See | A FORTY THREE

A/N: Dedicated to leana971 and shesareader321. Your votes and comments are always welcome and appreciated!

The Porthshire Hotel outmatched my uncle's own, without a doubt. By the architecture, prestige and resplendency— which were only a few to list off the top of my head. However, there was one minor flaw the luxury resort had in comparison to uncle Louie's.

Amina hadn't stopped glaring at me since we were given our room keys at the front desk. It turned out she expected to still have her single suite, regardless of my inclusion.

She tried to negotiate for separates but Garren couldn't pretend to care because he was busy keeping Ben on a leash from starting up whatever he wanted out of the pretty passerby dressed for the pool. Mr. Hertford was no better as he was prioritised on mapping out which establishments allowed tobacco, the trip being nothing more than an early holiday for him.

I'd at least have hoped to form bridges with the competing schools, as we clearly shared a common love of academics. Sadly, as Will had told me earlier, that seemed to be a fruitless endeavour. Every group, from the Ivory Hill Prep stationed in the capital of Kenya to the closer neighbours, Gidrith Academy's top brainiacs of Ireland's elite boarding school— none were friendly.

They quite daringly went out of their way to glare at us when catching our 'special IAO champion' badges at reception. "Do we have to wear these?" I asked Garren in a whisper.

The dirty looks from Canada's team were the most brutal. Two of them even started picking on Andrew, stealing his water bottle to toss about until Tate and Fraiser came to their fellow member's aid. Although the two Woodland Wick students seemed resentful enough to seek revenge right there with fists, they had quite fine muscles from what I'd involuntary noticed. However, the staff were passing the boys stern looks and they aborted, retreating to their group.

"Why wouldn't you want to wear it?" Garren retorted, looking blatantly confused. "It's letting everyone know who we are."

"Yeah, which is the problem." I sighed. "And they only seem to be glaring at us. Why aren't they acting hostile with each other?"

"Who here wouldn't be hostile to the school that's won this thing three years running, Stevie?" Garren pointed out.

"Actually, we tied the last two times." interjected Will.

Garren shot a glare and continued, "So yeah, you see, for them, this isn't just about taking a step up from being LOSERS!" He rose the volume in his voice on that note, deepening the scowls on pairs of eyes simultaneously. I gulped.

Garren wore a prideful smirk and reverted his tone, "this is about trying to end our winning streak too. We're the bigger threat than anybody else standing."

"Oh, great." I said flatly.

"What's the matter?"

"This!" I gestured to the predators wearing fine pressed trousers and ties. "This is the matter. All the brochures and flyers I'd see about IAO with smiling faces, talking about how it was a great experience to bond intellectual minds from across the globe—"

Will snorted. "Yeah, that's so not true."

"Clearly." I frowned. "I thought this would be fun."

"It's a competition, not a party Stevie." said Garren. "And what do you mean, this is still fun. We'll be against actual peers who take winning seriously. A worthy battlefield, tell me that doesn't excite you."

"That doesn't excite me." I answered in a heartbeat.

He passed me an unamused glance. "Well, learn to. I don't tolerate half-hearted players. You wanna have 'fun' go join the little kids playing in the slides by the kiddy pool. Go on, I dare you."

"Fine." I clicked to my heels, gaze steadied on the exit.

"Stevie Powell don't you dare." Garren hurried to hook me by the shoulder.

"Chill, I'm kidding." I giggled at his hasty contradiction.

His eyes narrowed but I could see the smile he was trying to hide. "Don't give me more work, I've already got Benny to babysit."

"Aye, aye captain." I nodded.

When I expected him to drop his hold, he pulled me closer. His breath brushing my ear as he whispered in it. "Here's an extra key to my room." I felt him slip the magnetic card in my pocket. "Number 315— don't tell Mr. Hertford I lent it to you. You can come over if your roommate gets... too much to handle."

"Only for that?" I blurted.

Garren looked a little surprised at my words, recessing to a soft smile. "No, not just that. You can come over if you feel lonely too, Stevie."

"I have a kiddy pool at my disposal. Why would I be lonely?"

