Wicked Games

10-Eliana

Chapter Ten| Eliana

Princess and the Frog.

I found the book in the bin when I was five. It was the only book I had access to and I read it again, and again, never getting bored of it. When I lost it, I was devastated.

Turns out Reid had it all along.

I pluck out the book from under his mattress. Yep, it's definitely mine because I signed my name on it. The pen mark is so faded you can barely see it, but it's there.

Property of Eliana Monroe

"You had this the whole time?" I smile gently, glad that it didn't get destroyed. Reid rubs the back of his neck, his eyes wide as I begin to flick through the pages until a sheet of paper that once was crisp white, now old, and tatted slips out onto the floor.

My eyes zero in on the drawing of my eyes, and reminders of Ivan enter my mind. I swallow hard.

"I enjoyed training with you today, Eliana." Ivan grinned, his blue eyes sparkling along with his bright blue eyes, and my stomach erupted in butterflies like it does with Reid. And it's been like this for the last few weeks since getting to know Ivan, and now I'm confused.

"Yes." I nodded, rocking back and forth on the heels of my feet with my hands clasped behind my back.

"Oh, I made you something." He rummaged through his bag and pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to me. I eyed it curiously and turned it over, gasping at the sight of my eyes drawn in black biro.

"My eyes," I whispered, looking at him, and he grinned proudly, looking down at his work in my hands. "It's amazing, I didn't know you could draw!"

"I've been learning." He mentioned.

"Thank you," I whispered, pulling him into a tight hug just as Reid entered the training hall, his face forming into a deep scowl when he saw me hugging Ivan. I pulled myself out of Ivan's embrace, and he followed my gaze behind him, turning around to spot an angry Reid. "I've got to go," I whispered and Ivan frowned.

"What about our reading session?" He tilted his head, alternating his gaze between Reid and me.

"I can't tonight."

"Oh." He truly looked disappointed, and it made me feel bad. I hated letting people down, it wasn't in my nature. "That's fine, Angel." He smiled and turned to walk out of the room, brushing past Reid, who glared at him until he was out of sight.

"Why'd you keep this?" I question Reid, holding up the browned paper.

"I kept the book, I didn't know that was in there." He shrugs, but I know that Reid is a terrible liar, and right now is one of those moments.

"Yes, you did." I point out and he runs his hands down his face. "You hid it from me on purpose."

"And what if I did, Eliana? What if I fucking did? That fucker was in love with you, he wanted to take you away from me!" He shouts, and I nod my head, finally understanding why Reid was so hostile toward Ivan, why he never wanted to be friends with him.

"He—"

"Did you love him too, Ellie?" I'm taken aback by his sudden question. "Don't lie to me."

"Reid—"

"Did you love him too?" His voice darkens, and he steps closer to me until he's towering over me. His hand reaches up until his fingers wrap around my throat. "Did you?"