Day 71

I have been paying closer attention, since I have nothing worthwhile to do, and I know the three much more than I did in Amsterdam.

Adrien sits on an armchair, his shoulders pushed back, the same reckless and emotionless stance marking every action. His words harsh and careless, the same Adrien I was accustomed to in high school and for a while in college.

Arianna has the aura of not giving two shits about anyone or anything, even her makeup is bolder than usual. While Dylan is acting reserved and drawn into himself. His speeches limited and eyes cautious, darting to everyone's faces after uttering a word, mostly engaging with a person at a time.

Arianna, Will, and Jacob are chatting together. Dylan's with Amanda, while Tina, Rebecca, and Olivia are busy gossiping, by the looks of it. Calvin, James and Jeffry are standing in one group.

Sophia, sitting on the armrest of Adrien's seat, leans over and whispers in his ear.

I fish out my phone, to have something to occupy my hands and mind, and go through my emails. Sensing a figure walking up to me, my focus snaps to it. Jeffry with a smirk approaches me, his gaze moving from my head to toe. I resist the urge to shift with discomfort.

"Seems you have better things to do than join us," he begins.

I offer him a tight-lipped smile. I've been observing him too, and I didn't find what I was seeing agreeable.

The first night I met him, the way he spoke to Adrien seemed off, but rich businessmen families function differently. I didn't pay much thought to it, they are rivals after all. Although it suggests it goes beyond 'who is richer' rivalry and I refuse to get stuck in the middle of it. To add more strength to my choice of steering clear of Jeffry, was his remark regarding Jace. He was being offensive. And what human being talks to someone who has lost its sibling to an untimely death like that! And I decided in that instance, I dislike him. But no matter how closed off I act, he doesn't take the clue to just stay far from me and let me be.

"Wanna drink?" he asks.

"No, thanks," I reply and glance around the suite. My gaze locks with Adrien's as he stares with an unreadable emotion burning in his eyes. I look away.

My rule of you can't be an introvert and picky for socializing, does not apply to Jeffry. Even if we'd be the last humans on Earth, I rather decay in my room than interact with him.

He opens his mouth to respond, but thankfully Will's voice cuts him short.

"Yo, Adi," he starts, putting an end to the chatter. He points his glass at Adrien, and continues, "Ri here is saying you guys are going to Barcelona tomorrow. What do you say we tag along, spend the day on the beach. You still got your yacht over there?"

All the while Adrien watches him with a vacant stare, but I notice him rubbing his index and middle finger together before he stops, lays it flat on the armrest. Sophia's features light up as she places her arm around his shoulders.

Tina chimes, "Superyacht," and receives an icy glare from Adrien.

His expression stays blank as he shrugs with indifference. "I have to check,"

"What are you waiting for?" Jacob urges.

Adrien throws an irritated glance at him as he stands.

"We'll have so much fun. Do you remember, you used to promise me that after graduation you'd take me on a trip with that?" Sophia reminds him, holding Adrien's hand.

He stares at her before pulling away and picking up his phone and walks onto the balcony.

"You have been on these things?" Jeffry queries. I shake my head. A smirk arches his mouth. "Don't worry, if you're with the right person, it can be great,"

I force another smile and nod.

Arianna walks to us, throwing a fake sweet grin at Jeffry's direction before turning to me, "A minute?"

I quirk an eyebrow, but before I get the chance to utter anything she locks her arm with mine and we saunter towards the doorway.

We stroll out and down the hallway, getting a few doors away. She halts and turns to me, concern lining her features.

"Are you cool with it?" she questions.

Unable to stop, a toothy smile breaks on my face.

"I'm serious! If not, I'll send a text to Adi and he'll come up with an excuse, and we'll be rid of them,"

"It's fine," I assure her, beaming. It still surprises me how caring and considerate she is.

She sighs, "I won't leave your side, and if I did and someone sa-"

I giggle, "I'll tell you. You've said that over a hundred times." In a firm and reassuring tone, I add, "it's alright," they are your friends. I don't want to be the reason to not let you hang out together, even if it means becoming an outcast again.