Garren chuckled at my joke, lips forming to deliver a quip when his eyes caught something and his expression changed. I followed his gaze. Paving a path through the reception hall and kindling whispers from the groups was an ensemble of eleven dressed in black uniform.

It was enough to go on that they were fellow competitors but for some reason, they gave a different vibe from the rest. Maybe it was how they walked in a synchronised motion like soldiers, or maybe it was how their expressions held no hostility. Only indifference. That was until one of the girls' line of sight fell onto us.

Immediately, she broke apart from the formation. Their chaperone called out to her, something along the orders to retreat was what I guessed from my bleak knowledge of Mandarin. The girl raised a hand, silencing the chaperone and for a second, I tensed, thinking she was coming to me until Garren lightly moved me aside.

The girl's footfalls halted.

"Garren Adler." Her English was remarkably fluent. "Who in god's name let you back in here?"

"Good to see you too." Garren smiled.

They shared a laugh, an actual bright and warm laugh with their voices seeming to blend into a perfect movement with one another. The girl's silky, goddess-like hair swayed as she leaned to kiss Garren's cheek.

"This is such a relief," her fingers lingering on his chin before she leaned back, "We thought you might not be attending this year with that whole scandal on your wheely buddy Michael."

Garren scoffed. "Over that? Honestly, you should know better. We see to it to always carry on."

"You Brits and your pledges to powering through, even at the expense of disgrace— just incredible." She sneered.

"No bigger disgrace is there in letting one of you guys walk away with our medal." answered Garren.

The girl chuckled, eyes straying to me and I quickly ducked, cheeks reddening at being caught staring. Or so I thought. "You seem to have twice as less members than last time. What happened? Wasn't enough space on the plane for them and your ego?"

There was a sudden chuckle from Will leant by the side on his phone. He pretended to cough, keeping his eyes on the screen.

"No," Garren proceeded to reply. "We got rid of them and traded up for a player far more qualified. Surpassing all of them combined."

I grew confused and wary, not keen on where this conversation was steering to.

"Oh, and who's that?"

I really should've fled for the kiddy pool because immediately, Garren hooked my shoulders and I was thrust in between the two. Through the round, tortoiseshell specs did those dangerously alluring eyes regard me intently this time. Borderline scrutiny, utmost befuddlement. "What? This thing?"

I frowned. Yet I couldn't do anything further, no words were found on my tongue and my throat felt dry.

"Allow me the honour to introduce you; this is Stevie Powell, she'll be taking infield position." informed Garren. "Stevie, this is Xinyi Quan, top student for Míng Dao High. The Elite Empress if I remember correctly was the nickname. She's earned them the tied title as number one for two years and had a complete defeat to me last year."

Xinyi rolled her eyes. "There is no I in team, Adler. It was a battle you only got a two point lead through by your teammates."

"Oh, really? Because I only recall you sitting on that chair in our chess game. Funny." sneered Garren.

Xinyi returned it. When she crossed her arms, it was effortlessly graceful. "Oh, I can't wait to graduate next month and be free from this dull junior league and that mouth of yours. I've kept the big boys waiting long enough."

"Indeed." agreed Garren. "Have fun warming them up for me."

Xinyi narrowed her eyes and it was ominous as it was seductive, simper on her face as she muttered something in Mandarin. She playfully smacked Garren's shoulder, sparing me one last fleeting glance before sashaying back to her team.

Her gracious figure getting further and further away was the only thing on my mind. Next thing I knew, I was ordered up to my assigned suite. I delayed in packing to avoid Amina as much as possible which was an easy decision to make despite the hassle I'd go through later on. It meant getting to skip off with Will and Ben to explore the resort as they were both procrastinators in that aspect of travel.

I'd love to say I had a great time— not that I didn't enjoy myself, excluding the moment three students of Tokyo Tech High attacked us with paint balls right after we'd dried off from the pool. Throughout it all, that Asian beauty in black would keep crawling up at the back of my mind. Especially when Garren appeared to be nowhere in sight even hours after.

Could he have been with her? They looked pretty close. I was tempted to ask Will about it but I refrained, settling to return to my suite when the sun was beginning to take course to sink below the horizon.

The suite was empty.

