The Arrangement: It Led Me To Love

Chapter 1 - Ellison's POV

Hi! Here is the first chapter. I hope you enjoy it! Any feedback will be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys, Maddie xoxo

What happened last night?

I awake to the sun blaring in through the open curtains, dead set on blinding me. Marbles of blurred yellow, blue and grey mash together taking pieces of my vision hostage. After groggily rubbing my eyes (my grandma would scold me if she sees this) and sitting up, I start to recollect my thoughts and put the puzzle of last nights' events together. This often happens. My weekend conventionally consists of eat, drink, party, wake-up-in-a-strangers-bed repeat.

I love living my life like this. I am free to do what I want whenever I want, no strings attached. If only my father sees things the same way as I. Sunday nights consist of a lecture from father about 'responsibility' and 'growing up' and 'doing something worthwhile' with my life. Most of the time I am still slightly hung over, so I do not take his words to heart. Suddenly it dawns on me that I have a killer headache. It feels like someone is sitting on my brain, squeezing it slowly like a snake does to its victims for maximum pain. All of my senses are dulled and I feel a brobdingnagian wave of nausea wash over me. Sitting still and trying not to squirm, I feel the wave diffuse out of me. Determined to get up this time, I gradually open my eyes and take in my surroundings. I have not been here before.

My clothes are strewn about the room, and there is a smashed picture frame of a lissom ballet dancer on the floor. This room is definitely not mine. I am released from the torture of an intolerable sermon. I this were my house, then dad would waltz in and freak out. Sighing, I realise that there is a girl lying next to me. Soft snores are echoing out of her mouth, and there is a small puddle of sloppy drawl on the bed sheets, stringing from her mouth. I do not remember meeting her. I do not remember what happened after our greetings either. All I know is that I need to escape before she wakes up. Once I decided to stay – I was too hungover to drive – and woke up to a crying girl begging me to marry her and take her to Barcelona. It was very peculiar. I never stay to talk to my flings after that incident; you never know what they may want from you, or try to coerce you into doing.

Deciding I have procrastinated for long enough, I shakily stand up and wonder around the room looking for my clothes. Once I have messily pulled them on, I turn back to look at the girl. Recognising her as the model Dina Mendez, I know I have to get out of here quick. She is known to have a long string of boyfriends, and once she has dug her claws into you she won't let you go until she deems you unworthy of her presence. Her short brown hair has ballooned around her face during the night, and she has simple features without the use of makeup, which has made her look very young. Her long, wispy eyelashes frame her big eyes, screaming innocence. Pieces of last night begin to build into my mind, and I remember that I arrived at the club with someone else, before leaving her to go home with Dina. A lays a lay, and Dina was pretty satisfactory from what I can recall from my milky memory.

Without looking back, I saunter out of the modest apartment, taking an apple from the fruit bowl. Ten minutes later, I find myself in a tiny café that welcomes all of the early risers and workers. The welcoming scent of coffee wafts through the air, calling to my weary legs to come take a rest. A metallic table reflects the rising sun, almost blinding me for a second. As I take a seat, my attention is drawn to the perky red clock on the wall, taunting me with the fact that it is a Saturday and I am up at half past six in the morning. The booth that I am in is made of hard leather, which is cold and coarse to the touch. I look around for a server; the need for caffeine is now consuming my mind.

The noise from the traffic invades my thoughts. Lorries making deliveries, clattering and banging as the drivers empty their cargo without a care interrupts my peaceful mind. I could not begin to imagine what it would be like to live in this run down area. The reason I did not go to a club in a more prestigious area last night is because I am fed up of the paparazzi tracking m actions. Even though the sun is still only making baby steps to greet us on this chilly morning, some beams are already making their way through the buildings, shining harshly and highlighting the rubbish strewn on the streets and the lack of wealth in these parts. This is a world I am glad not to belong to.