Favored by Indivia

14

Chapter Fourteen

In which she sees fun in what she does.

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[Ross Pagette Monstine.]

There are days when we don’t have lessons.

And by that, I mean that Matthias must have felt bad in learning things from me whilst I never use him for reference. So once in a while, he does invite me out to it. I do feel bad spending the money that he could have saved—but I am sure that rejecting him would do more harm than good. People like him wouldn’t miss losing some money when it means getting even to someone.

I often noticed that someone who had little to give, always made sure to treat someone. I never understood why it is like that, but Matthias often takes me out. Maybe he knew that I would appreciate the gesture, since I knew that he was struggling to get by but he is making time with me. Then again, that does not sound like him.

That feels irresponsible, and someone who is guilt tripping another. Matthias never asked me to paint him during this time. Not once did we talked about what we do in the art toom. Whenever we would eat outside, or had a talk—he made sure that we are talking about something else. I thought we would have a day and that is it—but we both have crazy stories about our life that we did not mind sharing over a drink or two.

“Please do not drink too much,” I reminded the man, as I felt clearly worried to see him excitedly drinking through different cocktails. He had been drinking them acting as if they were water. I am getting worried that I needed to drag a man that I could not even reach when he had enough of those alcoholic beverage. Not only would I struggle from the distance we both needed to take, but I am sure I would also get drunk before him. From someone who had been involved with someone like Samantha Jones, I can tell that the sweeter the drink is—the deadlier it is. “I do not plan on taking care of a drunk tonight, nor am I capable of even bring you out of this table.”

Matthias grinned, a chuckle let out from his lips. “I don’t get drunk too easily,” he confessed, and I believed him. There was no need for him to lie, and after all—he is the man in this party. If he’s gone, then I am in trouble. “You don’t have to worry about me getting drunk. Even if I did, all the staff in here is notified to call K if they noticed that we needed some help. From the friend group, I remembered that Lucas is lightweight. He is the one who often get help from K.”

“I would never have guessed that,” I mumbled, squinting my eyes at him. I had seen Lucas from a distance, and it is always when he is without Ayne. Everyone mentioned that he is a tamed animal when he is near her, and I could hardly take that into mind when all I could see is a man so intimidating that even I would froze when seeing him in a distance. “From what I could remember, he always looked so serious, and one who would ask another person to drink when he was having a hard time. I heard a lot of female students talk that he must be the last to get drunk in the whole group. Apart from that, even my own friends mentioned that he looks like the type of person to drink scotch when stressed.”

Matthias laughed loudly at the words, and I could see how genuine they were in this position. He often talks about his friends, one that I would catch from time to time. I truly don’t mind hearing some interesting facts about them—especially Kye Cohen, since anything bad will be directly reported to Page.

But it seemed like everyone from their group was perfectly balanced.

“Everyone would laugh if they heard that,” he mentioned, shaking his head. “No, he is not the type of guy,” he answered, slowly leaning on the chair. “He rarely drinks, but likes the aesthetic that the liquor bottle holds. He rarely even drinks, and probably the one at a party who’s drinking coke served in a glass that made it look like he’s drinking.”

I could not see the same Lucas Ambrose drinking some coke, and flinching at the taste of hard liquor. Whenever he would tell tales about his friends, and how they all had managed to all come together, Matthias became more human than I knew of him. It wasn’t like he was a robot or detached from reality, but I guess I had always seen him as someone who I couldn’t reach.

So it was almost comedic that I am currently seated across from him, as we share some stories we both had from our friends. Both groups of people are chaotic, but they have their own charms. I could tell that Matthias and I were the type not to get too much involved in some of the stories, but someone who would die for them.

“I would never have believed that if I heard that from someone,” I mentioned.

“Lucas does want to keep his reputation high. Are you telling me that Samantha Jones is just as crazy and chaotic in your friend group as I heard she is in public?”