I happily began unzipping my luggage in peace but only got through hooking my tablet to the hotel Wi-Fi and sat at the foot of my bed, typing Xinyi Quan into the search engine. The net exploded with articles and links. How I'd never known her, just proved how tiny I'd made my world and not just what regular people my age were in touch with, but those from a prestigious league also. I'd stumble onto the school she attended which of course was on another level of its own. Like a workshop made solely to manufacture sharp minds and also came to discover a familiar face emerging in an old embezzlement scandal dating between 1990 to 2000.

Xinyi's school had been under the administration of chairman Russell Fu up until the scandal had him sacked.

I fought off a scoff. Of course. That fit perfectly. I was clearly in the presence of a person who made dignified footprints in the world. I wouldn't be surprised if her whole family line exceeded with valour, high degrees and honours throughout her descendants.

She did. I checked.

I snapped my eyes up when the door opened, Amina stumbling in. Giggles floated in the corridor, fading as she shut the door, along with her cheery smile. There was a lengthy silence as we stared at each other.

She was the one to break it, rolling her eyes. I turned back to my browsing, relieved thinking that would be the extent of her acknowledgement of me as I was more than happy to comply.

"So, I hear you got a boyfriend. Leeching onto Garren was just to snag the best spot on IAO, wasn't it? Good plan, I'll give you that."

I pretended that my earphones weren't somewhere in my messenger bag and scrolled aimlessly on the article about the vigilante of Míng Dao leading a campaign to abolish an ex-senator's poaching club. Then it was gone from my sight as the tablet was smacked out of my hands.

"I'm talking to you, don't you dare ignore me!" Amina snarled. "Do you think you're something special now because you've got a front row seat to the Aces' dicks?"

I suppressed a groan. Even with the deep, intimidating glower she had, it burned nowhere as close to being called 'that thing' from Xinyi. "I don't know what you want me to say, Amina. And never once was I planning to go for whatever spot you're talking about."

"Bullshit." She hissed. "Infield should be my position! I've been in this tournament twice, assisted in helping our school tie, I'm even the first girl to enlist in Coeus but a little troll like you gets interviewed by Virtue? Becomes the talk of the academy because she slutted up so the school's biggest pig dry humps her? And me despite being a pristine, hard working model student is stuck on the outer field for all matches— ignored everyday and now here too. When I'm the one who rightfully deserves to be at the centre dueling with that Míng Doa's Elite Empress. Me! Not you."

"Wait, duelling with who?" I was tuning out her fit until I was sure I heard a name I sincerely hoped was a mistake.

"Xinyi!" She spat out, to my dismay. "Everybody knows she's always put on that to cover all second and third sections of the solo matches. She could even have the centre field too with her experience. I'm the perfect counterpart for her. But Garren went and handed his former spot to you, don't try to hide it— I know you probably sucked him off for it, didn't you?"

"I'm covering Garren’s solo matches...?"

"Yes." She didn't seem to catch my fallen face, rage blinding all else. "And let me remind you now, if you screw up as badly as you did in that game show, no one's going to dust it under the rug. You won't have any corner to go crying to either. So you better think twice about whether your greed is more important than the school keeping its title."

I sat, motionless. The time between Amina shooting me final daggers and running water for a shower— I couldn't recollect. All I comprehended was when the bathroom door slammed shut, I jumped. Something inside me squashed as my hand fell over my tightened chest.

**

Spending most of my adolescence in a hotel hadn't hindered me on thinking I was different from the other guests staying there. I respected the rules, I was never the unwanted neighbour selfishly making noise at a late hour when others could be in need of sleep. Except there I was, storming the corridors at nine pm.

The key card refused to grant me access as I slid it through the metal countless times and the error might've been on me by my shaky fingers but I was honestly too frustrated to consider ration. I cursed, close to screaming and tossed the key card. From there I resolved to pounding my fist against the door like a maniac, making enough noise to disturb the deaf until finally, the door opened. Only partially though with the dark haired boy holding a dessert plate over him, grey eye briefing me and he released a large sigh.

"Oh Stevie, get in quick!" He yanked me inside and speedily shut the door. "Those Tokyo Tech pricks are still on a hunt but Ewen said he's not sure the liquid in their water balloons is water."

