ONE MORE MISTAKE
WEAKNESS
This is what Bruce considered fun, his eyes lit up and his smile became wicked as he took in his surroundings. It was an expression I've seen on him multiple times and most of the time it meant he was determined to get what he wanted.
I should've known his anger wouldn't have lasted, this was his place and now that he was here it'll be difficult to find ways to provoke him. However, for me that meant that my night would be terrible. Bruce's good mood was already irritating me, making me feel bitter and enraged.
This place was filled with people who were exactly like him. There were no limits to what they could do, with only a snap of fingers they'll have it in an instant. It all seemed so familiar, even the same people were present.
I glanced around and held my breath in when I saw Sterling leaning on the railing from the balcony that surrounded the darkened room. He was looking down at the crowd, holding a cigarette in his hand while blowing out smoke.
He wasn't looking at me so I felt free to stare at his figure and curse him out in my head.
I knew he was going to be here, yet I was surprised by his presence. After we left things, I knew it was going to be impossible to avoid him. He was everywhere and I knew it wasn't going to be easy to stay away from him, especially when our social circle were the same.
Not far from him, I spotted Rory Clark.
They were inspirable, those two. I didn't enjoy feeling envious, it made me uncomfortable. There was no reason to feel these emotions towards Rory, especially him. Sterling made it clear that he didn't consider me important enough however it stung me every time I thought about how he trusted Rory more than me.
Rory didn't miss anything, he knew when someone was watching him. His eyes roamed through the room, until he finally locked eyes with me.
He leaned towards the railing, interlocking his fingers and openly staring me down. I tried to ignore the fact that he saw me earlier, completely vulnerable. I didn't like the idea of him seeing that side of me but I was reminded of the time I saw him at the hospital.
I took a step forward and held his eyes. It felt like a challenge and I was willing to take it however I felt a tug on my arm. I tore my eyes from him and met Bruce's brutal glare.
"He's talking to you, Thea." My name sounded like an insult on his tongue. He forced me to turn towards the boy who was behind me. When I didn't make my way towards him, Bruce gripped my arm and pushed me closer to the stranger.
I didn't try to hide the pain from my face. However the stranger wasn't staring at my face, rather he was looking down at my body. His eyes were lowered, taking me in and surely trying to figure out if I was the perfect fit.
I was trying to pull my arm away but Bruce kept me locked in. He didn't let go of me until the boy was done testing me. It was then that he looked up at me, his lips parted slightly as if he was going to say something but I didn't want to know anything.
I detangled myself from Bruce and turned my back towards the boy. I glared up at Bruce and pointed a finger at him.
"I don't need a new fiancé, I already have Caine." I made sure I speak these words loud enough for the guy behind me to hear it.
Bruce looked like he wanted to smack me right there and then but he held on to his urges. His breathing was heavy, his chest rising rather quickly and I knew it was taking him so much to control his emotions.
"Well after that sick boy dies, you'll need another one won't you? Or who else will give me my checks?" He whispered in my ear, however his voice was sharp. I knew he wanted a reaction from me, and although I wasn't going to show it I felt defeated because he knew how to get to me. He knew what words to use against me.
He's gotten better over the years, picking and poking where it hurts most. And this, this hurt me.
He said it without remorse, without feelings. I was hurt and angry by the sudden burst of words he used. After I didn't say anything, and made sure I wasn't going to lash out he looked away from me. He glanced over my shoulder and his glare softened, a forced smile appearing on his lips. He started to apologize for my behavior, however I couldn't stand it.
Bruce was my blood relative, the last family I had yet he was the worst. He treated me as if I were nothing to him, as if I were something to give away. He didn't consider me family, much less a person. I couldn't seem to believe that this person standing before me was related to my mother.
The thought of sharing the same blood disgusted me.
I pushed past him and walked further into the crowd.
My eyes wandered to the balcony, and found Rory's eyes on me.
I realized he never stopped looking at me and I was sure he saw my interaction with Bruce. He wasn't stupid, he knew exactly what was going on. I'm sure it took one good look to figure out the dynamic between my uncle and I.
Rory was walking as well, pushing past people and following my direction. He was walking near the railing with his hands smoothly tracing the edges. I didn't realize he was trying to make his way towards me until I saw the stairs in his pathway.
Rory was going to meet me downstairs. He was coming straight to me.
However he didn't get the chance to because an older man blocked his path. I didn't get to see his face well because of how far they were but I guessed it was Rory's father. His side profile was almost identical to his.
