FIVE

I took a step back only to hit the bed I was in, turned around to have my feet get caught by the edge of the bed, and fell face first.

"Shit," I hiss.

I heard a moment as I stayed on the floor, wishing I was invisible, but it was too late once I listened to his voice. "Lily?"

Words left me as I stayed on the floor and put in a sour face that I'd been caught. After hearing his prince-like voice, I rose off the ground and felt a sharp pain in my ankle.

Fuck!

I got a sprung ankle.

"What are you doing here?"

Was that all he had to ask?

This is a fucking nurse's office, not your room, so that anyone could be here.

I didn't say a word; I didn't want to turn around.

I always knew he would be with some other chick but catching him having sex with another female student. I shouldn't be surprised. It's Liam, after all. He and Logan may be twins, but their personality trait is off.

I grabbed my bag off the bed and stepped, only to hiss from the hard pressure point on my right ankle. "Damn it!" I mutter.

"Lily, you okay?" I looked up to see Liam in front of me, fully clothed, only his shirt was backward and his hair messy. "You sprang your ankle."

"Liam, what is going on? Oh, Lily." When the female's voice appeared, I looked over my shoulder to find Ms. Sydney Howard, my gardening club's teacher assistant, putting in her shirt, zipping her pants, and fixing her light brown hair into a ponytail. "Why are you not in class?"

Is that all she has to say to me when she's fucking with a student?!

I know Liam is eighteen, and Sydney is in her early twenties and is trying to finish her teaching credentials. She is our club's teacher, Allison Howard's younger sister.

I could not believe Liam was with her here! Fucking at school. It's no wonder I didn't see him with his twin brother. I thought he didn't want to hang around while Logan and Effie who was getting too intimate and probably didn't want to see me. And here I am, caught them in the act.

I can not believe this.

I could tolerate Liam with other girls, but he is with my club teacher's younger sister.

"You two know each other?" Liam asked, his collage masking my nose. I could feel my head fuzzy from his intoxicating scent. My eyes then drift onto his gorgeous blue eyes.

"Yeah, Lily is one of the Gardening club members my older sister advises," Sydney replied with joy. "She's very talented with her fingers when it comes to gardening. Oh! I love that flower arrangement you gave to Ally. Can you make me one as well? I want to set it up at my new apartment." She sounded thrilled and had forgotten that she was having sex with a student!

Like hell I would.

I hiss when I put force on my foot.

"Here, let me look at" I pushed him away from him, and he fell back with a thump. "What the hell, Lily?"

My mind was blank, but suddenly anger took over.

"Don't touch me."

"I...think that's my cue to leave," I heard a moment behind me as Sydney walked past me. "I'll see you around, Liam," she purred and gave him a long kiss - on the mouth before walking out, leaving the two of us here.

I don't want to start something. I calmly stand on my two feet with the stinging pain in my right foot. I thought my headache would be gone, but it came back. I felt my vein popping out from my rage. I could feel my body heating up with anger, I tried to suppress it, but my mind just pissed me off more of their lovemaking. I closed my eyes, trying to shut out those images, but it made it worst. Fueling, the fire that burned inside me grew larger.

I glare at Liam, giving him how pissed, angry, and frustrated I look at him that I'm tired of his behavior.

I don't care if I have to pretend to be his fiancé. What kind of man would do that? None, I guess, not that I know of, but with Liam, he would make that kind of a man.

Liam got off his feet and brushed off. "Look, Lily, I already told you that you and I," He sighed as if he got a full-on his place, and it's probably about me. "We can never be together. You must do what Odin said, but it's all an act."

I scoffed.

Then turned into laughter. Laughter turned into a hysterical laugh.

I laughed like crazy as if the words coming out of his mouth were true. "An act?" I inhaled hard. "Okay, so, beating up Kareem was just an act as well?" I held up a hand to shut him up. "As I said before to him, you and I are nothing. You can fuck every girl in this town if you want, and I don't give a shit if the last bitch has AIDS."

"Sydney doesn't have aids."

"Oh, you two are first name bases now," I scoffed with laughter. "Oh my god, Liam. If you don't like me, say it so I won't have to try and make you like me."

