Possessive Rich Bully

Chapter 13

Playlist - Save Your Tears by The Weeknd

Astoria

He was unfriendly, egotistical and indifferent after our kiss. I didn't dare approach him to confront him about our kiss. Well, he kissed me. I was stunned to even marginalize my thoughts. They were left scattered and took me more than twenty-four hours to even realize that it was not a figment of my imagination. He really did kiss me.

All of my life I had learned to adjust to my surroundings. Throw a tough situation my way, I'll skim through it without a starch. I had grown a thick skin over the years. Until Axel strutted and managed to get deep within my skin.

It was equivalent to a contagious disease. You can't rid yourself of it.

The fateful night sent me tumbling down my built-up defences. I had never been kissed with burning passion ever in my life before. The kisses Axel and I shared in the past seemed like a joke compared to this.

My fingers rested on my still tingling lips. I was taken back to that night as the kiss played over and over in my head. Could this be one of Axel's tactics to manipulate me into thinking that he wanted me? Last time I checked, he had a very active relationship with Jenna.

They were the hottest topic to discuss in classrooms. Their blatant display of public display of affection brought a lot of hollers and giggles from the crowd. The It couple of the school was the epitome of love, elegance and commitment.

How endearing...

The copper taste of blood hit my tongue, I didn't realize I had been biting my lip so hard to draw out blood. Fantastic.

I concentrated on jotting down notes for the government class. Ms. Priscillia ran a hundred miles per hour, it was a task to keep up with her.

"Today is the last day to confirm your name for the three day field trip to Washington. All registration will be nullified once the deadline has passed." Ms Priscillia reminded us about the class trip.

I was still contemplating whether I should confirm my attendance. I suppose it will be educational and the extra credits would look good on my college essay. I'll have to check with my grandparents before being sure of it.

The indistinct chatter went full force around me as soon as the class ended. I righted my glasses and stuffed my backpack with my laptop. I was about to take off when a foreign touch closed at my upper arm. I turned to see a nervous looking Peter had held my arm.

My gaze fell onto his fingers and on accord he withdrew his hold off me.

"Hey, Astoria," he said. "You well?" He scratched his neck.

"Oh, hi."

I bit my lower lip, feeling awkward talking to him after so long. I hadn't spoken to him in a full length conversation since he had hastily kissed me back at his home when we were kids. I avoided having any interactions with him and he stopped trying to get me to talk to him.

"Ms. Priscilla is interesting, right? Who would've guessed this subject would turn out to be a possible career option?" He laughed, timidly.

"Did you need something?" Peter recoiled at my brusque tone. I hadn't meant to sound offhand. It was a habit I had cultivated over the years to keep everyone at bay. "Sorry, I hadn't meant to sound like a bitch." I offered him a half-smile.

"It's alright." he replied, his face softened at my half-apology. "I just wanted to know whether you've signed for the trip."

"Yeah, still not decided," I said, quietly. "You're going?"

He nodded. "I'll be going so there'll be at least one familiar face for you in case you're planning on signing up for it." His face looked almost hopeful. "And of course, you'll make the trip fun."

My lips twitched upwards. I was far from being fun. "I highly doubt it," I said. "That I'll be any fun," I cleared at his perplexed expression. "Rumours has it, an ant had chosen to commit suicide rather than suffer my bore company."

He chuckled and I followed his suit.

"You're fun, believe me." He looked at me more closely. "I can be your add-on tour guide if you plan on coming," he added.

I smiled, genuinely. "I'll think about it."

With that been said, I gasped and so did Peter as a strong figure bumped into us on purpose. I held on to the nearest desk, while Peter got hit by the hard edges of the desk.

"Roadblocking f*****g nerds." We both heard the infamous harsh voice which belonged to the recipient of all my thoughts, Axel Trent. He made sure to curse a little more before storming out of the classroom and slamming the door behind him.

Bastard.

"What's his problem?" Peter hissed in pain. "I swear, I had seen him sitting in the right aisle. This path didn't even belong to his aisle."

Such a jealous little boy. The color looked ugly on him, but this time I wouldn't be sorry for my actions. This trip was going to be more than an educational trip.

I've got my claws right at you, Axel.

***

"I had it with me— I swear," Peter choked up laughing, I followed suit. "I lied to Mr. Kenneth only on the day of submission. I didn't think he would blast up like that."

"Oh, s**t. If I were you, I might've cried. Still, it was hilarious."

"Don't remind me," he cringed and rolled his eyes. "I live such an embarrassing life. It's not that I do it on purpose, it just happens."

I threw my arm around his shoulder in a friendly gesture. "Welcome to the club. Life without embarrassment is foreign."

