IT WAS late that night, and I found myself standing in the doorway of Cameron's house.
I made sure my white mask was back on, concealing my face.
The lights were off... the only thing visible was a soft white lamp on by the couch, and the blur of the TV's echoes.
I stepped over to the couch then, gazing down.
Cameron was lying down on the sofa, her legs propped up on the arm rest as her head turned to the side.
Her phone was on her chest, her hand splayed across it.
She was sound asleep.
I watched her chest rise and fall slowly, her pink lips parted as she took every breath.
I circled around the couch then, tipping my head to the side as she remained asleep.
Exhausting day, huh?
I then stood in front of her, peering down at her curiously as she remained under me.
I couldn't stop watching her... she was breathtaking.
Her black tank top showed the top of her chest... just a slight line from where her breasts met, and her stomach was slightly uncovered, her other hand curled across it.
She looks so innocent when she sleeps.
I let my head fall to the side, watching her from another angle.
I don't want to look away.
Her breaths were soft, shallow.
I just knelt beside her on the couch, staring down at her face.
Her lashes fluttered, indicating she was dreaming.
What are you dreaming about?
I was curious as to what overtook her mind at night.
I let my head fall to the side again, trying to watch her fully.
She's so beautiful.
I just got down fully onto one knee, leaning over her slowly.
And I reached to her face, softly grasping her circular-framed glasses... and very gently, I pulled them off.
She moaned in annoyance, shifting.
I just gazed down at her, closing the arms and setting the glasses aside.
She then turned her head toward me with her eyes still shut, her lips parting as she remained asleep.
I just gently pulled some hair away from her face, tucking it to the sides.
I watched her more now, staring at her ink-like lashes and her plump lips.
She's breathtaking.
As she slept, I just gently pulled a flower out from one of my pockets.
It was a small one, a daisy that I plucked from the garden... it was a little wilted due to it being in my pocket, but...
I gently slipped the daisy into her hair just above her ear.
Her head turned more to the side, her throat moving as she swallowed.
I admired her more now, loving just how innocent she looked with the flower glowing in her gorgeous hair.
I smiled.
Breathtaking.
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"THERE YOU ARE," Maddie said, gazing up from the student union's hall as I jogged up. "I was scared you were dead."
"Sorry," I said, slowing and taking a couple breaths. "I stayed up too late and slept in. I was inches from missing my first class."
Maddie laughed. "Now you sounding like me."
I just gazed up, smiling slightly.
Her lips parted then, and she smirked. "I love the flower! It's so cute."
My brows drew together. "What?"
"In your hair?" she said, pointing just above her ear as an indication. "The flower? You put it in this morning. You should know."
I blinked and pulled my hand up, slipping a small, soft object from above my ear and peering down at it.
It was a daisy, looking a little wilted but still almost fully bloomed.
My lips parted.
But... I ran out the door straight away this morning. I didn't even look in the mirror. How did this get in my hair?
"Hey, Mace," Maddie said then.
I immediately snapped my gaze up, my anger flaring.
Mason stood a couple inches in front of us, chewing some gum while that bitch of a girlfriend stood with him.
I just glared. "Fuck off."
His brows arched. "Excuse me?"
Maddie looked at me in horror.
"Is this why you didn't want me to go to that fucking party?" I snapped, fists clenching. "You didn't want me to know you're a man slut?"
His girlfriend's mouth dropped. "Bitch!"
"Cameron," he growled, "shut your fucking mouth."
"You were betrothed to me!" I yelled then, seeing a couple random people glance in our way. "You were supposed to be mine! You fucking asshole just couldn't keep your dick in your pants!"
Maddie then gaped at him. "You're cheating on her?"
He sealed his mouth shut, but just caught his girlfriend's hand. "Come on." And he started dragging her off.
Having some fight in her, his girlfriend just pulled away from him and glared at me. "He doesn't deserve an ugly wench like you! Your fuck-up hair! You have no body! You're fucking brunet! And your stupid-ass glasses!"
Each word hit me like a chainsaw, cutting me deep inside.
But I refused to be fazed, erasing all emotion from my expression. "As long as you keep spreading your legs, he'll be happy. Keep it up, you anorexic whore."
Her mouth dropped then. "Excuse me?"
"I'm just going to cut in here," someone said from my right. "And speak the truth."
I gazed up, finding a tall, brooding man with dark hair standing there.
Asher.
He didn't look particularly happy... in fact, he looked pissed.
He gazed over at the girl, pointing to her. "Cameron's right. You're definitely a whore. You've had like what... five boyfriends within the last six months?"
