LEIGH
The drive to the city was quite exciting, even though it was nothing more than Ava peeping through the rearview mirror from the passenger seat.
We arrived at the strip even earlier than expected since Jullian is one hell of a fast and furious driver.
The plan was to give my two friends a tour of where I grew up, but it had unexpectedly become hard with the distraction I had here.
Ava, of course.
When I thought things would go smoothly, and we could finally have that necessary conversation about the night in the garage, she steered the wheel and changed directions.
"So, what do you do for a living?" Ava asked Jullian in her thick, mellifluous accent, purposely bringing his hands around her waist.
What is she trying to play?
The asshole appeared as if granted paradise from the gesture.
Don't get me wrong, Ava is paradise, but mine alone. And him? He was nowhere close to being worthy of her.
"I'm in school for now." He beamed down at her.
She smiled and brought her hand around his waist as we walked through the pedestrian sidewalk.
The noise around us should have swallowed their conversation, but I was too wary of picking up what they were discussing to pay much attention to Claire, who was walking beside me.
"I mean with your body. You're so sturdy; it makes me hot." She smirked, although her eyes were darting back at me.
Okay, enough of whatever game this is.
I took two long steps, releasing Claire's hand, and snatched Ava from Jullian.
"The fuck, man?" She angrily yelled, but he didn't; he knew better.
Clasping her arm, I practically seethed.
Tugging her petite physique away from my friends, I towered over her, shielding her from their eyes.
That's when I confusedly asked: "What is wrong with you? You are underage. That is not legal."
Ava was nothing I'd ever seen; even the rays of the sun agreed with it. Up and down, side by side, she was thoroughly gorgeous. Her cute heart-shaped face and chin fitted those vibrant hazel eyes that changed with light and emotions. She had slick brown hair, so nourished and voluminous. Her hereditary celestial nose was realistically angelic, one that you have to curb the urge to incline and peck the protruding tip. Below that nose were her lips; most people would disagree that they were natural, not that they would agree on everything about her features, because she appeared so remarkable that heaven must have paid extra attention to crafting her differently. Her lips were full, the upper and lower lips equally shaped with a heavily defined cupid's bow.
She was tall, mainly after a year without seeing her, but she stood a foot or more below me. She was full-figured yet slim; the magazines wouldn't hesitate to drop to their knees, begging for her sculpture on their cover.
Indeed, she was a goddess, one with a very naughty and rebellious personality.
She was squirming, trying to break out of my firm hold.
"Says the person who screwed his high school teachers." She breathed heavily and shakily, still trying to break out of my grip. But mostly because I knew my closeness was affecting her emotionally and physically, no matter how tough she fought it.
So we are doing this right now around hundreds of pedestrians?
Although where she chooses to bite is so low. Bringing my past to hurt me was also nothing like her.
During the ride, I thought we were finally getting past whatever it was, but indeed I was led on by the wrong signals.
"Watch your tongue." I leaned over when I snarled, inhaling more of her. And like those pills I had to take in, I wanted more of her.
I had to pull away before my body could betray me since even my eyes wouldn't stay away from her lips. It was like they were daring mine to blend.
"What? I am just following my big bro's trails." She sassily winked, biting her bottom lip slowly. It got me instantly reacting, my breath quickened, and I swallowed. It was her chance; she successfully slipped out of my grasp from the distraction she caused.
Great!
This isn't the Ava I know.
Confused, I watched her smirk and walk away, intentionally bumping our arms.
After trying to do the math of what really happened here, I turned around and followed behind as we caught up with Jullian and Claire.
I see what is happening here!
She wants games, huh? What about this one?
I brought out my phone and slid into iMessage.
'You don't want to go down that road. Better stay away from my sister.'
Exhaling deeply, I tapped send.
AVA
I never thought he could be this selfish. So, he gets to mingle around freely?
How perfect, Mr Boyce.
Shooting him a disgusting glare from beside his friend, I purposely wrap my hand around Jullian's torso. Only this time, it didn't work out my way.
Jullian turned me down.
He practically pulls my hand from his waist and offers me a tight smile that says something is wrong. Actually, it says, 'I am sorry, we shouldn't because I was warned to stay away from you.'
I immediately get the feeling it is Leigh's doing. Yes, entirely.
And when I glance towards him, the wanker has an annoyingly attractive smirk on his gorgeous lips that is magnetic; I almost fell into it earlier.
Right now, he is holding hands with his girlfriend, having his life all planned out the way he aspired, only he sketched me to be lonely and pathetic in his story while he would go around laughing and enjoying himself with pretty girls too good to be true.
Just perfect!
