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I hadn't met someone who, bluntly put, was a walking disaster. And very proud of it.

Not like him.

The devil that tempted the pure and, to hell with it, we all jumped at his command.

Though I used the term loosely, as he was not unlike me. I had committed my fair share of sins. Sex before marriage, a tattoo of wings on the back of my neck, and the fact that my straight arrow broke a long time ago. I didn't dare flaunt that, though.

He was conceited, smiling cruelly at those who attempted to pass inconspicuously – it was overwhelming. His eyes seemed to peer into our souls, and I found myself trying to do the same.

So, a devil among the masses? He was more of a stranger than a sinner. It was his eyes, glowing yellow in the shadows, that deemed him of his title.

- – —

"Nathaniel," Reece covered the doorway with his arm. "This will never fix itself if you keep running away!"

"I -" I looked for another exit, willing there to be one. "I know that."

"It doesn't seem like you do," Reece didn't take a step forward. His eyes urged me to look at him. His voice grew quieter with each word he spoke. "Every step forward we take, you sprint in the other direction. I don't know how much more of this I'll take. You won't even look at me, Nate."

I blinked, dragging my gaze up to meet his. "I - I need time, Reece. Just let me clear my head. Please."

Answering my earlier suspicion, there were no other exits. I cautiously walked forward, glancing at him before ducking under his arm.

His hand grasped my wrist, and he pulled me close. "Stay," he whispered as if speaking any louder would make the moment fade.

I paused, looking at where his hand was curled around my wrist. I fixed my eyes on his, and smiled tiredly. "I'll be back."

"And, scene," were the words that broke me from my character. I pulled my arm from his grasp, and went to stand by the director. "High school students with no acting experience my ass! That was brilliant. I told you all you needed was a little practice."

I grinned at the praise, and Collin, Reece's actor, draped himself over my shoulder. "I hope you got my good angle," he drawled, staring at the screen.

"What good angle," I stage whispered to the director. She laughed, waving the two of us away. "Get the real Reece on set for his scene."

Collin saluted. "Yes, ma'am!"

The devil sauntered over to the set, his yellow eyes catching mine. I nodded my greeting, and sped up to match Collin's pace.

"Reece's eyes remind me of a wolf," Collin mumbled. "How come he gets to play the bad guy?"

"You play a gay guy, how is that worse?"

Collin paled. "I can't even answer honestly, or you'll beat me up."

I grinned.

- – —

Reece and I didn't get along. On set, in school, or otherwise. We didn't mesh in the slightest. He didn't just play a bad guy, he was one.

You couldn't blame me for fucking him at least once.

"You know," Reece cooed, "avoiding me isn't going to erase the past."

I scoffed. "It was a moment of weakness."

"The only thing weak about you, was your knees after I -" I covered his mouth with my hand. Reece stared into my eyes as he languidly ran his tongue over the palm of my hand. I jumped away. "- rammed into your ass against a wall."

"Is this your way of asking for another night inside of me? Or are you teasing me?"

"A little of both."

I raised a brow in question, and he pressed his lips into a carnal smile.

Sometimes, though, we did get along.