Joy’s POV
I silently count sheep in my head, which is the only thing keeping my sanity intact.
“Joy?” he calls again after another knock. I inhale deeply, then exhale slowly before deciding to reply.
I walk over and open the door, wearing the most indifferent expression I can manage.
“What do you want?” I ask flatly, silently congratulating myself for sounding so unaffected.
“Would you like to have a talk? I just think we should-” He doesn’t get to finish because a wail from one of the twins echoes through the house, making it impossible to hear anything else.
“Do you want to come in?” I ask, pushing the door open a bit more. “Or would you rather go outside?” I already know what he’ll prefer, but I don’t want to come off as rude or like I’m kicking him out.
“It’s fine, I think, um…” He glances toward my mum, who’s keeping a suspicious eye on us. I roll my eyes–now she decides to pay attention. “I think we should go out.”
I nod and grab my jacket, needing it to fend off the cool breeze of a summer night–proof of how much
the toxins have affected me.
He nods too, and we head downstairs together. “Careful,” he warns as we reach the muddy steps. I don’t reply–my mind’s too preoccupied. I’m focusing on everything: my breathing, making sure it doesn’t sound weird or heavy; the stairs, trying not to trip and embarrass myself again.
“So…” I say once we’re outside and far enough from the house and most people. “Want to spar?”
The question catches both of us off guard–but me more so. I’ve never had the urge to fight before, and I know he’s going to wipe the floor with me.
“Sure,” he agrees with a grin, and pulls off his shirt. I nearly choke, my mouth going dry. Under the moonlight, every muscle on his stomach is sharply outlined, and my fingers twitch with the urge to
touch them.
This night is going to be long, I can already tell. Not that I’m complaining–definitely not.
Aurelia’s POV
When I wake up the next morning, I feel like a new version of myself–renewed and recharged. I stretch my limbs and turn toward the side of the bed that faces away from the window, not wanting to be blinded by the morning light just yet. On the table beside me sits a neatly wrapped present, complete with a small note perched on top. I pick it up, curiosity bubbling as I run through a mental list of people who might have left it there. The strange thing is, none of them are really speaking to me right now- and I’m not exactly speaking to them either.
“Hope you’ll have a good day. Let’s meet by the pool at 6. And a belated happy birthday.
By T”
The moment I see the initial, I know exactly who it’s from. A small smile forms on my lips. It’s a little unsettling that he knows it was my birthday, but in a strange way, I’m also moved by the gesture.
Just looking at the gift makes me giggle softly. I reach out and begin to open the box carefully, making
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sure not to tear the wrapping. It feels special–delicate, even.
Inside, resting gently on top of three items, is another note. The first thing I find is a locket. I open the tiny compartment meant for photos, and inside is an image of a rose. I can’t help but smile. The second item is a book, and the third… a stone? I’m not exactly sure what it is, so I tuck it away in a drawer. I’ll just ask him about it later–when we meet by the pool at 6.
As I go about helping Ma’am Nola with the chores, I find myself walking with an extra bounce in my step. I barely register the people around me; my mind is entirely focused on what’s to come this evening.
“Luna,” I hear Nolie greet someone in the distance. They seem too far away for me to bother responding.
“Aurelia, a moment?” Selene, the bitch, calls out to me. Her voice freezes the blood in my veins.
I turn around slowly, locking eyes with her. I have to count to ten in my head before saying anything- just to keep from letting something too sarcastic slip out.
“Leave us,” she instructs Nolie and the others. As soon as the last person exits and the door clicks
shut, she wastes no time.
“I thought I made it clear–you’re to stay away from Theron,” she snaps.
Every time we’re alone, it’s like she removes her mask just to show me the ugliest side of herself.
“Believe me, I’m done with him,” I reply with a scoff. Her expression twists with even more fury when she hears my words.
“Are you playing games with me? He comes home smelling like you, and this is your excuse?”
“Maybe you should be telling him to stay away from me. Why is everyone acting like this is all on me?” I’m on the edge, barely holding it together. One more push and I might just explode.
“I swear by the goddess,” she hisses, her eyes drilling into me like they could tear through my soul, “you’ll regret ever crossing me.”
With that, she storms out, leaving the air thick with tension.
