamed my name. I’m kind of contemplating slipping into your room and fucking you like in the dream.
Aiden: Oh, and morning, sweetheart.
Damn the bastard. I’m starting to get used to his texts. Hell, I’m starting to look forward to them, wondering what kind of depravity he’ll send this time.
And I might’ve spent a few minutes watching from my room’s window, expecting him to barge inside like the devil.
What? I can’t put anything past Aiden King.
He didn’t show up.
Not only that, but in school, he pretends as if those texts never happened. When I passed him by this morning while he was listening to Ronan’s animated speech, he barely spared me a glance.
Why does he get to be all unaffected when I’m boiling from the inside out?
I shake my head and text Kim. She took the lunch break to pick up Kirian.
Elsa: Are you done?
Kimberly: Mum isn’t available so I’m driving Kir home. I’ll be there in a few. Xo.
Elsa: Kiss his adorable cheeks for me.
Kim sends a selfie while she gives Kirian an open-mouthed kiss while he tries to shove her away.
I smile, zooming in to watch his innocent, boyish features.
I have information that’ll keep Kimberly gravitating towards me and away from you.
Aiden’s words stab me in the stomach and bring a taste of nausea to the back of my throat.
It’s working. His threat is working.
My plan to lure, wait, then attack hasn’t even taken off since he didn’t take the damn bait.
I was so stupid to believe someone like Aiden would take the bait. He’s the one who got me hook, line, and sinker.
All I keep thinking about are his threats and what he’s capable of.
A presence looms behind me.
I startle, coming to a screeching halt. My phone falls, but Xander catches it.
Whoa. Nice reflexes.
He glances at my phone, face closing for a second too long, before he hands it back with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Got you, Frozen.”
The golden shade of Xander’s blonde hair is impossible to have even with chemicals. It’s so bright and shiny. Add his cobalt blue eyes and he’s the epitome cliché of a golden boy. Unlike Aiden, I haven’t noticed him manipulating people, but then again, what do I know about Xander Knight except that he actively makes Kim’s life hell?
He’s wearing his uniform with meticulous care. Even the cuffs of his shirt are rolled over the jacket neatly as if someone dresses him up. Which wouldn’t be surprising considering that he’s a minister’s son.
He leans against the wall, subtly blocking my way. “Why are you running away from me?”
“Why are you chasing me?” I shoot back.
“I told you. I have an offer for you.”
“Not interested.” I sidestep him and walk on my way.
“The bullying will stop,” he calls from behind me ever so casually.
I halt and slowly turn around. Xander is smirking as if knowing he got me.
I lift my chin. “How do you intend to do that?”
“I’m a star on the football team. If anyone sees you with me, it’ll be enough to stop it all.”
I finger the straps of my backpack. He’s right about that.
Just like Aiden stopped all the bullying for Kim by holding her, he can stop it for me, too, but only at the cost of ‘being his’.
I’m not naive to think that Xander is giving me the golden ticket without consequences.
The higher the offer, the higher the cost.
“What do I have to do in return?”
His gaze slides over me from head to toe.
I fold my arms over my chest. “In your damn dreams.”
He laughs, the sound long and genuine. “Sorry, love. You’re pretty but you’re not my type. I’d rather not be frozen to death.”
So he’s not after sex. Well, well.
My interest peaks and I face him fully. “Then what do you want from me?”
“Be my pretend girlfriend.”
My jaw almost drops to the floor. “What?”
“You know, not a real girlfriend, just a pretence in front of everyone.”
“I know what a pretend girlfriend means. I’m asking why you want me to act like yours.”
“It’ll stop the bullying.” He grins. “Isn’t that what you want?”
I narrow my eyes. “What’s in it for you?”
“Why do you care? You get to spend your senior year in peace.”
“You seriously expect me to just give in without knowing what I’ll lose?”
He holds a hand to his heart. “I promise that you’ll lose nothing.”
“No. Tell me about your reasons.”
Being in the dark is a sure way to lose before even starting.
He remains silent, scowling at me, to intimidate me no doubt.
I meet him glare for glare. “If you don’t tell me, I’m not signing up to this.”
His shoulders turn rigid as he says in a monotone tone, “I’m teaching someone a lesson.”
“Who…?”
It hits me then.
Xander was beyond pissed off when Aiden held Kim the other week. He’s been unnecessarily aggressive with him during practice, too. And I noticed that they only stand together only when Ronan and Cole are with them.
“You’re doing this to spite Aiden?” I whisper-yell then inch closer to him when a classmate gives us the stink eye while passing by.
Or more like she gives me the stink eye. She’s one of Xander’s endless admirers.
Another reminder of what I’ll deal with if I agree to become his pretend girlfriend.
Xander raises an eyebrow. “You have a problem with that?”
“Not really, but…” I inch closer. “You’re overestimating Aiden’s temporary obsession with me. He doesn’t care about me.”
He cares about belittling me, dominating me, and having me bend at his will.
He only cares about breaking me.
“Why do you think no one asked you out these past two years?” Xander lifts an eyebrow.
“W-what?”
“Other girls have boyfriends, but you don’t. Ever wonder why?”