Rory didn't look pleased to see him, his face hardened and his eyes turned sharp.
It was a sight that reminded me of myself.
I turned away, repulsed by the observation.
I shook my head and walked towards the open bar.
I took the seat and rubbed my forehead with my hands. I hardly had time to collect myself before I felt a hand on my shoulder. The grip was tight and I didn't need to turn to know it was Bruce.
He slammed his drink in front of me and small droplets of liquid landed on my skin.
I dropped my hands from my face.
"Come with me," he whispered in my ear, not giving me a chance to get up. He pulled me up and dragged me through the corners of the room.
I didn't try to pull away, I allowed him to use force to pull me away from everyone.
Just as he was going to drag me down a hallway, I caught a glimpse of Sterling. He was still standing upstairs, however he saw me this time.
We locked eyes from afar then I saw his eyes glance at Bruce. He leaned away from the railing but then he was out of sight.
Bruce pushed me away from him and blocked my exit.
I crossed my arms and glared at him.
There was so much hate in his eyes, hate for me. Whatever I did went beyond my rebellious acts, and my outings. There was something more that made him develop this hatred for me.
"Why do you hate me so much?" I heard myself ask.
Bruce didn't respond, and I didn't think he was. There's no possible explanation for hating me. There's nothing that I've done to him to make him feel this was towards me. To the point of wanting to hurt me, of doing everything in his power to make my life miserable. His hate for me ran deep enough that he couldn't hold my eyes.
Like now, he was staring at me like he wanted to put his hands on me.
He wanted to use violence against me to release his rage. That's how much he despised me, I felt it from where I was standing.
His eyebrows furrowed with my question, confusion lingering in his eyes and there was a moment when he didn't say anything. Then he pulled his head back and laughed. The sound was dark and mocking, causing chills to form on my skin.
"Stop asking stupid questions. Instead, focus on what matters." His smile lingered for a second or two before it disappeared. He walked closer to me and gripped my chin.
"You walking away from that boy was idiotic, do you realize that?" He expected me to answer him but I didn't give him anything. He gripped my chin tighter.
"Don't be an idiot, that was the first thing I taught you. It seemed as if my lessons were a waste of time," he ripped his hand out of my chin and looked away from me.
"I don't want to see any of that tonight, I'm warning you Thea." He was walking down the other direction, pushing past me. I was left standing, staring at the darkened hallway, my heart slamming into my chest.
I felt my face hot, anger burning deep inside my body. I was enraged, I didn't even notice Sterling walking into the hallway. His steps were slow, but determined.
"I saw him drag you in here." His voice was harsh, and I knew he was pissed off just as much as I was but I couldn't justify it right now. He walked in at the wrong time.
"Could you leave me the fuck alone?" I didn't wait for him to react, I walked around him and left him alone in the hallway.
I pushed past bodies, my hands in a tight fist.
I walked towards the bar, and eyed the alcoholic drinks. Then I looked back where Bruce left his drink from earlier, it was still there. I had the urge to drink my emotions away, I'd rather feel numb than allow this anger to consume me.
I made my way towards the same spot and grabbed the drink.
As I did, I heard my name.
"...about Thea?" The words were spoken by a girl. She didn't try to hide her annoyance, she said my name as if it were acid on her tongue.
I looked over my shoulder and glanced around the room. I furrowed my eyebrows, trying to figure out who was behind the voice but there was no one I recognized.
"She's going to be in our way, did you think about that?" The way she spoke, with such disdain and mockery, I recognized that voice immediately. I searched for her in the crowded room and found her standing mere feet away from me.
Alexis couldn't see me. Her back was facing me, but I recognized her figure and her stance.
I gripped my drink and held my breath when I saw who was with her. Rory's eyes were locked onto Alexis, standing in front of her with his arms crossed.
Was Rory and Alexis conspiring... against me?
The thought sent chills down my spine and I looked away from the pair.
It was such an odd thing to see the two of them together and talking about me. Alexis always admired Rory, from afar, but I've never seen her interact with him ever.
I glanced at them once more, and found myself leaning towards them.
"Don't worry about her, I'll handle it." He said quietly.
They weren't far off from me, however Rory didn't notice me. He was glaring at Alexis to notice anyone around him who was looking at him.
His lips parted as if he were going to say something else but stopped short when Alexandra joined them and stood next to Rory.
Alexis adjusted her stance and covered Rory's appearance.
"...do it?" Alexandra's voice was low, so I wasn't able to catch the full question. However I had an idea of what she was asking.