Her face etched in horror, and her mouth remained open in disgust.
But she knew very well she couldn't fight back because he... was the leader of the FireNight.
Something told me she was hooked with them somehow.
"And as for you," he said, gazing over at Mason, "feel free to kiss your FireNight privileges goodbye."
His eyes widened. "What?"
Asher's brows arched. "You broke FireNight code, Mason. You cheated on a betrothed. You will be moved out by tonight. That's final."
His face went pale, and his breaths shook. "Wait! No! I—I can fix it!"
"It's too late," Asher said then, gazing over at him with a dark smile. "Goodbye."
He breathed shakily. "This! Isn't fair!"
I just crossed my arms over my chest.
Life isn't fair, bud.
➿⭐︎➿⭐︎➿
MASON HELD his hands at his chest, pleading, "Please, reconsider! I'll fix it! I'll redeem!"
Yes, beg. I fucking love it.
Cameron just stood awkwardly behind me, avoiding eye-contact with the situation as her friend, Maddie, rubbed her back.
"Mmmm... should've thought of that before you got seduced by a blonde." I tipped my head to the side. "It sucks, doesn't it? Having consequences for your actions? Something daddy and mommy can't fix?"
His eyes widened in concern, breaths shaking.
I just stepped menacingly over to him. "Maybe this time you'll learn your lesson and try to become a better man, hmm?"
"But, alas...." My smile darkened then, and I leaned down to whisper in his ear:
"She's mine now, Mason. And I'm going to worship her body like a god. And I'm going to enjoy the look on your face every time you watch me touch her. The jealousy you develop when you realize you can't ever have her. And that it's your fault. I will love every moment of it."
I then stepped back, lowering my eyes to his beating ones. "You are no longer a FireNight. Therefore... she cannot be betrothed to you. But I will happily take the place." My smile darkened. "Oh, and neither can your whore of a girlfriend. You're going to have to find someone new to fuck, little boy."
I then stood fully, staring down at him. "Goodbye now, Mason. The frat members already threw your belongings to the curve. Better find a new home soon." I smirked. "The housing market's getting worse as we speak."
I turned back to Cameron, finding her staring off into space numbly, her friend still rubbing her back.
Mason just spoke then, voice shaking with fear. "Y—you can't do this."
I glanced back, my eyes dark. "I already did." And I walked over to Cameron, sliding my hand along her back.
She gazed up, her brows drawing together.
"Come on," I said, nodding away from Mason. "Let's get to class."
She listened, pulling up off the wall and started walking.
I followed with her, my hand still on her back.
She now looked very nervous, swallowing something hard as we continued walking. "You didn't have to do that."
"Yes, I did."
Because you're mine. Not his.
She just sighed, rubbing her arm nervously. "He's going to take it out on me. He hasn't done it in a long time, but... he's going to."
She was talking about when she was eighteen. I remember that vividly.
But I just replied, "No, he's not."
I watch you twenty-four-seven. I will know when he dares to near you.
We kept walking, Maddie following us and remaining silent.
"What did you say to him?" Cameron asked me, her voice dark.
"Not for you to worry," I responded gently. "Let's just get to class, okay?"
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMSYh85XkP
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I TAPPED my fingers impatiently on my notebook as I waited for class to start.
Asher sat next to me... surprisingly... and had his arms resting on the desk in front of him.
The professor still wasn't in yet. Class didn't start for another twenty minutes, anyway.
Asher's eyes were on me the entire time we'd been sitting here, and I knew very well he was staring... it sent soft chills up my spine.
"Is something wrong?" he asked me then.
I slid him an annoyed glance.
He just smirked. "Well... not Mason-based. It looks like something else is bothering you, too."
"Why do you care?" I replied.
He just watched me. "You're scared of something. Tell me."
I hesitated.
"It can't hurt." He shrugged.
I mean... he was right. Really, it couldn't.
I caved then, sighing. "Fine. It's just... weird things have been happening."
"Weird?" he echoed.
"Yes." I rubbed my arm nervously. "I keep... finding things... in my house. That weren't there before."
He now looked interested, setting his arms on the table. "Things?"
"Yes," I said then, brows drawing together. "One morning... I woke up and there was a vase with a flower on my nightstand. A... sunflower. And then I went to that frat party you wanted me to go to, got shit drunk... and then in the morning, I woke up... on my nightstand was a bottle of pain meds and a rose." I then got frantic. "And then today? I came to school and there was suddenly a flower in my hair. Like a daisy, tucked above my ear like a hairpiece."
