Chapter 4

Oh my God.

Did that just happen? 

"How would I survive!" I winced and clapped my hands to my face as a sign of relief. I really wish this hadn't happened.

Now like he said, I'll have to "survive" and not "live" for the rest of my life. Or so.

This treatment is totally not sitting right with me. First, I have to miss book club meetings with my best friend and I also have to put up with his nasty behavior for two minutes while I still get to walk all the way down to the house.

Speaking of house, my mind became a little at rest bec I was thinking of "the house". It's a mansion duh, and I have access to so many cool things, like the study, the pool, the alcohol room- for one, I haven't tasted alcohol in my entire life but I know if I do, I wouldn't be that nerd who's only known as an academic beast, I get to be cool.

And for the study- maybe that's where my love story begins. Adrian walks in and sees me in a white dress with my hair packed up and he comes to me from behind. "You smell horrible." He said amd with that I get jacked up to reality. 

Apparently, he had been yelling my name to come off that car. "Oh my." Was the only thing I could think of mustering.

"What's making you so smiley? Huh? Don't tell me you were enjoying the luxury of my car because you wouldn't anymore. Get down!" He yelled and I couldn't help but think that he still looked like a hot villain while yelling.

Reminding myself I have just been embarrassed again, I got down and he barely waited for me to take my bag that he drove off. 

One, lucky for him there was no officer around or his license would have been seized. Two, how could he have been so mean? 

Now I'll have to live with "this behavior".

I carried my tired legs and continued the walk, it wasn't far, I told myself.

And just like Adrian had predicted, no one seems to be home yet.

I saw his car was packed outside, he had gotten here before me.

I saw the house-help, quite different from the one I saw yesterday. I just keep wondering how much Adrian's father is worth.

My stepdad.

This idea thrilled me but I just wish everything else was in place, like Adrian liking me.

"Hey, do you always look so lost? I mean you can't be, you're brilliant and it's impossible not to pay attention." 

Damn! He started me again. But did I just hear him well? 

He complimented my brilliance!! Omg, this must mean something.

I walked away without saying anything, I couldn't stand his stares and I'm aware he knows this.

He enjoys to torture me like I was some dumbass chick.

I stood in the kitchen, my heart still pounding from the shock of Adrian's sudden appearance, and what he said. 

I could still feel the heat of his gaze on me, and I tried to push the memory of his voice out of my head. 

I was still confused by his actions, and I had no idea what to make of them. 

As I prepared a snack, my mind kept wandering back to Adrian. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something different about him right now.

Maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part, but I couldn't help but hope that he was finally starting to feel something for me. 

But I knew I couldn't get my hopes up. 

After all, he was still the same person he'd always been - the same person who had sworn to make my life a living hell for so long.

Then I heard footsteps behind me, and I turned to see Adrian standing in the doorway, his eyes fixed on me. 

A shiver ran down my spine at the intensity of his gaze, and I struggled to keep my composure. 

For a moment, we just stood there, frozen in time, neither of us daring to break the silence. Then, Adrian took a step forward, and I felt my heart start to race.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft and low.

"Wh..what? I'm ok..okay.. why did you ask?" I said stuttering and just like the devil he was, he just stood there and started smiling.

Of course he enjoyed watching me stutter and fail at words. Then I looked blankly into his eyes, hurt and curious as to why he keeps acting this way.

His smile widened, as if he knew the effect he was having on me. I stared back at him, feeling hurt and confused.

Was this some kind of game to him? Was he just trying to mess with my head? Or was there something else going on? I couldn't figure it out.

"You think I'm nice?" he asked, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "That's adorable. If you think I'm nice, you haven't been paying attention. I'm not nice, and I'm not concerned about you. This is just... fun.".

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. He was just playing with me, using me for his own amusement. 

He wasn't being sincere at all. He was just playing with my emotions, enjoying the way he could make my heart race and my mind spin. 

And now, he was about to twist the knife even deeper.

"Could you please make me snacks? I'm hungry." He said all smiley with googly eyes.

I've had enough of this for one day. I just took the snack I made and left.

But not without saying "Why don't you do so yourself and stop making my life more miserable than it already is!" 

Storming out of the kitchen crying isn't the dream love story I craved for.

I fled to the safety of my bedroom, slamming the door behind me. Tears streamed down my face as I slumped down onto my bed, feeling exhausted and broken. 