"I didn't really have a choice, did I? I was blackmailed." This time, it was Alexis who spoke and her voice was louder, almost as if she was trying to contain her anger. Alexandra lifted her eyebrows, her lips tilting upwards as if this reaction was amusing to her.
"Don't you think you owe it to us to do this small favor after what happened," Alexandra smile turned cruel, and it took me a moment to realize that she was talking about the video. The one that was spread out in school, claiming that it was Raine and Rory.
There was no doubt now that Alexis released that video.
"It wasn't me," Alexis took a step towards Alexandra but she didn't seem alerted. Instead she took one step closer and crossed her arms.
"Then who was it?"
"Raine!" Alexis shouted her name, almost as if she was exasperated. Her arms sprouted out of her, her body shaking in what seemed like anger.
"Alexis..." Alexandra started, glancing away from her.
"Raine wouldn't have a reason to share that video, especially since we know that isn't her in the first place." There was a certain look on Alexandra's face, as if she was insinuating something and at first I didn't understand it. I thought she was mocking Alexis's poor innocent performance but I realized that Alexandra was stating that Alexis was the one in the video.
"And we both know Rory wouldn't turn to you for... certain pleasures so that makes me believe you orchestrated this. What I don't understand is why?"
"How dare you?" Alexis moved towards Alexandra and when she did Rory came into view.
He was watching Alexis intensely, his eyes hooked on hers. There was something unsettling about the way he stared at her, as if he was trying to capture every moment and expression that crossed her face so he'll have something to use against her. A weakness.
It was unnerving to watch him access her as an enemy. He was undermining her with his eyes only.
However, now that she was out of his line of sight, his eyes found a new target.
I held my breath in as his focus shifted to me with the same predatory intensity. It was as if he could see right through me, from this distance, and I wondered how Alexis was able to function while having the weight of Rory's eyes on her. His gaze felt physical, I could've sworn I felt his penetrating eyes pressing down on me, quickening my heart and making my body lock.
He didn't look away and I knew he wasn't going to let me get away. He knew I was listening, he knew I heard them talk about me and it was too late to pretend I wasn't.
I stood up straighter in my seat and gripped my drink.
He caught these movements, his eyes glancing at every moving part of my body.
I needed to leave.
Rory started to move towards me as if he knew what I was thinking. He left Alexis and Alexandra behind, they didn't even notice his disappearance.
His steps were determined and quick, before I knew it he was standing before me.
Now that I was in his vicinity, I was able to feel the intensity of his eyes. It was strong, heavy and it screamed trouble.
"What do you want?" My voice sounded much more composed than I felt.
He looked at my hand.
"You shouldn't be here," he said simply.
"Why? Because I'll be in the way of your plan?" I didn't know why I said that. I didn't know why I continued to speak.
"It seemed to me like you're scared I'm going to interfere and ruin your plans. What might be so important to make me seem like a threat?" I stood up from my seat but he blocked my path.
I lifted my eyebrows.
"Is this you handling me?" He glanced away from me and stared at my hand. His eye twitched and the act didn't go unnoticed by me, there was something that I was missing.
I looked down at my hand and noticed the drink that I was gripping. It was the same one Bruce had left on the counter.
I glanced up at him and down at the drink.
"You spiked my uncle's drink." I stated, his eyes admitting to the accusation.
He breathed in, his nostrils flaring.
I didn't think I've seen Rory angry before, I didn't know him well enough to know such behaviors from him. But it should've scared me, it should've made me want to run away from him. However I didn't.
In a quick movement, he gripped my wrist and ripped the drink away from my hand.
The liquid spilled out of the glass, splashing on both of us. However he didn't react to the sudden cold drink landing on his bare hand, instead he tilted the glass to his lips and downed the glass.
Then he wiped the remaining liquid from his lips all a while glaring at me.
"Don't get in my way next time." He said roughly.
A threat. Rory was threatening me.
I pulled away my arm from his grip and pushed him away from me. He was standing too close to me, his face mere inches from mine.
"Don't touch you ever touch me again." I said with just as much fire. He didn't look away from me, and I didn't think he would until he heard his name being called out.
It was Sterling.
Rory glanced away and turned to look at Sterling who was standing beside us. I looked away from Rory as well and found people nearby watching us, their eyes curious.
I didn't realize just how much attention we got.
Sterling met my eyes, then looked between Rory and I.
Before he could say anything, I glanced away and pushed past Rory. I made sure I bumped into Rory's shoulder hard enough however it hardly affected him.
I didn't glance back at them and walked away.