𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗞𝗔
"The next time I see you, it better be at your 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭."
The words rushed out as I looked up at him with rage. His eyes flickered with amusement. Of course Nash ƒucking Reid couldn't be more serious. He leaned against the table and yawned.
"So sweet of you to assume that you would be there to attend my funeral, 𝘔𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘭."
"Don't you dare call me THAT! Who's the one to create this mess?!"
𝘠𝘢𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.
I ran fingers through my hair out of frustration. If we don't finish it by deadline, I have to stuck in this semester like I am still stuck with this bastard instead of going home and sleep.
"I 𝘞𝘐𝘓𝘓 𝘉𝘌 there to attend your funeral. Because you will die in my hands if you don't figure this out."
I picked out a brush, pointing its end to him. He slowly unfolded himself from the composure and walked towards me.
"Yes, I think 𝘺𝘰𝘶 would be the death of me."
𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦.
Yet time felt like frozen as he gently pushed away my hand. Uncertainty engulfed me when I tried looking at him. I never had problem with that. 𝘐 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘩𝘪𝘮. But something was replaced by the usual smug in Nash's forest green eyes.
𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘝. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.
I froze and it almost felt like Nash leaned into my face — 𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠!
"Oh— I didn't think someone would be here!"
That was it. That was the cold bucket of water to pull me into reality. Nash got back to his place as if he didn't held me close a second ago.
"Oh hey, Archer. We were working on our project."
Archer took a quick glance at Nash.
"Can see that. Pleasure to see you after so long."
He leaned and kissed on my cheek.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘪𝘵. My stomach filled with thousands of tickling butterflies.
"Margaret forgot her keys so I'm here to grab 'em." "Oh, okay."
𝘖𝘩 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺? 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘬𝘢? 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺?
I blankly stared at him as he took the keys from Margaret's locker and left waving at me.
"Stop staring. He's left long ago." "What do you even like in that motherfuc— "
He flinched midway as I hastily took my bag pack. 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦?
"An asshoIe like you won't understand."
I took one last glance at our ruined piece and left the room.
𝗡𝗔𝗦𝗛
The door slammed shut before Valeska. I breathed an exhausted sigh out and sat down, in front of the huge easel.
𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨.
My blood boiled after I replayed the incident. The way Archer kissed her cheek, the way she was unable to meet his eyes, and the way she was blushing.
"𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬."
I rubbed a hand over my face. I wasn't lying when I said that she would be the death of me. I'm so ƒucked up. Part of me was blaming my teenage self for getting a crush on Valeska. Part of me was blaming myself for not opening up.
For now, I looked at the painting, the ugly mess I created slipping a bucket of paint.
"Mom I won't be home tonight. Love you."
I tossed the phone aside after sending a quick voice message. I took a brush and started fixing my mess.
But part of me was intrigued about what ifs. What if Archer hadn't appeared? What if I had kissed Valeska?
"𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘬!"
𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗞𝗔
"What are you talking about?"
Two days later, in the extra class of business, I met Archer. The project's deadline is tomorrow and I still hadn't go back to studio. I didn't contact Nash, neither that jerk did. But I was shocked to hear Archer.
"Don't tell me Reid didn't tell you. Ms. Anne did really paired me up with you. Later he requested for a change."
I know Nash hates me. But I couldn't imagine he hates me 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩. That bastard clearly knows I like Archer!
"Valeska?"
Archer sipped into his coffee, looking at me questioningly.
"Uh— yeah he didn't tell me. I'm sorry I didn't know that. It would be a great pleasure if we worked together." 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
I couldn't utter those words, as always. He stood up, passing one of the smiles I like most.
"There will be lots of opportunities. See you Sunday, then?"
"I will try to come. Bye."
I got up as soon as Archer left. I have scores to settle.
𝗡𝗔𝗦𝗛
I stepped aside as everyone was fawning over my painting. Well— our painting. Tomorrow is the deadline and the past two days are worth it. God knows what would Ms. Anne do if we couldn't submit it.
"Jesus Nash, it's fantastic! V told you made a nasty mess. It's covered huh?" Ada surveyed the piece like a rare specimen.
"Uh-huh. I love to fix my mess. Well... 𝘐 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴."
I emphasized on the last one as I noticed 𝘩𝘦𝘳. Ada turned around, again looking back at me, she winked. She's Valeska's best friend but a white flag between our animosity.
"Come with me!"
Valeska grabbed my wrist forcefully. She seems... angry?
"How about we 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 together, Mon Bordel?"
No. Something is wrong. Anger filled Valeska's usual adorable irrigation. She didn't even look at our piece.
"𝘖𝘶𝘵. 𝘕𝘰𝘸."
Everyone didn't care much as I followed her outside. They'd be less impressed even if we murdered each other.
"What the heck is wrong with you?"
"Do you think something is wrong with 𝘔𝘌? WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU NASH REID?"
I rubbed a hand over my jaw.
"Stop yelling, V."
"Don't tell me what to do! Why did you request for an exchange when Archer was supposed to be my partner?!"
𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.
"I hate you! I hate you, Nash Reid! You clearly know that I like him."
Valeska started hitting on my chest. I tightened my jaw before I grabbed her wrists and pinned them above.
