32. Knife on the throat.

Olivia

I wake up and find myself on my bed. Did I dream of hugging Joel Cullen?

''Hey Liv.'' Lucy strokes my hair.

''What time is it?" I ask.

''It's 1pm.'' she answers, and I frown.

I slept that much? Did I miss school today?

''How are you feeling?" Lucy asks.

Memories of me on that dark room come and a shudder runs on my body.

The door was locked, and I couldn't get out.

I remember that I couldn't breathe and...

''Oh my God, I hugged Joel Cullen?'' I yell as I remember him wrapping me in his arms.

It was the best feeling in the world!

Quiet brain, this is not the moment.

Lucy smiles and nods.

Oh, dear universe, how did you let this happen?

''Cherie.'' Andy burst on my room and jumps on my bed, hugging me, ''My dear, dear, amie I thought I would never see you again. I thought I would be forever alone in this big cold world. The world is so empty without you, Liv. Welcome back to life, ma cherie.'' he hugs me tight, taking the breath away from me.

''Chill, it was just a panic attack, she didn't get hit by a bullet.'' Lucy rolls her eyes.

"Shut up Lucy, don't ruin the moment.'' he says, and I laugh hugging him.

''Let her breathe.'' Lucy says and he shakes his head.

''She didn't allow me to hug her when she was hugging that connard, so I'm hugging her now.'' he says.

That reminds me.

I grab him by his hair and get him away from me.

"Ouch, Liv! What was that for?" he groans.

''Why did you allow me to hug Joel Cullen, you idiot?!" I yell.

He gets up from my bed and points at me.

''Premierement, I did try to get you away from him, but you wouldn't move. Deuxiemement, that piece of shit was holding you like his life depended on it and wouldn't let you go. Finalement, you snatched my hand away when I tried to get you. My hand!'' he says, and I glare at him.

''My hand!'' he repeats again with a dramatic voice.

"Oh, shut up!'' I scoff.

''You were sitting on his lap and cuddling him like a cute little girl. Oh, Joel don't leave me, I need you.'' he says in a high-pitched voice.

"Fuck off!'' I hit him with my pillow.

''Oh, my Joel, mwah, mwah, mwah!'' he makes fake kisses in the air.

''Lucy, do something!" I cry.

''Leave her alone Andy.'' she laughs.

I close my eyes in embarrassment and memories of him holding me rush into my head.

He wrapped me in his arms and held me closer to him. Somehow his hug made me feel better, safer. Him whispering 'I've got you' to my ear was a southing melody in my head that calmed me.

It was nice. It felt nice.

He is the first person that calmed my panic attack besides my mom and Lucy. But why would he get me out of the basement and comfort me when he was the one who locked me there?

''They looked cute together.'' Lucy sits on my bed and rests her chin on her hands.

Me and Andy look at her in disbelief.

''They looked disgusting!'' Andy says.

"Nah, they looked cute. Like two pieces of puzzle finally meeting each other. They fit perfect and look perfect together.'' she smiles.

My throat gets dry as I listen to her.

Me and Joel like two pieces of puzzle?

We're all the opposite of each other. We don't fit together; we break each other for our own needs. We're a disaster. An apocalypse.  There is nothing perfect on us.

There is no 'us' at all.

''This is not the time to fangirl over Jolivia.'' Andy says and I look at him in confusion.

"Who's Jolivia?" I ask.

''Oh, is a ship name I came up for you two.'' he shrugs, and I throw him another pillow.

''Go to hell!'' I yell and he laughs.

I just hugged Joel and he is making a ship name?

How ridiculous!

Jolivia...

It's kinda cool actually.

Oh, shut up!

''How is Avril, Andy?" I ask with an evil smirk, and he stops laughing.

He and Avril fight all the time, but I can smell it from miles away that he likes her.

Even that he doesn't admit it.

''What Avril?" he furrows, a light brush on his cheeks.

''Aww, you're blushing!'' Lucy says and squeezes his cheek.

''I'm not blushing.'' he snaps her hand away and I laugh.

''Anyways, I'm going home.'' he says.

"Home or to Avril?" I raise an eyebrow.

''Don't forget to buy flowers if you're going to her.'' Lucy grins.