"Why are you trying to make me like you? I already have..." Liam paused, shut his mouth, and let out a sigh.

I knew what he would say, but he won't admit it. Like those words are a disease for him to say.

"You know what?" Cutting him off. "Don't say it. Every word that comes from your mouth would piss me off."

My lips trembled. Eyes already moist with tears. I inhaled, trying to hold back the pain in my heart. I could change his mind. I thought he and I shared something so special. But I had it with him. "I'm tired of this. I should have just gone off and married Kareem."

"You don't fucking mean that," his voice was low in a growl. He took a step closer. I walk limping back, using this leverage to get closer to me. "You don't fucking want to marry that guy."

I look away.

"Lily," his voice changed into a whisper. "Marrying him would that make you happy?" I was curious to know if it was a question or a bit of advice.

I choke on the delicious scent as it somewhat calms my headache.

"Princess." He whispered that name to me, and my body quivered at his soothing voice.

I shudder from the name he called me when he and I were intimate. He called me 'princess' as my dads would call me. I was delighted and memorable but hearing that nickname for me was nothing more to get into my pants.

I pushed him off lightly this time. "Enough, Liam. Please don't call me that. It's not worth a girl like me to be called that coming from you." I spat and looked at the clock on the wall. I stepped ever so slowly beside him and paused. "If you need another booty, call. Call someone else. I don't want to deal with you ever again."

My voice broke out as I said those words and walked towards the door. I limped out and closed the door shut. Tears were already falling from my eyes once I was outside the school, and every step I took made me cry even more the pain. I didn't bother to get into my car but instead left the school grounds and headed to Effie's house.

I rang the doorbell once and heard footsteps on the other side, and Athena opened the door with a surprised look. "Lily? School isn't out yet." She didn't question further but saw the expression of desperation on my face. "Okay, come in."

She let me inside, and I could see the left side had been destroyed because they were planning to build a more oversized kitchen for more than three people that connects two homes into one. "Something wrong?" She asks, closing the door.

My eyes were invisible from crying as she could see it clear as day.

"Nothing, I got a headache, and I sprang my ankle. I left my car at the school's parking lot and..." I sniffled, wiping my nose. "Can I stay here and wait for Effie."

I could see my best friend's older sister's expression as she wanted to ask, but she didn't. "Okay, you can stay in Effie's old room. We are still renovating the two houses, and the boys aren't home yet. I could ask Rex to fetch your car while you wait."

Thank the almighty God!

I don't want to deal with another Wolfe brother after what happened at the nurse's office.

"That's fine," I told her with a wry smile. Not my genuine one because I wasn't in the mood. "Thank you."

"You know," she manages to say before I head down the hall to where Effie's old room stopped me from going. "I know I'm not your sister or family member, but if you want to talk, I'm here to listen."

I looked over my shoulder and saw the wariness in her eyes. "Thanks, Thea."

"I'll get you some ice for that ankle. Stay in the room, and I'll be there in a minute."

I nodded, walked down the hall, and entered Effie's room.

I've been to her some time whenever I'm here. It was still the same, but there were boxes and stacks with written names for different items. Effie told me once the houses are turned into one, she and Logan will have one room. It was supposed to be separate rooms, but since they are together, it will be fine for them.

I closed the curtains to avoid the sun shining in the room and sat on the bed. I reached down, touching the sore and, with the pressure of my finger, seemed to be an annoyance. I can't believe I'm such a klutz. The pain throbs when I bend my foot; it is deep and warm, but not in a friendly way. It feels like someone has their hand in there and is squeezing my foot. There is no blood anywhere, but my abdomen is purple and lumpy. Every step feels like a nail bomb exploded in my foot.

This is going to be a pain. A few minutes later, Thea knocked on the door and came into the room with a large blue ice pack. It was one of those with a strap quickly to wrap around my ankle. As she applied it, I felt a jolt of pain, but once the coldness stuck, it made me shudder with relaxation. After using it, she left me alone for me to despair. I knew in her face she wanted to talk, but right now, I just wanted to lie down and stay quiet.

As I lay, I brought the image of Liam and Sydney. Those disturbing images raided my brain, repeating like my grandmother's broke track record.