Slowly tilting my head to the side, I grinned. “No, she isn’t,” my lips quickly denied such accusations. Many see her as crazy, and one who attracts fights. While she might be first to see danger from everyone, there had always been a reason for that. “She doesn't have a filter all her life, so she’s frank. Samantha is the backbone of our group, the first to snap when someone bites us. But when she’s just with us, she’s like a child.”

“They are protective for a reason,” Matthias informed me.

He grabbed another set of drinks, and I could see how excited he was with the passing seconds of him holding the thing. I did notice that Matthias is the type of person who would see hanging out and drinking as a means of having fun. It’s like another version of him that one couldn’t see inside the campus floors.

Matthias has a reputation he needs to uphold. Many of the professors and students see him as a role model, hence why we are in a bar that has a much more private setting. He mentioned that Kye owned the establishment, so we were welcomed to everything we wanted. While that seemed like an open door to anything, I was terrified to do just that.

Kye Cohen might be good for my cousin—or his friends, but I had heard how terrifying he was to other people. He’s not someone as scary and intimidating as Lucas Ambrose, but there is a reason why everyone calls him “K” or why some men in their department walk in a different direction when spotting him.

I do not want to be chased down by him if I ruin anything here.

“Isn’t it hard keeping your image of being a perfect student? You would run around the school, not once minding that you were beaten and tired in order to have the view that people have on you.” I asked, remembering the weight that he had been carrying. Of course, I could see him struggle from time to time but it wasn’t even heavy. I am sure he was sharing the deeper cuts with another person. “I often hear living a perfect life is often the hardest path to take,” looking around the place, I added. “I mean, you needed to find a bar that was a distance away from school just so you could drink in peace. That should be hard.”

“It f***s people in the head,” he mentioned, looking at the glass with eyes that does seemed anxious about everything. Matthias often shares deep conversations when we are in this type of setting. Not because he is drunk or out of his mind, but simply because he sees me as someone who he could trust with these.

I didn’t know if he was that kind, or if I give off an aura that makes people trust. All I could say is—I know that he shouldn’t be trusting me enough to have this kind of conversation. Even still, I am here. Listening.

“People often have a skewed perspective of people. Many see me as a good influence because I have good grades and perform well in school. I had many who offered me praises because I could do just that. They aren’t aware that if they were in the same situation as me, they would have the same. I am not unique, I am simply normal.”

The whole thing also seemed like he was pressured into keeping his image clean because he was representing not just the University—but his friend, whose family owns the entire thing. There is a reason why their friend group made sure to achieve all the good things people hear about them.

Because they were doing it for their friend.

“You would know,” he mentioned, eyes following mine. “You’re related to Ryli, aren’t you? I am sure that—” then he flinched, as if he remembered something he shouldn’t have. His eyes followed mine, checking if he had spilled something he shouldn’t. While I am aware that my sister had a hard time getting attention wherever she goes, I did not know it was enough to cause concerns. “Ryder doesn’t speak about having some pressure on his name?”

He was diverting the conversation elsewhere.

I would have asked more about Ryli, but I am guilty enough sitting across here to even think about my sister. Matthias clearly mentioned my brother since he had his own image, but it wasn’t enough to be tied in the same level as him—or Ryli.

“I don’t think my brother cares, or at least that is how he makes it look.” I answered, shrugging slightly as I looked over the cups. “When he’s at home, he is someone who looks after us. Not once had I seen a fracture of his life on campus when he’s at home. Maybe none of us were willing to talk about it.”

While I am also a talk of the two on campus—it was mostly a subject of comparison when it comes to my sister. I could say that I am having a hard time like them, maybe even worse since I am being criticized for doing the exact same thing as they do. Maybe I don’t have the highest grade that Ryli has, or the clean records.

If I am just like everyone else, why am I targeted? Because I am their sister? Such a bull.

Slowly drinking the alcohol served before me, I could drown to the many words offered to me while they let out the larger. Maybe they could see hardship in what they do because people expect something from them. However, I could not even do that. I could not prove anything to myself because people already see me as beneath my sister. Not once did I have a chance to breath since she was improving in the eyes of people—while I am the one receiving all the hate.

Fucking life.

Why did I even enter the same university as her?