The Players' Game

Part 17 || Her Past - Part One ||

As much as I had wished to disappear into a hole and stay inside it forever, I unfortunately, did not have the leisure to do so.

"Did you hear?" a girl's whisper echoing the hallways. "Chase is back!" she squealed, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.

"Oh-em-GEE, you mean the Chase? The previous king?"

"I heard from class 2 that he is hot, like, hotter than the rumours..."

"Do you think he'd like me as a partner?"

They spoke his name like worshipping some unknown god, their voices caressing his name and praising him for his looks, his mannerisms, his conquests.

I wanted to throw up. I could never be able to fathom what goes on in their heads, then again, they never knew of the kind of man Chase could become. Cruel, cold-blooded, obsessive—if rumours like this spread, all his worshippers would only shut them down and claim defamation. I wouldn't even be surprised if some rich kid spent money to track down the source and have them jailed. It was all these humans could ever think of; money, sex and power.

I held back the feeling of nausea that came and made my way swiftly towards the library, the only place in the whole academy that I could get some actual peace and quiet... excluding the horny teenagers making out in every secluded corner but earphones and the open lounge does wonders. At this ungodly hour of the academy morning however, most students were still asleep, a perk of being at a privileged kid's boarding school is that classes start at nine.

I glanced at the clock on the wall, it's fingers pointing towards the numbers six to ten and I released a sigh of relief. I took in the smell of dust and withering pages, my eyes trailing the titles arranged before me as an old memory took over.

It was the first day I saw him. I had ran away from home that morning. The sounds of screaming and crashing glass had woken me up, meaning my parents were at each other's throats again and for once, the music blaring from my earphones couldn't drown them out. Unable to take the feeling of suffocation, I pulled on leggings and didn't bother to change out of my oversized t-shirt that I had worn to sleep and rush out of the house.

I stood alone near the coffee shop, my eyes scanning the menu while my stomach growled, begging for some food and reminding me that I had not bothered to eat dinner yesterday. Unfortunately, stupid me forgot to take my wallet in my rush. Cold and hungry, I could only relish the smell of food and brewing coffee, watching time tick by. I didn't want to go back to the house. I'd rather starve than be there.

That was when Chase approached me, brown eyes, tousled hair and a charming smile plastered on his devilishly handsome face. "Is there any reason for such a beautiful lady to be standing in front of a coffee shop alone on a Sunday morning?"

For a moment, his voice made me swoon, the churning in my stomach intensifying as he stepped closer, close enough for me to smell the scent of his cologne as the wind blew in my direction. At that moment, Nicole's words of wisdom popped up loud and proud; my best friend is no easy game.

I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest.

He furrowed his brows, a small '11' appearing right in between his brows, the puzzled expression on his face turned the hungry beast inside of me into melted butter and endearment. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"

"Gee, wonder how you managed to think of that?" my tone came off as sarcastic, the words slipped out before I could help it and as quickly as they left, my hands quickly reached to cover my mouth with a squeak. I wasn't usually this... feisty, as Nicole would call it. I was the quiet, reserved type, too shy to say anything but too stubborn and passionate to bother about my other introverted traits.

I expected him to be angry, annoyed maybe even furious and storm off like how my father did sometimes with mother. Instead, all I got was crows feet and a loud guffaw that seemed to entrance not only me but even the passer-by's, men and women alike.

I was shocked to say the least and somehow that must have translated onto my facial expressions. He coolly recovered, a lazy grin spreading across his face. I couldn't keep lying to myself, frick he was attractive and I'd be dammed if he didn't know that too. Maybe he read my mind because his grin spread even more and somewhere inside me a voice told me to run away.

"Why don't I treat you to a coffee and maybe some pastries. In exchange, I would love to get to know you more." He held an outstretched hand towards me, his eyes inviting. Almost in a trance, I took it, my slender fingers touching the skin of his slightly calloused skin, igniting sparks that I couldn't possibly explain.

Run.

I should've listened. I should've trusted that instinct and turned away. I should've never left the house that fateful morning. I thought he was my paradise, for a while, I even thought of him as my heaven.

If there was one positive I could take away from being with him, it was the hard-earned lesson to never put your happiness in someone else's hand.

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*Peeks from behind a brick wall* Forgive me?

NOT EDITED 15/10/2018