One second she was hitting me. The other she is underneath me.
"I don't give a damn ƒuck whoever you like. No matter how many times I say Archer Bennett 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 who you think, you don't listen to me!"
"Because he is NOT an assholε like you!!"
I stilled. I knew color drained out of my face as I let a mockery laugh out.
"You know... you haven't seen the assholε yet."
Lower and 𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳. I pulled her frock upper to thighs and started tracing the lines of her underwear. A flush crept up her face as she shivered under my touch.
"Na- Nash.."
"Mm-hmm?"
I slowly roamed my hand around her pussyy as I kept my lips on her face. She tried to said something but gasped as I pressed two fingers. God, she's so beautiful!
"What? What happened to your big mouth now?" I insinuated.
"Nash leave me please; 𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳!"
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴.
Even if she wasn't aware of my feelings, she knew what buttons to press.
𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗞𝗔
The things I have never imagined would happen, Nash touching me wasn't on the top hundred in the list. Most importantly, why on earth did my stomach do that flip thing? He left me right after I said. I felt... disappointed?
"Is everything all right?"
Archer smiled politely, sitting next to me. He invited me to his party on the last day we met. So here I am. Draining on drinks to forget about a certain someone for a while.
Even if it's not working.
𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱. 𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘓𝘐𝘒𝘌 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘕𝘢𝘴𝘩 𝘙𝘦𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
Raindrops hit the French window of Archer's living room. I returned him the smile.
"Yes absolutely. I am just thrilled that I passed the semester."
"To your success."
"To my success."
I clanked my glass against his and looked around. Half of the uni is present here. Ada stayed behind because of her cramps. So I'm all alone.
Nash wouldn't be here, right? He was close with Archer before. I don't know what happened later that he started acting cold towards him. To dudes to last name basis.
What if Nash kissed me in the studio that day? What if he went further outside of the —
The living room danced in front of my eyes all on a sudden. I haven't even drunk... 𝘢𝘩...
"What happened, Valeska?" Archer's concerned voice hit my ears. What's happening to me?
"I- I'm all right... just a bit... dizzy..." My voice sounded like drifting apart.
"Let's take you upstairs and lie down for a while. Does that sound cool?"
"Fine..."
I lay down on the bed. Is it just a headache or what? Ugh...
"You are so 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺, Valeska."
"What?"
Unable to get the words, I looked at Archer with my hazy eyes. He... 𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵!
"What are you doing, Archer?"
I sat up touching my head. My body feels so weak.
"Sorry sweetheart, I have a bet to win."
I looked at him and—
And there wasn't the Archer I used to know.
𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦!
His voice was the last thing on my mind. It's too late. But the horrifying thing is, I couldn't stop thinking about Nash as a tear rolled down on my cheek.
𝗡𝗔𝗦𝗛
I smashed Kian's body against the door, as he wasn't letting me in. Don't tell me I didn't warn him.
"You 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘩!"
I pulled Archer away and God knows for how long I kept going on until his face flooded with blood.
"S- stop, you will... you will kill him..."
Valeska tugged on my jacket. I forced myself not to look at her.
"Are you sober?"
"I'm moderately functional."
I couldn't hold back a smile. Valeska was the only person who could joke at a time like this.
"Great. Let's leave."
𝘼 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧
We were already out of Archer Bennett's house. Valeska took her heels off and walked through the path, as I followed her behind. I couldn't stay silent for long.
"I told you. I have told you a hundred times that don't trust Archer Bennett. But you didn't listen to me. What were to thinking Valeska? Attending that motherƒucker's party? 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮? What the hell is wrong with you?!"
She stilled and turned around.
𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘵. 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘬𝘢. 𝘊𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨.
"What do you expect me to do Nash? Is it my fault that I like him? Is it my fault that... that... he tried to.. tried to.. that I'm 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺?"
Her chin wobbled in the last sentence and a strange pain shot straight to my heart.
"Shit, I am so sor—"
"Tell me is it my fault to like him?"
𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮!
"Oh come on, shut the ƒuck up, V!"
I grabbed her cheeks and pressed my lips on hers. Years of pent-up frustration, years of bottled-up feeling. I went on venting all of them until we were breathless. I looked down at her. I'm pretty sure my lips were swollen as well.
"You okay?"
She shook her head. But that doesn't necessarily mean she was 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺.
"Where did he touch you?"
Valeska hugged herself and again, shook her head. I noticed a few dark marks around her neck. I closed my eyes. 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩... 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦, 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦.
"You'll forget about him, 𝘔𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘭. I promise."
I rubbed my thumb over her jaw. She looked up, with gleaming, tearful eyes.
"I feel like a shit."
"Good, because you look like one too."
I choked out a laugh as she punched my chest.
"I love you, V." 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦.
Valeska's lips fall apart. I'm not sure if I am ready to hear her. But now or never. I'm fed up with myself.
"I think... I 𝘤𝘢𝘯 love you."
Surprise almost caught me but —
"Good, we will work on that."
I said casually, wrapping my arms around her waist.
"So what are we now?"
I dropped my face to hers.
"𝘈 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴."
Thus, my lips found hers once again. I can deal with Archer Bennett later and I WILL. For now, I'll savor every moment with 𝘔𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘭.
END