"Tell me about it." He flashed me a s**t eating grin. "I guess, the tales get funny after the embarrassment has worn off."

"Yeah, but that instance was epic."

"Don't tease."

We both continue laughing and it feels nice, genuine to hang out with the company of an old friend. I had forgotten what the term 'friend' was. It was good to have some of it back.

Since that day in the classroom, I had taken the initiative to welcome Peter back into my life. At first, I just wanted a distraction from my problems, but before I knew it, we were back to being friends just like we used to be.

He was warm, kind, made me laugh and simple. It was exactly what I wanted in my life. I was done with calamities that took the form of ocean orbs and had the ability to turn my life upside down.

I won't allow my thoughts to become consumed with the thoughts of Axel. No, sixes and sevens here. He wouldn't reign my thoughts any longer or have the chance to manipulate my stupid heart by that theatrical kiss of his.

My biggest weapon was to just ignore him. The one thing Axel hated was to be ignored. Too bad, he won't get a fragment of my attention. I wasn't exactly sure why he had kissed me with such a binding passion that night... I didn't care to find out why.

Normal. It'll be normal.

Peter was nice. He was always nice to me. I didn't understand why I hadn't noticed the way he stared at me with so much care and admiration in his eyes. I wondered why I had stopped being friends with him so suddenly.

Oh, it was because he kissed you and your big mouth blabbed it all to Axel, then he was threatened by your boyfriend to stay away from you.

I mentally facepalmed myself. It was normal to have harmless crushes at that age, if anything, I was sure Peter had moved on from his crush.

"Come, let's grab waffles from Denny's."

He led by my hand to the diner that sat across the street. We had made plans to meet and discuss our impending trip. When we sat in the booth and looked at the menu.

"You've decided on what you'll be surveying?" He asked once the waitress took our orders and left. The blank expression on my face told him that I had no idea what he was talking about.

"Our stay in Washington comes with a lot of additional reports and presentations. We get one day off during the course of our stay and on our off day, we are supposed to write a research report on anything that interests us during our stay. I am taking white house as my topic, no copying," he mused.

My mouth formed an 'O' at his words. I had no idea about the additional work that we had to do. I guess, the extra credits will have to come with a little perspiration.

"Woah. I'll have to start thinking about it immediately."

"Not immediately, we just got here," he joked. "But, yeah, ponder when you get a chance."

"You're a lifesaver, Peter." I closed the top of his hand with mine. "It's nice to have a friend in my life." He glanced down at our hands. Not wanting him to take this as an indication to anything, I withdrew my hand with a slight pat.

I quickly searched for a topic in my head. "So, did you watch Gintama? I had suggested it to you ages ago."

He blinked, answering after a beat. "Oh, not really," he muttered. "But I will get to it."

I snorted. "Yeah, you will."

He chuckled and ran a hand through his sandy brown hair. "I promise."

I rolled my eyes and we both talked and shared our mundane, slightly funny stories. I didn't miss the way his brown eyes lingered a little longer on my mouth, but my subconscious dismissed it. It was probably nothing.

Peter by no means was unattractive. His brown eyes were the same shade as his hair. The boy-next-door look that he carried well was one of his assets. His shy personality sometimes held him back in terms of making friends, but overall he was a well behaved guy.

I should probably date a guy like him. We were similar in so many ways yet strikingly different. I know I would grow bored with him. I'll waste his time and that was the last thing I wanted.

My thoughts went back to the troubled boy who once owned my heart. I was a jovial person before I had made the mistake of letting him in my heart, because when he went away, he shattered my heart into a million pieces. I was cold, a shell of the person I used to be.

I deserved to be happy again. There was not a lot going on in my life, and if Peter ever decided to show interest in me, why should I let my past bad decisions overrule my present life?

My elbow rested on the table, the palm of my hand cradling my chin as I listened to him talk. I contemplated in my head what would be like to kiss a man who wasn't Axel. Would he bite my lip like he used to? Will his hot breath caress my face like his used to?

I shook my head, a faint smile played on my lips.

"You look beautiful," Peter said, out of the blue.

"Thanks," I replied. My eyes fell to the table, then back to Peter. "It's nice to get compliments for a change."

"You should be reminded on a daily basis that you are beautiful, always have been." Peter pushed his spectacles upwards.

"Well, I have you now to do the job." I tried my hand at flirting.

He smiled fondly, then bumped me on my nose. My eyes widened, surprised. He just shook his head and licked his lip.

"What was that for?" I asked, surprised and kept my tone gentle.

"Just felt like it."

I narrowed my eyes, playfully. "Is that so?" I flicked his forehead. He touched the area where I flicked him and laughed. "What? I just felt like it."