I had annoyance, irritation, and anger at every move that the couple made. Still, I followed them the whole day from the aquarium, where I tortured myself to watch Leigh and Princeton Claire take pictures of themselves and name baby fish (it left me wondering whether the wanker is studying fish ponds instead of whatever he was supposed to be doing back there in college where he had to fall in love with little miss perfect), to the indoor skydiving; oh yeah, Leigh and miss perfect effortlessly float in the air while I, on the other hand, ran away from the idea and refused the enjoyment, as they call it.
I had to listen to all of them boast about it and laugh at my stupid childish instinct that caused my legs to flee before my head could think.
After those adventures that benefitted me with nothing (unless we're talking about heartache, of which I have a hole right now), we stopped at paradise with the two foreigners who grinned at nearly everything on the strip.
Did I mention the wanker paid for everything his friends picked? And trust me, they grabbed a lot.
For someone so pretty, I didn't know she could be greedy.
But some TikToker said the pretty ones are the gold diggers.
I couldn't help saying out loud: "I should definitely worry about the safety of my belongings back at home."
Luckily, everyone was so carried away with what Vegas had offered that none of them heard me. Only Leigh did. But he chose not to respond and continued to recommend phone pouches for his soulmate.
"Maybe you can twin pouches," I blurted the suggestion; I am sure everyone noticed the venom in my tone.
"Good idea, and we have the same phones. What do you think?" Miss long legs seemed excited when she asked Mr Betrayer.
His eyes flashed to me; there was fog in them that didn't let me inside.
He observed me sceptically before he averted his eyes to her and answered: "I don't like bright pouches; you should go ahead."
"Come on! It will be cute, twinning phone pouches. Isn't it, Ava?" She flickers a bright smile at me, showing off the elegance and charm of her beauty.
His eyes came to me, daring me to stop.
But did he stop holding her hands when he knew it was hurting me? Did he stop laughing with her when he knew that sound would torment me?
Staring into the depth of his lively green eyes, I forced out a, "Yes," and turned away, doing that social escape thing of mine.
I attached my mobile phone to my ear, faking a phone call.
I didn't know what they settled, but when we drove to Las Vegas Boulevard and stopped at the Mac cosmetics store, my eyes caught sight of his phone case. It was black before, and now it was yellow.
Great! I just fuelled their romance!
Just great, Ava. Keep on going, and they'd be getting married before the night ends while I stand as the marriage officiant, urging them to kiss each other as husband and wife.
Having paid thousands for miss perfect, the only thing the wanker offered me was food. Constantly asking if I was hungry as if I were some car fuel tank that needed refilling very often.
I must say it hurt my feelings and weakened every self-confidence I had; I didn't care to make videos for my social accounts because I was beginning to feel like the old me, the one who felt like she didn't belong here.
The final place we stopped was Paris Las Vegas, which brought back the memories of Embry and her lies.
To be honest, I have nothing against her anymore; the girl had left school last year, disappearing without a goodbye. She had blocked the rest of the girls' contacts, and I know I might sound harsh, but life had never felt good.
But Embry's disappearance had left deep trauma; Mum and I had to look after Lilith for a week as she went through the emotional struggles of the loss of her friend.
Back to the present, Leigh parked Mum's car and led the three of us into the infamous restaurant with incredible views.
We made our orders and quietly waited for our food to arrive. Actually, I quietly waited for my food to arrive because the other three or two were noticeably loud, and Leigh, who was in the middle, was offering them his devastatingly charming smile.
When our orders reached the table, I couldn't help the moan that slipped from my lips, then blushed furiously at the embarrassment I bestowed upon myself. I looked away from my amused stepbrother and dug into my expensive appetizer that would cost him half a thousand. Literally, it would cost him a stack depending on the ounces of caviar I had deliberately ordered.
Jullian only behaved brotherly towards me while Princeton Claire and Leigh had been tasting each other's meals and complimenting the dishes. I was neglected.
How cute and so lovely of him to bring me out here so he could display how much he had long gotten over me.
"At the freshmen activity week, we played a game where each team must secure the ball as long as they can, away from the opponent team. The team with outstanding hours wins at the end of the week," Jullian had been telling some memories about their first year while I had my head down at the vegetable salad I demanded (in rivalry with what little miss perfect had ordered).
I know I have issues, but she does too.
"Was it that week when Gordon threw a
party?"
Duh! We know you have a great voice; can she just shut up now?
"Yes," Jullian answered her.
"This dude here over-drank; I had to rescue him, fed him too much coffee, and he dozed off at my place." She giggled, and everyone at the table, except me, cracked into laughter.
Instead of laughing it off, I found it like a sword poking down my throat.
I looked up at my cheerful big brother and said the first thing that came to my mind. "Hmm...
Didn't know you did parties." I didn't hide the malice in my voice.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried not to fidget in my seat, for everything that made up a robust version of me was beginning to collapse and expose the fearful, fragile little girl that I truly am.