“Other girls aren’t bullied,” I grit out. “They aren’t called Teacher Sluts.”
“That’s the point.” He snaps his fingers and points at me. “Who do you think started the rumour that you sucked off the biology teacher? That you’re a Teacher Slut? And the other about you having a contagious disease?” He counts on his fingers. “King and King and… oh, King.”
I’m too stunned to speak. My mouth opens then closes like a dying fish.
All these years, I thought Aiden just stayed in the background. I thought the bullying started only because he expressed hatred towards me in front of the whole school that day and therefore, they acted upon loyalty to him.
Turns out he staged it all and let his minions do the rest.
Minimum effort. Similar results.
The bastard.
My blood whooshes with a hot, red feeling.
“Why?” I don’t even recognise my haunted voice.
“It’s his way to eliminate competition.”
“Why would he want to eliminate competition?”
“Beats me.” He lifts a shoulder. “I’ve known King for his entire life, and I’ve never seen him as transfixed by someone as he is with you.”
Aiden said it, didn’t he? His care isn’t normal, labellable, or conventional.
But then again, why do I have to pay for his unconventional ways?
Anger sweeps over me like a black, bottomless ocean.
Somewhere in my brain, I realise that I shouldn’t make snap decisions while I’m angry, but I couldn’t care less.
“Deal,” I tell Xander. “I’ll be your pretend girlfriend.”
There’s no better way to have revenge on Aiden than to ‘date’ his best friend.
And I know why Xander approached me.
He likes the idea that Aiden has spent years successfully ‘eliminating’ all competition, just so I’d end up in Xander’s arms.
It’s such a dick move, but I like Xander a little bit for it.
I like anyone who rebels against the entitled, psycho king.
Xander’s lips stretch into a wolfish grin as he offers me his arm. “Let’s make our first appearance, love.”
I reluctantly slip my arm in his.
This isn’t my character.
Hell, I don’t even like to lie, let alone be someone’s pretend girlfriend.
But if Aiden’s using my best friend against me, the only way to strike him is to use his best friend back.
Eye for an eye.
Blood for blood.
He started the war. I’m just keeping up.
My feet falter in front of the cafeteria. There’s a reason I don’t eat here, and it’s not the food.
It’s like a high-end restaurant, but for high school kids. Even the staff appear like butlers straight out of the palace.
During the lunch break, RES’s entire student body gathers here. If something happens in this place, it’ll be engraved in everyone’s memories.
It’ll be posted on social media.
It’ll be the talk of the entire school.
Last week, Silver spilt juice on a freshman — she spills beverages a lot — and it became the talk of the week. The incident reached me even though I don’t eat here.
“Relax.” Xander’s cool voice wrenches me from my thoughts. His face is all grins and smiles.
Easy for him to say. He’s a popular star and the son of a minister.
Attention is his middle name. Hell, he might even thrive on it.
I can end all this now, but my need for revenge simmers beneath the surface like an untamed animal.
This time, I’ll be the one who inflicts pain.
Whoa. That’s a scary thought.
I’m not that person. I don’t need to inflict pain. All I need is justice.
Yes. Justice.
With a deep breath, Xander and I walk into the cafeteria. Chatter and utensils clicking fills the air. Some students laugh at one another, others are in heated conversations, and a few loners sit in the back.
My heartbeat increases with every step I take. Beads of sweat cover my temples and a tremor shoots through my limbs.
Once we’re in the centre of the cafeteria, the chit chat withers away and almost everyone’s attention zeroes in on us.
Some jab their friends while others murmur in hushed tones.
Being in the limelight stiffens my shoulder blades.
My heart flips when I make out where Xander is guiding me.
The centre table.
The football team’s table.
The table at which Aiden sits. He’s nodding at something Cole says while nonchalantly moving his fork around his half-full plate.
He’s wearing the team’s blue jacket with the school’s logo. The first few buttons of his shirt are undone, hinting at his tanned skin and hard muscles.
Ronan is half-sitting on his chair, speaking enthusiastically while the rest of the team snickers. All except for Aiden who’s watching with a poker face.
Cole’s laugh falls as he notices us.
His eyes stray from me to Xander and then straight to Aiden. He doesn’t need to alert him, though.
As if having a sixth sense, Aiden pauses picking at his food and lifts his head. His smoky gaze falls on me, and for a second, he appears to be taken aback as if he doesn’t know what I’m doing here.
Then his eyes dart to where I’m clutching Xander by the arm. It’s at a time like this that I wish Aiden had an expressive face.
His poker mask is strapped tight around his features as he drops his fork with a clank and stands.
He calmly, too calmly, wipes his mouth with a napkin before setting it down.
My heart nearly leaps out of my throat as he stalks towards us with sure, confident steps.
I want to believe that Aiden wouldn’t humiliate me in public now that I’m with Xander, but I can’t put anything past him.
The smirk on Xander’s face isn’t helping. “He’s pissed off.”
“How do you know that?” I whisper back.
He appears completely detached to me.
“The twitch in his left eye.” Xander grins. “He can control anything but that.”
Xander removes my arm from his but just so he’d wrap it around my shoulder.
He smells of sandalwood.
That’s the last thought I have before Aiden slams his fist in Xander’s face.
