by D. V. EEDEN
I plug in my earphones to block out everyone around me, and the only time I take them out is when I need to go into class. I’m walking down the hallway, hugging onto my books when a hand reaches out and touches my shoulder from behind. I jolt, frightened someone is here to hurt me again. My heart races at a thousand miles per hour, threatening a heart attack. I turn and find Miles out of breath, placing his hand on his heart.
“I am so sorry, I kept shouting after you and you weren’t responding.”
I look him in the eye, trying to slow down my ragged breaths. With the music paused I remove the plugs and swing them in my hand. “Are you okay?” I ask, stunned that I’m seeing his angelic face for the first time in weeks. I try not to show any emotion towards him right now, but inside I’m holding down anger at how insensitive he’s been.
He should be the one who came to my room, giving me my favorite flowers or visiting me in hospital when I could have died. He should’ve been the one to hold my hand, consoling me and making sure everything is okay, but instead he’s been a ghost.
All the times in the past when I needed him, he hasn’t been there. The only time is when I found him myself in the dance studio and we danced, but other than that, he always has an excuse. I don’t want to assume or let loose on him until I know his reasons, because I could be an overreacting hormonal mess.
Usually we would spend time together when we dance but I haven’t been able to, I’m too weak so the doctors signed me off for a few weeks, which had me excused from the class.
Is that it maybe? Is he angry because I haven’t seen him in dance class? Too many thoughts take over my mind, and I’m staring at my supposed boyfriend, his blonde hair shining under the sun beaming through the church-style windows. He has the looks of an angel, the only thing he’s missing is a pair of glorious white wings.
“I thought we could spend some time together, watch some films or something in your dorm? I’ve got snacks,” his smiles gleams, holding out a bag and showing me all the chocolate and crisps. I suppose he’s making an effort, so I nod. He takes a hold of my hand and we make our way to my dorm room. I text Blaire to let her know that I’ve got Miles over for a while, so she agrees to stay in Maisie’s room for a bit.
We watch a few films. I even indulge myself in a few snacks, but I don’t overdo it. We cuddle on my bed, but Miles seems distant and I’m unsure why. He doesn’t really touch me like he used to or kiss me as often. I feel like a chore to him. Lifting my head off of his chest, I look him in the eye.
“Hey, are you okay? You don’t seem yourself?” I ask, but he doesn’t meet my gaze, looking away instead and clenching his jaw.
“Yeah sure, of course I am doll.” He kisses my forehead, assuring me. Before I know it, I have fallen asleep and when I wake up in the middle of the night, Miles has gone, and Blaire is in her bed. I look at the time and it’s three in the morning.
Unable to get anymore sleep, I get changed into my academy uniform and make my way to the library. At least I can catch up on a few assignments in peace. I plug in my earphones, even though no one is around at this time of night I still feel safe with the sound of someone singing in my ear. It makes me feel less alone and keeps me sane.
When I get to the library the lights are already on, I take out one of my earphones and the sound of someone typing fast on a keyboard echoes throughout the eerie walls.
I thought I’d be alone.
Strutting in further to where the tables are, I notice Hugo is sitting at our usual table, so I ignore him and sit at another table. What the fuck is he doing in here at four in the morning, typing so fucking fast? I wonder if he had any sleep. He hears my footsteps on the concrete and looks up to where I’m standing, unloading my laptop and files from my satchel. He doesn’t greet me and gets back to whatever he’s doing. Thank god, I don’t need Hugo Ego today.
My earphones are plugged back in, listening to some rock band I found the other day. I make sure it’s not too loud so Hugo can’t hear and scold me like he normally does. There’s something in the air and I can’t put my finger on it. There seems to be an unnerving feeling, and goosebumps appear on my skin, covering my body.
My breath hitches and when I take a deep breath in, I can smell the scent of Hugo’s spicy aroma. The feeling around my body feels like a ghost has just passed through me, leaving a chill behind as it leaves. I do wonder if spirits haunt this castle. I have never seen one so I’m unsure if I believe, but nothing would surprise me anymore.