He didn't answer, though; he looked away as if he never looked at me with love and admiration in those eyes.
Okay!
"That week was enjoyable. I can't believe I will be graduating next year. I am not ready to let go of the excitement." She continued to gush about college, somewhere I was not.
Everything about her makes my skin crawl.
She irritates me. I wish I had a solution for her.
Surprised at what she had just said, I followed my instinct and asked her: "You are graduating?"
"Yes, I am a final-year student." She smiled excitedly.
"Oh, I see." I scoffed, whispering under my breath: "And there I thought I was underage."
With that, I gulped down a half-filled cup of what I knew was alcoholic. Then another cup.
Precisely, I served myself cup after cup, ignoring their fancy college tales that only ignited jealousy in me.
I was on my fourth round when Leigh snatched the bottle from the table, his eyes flaming with fury.
What is his deal?
"That's enough," he proclaimed.
His jaw was so clenched; my fingers itched to trace against the sharpness.
"Oh, it's fine. Where I come from, I am legal." I contended, making efforts to get the bottle back but failed.
"Well, you're here, so abide by the rules," he snapped.
His attitude, perhaps our both attitudes, had brought the table to silence.
"Easy, big brother! What are you, 50? Only feeling selfishly responsible to drink and fuck older women?" I jibed, my breathing fastened as his glare turned murderous.
"So, Ava, you're English? I can pick the accent clearly." Princeton Claire tried to bring up a conversation, but she only made it worse.
I was way too riled up. Anger simmered in me.
Her voice was my limit; it triggered me to push back the chair and bolt up, taking off.
I can't stand her. God knows I can't!
I mean, out of all the girls, he chose her to make me feel so small and stupid.
She was older, taller, prettier, and graduating sooner. Her life was everything mine had lacked. So tell me this isn't a slap in the face.
I am... Well, I am nothing compared to her.
Tears sprang to my eyes as I pushed my way out of the occupied lift.
Their laughter, the memories they had together, and how intimate they seemed to be, turned my stomach.
Not thinking straight, I brought out my phone and texted Lucas my address, hoping he hadn't taken off to the mountains already.
Swallowing back the tears, I strolled around until I came across a bench, where I sat with my ankles crossed and trembling fingers and watched vehicles drive around the Arc de Triomphe replica on the main driveway and excited families and couples emerge from their cars.
But still, Leigh was envious of the little peace I had; he chose to follow me, so he could see how much he had ruined me.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" he said when he jogged over, panting heavily with his hands in his pockets.
"Air! I need air," I answered, pressing my lips into a thin line. I didn't spare him a glance.
Lucas should be here anytime.
"That was not the fun I wanted you to have," he whispered, coming to sit next to me, cloaking me with his undeniable presence; I shifted instantly as if bitten by a snake.
"Fun?" I turned to look over at him with contempt in my tone, my features entirely.
"I had fun watching your classy babe, who is precisely everything I am not. You know what? She's great; you should keep her." My voice wavered at the end.
Please, Lucas, get here soon.
"Ava, what are you talking about?" he asked with a torn look on his face, his eyes searching mine almost frantically.
I couldn't help but ask: "Why did you invite me along, Leigh?"
He shifted closer.
"I wanted to spend some time with you. We haven't talked since last year," Leigh softly answered, his hand coming for mine; I shot upright, dodging his touch.
"Yes, while you were having parties and dozing off at Miss Perfect's place." IÂ angrily snapped, reminding him who was truly distant.
He should know I am not some joke to fool around with; he had messed with my emotions enough; ever since I came here, it had always been about him.
He whiffed and sat back on the bench, his eyes staring into the distance when he began: "Claire and I..." But he was interrupted when someone mentioned my name. "Ava?"
Lucas!
Thank goodness.
"I should go." I spun around.
Immediately, Leigh straightened and grabbed my arm, pulling me closer. I had to squeeze my eyes tighter together to stop him from seeing the annoying effect he had over me that I could not resist.
"Go where? Who's that?" His voice sounded like a silent plea, begging me not to leave, while I burned under his touch, his closeness, his smell. It took every bit of strength I had not to succumb to my perfect addiction.
"Hey..." I heard Lucas behind me; he sounded excited just as any Hills High student would be in the presence of the famous quarterback the school ever had. "Leigh Boyce? Oh my God! It's nice to meet you."
But Leigh's reaction was the reverse of the poor boy's.
"Who is he?" he impatiently pursued, his grip tightening; it began to hurt.
"Release me," I rebelled vocally but couldn't attempt to rebel physically.
"Who the fuck is he?" The loudness of his deep voice vibrated in me, prompting me to retort: "He is my boyfriend."
Although it was a lie, it was what I needed to strike back.
You should see his face.
"The fuck?" His eyes left me.
He gaped at who was behind me, his fingers finally releasing my arm.