We then eat and talk some more. By the time we are done, it's already evening. I pulled my cardigan around me. The shift in air caused chills to run down my arms.

Peter was quick to remove his jacket and slip it around me.

"It's not necessary," I said, even though I relished under the warmth of the jacket.

"I am not going to hear a word from you. You must keep the jacket on," he insisted, firmly.

"That's kind of you. I'll return it tomorrow at school." I was grateful that he bothered enough to give me his jacket. "Won't you feel cold?"

"I'll survive," he offered me a smile. "Besides, I have a heater in my car." Right, I had forgotten he had driven his car while I had rode on my bicycle. "You'll be fine? I can drop you off if you want."

"Cannot leave my bicycle parked near a lamppost." He opened his mouth to protest, but I stopped him. "I am a big girl, I'll be fine." I squeezed his hand in assurance.

We both said our goodbyes and went separate ways. His car was parked behind the diner while my vehicle was parked just a little distance away from the diner.

I crossed the street and walked down the road. My feets came to a halt when I noticed the familiar looking Range Rover. My eyes bugged out when I noticed the figure that stood next to the car.

Leaned back, hands folded, he stood alone in his button down white shirt and faded blue denims. I cursed his parent's genetics for being so damn good looking because he suddenly raised the temperature.

His eyes were fixed on me. I wondered how long he stood there potentially watching me and Peter. He wanted a reaction, too bad for him, I refused to divulge in his games.

I made my way over to my bicycle, unlocking it from its stand. Just when I was about to free it from it's lock, a hand closed around my wrist.

Axel.

I didn't turn around or shrug my hand out of his grip. I'll play with his nerves.

"Look at me." His voice was gentle. "And don't make me repeat myself."

I stayed still.

"I want to talk to you," he said. "Astoria, don't try hard to get." I don't falter at his words or even twist my wrist out of his hold. He twisted me around so that I was facjng him. "Give me your anger, I like it." He gripped my chin and forced my face to meet his. "Those eyes are my undoing."

"Hey, step away from her." Oh, no. Peter sounded a little out of breath. "Now."

I suddenly feel terrified of what might happen if Axel lets go of his temper. I have to intervene.

"Peter, no." I told him.

My guess was Axel didn't like that I was coming to Peter's defence, because the malicious smirk that marred his face was frightening.

"For him, you'll talk, huh?"

"What are you doing up here?" I yelled at Peter. "You need to leave." I made an attempt to twist out Axel's hold, but failed as his grip became strong.

"You heard the girl." Axel suddenly turned me in his arms, both of us facing Peter. "Go."

I silently pleaded with my eyes. I wasn't exactly sure what I was trying to achieve by asking Peter to go. Axel and I alone can only cause a chain of chaos, but when Peter, who is viciously despised by Axel, is added to the equation, it'll only create more chaos.

Peter stayed rooted at his spot, appearing more determined and pissed than I had ever seen him. He was ready to fight Axel.

"You are the one who needs to leave. Leave Astoria alone, leave us alone."

A very unfriendly, almost mocking snicker left Axel's mouth. "I don't know whether to break your f*****g jaw or to commend you. You sure are brave."

"I know karate too."

"Oh, that scares me," he said, drawing his arms tight around my waist.

The restrained anger was slowly breaking free, the previous pain intensified, plus to add insult to injury, I had no idea what Axel set out to accomplish by all this. I was done with the constant push and pull. We were not thirteen anymore.

With a hard thud on his chest, I twisted out of his hold and distanced myself from him. His ocean orbs flashed hurt. I ripped my gaze away from his face. He could be hurt for all he wanted, I wouldn't bend down to his will.

"Both of you, stop it." I went from having a great time to being emotionally drained. "Take your war of egos away from my sight. I am not interested in it."

I inhaled, my previous confidence fading away. I needed a break.

"Peter, I'll call you when I reach home. You don't need to worry about me," I assured him. "Let it go, for now." I patted his arm.

I turned to Axel. His hard gaze was on me. The iron stare was focused on my hand which was on Peter's arm. In an instant, I withdrew my touch and my subconscious chided me for letting Axel dictate my move.

My feets carried me to where Axel stood. His face was leaned down to stare into my eyes. I don't want to get lost in his tangled mess. He needed to know it.

"What happened between us was a mistake." I purposely kept my words ambiguous. I had left his thoughts to decipher whether I meant the kiss or us in general. He could think whatever he wanted. "You need to stop cornering me. This can't go on any longer. I have a life without you and I am looking forward to it. Don't ruin it for me."

His face was unreadable. I gave him one last and then went to the bicycle. As long as my words caused him pain, I was fine.

***