Game Of Hearts

The Sound Of A Heart Breaking

"Olivia, dude! Wake up!"

A fuzzy voice pulled Olivia from sleep.

"W-what" her eyes slowly opened to face Carmen's challenging grey eyes.

"you up for an adventure?" she grinned, slipping the pillow out from under Olivia's head. Her head plopped onto the mattress. Olivia slowly turned her head to face the tiny clock on her beside.

2:23

Why the hell...

"Adventure? Now? What is this, initiation?" Olivia snatched her pillow back and covered her head. She wasn't usually this snarky, but it was two in the freaking morning!

"Oh come on princess, you'll love it!" Carmen pulled her up and out of the bed. "But be quiet because we're passing Alex's room on the way."

"Wait you mean he doesn't know?" Olivia raised her eyebrows.

Carmen just smiled and out her shoes on. She switched a lamp on for better lighting and nodded toward Olivia.

"It's only once a year. And it's special. Don't worry, Charlotte and Ethan will be there too if you're looking for familiar faces." she fastened her hair with a ponytail. "So yeah, I guess you could call it initiation."

Oh joy, Charlotte was going to be there... Olivia rolled her eyes and pushed the thought to the back of her head.

Mimicking Carmen, she put on her shoes, but chose to leave her hair open. By the time she finished, Carmen was already jumping up and down like a little school girl.

They ran out onto the corridor, then slowed down to a brisk walk. About 30 seconds later, Olivia was stopped by Carmen's hand.

"Alex's room" she mouthed as she tiptoed past.

While Carmen took lead, Olivia paused for a moment to let her eyes graze over the man with the hauntingly beautiful look in his eyes. She peeked through the glass part of the wooden door.

He was sound asleep, a gentle frown etched onto his forehead. His muscular body was splayed out on the white sheets that his legs tangled in. The white shorts he wore matched the white of the sheets. But he wore no shirt. Not that it mattered. With a body like that, one would guess what was underneath.

"Liv!" Carmen whisper-yelled from across the hall. Olivia hurried to where Carmen was as quietly as she could.

"tsk-tsk..." Carmen smirked. "After a Ryder... Did you drop your brains on the way here?" she joked. "Ethan Ryder is one thing, but plotting your way into Alexander Mason Ryder's life? Oh you are in for it." she chuckled.

Olivia thought on that for a moment. Was she really trying to wriggle herself into his life? After what happened with Ethan her brain was initially on revenge mode. But her heart was hurt.

He just left her.

Like she was worthless.

Carmen had already managed to breach past the security wall. They walked out onto the grass toward a small area surrounded by trees.

Above them, the stars glittered beautifully, lighting up the vast area like gold.

This, was pure nature. Beauty in its purest form.

Her thoughts were shattered when Charlotte spoke up.

"Thank you all for joining us on this momentous occasion. I met Ethan here for the very first time..."

What?

"This huge place used to be Ethan's father's hideout he created in 2007. He often took my father with him and that's how we met."

Why why why... Now would be a great time for a hole to open up and swallow her.

Why did she even come here? Did Carmen plan this?

She doubted it. Carmen was preoccupied, not even paying attention to Char.

"And seeing as today is the 8th of September, it's been a full three years since Ethan proposed to me. So today, we decided to treat you all to a night under the stars."

There were a few murmurs and a few people clapped. It was a small group actually. At least 75% of people had to have been inside.

After a couple of minutes of staring into nothing as Char blabbered, even though everyone else starting celebrating, Olivia sensed an oncoming headache.

Screw this, I'm going back. She decided as her vision blurred a little from the heavy light exposure.

A strong arm gripped her wrist and twisted her around. "Liv, wait-"

Ah, here she was again. Staring once again into the eyes of the man that broke her heart.

He said nothing, just looked at her. She thought she saw a broken look in his eyes but she just shrugged it off as guilt.

"Don't. Just don't."

She snatched her arm back and left back for the shelter. Shaken. Never again would she attempt something so stupid, reckless and just plain -

She walked face first into a wall. Seriously? Who places a wall right over-

"Where do you think you're going..." an arm grabbed her wrist.

Ah, joy. Alex's chest was the damn wall.

Damn that she came here in the first place. Damn Ethan. Damn Charlotte. And damn this walking wall that screwed up her insides.