Hugo is walking the aisles of the library, concentration etched onto his sharp face as he hunts for a book. I want to offer my help, but I’m terrified to even talk to him. I get back to my work and when I look back up, he’s nowhere to be seen, but his stuff is still on the table. I sigh, disappointed at feeling lonely again.
When I get used to not seeing him, my earphones are ripped out once again and I know exactly who it is, because he’s the only fucker to ever do it.
“Hugo, what do you want?” I snap.
His brawny frame looms over me from behind, his large tattooed hand resting on the back of my chair as he leans in, his perfectly plump crimson lips near my ear.
“This is the book I’m looking for,” he whispers.
Leaning in further, he grabs the book for Business Econ. But instead of taking it and leaving, he lingers. I can feel his hot breath in the crook of my neck, sending shivers down my spine. I try to swallow the big knot in my throat, but it doesn’t go away.
“I can’t wait until your punishment is due Africa. Just a warning… it’s nearly here,” the venom in his voice threatens. I want to plead and beg on my knees for no more. I can’t take it. I won’t be able to handle it. I am too broken. But at the same time, I really want to know what the punishment is and how he will deliver it.
He chuckles under his breath, taking the book and walking back to his table, refusing to make eye contact again.
When the clock hits six in the morning, the other Royals walk in, joining Hugo at the table. I don’t think they’ve noticed me yet. Well, I’m hoping they haven’t. I can hear their chitter chatter, so I turn my music up, blocking out their voices. I think I’m more taken aback that Royce hasn’t acknowledged me yet. He normally does, and he said he was going to check in on me, but he hasn’t yet.
Maybe I’ve pissed him off?
Forgetting where I am and who surrounds me, my music is so loud I wouldn’t be surprised if they can hear. I end up bouncing my leg to the music, enjoying the sounds, itching to get back into the dance studio. I really want to get back to the club and audition for a spot on their Saturday performances as soon as I am able.
As I’m enjoying myself, I almost forget to take my tablets, so I lean down to grab my satchel and remove one of the pills and my bottle of water. When I sit back up, Royce is heading over to my table, a cute little smirk on his face.
“Hey, how are you feeling?”
He pulls out a chair, sitting in it the wrong way around, his arms folded as he leans against the spine of the chair. How does he look so good in the morning?
“I’m better thanks, and thanks again for the flowers,” I whisper, not wanting the others to listen in on our conversation.
Royce scrunches up his face, the smirk hasn’t disappeared. “You don’t need to whisper, they know I got you flowers and stuff, I don’t care what they think,” he adds.
Biting my lip, I look down, embarrassed that they know. I would much rather no one knew.
“Aw, are you embarrassed?” Royce chuckles, the green of his eyes looking darker today. He rakes his perfectly manicured hands through his brown hair, making it more messy but sexy.
“I have to go. Thanks again,” I murmur, packing away my stuff into my satchel, leaving Royce at the table. I’m not really in the mood to have a conversation.
Finally, after a few weeks have passed, I have my first visit to the doctor. They have given me the go ahead to dance again. I’m back to a healthy weight, muscle back on my bones
, and I’m all healed.
The first thing I’m going to do this weekend is audition. Hopefully, this will help me get my confidence back. I text Samantha, asking if I can go in tomorrow before my shift to audition, to which she automatically replies and says yes.
I squeal, excited for something to be going right for once.
I’m staying at my father’s house tonight, meeting with Ms. Veronica for another stupid lesson. Steve collects me from the hospital once my appointment has finished, and to my surprise he’s already outside. He opens the back-passenger door for me, and I climb in. When I get to my father’s house, I see that Zach’s car is parked outside, but so is Ms. Veronica’s. Great, just what I need.
Impatiently, I don’t wait for Steve to open the door for me. I hate it when he does it anyway. It makes me feel incapable.
I make my way into the house, heading straight to the kitchen, needing an orange juice or maybe something stronger to be able to get through this. As soon as I enter, I see Zach and Ms. Veronica chatting by the breakfast bar. Her laugh blankets the room, and her hands are squeezing his muscles through the sexy suit he’s wearing.
