by Kent, Rina
“I’m not.” She smiles, appearing to relax. “I love Elites’ team play. Cole is the perfect captain. Aiden is the ace striker and you’re one of the best midfielders in the school’s championships.”
“Correction. I’m not one of the best. I’m the best, Kimmy.”
“The freaking best!”
They go on a long string of football conversation about the few games Elites played this season and last year’s championship.
Ronan Astor and Kim are bonding.
Gag. Someone kill me.
I slam the lid of my container shut with a force that gets their attention. “Are you done?”
“Bah alors, Frozen. Anyone ever told you to chill?”
“I’ll be perfectly chill when you’re as far away from us as possible.”
Kim frowns. “That’s rude, Ellie.”
Rude? Doesn’t she realise he’s playing a game? A game Aiden must’ve put him up to it.
“No wonder he’s possessed,” Ronan mutters before he smiles at Kim, completely erasing me. “How about you stop being a closet fan and come over to one of my parties?”
Kim’s eyes almost bug out. “Who? Me?”
“I’ll win the drinking competition for your sake, Kimmy.”
“You will?” She almost shouts.
“I do anything for our fans.” He winks, brushes his knuckles over her hand before he stands and glances at me. “You can come, too, if you lose the frozen act.”
He throws a dismissive hand and leaves.
I continue aiming daggers at his back even as he disappears between the trees.
“Did you hear that? He invited us to one of his parties.”
“So what?”
“It’s Ronan Astor’s party, Ellie! I’ve always dreamt about attending one. I can’t believe he invited us.”
“Kim!” I grip her shoulders. “We agreed to never mingle with them, remember? We belong to different worlds and have different standards.”
“It’s just a party, Ellie. It’s senior year, we can at least go to a party.” The spark in her eyes doesn’t disappear. If anything, she looks about to explode from excitement.
That’s when I see it. The eagerness. The child-like thrill.
Kim wants this. She always had this dreamy look in her eyes whenever she talked about the football game or when we overhead other students talk about Ronan’s parties.
Unlike me, she wants to see that other crowd — Aiden and his pack of wolves’ crowd.
Maybe she’s been holding back because of the bullying. Maybe it’s because of me.
Either way, the new Kim isn’t afraid to go after what she likes. If anything, she runs straight to it.
Nothing I do or say will change her mind about the party.
I have to take care of the source of the problem.
A certain arsehole who’s been manipulating her throughout her new change.
We go back to school for our next class. Kim wouldn’t stop talking about the party even when I try to change the subject. I preferred the Korean soap operas retellings.
Near the class, Aiden crosses our path, coming in from the opposite direction. He stops near the door and Kim stops, too.
“Morning, Reed.” Aiden offers her a smile that somehow reaches his smokey eyes.
My chest squeezes in an uncomfortable, almost painful way.
“Morning, King.” Kim smiles back.
“You were amazing in the last game. We need more fans like you.”
“Go Elites!” Kim grins. “We’re so getting the championship this year.”
“Hell yeah, Kimmy!” Ronan cheers from behind us, draping an arm around Kim’s shoulder and leading her inside.
I hurry after them when a large-as-life presence pushes me back against the wall.
The students’ chatter disappears and my back snaps upright as I stare up at Aiden’s soulless eyes.
All the smiles he offered Kim disappear, leaving the actual demon Aiden is.
Looking up at him, I can’t help recalling his skin against mine. His finger sliding inside me. His lips biting my neck —
Nope. He’s not getting under my skin.
“Are you going to be mine?” he asks so low that the tenor of his voice vibrates on my skin.
Every day since that damned breakfast, he corners me somewhere and asks that same question.
I jut my chin out and give him the same answer I tell him every day, “No.”
“Hmm.” His fingers dig at the back of my scalp beneath my hair as he grips my nape and pins me in place.
There’s no escaping him even if I tried.
He’s freaking everywhere like the asphyxiating smoke in his eyes.
If I want to protect my sanity, I need to play my cards smartly.
If this were a football game, this is that time when the team is losing and the coach has to make decisive choices. He can lunge for offence and leave a void at the back that will cost him dearly in case of a counter-attack. Or he can hold his formation, draw in the adversary, and then attack when the other party least expects it.
I always preferred the second option.
Since I met Aiden, I had been the team that accepted defeat before the game even started. It’s like in the world cup when all English people have no hopes for the national team to go anywhere before it even started.
The forfeiting strategy was fine when Aiden just claimed his victory and moved along. Now that he’s pushing me, it’s time for a change of tactics.
Since the beginning of this school year, I used the all in attack, which obviously doesn’t work on Aiden. Not only is he a stronger, bigger — and a meaner — opponent, but he also gets off on my useless struggle. It’s time I go for the second option.
Lure. Wait. Attack.
Gah. I’m beginning to think like him.
But then again, one needs to be a monster to stop a monster.
He leans closer so his breath tickles along my lower lip. My breath catches. He’s always so close enough to kiss me, but he never does.
“Careful, sweetheart.” He pulls at a fistful of my hair. “You’re pushing me.”
“You pushed me first,” I grit out. “At least now you know how it feels to be pushed.”
“That’s nothing.” His lips hover over my ear before he darts his tongue and licks the shell. “I promise you won’t like it when I push back.”
I bite back the chill at his words and proximity and meet his gaze. “Aren’t you doing it already? What the hell is your game with Kim?”
He tilts his head to the side, his lips curving in a smirk. “Be mine and there won’t be a game.”
“Goddamn it, Aiden. You can’t play unfair like this.”
“Who said anything about fair?” His hand climbs to my throat and his thumb fingers the pulse point.
He’s obsessed with that.
“I told you I’ll threaten everything you love. Reed is only the beginning. It’s time you make a move, sweetheart.”
He pulls my cheek. “But don’t take too long. Patience has never been my strength.”
He releases me, leaving me breathless and boneless against the wall as he saunters inside the classroom. I hear him call Kim’s name.
And I know, I just know that Aiden’s strike will hit so deep.
He caught me by the arm that hurts the most.
When I peek into the class and find Kim laughing with him and Ronan, my heart squeezes and my chest aches.
A finger taps my shoulder. I startle, facing the intruder.
Xander’s gleamy blue eyes stare down at me. “I have an offer to make.”
Chapter Sixteen
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 practic
e, 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?