"Why?" I sputtered.

"Dunno, all I got from him was that he said he smelt—"

"Not that! How could you make me have such an important position?! You barge into my room and force me to study for nearly twenty hours straight and you don't bother to tell me you got removed from being infielder and I was put down as the replacement? What the fuck, Garren?"

Garren pursed his lips. "Well in my defense; you should’ve known about the mandate of the captains of each school prohibited from solo matches."

My eyes widened, incredulous at his justification. "Oh yes, that one's on me for expecting you to organise this accordingly and not pull shit without my consent. My apologies." I let out a humourless laugh, raking my hands through my hair. It felt unnecessary too close to my skin, along with these walls. Everything was becoming to be so... suffocating.

"Stevie? What's wrong?" Garren questioned, catching on to my unease.

"I, I think I'm going to be sick." I wheezed.

Dessert tray forgotten, Garren approached and held my shoulders. Eyes studying my pensively. "Stevie what's going on?"

"I can't do this, Garren. I can't play solo matches. I've never done this before."

"And that's why there's a first time for everything."

"No." I shook my head. "This isn't... I can't... Amina should take the spot. She's more qualified. I shouldn't even be here."

Garren frowned. "Stevie what the hell are you talking about?"

There was something more frightening than passing out or throwing up in the look in his eyes and I averted my gaze. "Please don't laugh at me. Just don't."

"Laugh at you?"

"I-I thought that..." I swallowed down the lump clogging my windpipe, my very throat felt as scratchy as sandpaper. "I thought that out of every other girl I was the best." My voice as slim and frail as my pride in that stifling silence that fell.

God, it sounded even more painful to say it out loud. I felt like dying.

"You made me feel and think I was exceptional. When there was someone like Xinyi existing." I shut my eyes to fend off the stinging that threatened to make me look more pathetic. "She's independent, beautiful, accomplished and she's much more of a prodigy than me."

"I know."

His voice cut through the thin air. Stiffly, I drew my eyes back up to the boy stood with a neutral visage and there was that squashed, gut wrenching pounding inside. Burrowing deeper each second those grey eyes stared me down. The next thing I knew, my fingers had a vice grip on his collar.

Garren didn't flinch.

"You arsehole." I bawled. "So that's all it was at the end of the day, wasn't it? Just lip service. Saying whatever would make me feel good, keep buttering me up so I'd get so conceited and arrogant, so blind sighted that I went along with you. All of it was just lies." I felt betrayed at my trembling voice, it couldn't even serve to let me have that illusion of face.

That he hadn't just demolished the pillar I'd let him talk me into building myself up with that same power.

"It wasn't lies." He said.

I snarled. How eager was he to keep playing with me? "You just admitted it was."

"No, all I did was agree with your statement. That and this are completely different— could you ease up? This is one of my favourite shirts."

I did no such thing. "How is it different?"

"To understand the difference you need to understand your own misconception."

I took a bit of glee when I noticed him wince at when I put more pressure on crinkling the hem of the fold. "My misconception?"

"You think Xinyi is above you because of her class, honours and higher intellectual capability? Please." He scoffed. "Stevie I know you and Will believe I'm spectacularly ignorant on supposed vital things but this isn't one of them. I'm aware there are intelligent boys and girls evenly matched out there. The brands like Xinyi Quan are a dime a dozen, I've seen countless ones come and go. Putting their marks on banners, petitions, humanitarian missions— the whole, tired gig.

From the fakes to the real ones trying to patch up a black hole that is this world. There's nothing special there. Intelligence isn't what I picked you out for, Stevie."

My brows furrowed. "Then, what else is it?"

"Your eyes." He proclaimed in a tender tone like no other. "They see the things only I can."

"I don't get it."

"Yes, you do." He insisted. "Don't be in doubt just because you can't rationalise it, Stevie. Experiences are important factors on how to perceive things in the world and it’s how you relate to understanding one another. You and I objectively lived in completely opposite environments yet it doesn’t stop you from understanding me, seeing things the way I do.

It’s the same way now and I want Xinyi and all those average brainiacs to see you're in a completely different league no textbook or studying can get them to. It's our thing. It's the reason why we're standing together right here, right now. The reason neither of us have strangled each other even though you piss me off. A lot. It's because I see what you can’t show to anyone else too."