Nausea swirled unrestrained in my empty stomach. My heart felt like my blood had become tar as it struggled to keep a steady beat. A black cloud hung over me as if rain on my sorrow down on me where I went.

I know Liam is a guy who has his needs but does he go around messing with every girl he sees? I'm on his checklist of girls.

Yeah, let me try fucking an orphan Indian girl that doesn't know much about her origin...blah...blah...blah.

I snort at my subconscious. What am I thinking?

Reading fairytales of brave knights, handsome princes, beautiful princesses - all of that is a bunch of bullshit.

In the real world, none of that is accurate. I finally realized that when Liam told me he doesn't make commitments, he doesn't want a relationship, and... he doesn't want me.

I curl myself on the bed, hugging the pillow I had held like I do when I need comfort. Just the thought of that shattered my heart once more. Everything around me seems broken, my birth, my mom giving up on me, Liam...I sound like a crying ass bitch, but life isn't fair. Nothing is fair.

I closed my eyes and remembered that day when Odin unexpectedly announced my engagement to Liam.

After Kareem left and I was standing, unable to talk. My feet were frozen, and I couldn't look Liam in the eye until Odin called me to his office upstairs.

Now I was standing in Odin King's large office. Liam was called too, and he did not look happy about the situation that was going on there.

Odin is standing in front of his window with his hands behind his back. "Lily, Liam, you already know why I called you here."

Neither Liam nor I answered. I fiddled with my fingers and had my head down, avoiding eye contact with Liam whenever I glanced at him.

"I'm sorry," Odin continued. He finally turned his back and faced us. "It wasn't my call to break off the engagement, especially yours, my dear. I know you two felt very uneasy about my sudden announcement. But, I can not see a young girl in distress of having to marry someone who isn't the one she loves be taking the love away."

"Oh, sir," I glance at Liam. "I'm not in love with-"

"So, I'll make this proposition," Odin cut me off in midsection and took his chair behind the brown desk. "I know that Naval boy would inform his parents of the cancellation of your wedding by now. And as I know, your grandparents as well."

I cringed.

Mentioning the Naval family is one problem, but my grandparents are also much worse.

"I will have one of my lawyers to your grandparents' house in five days to discuss this matter," Odin said. "They might not agree initially, but I'm sure they will approve with some persuasion."

My heart jumped. "You're not going to kill them - are you?" Although this settlement of my future with Kareem is insane, they are still my grandparents.

"My dear, I'm not that cruel. It's just a symbolic speech," I relaxed my shoulders as he continued to say, "In the meantime, you and Liam are now engaged."

I can't believe this is happening. A mixture of happiness and despair is circling inside of me.

"Sir, may I have a say in this?" Liam was out of his silence and spoke up after hearing of Odin's proposal.

"You may."

"Lily and I...don't have to be together, right?"

I felt nervous if that puzzle question Liam asked as I waited for Odin's answer.

Odin cocked his head to the side and studied Liam. Then he shifts his eyes on me for a second before he lands them back on Liam. "You don't have feelings for this young lady?"

I swallowed hard, and my heart was beating.

"I'm not the committed type, sir," Liam replied severely, and I felt my heart crack into two pieces again.

Odin played with his beard and studied the both of us. "From reliable sources,t seems you two have strong energies for one another but having difficult doubts about feelings."

"Well, your wrong, sir. Lily and I are...friends."

And the Grammy Award winner for Best Loser in the World goes too...Lily Peters!

Can someone please come and shoot me before the world ends?

"I see," Odin leaned forward, placed his elbow on his desk, locked his fingers, and rested his chin on them. He saw me look at him, and I just averted my eyes. I didn't want to show weakness to him, especially a broken heart. "Very well, you and Lily don't have to be intimate. But you play as her fiance around her grandparents and the Navals until everything has been passed aside. Are we clear on that?"

"Yes, sir," Liam replied militarily.

"Lily, you okay with this arrangement?"

I looked up at Odin and then at Liam, waiting for my response.

So it's all a game.

And Liam isn't refusing. He does not like me.

I'm such a loser to think someone like him would stay in a serious relationship with a girl like me.

I wanted to cry, but I held back the tears. I looked up with a trembling voice. I say, "Yes, sir. I agree."