He nodded as if he understood. "Do you think someone's leaving them?"
"Well... I'm sure someone took me home after that party. And I let them in the house, letting them leave the rose while I was shit-drunk, but... the sunflower and the daisy...? I was completely sober for those ones, and it happened while I was sleeping." I paused. "I do have medications that I take at night that make me forget some things at night, but... why would I leave those?"
Asher just assessed me curiously. "Does it... scare you? Maybe a little?"
Why did he sound hopeful? Did he not want me to be attracted to the person who was leaving them?
But... I decided to be honest. "No."
His brows drew together. "What?"
I just sighed. "Alright, kinda."
"Why doesn't it scare you fully?" he said then before he blinked. "Are you into that kind of thing?"
I remained silent, my cheeks shading over a light red.
His lips parted. "Oh."
"No! Wait!" I set my hands fully on the table as my cheeks glowed brighter. "You gotta understand! It's probably just me leaving it because I like dark romances and I tend to play pretend a lot when I take my meds and I'm not twisted, I promise, and I swear to God I'm not crazy, you gotta believe me—"
"Cameron," he said softly, chuckling. "It's okay. Don't get flustered."
I then caught my breath, setting my face in my hands. "It's just... I play these games with myself sometimes and live in this fantasy... because real life sucks and I have to marry someone I hate."
Asher just watched me curiously, his eyes scanning me.
"I'm crazy," I said, sighing, "I know."
"No," he chuckled, "you're not crazy for having a fantasy. Everyone fantasizes about things. It's normal."
"Yes, but I'm crazy for wanting to actually live in one."
"You're not crazy." His tone was gentle.
"And yes..." I laughed softly as I added, "definitely. If that was a real guy leaving that shit I would be genuinely terrified, but I'm pretty sure it's just me."
It was half-a-lie. I would be scared... but I kinda wished it was true.
I couldn't decide.
Asher just had a smile with a subtle darkness to it, and his eyes were glowing mischievously as if I just told him the best news in history.
I then looked away. "You think I'm crazy."
"No, no," he laughed gently. "Far from that, actually."
I glanced up curiously.
"Because..." he chuckled softly, "if that makes you crazy, then I'm genuinely a psychopath."
I laughed a little at his joke, but the smile never left his face. In fact, his lashes just lowered in amusement.
But—before I could ask him why he was smiling—my phone came to life in my pocket.
I gazed down immediately, sighing. "It's my mom."
He set his cheek in his hand. "Better answer it, then."
I did, pressing it to my ear. "Hello?"
"Cameron!" she immediately yelled, making me wince. "What have you done?"
Something cold coiled inside me, and I just breathed. "What?"
"You embarrassed Mason in front of a fuck ton of people?! And then got him fired from the FireNight frat?! What has gotten into you?!"
I just breathed shakily. "No! Mom! That wasn't me! He cheated on me!"
"I don't care who he's snogging with!" she snapped. "If you continue doing this, Cameron, the wedding is happening next MONTH!"
"The... what?" I yelled. "Mom! He's not a FireNight anymore! He cannot be my betrothed!"
"His parents are paying fifty-thousand for you!" she yelled to me. "I don't fucking care if he's a part of that frat! Stay in line, Cameron! OR ELSE."
And she hung up.
I just stared down at my phone in shock, my mouth wide open as dread crawled through me.
"Cameron," Asher said carefully, "are you okay?"
I just slammed my phone down on the table. "Dammit!"
And I got up, rushing out from the room.
I didn't make it far (the hallway was where I got), Asher caught my arm and spun me to face him.
I cried out. "Let go!"
"Cameron," he said then, tone dark, "Cameron, stop."
I listened then, halting my movements as he gripped my arm.
I just breathed shakily, trying to calm myself.
"What happened." His tone was dark, demanding.
"She said I embarrassed him!" I expressed frantically, running my fingers through my hair. "And that his parents are paying good money for me! And that if I keep this up, our wedding's going to be next month!"
Asher just sealed his lips tighter, anger flaring in his eyes. "How much are they paying her?"
"What?" I said, my lips parting. "W... why?"
"How much?" he urged.
"I think... she said fifty-thousand."
His eyes glowed in anger, seeming almost disgusted. "They think you're worth fifty-thousanddollars?"
What the fuck? Was I worth less or something?!
My life was just getting worse.
Asher just gritted his teeth and pulled out his phone. "What is your mom's number?"
I fought down tears as the cold devoured me. "Asher, I just want to go home."
He snapped his gaze up. "Your mom's number, Cameron. I won't ask again."