In my haze of confusion and an odd tugging sensation in my ribcage, I abandoned my grip on his collar. That didn't deviate the closeness as he leaned forward, cradling my cheeks and letting all that canvased my vision be his face. His gaze. On me and me alone.

The sting in the corner of my eyes was excruciating but somehow, strangely soothing. Maybe I was going mad. "If you say these things Garren, I'll let it get to my head."

"Good." He said. "But don't let it be what you depend on. I welcome self-respect and confidence but not when it's by feeding off of other people. You serve yourself. Only you should have the power to bring you down."

"I'm terrified I'll make a fool of myself tomorrow." I confessed with a sniffle. "That's how it always goes for me."

"Then that changes now." He declared. "Stevie if you don't feel satisfied with yourself until you get your face plastered on articles, billboards, gotten signed by a billionaire, have a disease or species named after you then I'll help you do it because you are more than capable. That doesn't take anything 'special'.

Any monkey who has his life lined up with the best education systems, influential family can seem big. But that doesn't mean I'll think they're better than any regular ape from the zoo. They have their privilege to colour in the gaps. You, on the other hand, stand in the gaps. And it's what I like, it's what I want."

To stick the needle further in me, he brought one hand to clasp my own, without even thinking, my fingers fell through and entwined.

He smiled widely at our interlock made of flesh and bones, sending me soaring. "Understand?"

I didn't answer but I didn't have to. He knew because not only did he see what I could, he could hear it all too. I suddenly felt drained, slumping my head to his chest and he held me in a second.

"Don't feel threatened by some measly empress." He muttered. "You're a god, Stevie Powell."

I didn't let my head and heart go into a debate on whether I should really trust his words. I sniffled a concurrence that I heard him.

"Let me hear you say it then." It was commanding, but gentle.

"I'm a god." I uttered hoarsely.

"Louder."

Hands clenched, I lifted my head up to those grey portals that I could never imagine what my life would be without them and found the words surging out in a voice I'd never known before. "I am a god."

Back then, in that moment, I could only wish to measure up to the girl he saw in there. I believed we both couldn't wait to see that day.

**

"I should get back to my room." I announced.

The digital clock was beaming that it was half past eleven. I should've said it earlier but I'd gotten so cosy lying on Garren's bed. We talked about random things that came to mind and with the comfortable silences we'd fall into in between.

"Just sleep here." Garren offered.

"Thanks, but I don't want to hand Amina any more reasons that I'm into you or using you for sex."

"Wait, you're not?" He feigned a look of shock.

"No. I prefer blondes."

"Like Hess?"

I threw a pillow and he unfortunately ducked his stupid head in time.

"But for real, you don't want to bone him at all? You could always ask your little boyfriend if he'd be up for a threesome."

I pulled a face. "Why are you so insistent on me going for that creep? Did you suggest this to Will too when Charles first started bothering him?”

Garren lifted a brow, a shift of some sort in his gaze. “It may be hard to believe, but Hess and Charles differ greatly.”

“Because of his step-dad, yeah, I heard that already.”

“No.” Garren shook his head. “It’s a lot more complicated with that. Will probably wouldn’t be happy if I told you and I don’t feel all that comfortable telling you myself but… Will doesn’t despise Charlie for his obsession. In fact, he hates Charlie in spite of it.”

That had me all the more intrigued but I refrained, seeing as I'd get no answers. The Aces were like a plethora of mysteries.

“Right, good night then.”

He tailed me to the door. "But if Hess does get out of line, you'll tell me first, right? You can handle it yourself, sure but, I'd be more than happy to gut him. As an expression of our friendship.”

“Your moral support is more than enough, Garren.”

It was right as I attempted to step out, three familiar figures came dashing by wearing onesies and the next thing I saw was a red ball flying my way then SPLAT! Snickers and hollers of triumph scampered into the corridors while Garren and I stood drenched down to our shoulders. I slowly crinkled my nose, lashes batting out the blur best they could when my hands wiped away.

"Yeah, it's definitely not water." grimaced Garren.