"Okay," she nods, raising her index finger up, pointing at me, "but if you don-" she begins, but I interrupt her.

I grin, "I know!"

She beams, "You're a badass nerd,"

I mirror her and we return to the suite.

As we step in, Adrien is closing the balcony door behind himself.

His gaze lingers on us, Arianna nods. His eyes move to me, staying for a second too long before focusing on others.

"So?" Calvin pushes.

Adrien plops down on the chair, "It's there," he announces. Everyone in the room, except me, Arianna and Jeffry, cheer.

"Let's hit the club!" Olivia jumps up and no one objects.

I hope Arianna doesn't force me to join them.

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I place my elbow on the cool marble table, and rest my chin on my palm, as I tap my other hand's fingers on the surface. The lighting hurts my eyes, but I guess it doesn't bother those who are dancing. The music is thundering, I can sense its vibration inside my skull.

Arianna persuaded me to accompany them. She has an interesting way of making others do what she wants.

I stare at the drunk dancers and allow my mind to wander to the past few days spent in Paris and Amboise. So far, traveling these two cities has been the best part of the trip. I was tempted to pay a visit to my caregiver, the lady who taught me French and was always with me. She started teaching me the piano a few weeks before my fourth birthday and had to return to Paris when I was ten. Her dad had fallen ill. I visited her when we came here, I was thirteen. She was ecstatic when she saw me. I wanted to meet her, but the main obstacle was, I didn't know what to tell her. It might have gotten awkward.

I sigh and shove aside the thought. No use overthinking it now. We're leaving tomorrow morning.

Jeffry approaches the booth in surprisingly steady steps. He did down a shot. Perhaps it hasn't kicked in yet.

He installs himself next to me, facing me, and sets his hand on the table. I lean away from him.

"Why are you here? Come, who sits alone in a night club?" he jokes, his voice loud enough to carry over the blaring music.

"I don't dance," I reply, clasping my hands together over my thighs.

"Impossible. I'm not gonna lose my chances of dancing with a beautiful girl," he winks, leaning closer to me, and I put my entire will power into not rolling my eyes.

Glancing around, I catch Adrien glaring at us. Or maybe just Jeffry, it's hard to recognize from this distance.

What is wrong with him?

"Come," he speaks, drawing my focus back to himself.

Before I decline, Arianna plants herself in front of me, her face flushed, hair a mess.

She places her palms on her hips. "Ellie!" she shouts over the beat with furrowed brows. "You have absolutely no reason to skip." She stretches her arm, grasping me, and starts tugging.

I try to refuse and she gives me her usual, not taking a no as an answer look. With another tug, I get on my feet.

"Don't, you're not even wearing heels," she warns. I giggle at her as she drags me to the dance floor.

We reach the middle. She turns to me and grabs my other hand and moves it with the rhythm, as she sways her body. Her eyes shining in the flashing lights, her face's expression in sync with the music.

Holding my arm above her head, she spins and then urges me to copy her. She lets her hair fall from the high ponytail and with side to side movements, hair flies everywhere, I can't help grin along with her.

She sets both of my hands on her waist and shouts, "Jump!" as she places hers on my shoulders.

I let the fact that we're standing in the midst of a bunch of people slip, or how stupid I might appear. Cause for the first time, not doing what she's telling me to do seems to be the bad idea.

"Wilder!" she cheers.

With laughter, I shout, "My glasses will fall!"

She chortles. After somewhat controlling herself, she wipes away a tear from laughing too hard and wraps her arm around me. "What would've I done without you in this shithole with these assholes," she giggles.

"Ladies," Dylan pops out of blue with a broad grin. "I'm officially jealous." We beam at him.

Just like in Florence, the three of us dance together, or whatever the hell these absurd motions are called.

Two songs in and he proclaims in a loud voice, "I aspire to have this much fun without a single drop of booze,"

"Dream on," I reply in an equal tone and we burst into laughter.

A few minutes later, a warm hand on my shoulder makes me halt. I spin and I'm faced with Jeffry, smirking at me. His dark eyes having a glint that agitates me. My breath catches in my throat as I stare at him with wide eyes as my heart pounds in my chest.