“Oh Zach, where did these come from?” she giggles, I don’t think they realize I’m here.
I clear my throat to make my presence known, and Ms. Veronica lets go of his bicep, turning around to face me. “Oh, hello dear, I am early. Have you met the lovely Zach? He’s a friend of your father’s and used to be one of the male escorts for the debutant balls,” she says, too excited. Her eyes are wide, and she has the biggest grin on her face that I have ever seen.
“We’ve met,” I retort, grabbing the orange juice and filling up my glass.
“Can we have a moment Veronica, please darling?” Zach flutters his eyelashes and gives her a wink. I think she orgasmed just by that. Hm, so she has a thing for Zach and my father? Gross.
My eyes narrow at Zach. “Darling?” I tilt my head. “You big flirt,” I smile.
“I heard what happened. Are you okay?” he says, the smirk disappearing, replaced by worry. He looks so handsome in his navy suit, his long blonde hair untied, his bangs nearly covering his eyes. He strides towards me, I put down the glass of orange juice on the breakfast bar to which Zach appears behind me, placing his warm hands on my arms. Just that small touch ignites something inside of me, the goosebumps covering my skin and I shiver.
“I love how you react to me,” he purrs, and I can feel the vibration of his chest on my back when he speaks. I lick my lips and take in a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.
I spin round to try and escape, but it appears as though Zach took it as an invitation, and both of his palms go to the counter, caging me in. I lean my ass back on the counter, my eyes traveling down to his beautiful plump lips, and I end up licking mine again. I want to taste them again, so badly. Not to make someone else jealous, but because I enjoyed it so much. I look up to his half-lidded eyes, the bedroom look really working it for me. On the outside I look calm, but I feel as though a hurricane is exploding in my stomach, the ache between my legs begging for his hands to touch me there.
I tilt my head, the curls sliding off my shoulder, exposing my neck to him.
Smirking, I take a deep breath. “I’m fine thanks. How did you find out?” I ask, evading the last thing he said, and I’m intrigued to how he knows.
He shrugs his shoulders.
“Royce mentioned it to me at one of our meetings.”
His eyes go dark, as if a demon has possessed him. I push him away from me, uncaging myself. “I’ve got a guest, so if you’ll excuse me,” I tell him, walking off to meet Ms. Veronica in the drawing room. For the rest of the day, Zach occupies my mind, the sexual tension between us exhilarating.
Chapter Twenty-Six
At the club, the dancers are practicing on the stage for their performances tonight. I’m drying the glasses and stare at them in awe. I wish I were that confident, able to get up on stage like that and dance so… erotically. It must be exhilarating. I didn’t come prepared with a routine, so I decide that I’m going to wing it. Sometimes I work best under pressure, plus I wasn’t able to due to my health, so I had no choice.
“I am so excited to see what you have in store for us,” Samantha smiles. I have only her and Lily as my audience later thankfully, as I thought I’d have to do it in front of everyone. I pour myself a small whiskey, discovering I actually like it after I tried it once. I was intrigued as to why Royce enjoyed it so much, now I can’t stop drinking the stuff.
“Ade, you good for five minutes time?” Samantha says, looking at her watch on her wrist.
I nod in response, the butterflies in my stomach starting to flutter. I feel slightly nauseous, but I’m sure I’ll be fine. Quickly get changed into some booty shorts and a sports bra, I leave my hair untied. Making my way onto the stage, I stretch my limbs as Samantha and Lily take their seats in the VIP booth. It has the best view. I put on my chosen song ‘To Be Loved’ by Papa Roach. It makes me feel really wild and free, it’s the perfect song to freestyle to. Using a chair as a prop like the dancer for Charles’ birthday did, I improvise, taking in what she did that night.