"Red. She loves that color.'' I say.

''Fuck off. Both of you.'' he gets out of my room and me and Lucy burst out laughing.

''I'm sorry.'' I shout.

''Eh oui, oui.'' he shouts, ''Jolivia!"

I narrow my eyes and Lucy starts laughing.

''Don't laugh!'' I snap at her.

''Sorry.'' she tries to hold her laugh and failing miserably.

''I'm team Jolivia by the way.'' she says, and I look at her in disbelief.

"I can't believe this!'' I huff.

''Get out of my room.'' I push her of my bed, and she giggles. ''Out!"

''Jolivia!'' she says at the door and I through a pillow at her with a light smile on my lips.

Thoughts fill my head the moment I'm alone.

Why would he lock me in there?

I thought that something changed between us since that night at Andy's party.

Apparently, it did not.

We're still that Olivia and Joel from the beginning.

Revenge after revenge.

Would all this be over one day?

My phone vibrates and I get it from the nightstand.

Uknown number: How are you feeling?

Does he know about me being locked in the basement?

If he knows, then the whole school knows too.

Ugh, damn it!

Me: I'm fine, why?

Uknown number: I heard that you had a panic attack.

Me: Don't tell me that the whole school knows about it.

Uknown number: I don't think so. It was only me who saw you.

I relax as I read the message.

It's good that they don't know, or another drama would start.

The bankrupting one isn't over yet.

Uknown number: So? How are you feeling?

Me: Much better.

Me: Are you worried about me?

Uknown number: Maybe.

I bite my lip as I read it.

My curiosity for this person is growing and growing every time I text with him.

I want to know who he is very bad.

Me: Will you tell me who you are now?

Uknown number: I told you. Find it yourself.

Me: But I can't.

Uknown number: Then it will be a mystery. *Winking emoji*

I throw my phone, furious.

Motherfucker!

My phone vibrates again, and I get up to get it.

I swear if he texted again...It's Royal Academy News account.

I open my Instagram and check the message.

Royal Academy News: Did you make up your mind miss Olivia?

I texted it a few days ago, asking for Joel's secret.

It asked me another secret in return, so I gave it the fact that my family and Joel's are enemies.

It wasn't impressed apparently, but it did give me something.

Joel gave Royal Academy News a secret, so he won't spread rumors online about me and him anymore.

And I wondered why RAN stopped spreading rumors about us. It was Joel behind it all the time.

But why would he do that?

Why would he sacrifice his secret?

So now RAN is asking me for another big secret for him to tell me what Joel's is.

But I can't do that. I can't risk it.

I don't have any big secret after all.

Except the bet with Joel.

But I can't trade that to Royal Academy News.

It's like going into the lion's mouth with your own will.

This whole situation is so fucked up.

And I don't know what to do.

But I know something for sure, I will find out what Joel's secret is.

⚛⚛⚛⚛

Our biology teacher is absent today and the other teachers aren't available, so we have a free period.

Principal Nova told us to play on the gym or stay at the cafeteria.

I'm at the school kitchen.

What? I don't like it when someone tells me what to do.

I do exactly what they told me not to do.

Students aren't allowed to come here, but here I am anyway.

The cookers and the chef are in another room, it's all quiet here.

I'm alone and I like it.

I look at the counter where Joel kissed my neck.

The hickey he gave me is kinda fading, like it never happened at all.

I walk there and sit on it.

I was sitting exactly like this, and he was between my legs.

The memory of it makes my skin burn and the butterflies on my stomach to wake up.

Then a bitter thought fills my mind.

He kissed Alexa here.

He played with me and then kissed her.

He can't come near my lips, but he can kiss Alexa as much as he wants.

I don't know why it settles a bitter feeling on my stomach.

I don't like the thought of his lips on another girl's lips.

I don't like the sight of his hands touching someone else.

I don't like it at all.

I imagine him kissing Alexa here. Was she sited on this counter too?

Or did he have her against the wall? Was she on his arms?

Something burns in my chest, and it...God, it hurts.

Why?

What is happening to me?

Why am I doing this to myself?

''Hi, there princess.'' Joel's voice comes and I turn at him.

