Give me strength or just one Harkwright who doesn’t want to claim a moment of my time, and I’ll be a happy girl.
I throw on a pair of permitted leggings and a dress top that is the least sexy thing I can find for a day in the kitchen. It would be so much easier to cook in here, but no way am I going to suggest that out loud.
I throw my hair up into a messy bun before pulling my door open, and stepping out to join Dustin, who gives me a lopsided grin, and we make our way down the corridor.
“Fuck me, is there a single guy here you haven’t opened your legs for?” One says as she opens her door and stares at us. I fist my hands and start counting back from ten to try to calm myself down.
“I’m still a virgin, you imbecile,” I throw back, hating my no cuss rule right now.
“You are so full of shit,” she fires back as a shadow passes by her, and my eyes flick up to find Aeron staring back at me. His mouth drops open and she smiles wickedly as she brushes her fingers over his arm.
“Come on, Dustin, let’s go,” I say as he just stands there. I might not miss the way he throws her hand off him, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not allowed to get jealous, and I’ve hardly been saving myself for him.
It doesn’t stop it from hurting though, seeing as he claimed me. And he told Emmet he wouldn’t go along with his demands anymore. The worst part, if he had come into my room, I wouldn’t have turned him away. I guess, even though he knows I’d be more than willing to participate, like I have before, and I’d be eager to make sure he enjoyed it as much as me, he still went to One. Fine, he wants a girl who’ll open her legs to anyone, then he can have her. But he won’t be getting the same treatment from me.
By the time we leave the kitchens, Dustin has successfully made four souffles without them sinking. He is so happy and it’s such a weird thing to see on a Harkwright.
“Thanks so much for the help, you’re a great teacher,” he says as we stop at the bottom of the stairs in the foyer.
“Anytime, I enjoy baking and it’s nice to be able to help someone,” I reply easily as people pass us, at least they aren’t feeling the urge to say something bitter and petty like One.
“Star,” my head slumps forward and Dustin climbs a couple of stairs before he disappears. Yeah, I can’t say I blame him, I’d run off too, if I thought I could get away with it.
“I wasn’t doing anything,” I grind out, and he comes to a halt as my head snaps up to his and he looks at me as though I’m a puzzle and he’s not quite sure he has all the pieces.
“I wasn’t going to say you were, actually I’m here to talk to you about your friend,” he says, with no inflection in his voice.
“Okay,” I say, stretching the word out, and he heads for the main door. I guess I better follow him.
He walks toward the maze and I let loose a humorless chuckle, and his eyes return to mine.
“I am not setting foot inside that thing, not now and definitely not tonight. You go in there, then you will go in alone.” I won’t be moved on this one.
“What have you got against mazes? I’ve had some great times within this beauty,” he says with a smirk, and my eyes narrow further still.
“Maybe because there’s been two cases of a female being attacked inside there, and I don’t have any intention of being added to the list. If you want to get rid of me, there are easier ways than leading me to my death,” I say with an eye roll, and he shakes his head.
“You’d be with me. Don’t you think I could keep you safe, my Star? Surely, you know that I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” He steps closer, but every step he takes forward, I match with a backwards one of my own.
“I know you’ve got some weird little obsession with me, b-b-but that doesn’t m-m-mean I’ll be safe. I’m telling you right now, Emmet, I am not going in there and Liam wouldn’t have made me.”
“I am Liam. When are you going to stop seeing us as two separate people?” His nostrils flare, and he keeps stalking forward.
“I have. Liam never existed, and I k-k-keep trying to tell myself t-t-that you can’t be all bad. No one can be that good at pr-pr-pretending, but then you talk to everyone like they’re less than you and you m-m-make me question my own belief.” My back hits the maze wall, and he steps once more, boxing me in with his arms.
“They are less than me.” He looks so confused as he says this and I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “I don’t get you, Luna. I don’t treat you like that, so what does it matter?”
“Because you barely treat me like a person. Why can’t you just be nice? Be a little more ordinary and stop walking around as if the whole world owes you something. If you cared what I thought about you, more than just wanting to own me, then you would try a little harder. You would stop telling me where to go and who to be with. Better yet, you would stop letting yourself into my room while I’m sleeping, because it’s creepy.” I push against his chest and he lets me.
“Don’t forget where you are, Five. You are getting away with more than most girls. Try to not let it go to your head.” He looks me up and down with a shake of his head and starts to walk away, before turning around to look at me. He takes a few steps backwards, but stays close enough so I can still hear him without having to raise his voice. “I’m wondering if you’re even worth it. Enjoy your day, Five. I have rescinded your invitation to join me tonight.” And with that, he leaves me to stand here with his words swimming around in my mind.
You’re not worth it. It’s always worse hearing what you already believe about yourself, coming from someone else.
I walk through the gardens until I come across the shack. I won’t go in there because I see it as Tom’s place, but I can’t tear my eyes away from it. Why is it even here? How does it fit into this pretentious world? Is there even a place in this world for such a run-down, unassuming shack? Will it stand the test of time or crumble like everything else? Am I even still thinking about the shack?
I hear a noise and rush to the side, hiding behind one of its walls. Footsteps fall, sure and swift, and my heart is jack hammering against my ribs. I don’t know why I’m having this reaction, but something is screaming in me not to move, that whoever is making that noise is dangerous and I need to stay hidden. I try to calm my breathing, as quietly as I can when a hand grips my arm.
I don’t think as a scream sounds out and my fist connects with a firm jaw, and then my eyes look up and I’m met with a storm of red hair, and my hands fall limply at my side. I just hit a Harkwright, I am so done. Even worse though, I hit the only one who has been nothing but nice to me.
“Tom, g-g-god I a-a-am so sorry. I d-d-didn’t know it was you, I th-th-th…” I bury my head in my hands, and just wait for my sentence.
He moves behind me and starts steering me wherever he wants, I will not bother looking up. I’ll just go wherever he wants to lead. Only, he isn’t leading me far before he lifts me up by my hips, and then places me on the floor.
“Look at me, Moonbeam.” He doesn’t sound mad. If anything, it almost sounds as though he’s… amused.