Watching these girls, I notice they flip their hair a lot, so I do just that, swaying my hips, sticking my butt out and opening my legs. It’s pretty much all my routine entails. I work around the stage, touching my body as I go. I feel like one of the girls from that film Coyote Ugly, dancing on the bar. I actually feel so free, and it really is adrenaline-charged. This feels addictive, terrifying but exciting. All my nerves are stimulated, I feel sexy but classy at the same time. I don’t think I’ve ever swayed my hair so much.
When my routine has finished, my skin now sweating from the excitement, the girls stand up, clapping their hands.
“Damn girl, you really can move!” Samantha says, walking over to me. I sit on the side of the stage, dangling my feet on the edge, trying to get my breath back. It will take me a while to get my strength and stamina back, but it’s a start.
Lily smiles, as she stands next to Samantha. “You are so good! I’m extremely impressed and I must admit, I was a bit skeptical at first, but you proved me wrong,” Lily says, which is the most she has ever said to me in fact.
Jumping off the stage, I go back to the bar to get myself a bottle of water to quench my thirst. When I’ve finally got my breath back and the adrenaline has worn off, I go back to the ladies’ room and get changed back into my work clothes, ready for an exciting night ahead of me.
The club isn’t overly busy tonight, Samantha and Lily have left, leaving me in charge and to lock up, which is a great privilege in itself. When the club doesn’t attract anymore newcomers by midnight I lock up, order an Uber, and get back to the academy.
Exhaustion has taken over me, I’m unable to even keep my eyes open in the Uber. When I get back to the academy, I have a shower and crash in my bed, falling into a deep sleep.
I wake up before my alarm the following morning, and I’m starving. Checking the time, it’s only half seven in the morning, but the dining hall will be serving breakfast at this time. Hopefully, no one else is an early bird and gets breakfast this early. I get showered and changed within a matter of minutes.
I remember to take my pills for my anxiety and then make my way over to the dining hall. To my pleasure it’s empty, no one is around and the food smell delicious, making my stomach grumble even more. I order myself some bacon and eggs with a coffee and an orange juice, for once excited about food. After last night I feel a lot more like myself, but I seem to have this mantra playing - as soon as I feel better, something bad happens. And so, I live every day negatively, expecting something to happen. I walk the halls constantly looking over my shoulder for trouble.
At least if it does happen again, I won’t be so disappointed.
I scoff down my breakfast, almost licking my plate clean. I order myself another coffee to go, contemplating what to do today. It’s nearly spring, so it’s a little warmer outside. Do
I go surfing, dancing or just study? So many options for the day. Collecting my coffee, I walk out of the dining hall, my feet taking me outside to the courtyard. I sit on a bench overlooking the vast countryside that surrounds us, the green hills in the horizon.
The garden flowers are blossoming, the bees starting to collect nectar to make their honey, and it’s so peaceful. I take a deep breath in, relishing the clean country air. I sit there for a good hour, until my coffee is finished and then I make my way back to my room.
I text Zach, asking him if he fancies going surfing today, feeling a companion might do me good. And it’s an excuse to see him. He texts me back straight away, saying he will pick me up as he was on his way there anyway. The butterflies start fluttering in my stomach again, so I hurry myself and slide on my wetsuit and put some leggings and a hoodie on over the top. I tie my scruffy hair into a messy bun on top of my head, not really caring what I look like. There’s no point in putting make-up on if it’s all just going to run anyway. Within five minutes, Zach texts to say he’s in the courtyard waiting for me. My little legs hurry, excited to see him and of course to go surfing.
My face lights up as soon as I see the car. “Hey, thanks for picking me up,” I say, climbing into the luxurious Ferrari. I think I’ve seen his car more than him.
The smirk on his face lights up the sapphire gems of his eyes, and his long hair is tied up in a bun on his head to, ready to surf. He looks so devilish with his hair tied up; I wonder what it would feel like with my hands tangled in it while…
No Ade, no. You have a boyfriend.
We get to the beach in record time, the sun beaming across the ocean, filled with surfers. Once again, I’m the only girl surfer amongst all the guys. I don’t mind though; I usually prefer guys over girls anyway. The guy from before is in the beach hut, our boards are already waxed and waiting for us both.