Arianna and Dylan notice and turn too. She opens her mouth but before any words tumble out Jeffry speaks, "Only one song, I don't bite." And grasps my palm.

"Dude!" Dylan exclaims, but Jeffry throws a sharp glare at him, and he retreats.

Something is going on between them. From the corner of my eye, I catch Arianna mirroring my confusion as her eyebrows draw together.

A smug smile plasters on Jeffry's face. Arianna takes a step towards him but at the exact moment Tina and Olivia show up, locking their arms with hers on either side. Tina complains, "You didn't dance with us,"

"Now is our turn," Olivia chimes in and the pulls Arianna away, not giving her a second to protest.

Dylan offers an apologetic gaze to me.

Amanda pushes her way to Dylan, "There you are," she exclaims and drags him to herself.

Jeffry steps closer to me, leaning he holds his mouth near my ear and remarks, "Looks like you can dance, babe,"

Bile rises in the back of my throat, as his breath pricks my neck's skin. Before I step away, his arms enclose around me, holding me in place as he nears me.

Panic fogs my skull, my heartbeat drums in my ears.

He moves to the music, forcing me to do the same. I attempt to push him, but it only amuses him and he pulls me to himself.

"Don't be a tease," he chuckles. "We both know you'll give in to me,"

My entire body trembles as all sorts of thoughts race in my mind.

"What is wrong with you!" I yell as I shove him with more force. He doesn't budge, his hands roam on my back and I'm tempted to slap him.

For one fucking time I tried to be friendly, and now I'm knee-deep in shit. Just fucking great.

I try to calm myself, urging my brain to find a way out of this mess.

"Stop!" I scream next to his ear, making him flinch.

I take the opportunity and race to where I was sitting not a while ago.

I lay my palms flat on the cool marble stone of the table. Vibration in my front pocket gives me a pause. With trembling fingers, I fish out my phone. Mom. I sigh, shaking my head.

I fill my lungs to the brink with air and then exhale in slow motion. After three times, my breathing calms at a significant rate, I stare at my vibrating phone.

They didn't answer when I called them yesterday or even today before heading out here. My thumb hovers over the accept bar. In a wild moment, I decide, I'm not in the mood for putting up with Mom, so I press the power button and the vibration stops. I gaze at my screen until the call turns into a missed call notification badge, before slipping it into my pants' pocket.

Jeffry approaches me, and I contemplate whether to inform the security. It won't be hard to complain from him. My French is fluent.

"Hey," he starts, his hand reaching for mine.

I dodge and glare at him, "Stay away from me." And without waiting for a reply, I march to the entrance door.

Outside, I draw in the refreshing night air into my system and set on returning to the hotel. Thankfully Adrien was careful when choosing the club to direct the gang discreetly to somewhere that's only ten minutes on foot from our hotel.

I wrap my arms around myself, still feeling the disgusting sense of his hands on me. I busy myself with the now-closed shops and their names, focusing on details as I walk on the sidewalk.

Hearing rapid thumping echoing from behind, I peek. Jeffry is hurrying to me. I swallow my groan and fasten my pace.

"Wait," he calls out, and I ignore him.

A few seconds later he reaches for me but I'm quick to avoid him.

"Come on, we were just dancing. Why are you making a big deal out of it?" Jeffry claims.

My nostrils flare as I press my lips into a thin line. "You were forcing yourself on me," I snap without sparing a glance at him.

He chuckles and shakes his head, "No, I was giving you what you were begging for,"

I don't respond. He doesn't deserve one. He is a sick, rotten rich guy who has always got whatever he wants. The typical, I don't get a 'no' for an answer.

After a while, getting frustrated by my success in ignoring him, he begins, "Don't act like you're not into me. We don't have that much time to play hard to get, now do we? It's only till tomorrow night,"

"Stay away from me," I snarl.

"What did I say, babe?" he wheedles.

Why is he not listening? Why doesn't he understand?

We reach our hotel, with long strides I enter the building and to my misfortune, he keeps on tailing me. Into the elevator and gets off on my floor.