My heart beats harder at the sight of him.

''What are you doing here?" he asks.

"None of your business!" I snap.

''Are you fantasizing about me?" he smirks.

More like of you and Alexa.

''Yes.'' I say and he raises an eyebrow, ''I was fantasizing of ways to kill you.''

He chuckles and stalks closer to me.

I get down from the counter and walk away from him.

His brows furrow a little.

''Did you come up with something?" he asks, leaning his elbows on the counter, looking at me.

''Oh, yes. Amazing ways actually.'' I say and he chuckles.

''Well, you have to kill me right now since I'm unguarded.'' he says and stalks closer to me.

I look up at his amazing figure and drown in his eyes.

How can he be this beautiful?

You're supposed to be mad at him Olivia, snap out of it!

He comes closer to me, and I push his chest, sending him away from me.

He looks at me in confusion.

''What is wrong with you?" he asks, and I look at him in question.

''Yesterday you were hugging me and sitting on my lap and now you're not even letting me come close to you?"

''I wasn't on my senses yesterday.'' I say, ''I wouldn't stay near you if I was myself.''

''Right.'' he nods, his voice in a whisper.

He looks hurt.

I look up at him and anger raises on my senses.

He locked me there and now he acts so innocently. He acts like a hero.

Did he plan this?

''Why did you lock me there when you were going to get me out of it anyway? Why did you hug me and comforted me like you felt so sorry for me?" I ask, anger taking over.

I'm sick of him and his manipulative behavior.

''What?" he asks.

''Oh, please stop acting so innocent.'' I say.

"What innocence? What are you talking about?"

''I'm talking about you locking me on that basement!'' I yell and he looks at me in disbelief, ''Did you plan this with your girlfriend? Your siblings maybe? Did you had fun looking at me in that way? Did you feel good when I wasn't able to breathe?" I ask hitting at his chest.

He doesn't say anything.

He just stares at me. I don't know why I feel disappointed. I wanted him to deny it. To say that it wasn't him and that he would never do that to me. But it's Joel Cullen we're talking about.

He didn't even deny the girlfriend part. I feel like I want to cry and scream out this bullshit feeling inside of me.

''How did it feel looking at me like that Joel?'' I ask.

''Wish I could tell you.'' he swallows.

His words hurt more than the darkness itself.

''Are you proud of it?" I ask.

''Very.'' he smiles.

A bitter smile.

''I fucking hate you.'' I say and he just stares at me.

''I hate you. I hate how you make me feel. I hate the things you do to me. I hate your touch. I hate your eyes, your smile, your everything. I hate you.'' I say, my voice coming out hurt.

I'm even lying to myself.

''Say something!" I push at his chest as he continues staring at me, ''say it back. Say that you hate me.''

He doesn't say anything. And it just hurts me. His silence hurts even more then the word 'I hate you'. It's like he's mocking me with his silence.

''Say it.'' I push him harder this time, ''Say it damn it!'

I grab the knife standing on the counter and place it on his neck, pushing him against the wall.

He looks at the knife on his throat and laughs.

Laughs!

Fucking laughs!

''Why don't you say it?" I ask and he shrugs.

''Why did you lock me in there?" I ask him, tugging the knife closer to his throat.

''Did you ask me if it was me or not?" he says and my face fells.

Well, it was him, right?

Who else would it be?

''Was it you?'' I ask looking at his eyes.

"What would you do if it was me?" he asks putting one hand around my waist and I tighten my hold at the knife in his throat.

''I would kill you.'' I say and he laughs.

"Oh, my sweet, sweet Olivia.'' he says between laughs. Sweet? I'm holding a knife on his damn throat!

''You can't kill me.'' he shakes his hand.

"What makes you think so?" I ask and shift the knife higher to his throat.

He swallows and I look at his Adam apple.

''I bet the thought of blood terrifies you.'' he says and places his hand to my hand where I'm holding the knife. ''Can you watch me bleed, princess?"

I'm not afraid of blood.

I'm afraid to see his blood.

Since when I don't want him to get hurt?

''Can you?" he whispers and turns us around.

In a blink of an eye, I'm standing against the wall with the knife I'm holding in my throat.

