Of love and lies

8

*Vincenzos POV*

And with that, I lean forward.

-------

When I walk into seventh period, I immediately spot Freya in the back breathing heavily and trying to keep her tears from leaving those beautiful moss green eyes. Every time I lay eyes on that girl, my heart melts. I feel fucking butterflies for this girl. She has caged me in. Just for her. I have never felt such an intense feeling for anyone other than Mother and Angelo. They are the only thing I love, besides alcohol.

I see her struggling in her seat, but I know if I overwhelm her, she will freak out again. She mystifies me. She is such a quiet, shy girl, but when others are away from her, she is a totally different person. That's the Freya I long to understand. The Freya that doesn't take anyone's shit, that keeps her head high, and talks loudly. That's the girl I long to be with, to have beside me, to have a future with. Not Becka, her.

I long for her. For her presence and smell. For her giggle and little mannerisms that make me smile. For her dirty jokes. All of her. Everything about her is so entrancing, but the complete opposite of me. I demand respect, while she respects others not wanting it. She is the mere reason I am still in Oregon. The only reason I am still attending school. Father wanted me to finish school after eleventh grade, but when I saw her walk into my Physics class last year, I couldn't leave. I have been watching her ever since. Not in a creepy way, but watching her when she passes me in the halls, in the lunchroom, in the parking lot, anywhere that I could catch a glimpse of her perfectly sculpted face.

I know she is insecure by the way she carries herself. She's embarrassed by the way she looks. But in my eyes, she is pure perfection. She is everything that I look for in a woman. She was handmade by the gods. Everything about her is what I want, and I can't understand why she hates herself so much. Why she loathes herself to such a large extent. She's gorgeous.

When I caught wind of partners for AP euro, I may or may not have threatened Solomon with murder. Freya doesn't need to know that, but I forced her to work with me on purpose. I never had the balls to talk to her so this was a perfect excuse to get to know each other. I know it's weird but I am transfixed by this girl. Father is starting to notice my behavior and that is far from good. He will kill anything standing in the way of the succession of the throne. Nothing with stop him from passing the title down to me.

--------

When we were dismissed into our groups for the period, I waited. I did not want to upset her more. I saw the wetness pour from her eyes, concerning me. I felt my chest tighten when I heard her sniffle loudly. Sadly, not one single person noticed her pain. Her shoulders are slumped and her eyes have dark bags underneath them for the lack of sleep. I never pity others, but for her, my heart constricts from the pain I feel for her. This world has chewed her up and spat her out, leaving her to the wolves of our society.

Soon enough, I unglue myself from my chair walking over to her side of the room. When I turn the chair around, scraping it in the process, I see her stiffen in fear. What? My eyebrows furrow from concern and confusion. She stays in her position, staring at her hands and trying to control her erratic breathing. Fuck, I just want to hug her and tell her everything is alright, but I can't. Not yet atleast.

I try talking to her, but she just stays in her position. I try again, and again, and finally she gives in. Slowly, she drags her eyes up to mine and hold my gaze with such sadness and defeat, my eyes begin to glaze over. I have not cried since nonna died, and that was when I was 10. But when it comes to her, everything is different. My emotions are a roller coaster and I feel things that are so new to me, they make my head go fuzzy. She is slowly changing me. Freya is slowly, but surely changing the King of the underworld. The King of death. Reaper of souls. She is changing that man. And I could never ask for anything more.