I breathed shakily. "303-222-5736."
He typed it into his phone, leaning against the wall as he pressed it to his ear.
I started walking off, but he caught my arm, pulling me back in place.
"Asher, let me go!" I cried.
"Quiet. Sit still." His eyes locked on me, not desiring protest.
I just sighed, slouching back against the wall.
After a moment, she picked up.
"Hello," Asher said, "is this Cameron Envy's mother?"
Oh, right. He didn't know my mom's name.
There was a pause, though, as she answered.
"Ah, yes, Every Envy. Right." He leaned back casually. "My name is Asher Wolfe. I am the lead of the FireNight fraternity. You've heard of me, yes?"
Pause.
He chuckled. "Ah, yes, of course you have. Alright, well I have it in my head that Cameron is betrothed to a... Mason James?"
Pause.
"Yes," Asher said, "he has been kicked out of the FireNight."
He tapped his shoe.
"Yes, I know very well that your daughter can still be betrothed to him. It is in your willpower, yes."
Another pause.
"And I heard that his family is offering you fifty-thousand for your daughter to wed him?"
I closed my eyes tightly, my brows creasing.
Where was he going with this?
Asher chuckled. "Yes, yes. Well, I have a proposition."
I gazed up immediately, my heart pounding.
"How about I offer you one mil?" Asher said. "For your daughter to belong to me, instead."
My eyes widened. "WHAT?"
He pressed his finger to his lips, making my breaths shake.
ONE MILLION? WAS HE CRAZY?
He gazed back into the distance, smirking. "Yes, I'm serious. She is very much worth more than money, Miss Envy. But if I have to set a price, one million."
I stared at him in shock, my brain refusing to process this.
He arched a brow. "Can I have your address to send the check? The sooner the better."
Pause.
"Ah, yes. Thank you. I shall have someone drive the check over tonight, Miss Envy."
And he clicked off the call.
I stared at him in horror, but he just glanced over at me with a smirk, holding my phone out to me.
"You left it on the table," he said then as if not realizing what he'd just done, "I assume she's going to call you within the next three seconds."
And almost on queue, my phone started buzzing, and I gazed down to it to find her number showing.
"See?" He smirked. "You should answer it."
I stared at it helplessly before taking it, and I picked it up, pressing it to my ear. "H... hello?"
"Hi, honey!" Mom sounded chipper, her voice light and elated. "Tell me... was that really Asher Wolfe?"
I still stared at him. "Yes."
"Oh, my god! I love you so much! With that money, I can buy anything I want!" She laughed excitedly.
I just swallowed something hard. "Okay."
"I love you, honey!" she said then, giggling. "Bring him over for some dinner, too, okay? I want to thank him for his generous donation!"
I just squeezed my eyes shut tightly as a sudden darkness consumed me.
Generous donation.
Those two words right there told me how much she loved me.
"A—alright, mom."
"Bye, Sweetheart! Be good to him!" she exclaimed, hanging up.
I just lowered my phone, staring off into space.
What just happened?
Asher just looked down at me with a small smirk. "You look like you're about to pass out."
I just took a step back. "Why did you do that?"
His eyes immediately switched color, his smirk clouding with darkness. "Because. You no longer are his. You're mine. And now it's officially final."
I stared in horror. "Why do... why a million? You... could've just done a hundred thousand or something."
He then stepped toward me, making me gasp when he backed me against a wall.
His face hovered over mine. "You have no price, Cameron Envy. You are worth everything. Your mother doesn't see that. In my opinion, I was tempted to offer one billion... but I don't want to give her that satisfaction because she treats you like shit."
I just breathed shakily, my eyes watering. "I'm... going to go home."
He just caught my arm, his smirk forming again. "Aren't you going to ask me first?"
I stared at him helplessly.
Why? Because I now belonged to him...?
"Cameron." His eyes darkened as he switched subjects. "Change your major."
I breathed shakily. "What?"
"Change it," he said then, eyes dark. "To whatever you want. I'll pay for it."
I just broke off from him and stepped back, my heart pounding hard against my chest.
And I suddenly spun around, dashing off immediately.
Word Count: 3338
a/n
long chapter, I knows.
I hope you liked it. And I hope you enjoy what's coming.
Also... I was racking my brain about the cost. I assume fifty-thousand is shit for "owning" someone when it comes to their worth. And I do think a billion is a bit much, so I settled for a million.
But I do like how he said she was worth more than anything he had... that was sweet.
Anyways, leave your thoughts!
What do you think she should major in?
What do you think he should major in?
- Aspen
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YssSqxzur