He keeps me in place with a hand to my waist while his other hand is on top of mine, holding the knife.

I stare at him in shock.

What the fuck just happened?

''What the-''

''Scared?'' he whispers close to me.

''Let me go.'' I grit my teeth and try to push him with my free hand.

He catches my wrist and holds it behind my back.

''Why we just started.'' he says and pushes the knife closer to me, the cold metal gracing my skin.

I try to wiggle free from him, but he wouldn't bulge.

The man is like a brick wall.

''Stay still.'' he warns.

"Or what?" I ask.

Olivia, can you shut the fuck up, you idiotic thing?

Death is too close; be quiet or it will find you!

''You wouldn't want to know.'' he whispers.

I raise my neck higher, trying to get away from the knife and his grip on my right hand tightened.

He looks at me with dark eyes and he's pushing the knife that I'm holding closer to my throat.

It's almost cutting me!

''Do you know that I can fucking kill you right now?" he says, ''It will be seen as a suicide since you're the one holding the knife.''

Oh, fuck.

Let alone that I will die, but my murderer will be free too.

''What is stopping you then?" I say greeting my teeth.

Yeah, zero survival skills.

''There is the worst thing.'' he says and pushes the knife further on my throat, ''I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt, or worse, me being the one that hurt you.''

My breath hitches at his words.

''You're hurting me now.'' I look at him as the knife is too close on my throat.

His grip on my hands loosens and he slowly pulls the knife away.

Oh, wow, okay. He wasn't joking.

He comes closer to my throat and kisses the place when the knife was.

Replacing the cold metal with his warm soft lips.

My breath is stolen from my lungs.

The moment his lips made contact with my skin; goosebumps erupted on my body and my heart started beating faster.

It's like she wants to escape the rib cage.

Get back here you little shit! Your job is to plump blood, nothing else.

His lips leave my neck and I felt like I was back to earth. Like the magic stopped.

I stare at him in shock, and he looks at me like nothing happened.

He takes the knife out of my hand and drops it on the ground.

He winks and then walks away.

I grab the knife on the ground and throw it at him.

It sticks on the door only a few inches away from him.

Holy shit, I almost killed him!

He looks at the knife on the door and starts laughing.

''That was a good one.'' he laughs.

Psychopath!

I look at him in disbelief with a little smile on my lips and shake my head.

***

''Daddy?'' I say as we start eating dinner.

''Yes, pumpkin?'' he says dropping his knife on his plate.

''What happened with the company?" I ask, ''Are we still bankrupting?"

"No, we're not.'' he answers.

"Really?" me and Lucy ask at the same time.

''Yes. I told you that I had a plan B.'' he says. ''I had another project in progress which helped us get out of that bad situation.''

''Yeah, that's a Meyer.'' I grin. ''Now you have something else to do, daddy dearest.''

"And what is that?" he asks.

''You have to come to Royal Academy and make a conference about the fact that we're not bankrupting. They'll believe you more.'' I say and he stares at me.

"It's really necessary.'' I shrug.

"Fine.'' he sighs, and I do a little happy dance.

My phone vibrates as I'm heading up to my room.

Is the unknown number again.

Unknown number: What are you doing?

I roll my eyes but smile at it.

Who are you man and why the hell are you so cute?

Me: I just had dinner.

Me: What about you?

Unknown number: I'm thinking of my enemy.

I raise my eyebrow at that.

Me: Who is your enemy?

Uknown number: A sweet but tough girl.

Sweet and tough girl.

Our unknown number has an enemy? A girl enemy.

Uknown number: Do you know what she did today?

Me: What?

Uknown number:  She placed a knife on my throat.

My face fells as I read it.

No.

No, no, no.

It can't be.

No way in this universe!

I stare at the text and reread it over and over again unable to think.

It can't be him.

I saw him looking at me when the unknown number sent me a text, there was no phone on his hands.

How did he do it?

And I was so freaking sure that it wasn't him.

I type with shaky fingers.

Me: Joel?

Uknown number: Yes princess?

My world spins.

It is him!

Author's note:

Well, well, well, it was Joel??!!

I seriously didn't see it coming...

Anyways, look what I did.

Love you always,

G. T. Diola