I turn to him and glower, "I said, stay away from me. Stop following me." I spin and tread to my room. I fish out my keycard and unlock the door. Before I open it more than an inch, his hand wraps above my elbow, spinning me to face him.

"And I said, quit with the hard to get shit, you were the one dying for my attention," he pulls me to himself.

I try to free myself from his grasp, but it's useless. "Let go of me!" I demand, clutching the card tightly. Its edges dig into my skin.

"Or what? Mad that I spoiled your game? What's wrong with having more fun?" he entices, his eyes darkening.

He leans down to press his mouth to mine.

Everything blurs together, as fear and panic take over my senses. The next moment, the adrenaline rush clears the cloud, making me hyper-alert. The drumming in my ears, my heart bursting out of my chest. I hold my breath, the veins on my temples beating, the keycard slips from my fingers. My hand moves of its own accord. Or maybe not. It flies, putting all my mustered up hatred and disgust into it, I crash my palm on his cheek the hardest I can.

He stumbles, his grip loosening on me. Not missing my opportunity, I push the door wider with my shoulder and step into my room. His wide eyes return to me, his cheek burning bright red.

I slam the door.

Pressing my back to the door, the tingling sensation of my palm caused by the hard contact confirms I'm not hallucinating.

My chest rises and falls in rapid motion. I wonder how I didn't pass out. I struggle to breathe, my body shuddering. My knees scream in protest of holding up my body's weight.

I cover my mouth as it crashes down on me.

I slapped Jeffry.

We're going to spend the entire day tomorrow on a freaking yacht, not to mention, I slapped one of the gang member's brother.

My eyes travel around the dark room, the only source of light is from the city's. As if on cue, Eiffel tower begins with its light dance show, glimmering and twinkling, as though it's celebrating my first ever slap.

I drive my hands through my hair, tugging on it.

What if he goes and tells everyone what happened?

What if he changes the incident to his advantage and I lose my newly built friendship with Arianna and Dylan? I hope Adrien hates him enough to not take his side.

Oh my gosh, I slapped someone!

I straighten and go to the bed, finding the spare keycard, and set it in its holder and flicker on the lights.

I walk to the kitchenette and pour a glass of water for myself, gulping it, the cold liquid soothing my trembling. By the point I finish and put it down, my limbs aren't shaking anymore, but from the inside, knots tie and untie in my stomach.

I take off my glasses and push my fingers through my hair again. A giggle tumbles out of me. Fuck, I just slapped a guy!

That was not in the lengthy list of firsts I wanted to experience on this damn trip.

But this is the first time I'm rejecting someone. There you go, two firsts unlocked in a single night.

I shake my head, covering my lips with my hand, trying to suppress the laughter, probably a side effect of the panic.

I stood up for myself, for the first time. The thought sinks in and suddenly I don't feel bad for hitting him at all. In fact, I did the right thing.

Arianna's voice plays in my mind, 'you're a badass nerd.' And with this action, maybe I am. I grin.

But I might have jeopardized my friendship. What if there was a cleverer option than slapping him? Did I make a mistake?

I chew my bottom lip as I pace the room. I halt in my track, my focus elsewhere as I gaze into the distance out of my window.

No, I will not overthink it. I have the entire tomorrow to mull over it. For tonight, I will stay proud of standing up for myself.

I decide, and I know I can do that, or at least try to because I deserve to be proud.

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((Well Eleanor is sure starting to stand for herself and confront others =))) I'm kinda proud of her =) she's growing!

Anyway, college is kicking ass, probably should have thought of the workload before double majoring, shit is hard >_< but guess it's too late for that now, *sighs*. But I have to change my update schedule. So from the upcoming week, it'll be on Mondays and Thursdays. I hope I can hit on the complete button by February, fingers crossed =))

Movin' on, stay tuned cause probably by now that you've finished reading this chapter, THE CHAPTER 45 has been uploaded! And I cannot wait for you guys to read it XD And considering the past few chapters' comments, I bet you don't wanna miss it either =))

Thanks for reading this chapter ^.^ I hope you enjoyed it. Lots of love <333 ))