WEB OF LIES | peter parker

i. everyone has a role to play

Everyone has a role to play. 

I worked hard to keep those words in my mind as I made my way around the large ballroom. I had no drink in my hand, even the idea of me holding an alcoholic beverage may send Twitter into a hissy fit, so I kept my hands busy by holding my clutch. I could've given it to coat check or one of the many people working for my parents that were scattered around the floor making sure everything went perfectly but I liked having my bag, it grounded me. I wore a long leopard print brown dress that hugged my body so perfectly at the hips. The bodice was cut low with two cups sown into it which made my boobs a very prominent part of the outfit. I wore no necklace, my boobs were their own accessory, as Caden liked to say. Father had said no to the outfit but my stylist said yes. God bless, Briella, unlike my Father she had no complaints about putting me in outfits that showed off my body though weren't too scandalous. No matter how much I loved something, I would never wear it if it was too much. Everyone has a role to play and mine is the perfect oldest child of the Hayes family.  

I smiled with my teeth as I made my way toward the bar area. I couldn't drink anything but I'm sure there was someone I had to converse with there. 

I felt a hand grasp around my elbow and turn me to face them. I glanced at the hand and then the person it belonged to. I smiled harder at the sight of Theo Owen only to keep myself from frowning. 

"Aurora!" I hate my government name. A fact I have reminded Theo of too many times to count. I watched Theo's gaze go from my eyes down to my boobs. When he spoke again it was to them rather than to me. "Wow, I can't believe your dad is running for mayor."True. Despite everyone that kept up with New York politics knowing this was soon coming, Theo never thought my Father would do it. He looked back at me. "Between the two of us, I'm glad my dad actually has some real competition now." Lie. 

Whether it was because he wasn't glad or didn't see my Father as real competition I didn't know. My quirk doesn't tell me that much. 

I somehow forced my smile to widen. "I can't either! All I know is that it'll be a great race!" All lies, but Theo wasn't me. He'd only know I was lying if he actually gave it some thought, something Theo Owen never does. He smiled and despite being sixteen like me, he looked like a stereotypical frat member. He held his arms open for a hug and I complied. Theo wrapped his arms around me and squeezed. I returned the hug as coldly as possible. Theo began pulling away from the hug but paused with his lips even with my ear. "You are so goddamn fake, you know that? Every part of you." I knew he was referencing my body. "God, I can't wait till my dad shows your family exactly worthless you Haynes are. When he wins." He pressed his lips to the spot right below my ear and lingered for a second before pulling away. 

He smiled at me with his stupid frat bro smile and for a second my smile dropped. Burning-hot rage filled me. I opened my mouth to say something back. Theo's eyes darted from me to a spot to my left. I lifted my hand to smack him when he rose an eyebrow and did the action again. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a reporter standing there, her camera raised at the two of us. 

Everyone has a role to play. 

I smiled and brought my hand in front of my lips and giggled. Forcing myself to look like a blushing lovestruck teen. 

Rumors that me and Theo were dating were a thousand times better for publicity than pictures of him getting his ass beat by me. I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear and smiled wide. "My dad is going to beat your dad's ass so bad, Philadelphia won't want him near their state government," I spoke low enough that the people around us didn't hear but loud enough to ensure he did. By the look on his face, he had. 

I didn't trust myself not to do anything stupider so I turned around and headed in the direction of safer ground; my younger sister, Ella. Short for Cinderella because apparently after the first time around my parents realized how damning it was to name a child after a Disney Princess directly and decided to have mercy on their second child. Out of all my siblings, I got it the worst. My three brothers were Eric, Adam, and Flynn. Getting their names from the Princes from The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Rapunzel but they all still worked as regular names, unlike Aurora. I despised my government name.