“Rules don’t apply for tonight, we’ll deal with him. I’d rather not deal with a crying girl,” Thallon says, but I don’t look back as I move into the party, walk behind the bar, and grab a bottle of whiskey.
The party may be dead for me, but that doesn’t mean it has to be over. I’m just going to do it the way I want, alone.
I walk up to my room and lean against the foot of my bed, as I sink down on the floor. My door doesn’t stay closed for long, and I hold the bottle up in salute as Aeron walks in.
“You sure you’re up for that, Little Zero? A bottle of Jack may be more your style,” he says as he brandishes another bottle of whiskey and I just give him a two finger salute.
“I don’t want to think, Aeron, or feel. If this will numb me to everything, then bring it on.” I take another swig and he pulls the bottle out of my hand.
“No, you’re not going to screw yourself up because of how sick he is. You still have us, Luna.” He crouches down in front of me and his mouth turns down as I snort at his words. Yeah, I’m not winning no prizes for acting like a lady tonight.
“What does Rachel have that I don’t?” I groan as the words come out, and squeeze my eyes shut.
“Is this because of Tom? Little Zero, she hasn’t got any on you. I can you promise you that.” His hands run up and down my arms, and I smile derisively as I look at him through my lashes.
“Then why haven’t you made a move? According to her, you would have done it, if you actually liked me. It’s not like I’ve worked my way through every guy here, so why haven’t you tried anything?” I place the bottle on the floor as I give him my full attention.
“Jesus Christ, I’ll make you a deal. If you remember this conversation tomorrow and still want to know, then I'll tell you. But, honestly, I think Tom has done enough damage without me adding to it. Do you trust me?” His thumbs caress my cheeks as I nod my head. He pulls me to my feet before leading me over to my bed. I guess I’m going to sleep, and he better hope he wakes and leaves before I do because if he doesn’t, I’m getting my answers.
My mouth tastes like ash, why am I still in my Halloween outfit? I lift my head up and stare through bleary eyes, where is Aeron? Oh hell no, did he seriously leave?
“Sin, where are you?” I make my way to my feet as my head swims.
“Aeron,” I shout, despite my growing headache.
That son of a bitch, he’s gone. He’s not in the bathroom, or the sitting area. So much for answering my questions when I woke up if I still remembered them, because I do. I… I remember it all. I sit down on the sofa as everything floods through my mind, threatening to hold me down and just drown me on my own fucking despair.
Tom’s betrayal and that weird comment he made about Emmet. He can only marry a legacy? No, he can only marry a girl from here if she’s a legacy. That can’t be right though, can it? I mean, that isn’t the reason why Emmet was so obsessed with me and why being a legacy was such a big deal for him. No, that was just Tom trying to fuck with my head. Although...
“Little Mouse,” my door opens and I look up at Thallon.
“He left. While I was sleeping, did you come to rub it in?” I tilt my head and he shakes his, as he closes the door.
“You look… well, you look like shit. Where’s that little hell fire I saw last night? The girl who slapped that slimy bastard right across the face?” He smirks and it clicks into place. The reason why he’s here, well, fine if that’s how he wants to play it.
“You’re right, I did slap him.” I stand up, and brace myself against the wave of dizziness that rushes over me. “I struck a Harkwright, so go and tell Sir. You can get rid of me, that’s what you want, right? To hurt and humiliate me. Because I remind you of a girl who sounds more like my sister than me, but sure. Have at it, you know where the door is.” I sweep my hand out and his eyes open wide, before he starts to laugh. He looks as surprised by it as I feel.
“Sit down, Little Mouse, I’m not going to tell Sir. I came to let you know that we’re off on a little trip. Pack a bag, and meet me out front in ten minutes. Don’t keep me waiting, and pack what you want, I really don’t give a fuck.” He pats me on the head before he walks out, laughing.
That guy is going to give me whiplash, but it doesn’t matter. My hand rubs against my chest as my eyes fall on the recipe book that Tom gave me for my birthday last year, and then I grab a charm bracelet made up of moons and stars that he got for me this year. I don’t know what I’m going to do with the book yet, but I slip the bracelet into the pocket of my jeans once I’m dressed. I take one last look in the mirror, my eyes are drawn and surrounded by deep circles and I’m the palest I’ve ever been. The black knitted sweater that falls mid thigh makes me look even more ghost like than normal, but I just don’t care. Because, in all honesty, my heart is fucking broken, and I swear, even though it happened last night, it’s still chipping away at the bigger pieces. Like it’s happening over and over again, until every last part is nothing but a bloody, jagged mess.
I throw my bag over my shoulder and barely glance at Darius as I open my door and move through the hallway. Surviving, and trying my hardest not to become one of those girls that falls apart and loses herself because of a guy. But it’s hard. Because he was my first, for so many things. And I’m scared, so fucking terrified that if I see him and he talks his way out of it, that I’ll accept it. I don’t want to forgive him, and I never want to see him again, I just need to feel strong enough so I know I won’t fall back on myself.
What if I’m not strong enough?
I meet Thallon outside and we climb into the car, the partition between us and the driver slides up and we drive out of the grounds.
“Aeron had to leave, his mother demanded it. Just so you know.”
I gape at him. I wasn’t expecting him to say anything like that. Why is he giving me an explanation?
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I know how it feels to have a broken heart. And honestly, I’m not enjoying seeing you suffer. Not because of this.”
“Was it Rosalyn who broke your heart?” How does that saying go, ‘go broke or go home’? Yeah, that’s how I feel right now. If I have a question, I may as well ask it. What’s the worst that can happen?
“No, I was never in love with her. Despite what Tom said, and didn’t I tell you not to cry for him? Do you see it now, that he wasn’t worth it? Roz to me, is like Maddox is to you. She’s my sister in every sense but blood. I love her and I will protect her with everything I have. Even if that means I do the wrong thing for the right reasons. Sure, I may take it out on the wrong people, but I saw her suffer, and it fucking killed me. So for today, I’m going to pretend that you don’t remind me of the girl who made her life a living hell. Just today, I’m going to help you to see that the sun will still rise and fall, even after a broken heart.” His eyes are shining as he stares at me, and I can’t believe that something so beautiful just came from him.
“Will you tell me about it? The girl who broke your heart?” My voice waivers as I ask him and his eyes squeeze shut, but he does it too late. I saw the pain that lives within him.