I'd let myself hope that maybe he was starting to see me as more than just an annoyance, but it was clear that I was wrong. 

I was nothing more than a toy to him, a source of entertainment to be discarded when he grew bored.

I buried my face in my pillow, trying to escape from the pain and disappointment. I felt so stupid for letting myself hope, but even more than that, I felt angry. 

Angry at him for being such a cruel, manipulative person. 

Angry at myself for falling for his tricks. And most of all, angry at the universe for letting this happen to me. It wasn't fair. 

I just wanted to be happy, and instead I was stuck in this miserable situation.

I lay there for what felt like hours, my thoughts swirling in a dark, angry storm. 

Then I called my best friend, Ollie.

Ring ring ring.

"Hey, what's up beauty? And how's the beast?" Ollie asked, making a dramatic face.

I paused amidst chuckles and shot her my "don't give me that" look. 

"Okay fine. How are you hanging on? You look like you just had a nightmare or something." Ollie pointed out her observation.

"I'm just really not good, looking at everything that's happened, I think I'm a big fool." I said, feeling so hurt.

"Hey hey hey, don't be so dorky. C'mon what could have gone wrong?" She asked, urging me to talk. 

"You know I told you some things that Adrian said he was going to do? Well, after I got home today, I was startled by him and I just went straight to the kitchen," I said, cleaning my sweat. 

"As I stood in the kitchen, making snacks , I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by someone staring at me. And then I heard Adrian's voice. It sounded like he was taunting me, and I just couldn't take it anymore," stopping the tears from coming down, 

"Spun around and saw him standing there, looking at me with a smug grin on his face. I felt my temper flare, and before I knew it, I was shouting at him. The words just came pouring out of me, and I couldn't stop them." I said finally.

"Hey Jay, that's a lot. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Are you going to tell your mom or your stepdad?" She asked, really concerned.

"And make things worse for myself? Hell no!" I shouted.

"But, don't you think you should tell them? They can help make things better," she said, trying to be helpful.

I scoffed. "Oh please. You know my mom would just brush it off, and my stepdad would be on her side like always. You know what Adrian's like. I'm on my own with this one."

"I know you feel like that, Jay, but they're your parents. They should be there for you. You shouldn't have to go through this alone," she insisted.

I sighed, knowing that she was right, but I just couldn't.

"One more thing, if I should talk, Adrian would just make my life even worse. I don't like his attitude but I don't want him to hate me either."

"I get that, but maybe if he knew how his behavior was affecting you, he would try to change. And even if he doesn't, you deserve to feel safe and comfortable in your own home. Can you at least talk to your mom about how it's making you feel?" she asked gently.

I looked down at my hands and tried to find the words to explain what I was feeling. 

"I know you're right. I know I should talk to her, but it's just so hard. I feel like I'll be letting Adrian down by telling them the truth. I don't want to be hated or mistreated than I already am." 

Besides, I honestly don't want my stepdad to think I'm a cry baby.

"Aight, I get you. I just think Adrian is an asshole." She said making a funny face and I laughed.

Something just settled within me in an instant.

"So nerd, something happened while you were on an adventure with your prince charming this afternoon." Ollie said, sounding so mysterious. 

"What happened?" I asked, really interested to know.

"I'll tell you on Monday during lunch." She said and I couldn't believe my ears.

"What? Why can't you tell me now huh?" I was really pissed.

Actually I was faking it.

"You look like you need a long bath so get off my phone, I'll chat you up later." And with that Ollie hung up and I could only shake my head.

Like, what just happened? 

But she's right, I do need a long bath before mom comes back.

I dragged myself to the bathroom and took a long shower. It felt so good to just let the water wash away the day's stress. 

After I got out of the shower, I put on my pajamas and headed to the kitchen for a snack. 

But as I passed by the living room, I saw something that made me stop in my tracks.

It was Adrian. He was sitting at the dining table. And then as I proceeded, I saw everyone.

And they all turned to stare at me.

"Hi mom, Hi Stepdad." I was careful of the way the words came out of my mouth.

"Hello Jane, how are you feeling now?" My step dad asked, and for a long time I just stared.

I wanted to tell him how sick and tired I am of Adrian treating me like a piece of shit. But all I could muster was "I'm okay, I guess."

"Yeah, Adrian told us you were in your room, tired I presumed so I didn't want to bother." My mom said, staring at me.

"Yeah." And with that I shot a glance at Adrian.