| chapter song: again - fetty wap |
| dedication: Heads_in_The_Clouds - for the cover (s) <3 |

FOUR

"Nice name."

Believe it or not, I did say that to him, with a forced wide smile carved on my face. My cheeks strained at the wideness of my smile and I had to give myself a well-deserved praise for my faultless façade. I already knew his name, since I wasn't a fool and also became rather acquainted with it last night - my mind had it on replay. I also knew enough about him to send me running into the woods - only to have him hot on my trails and chase me right back out. But I didn't want him to know I was the slightest bit affected by his mere presence. They say to keep your face in front of your enemies, since any sign of weakness could act like a catalyst to their fire.

"Thank you," he replied back with the edge of his mouth curling upwards. He looked well-groomed and more organised from last night with his black tuxedo attire. It didn't go amiss by me with how his hair complimented his clear skin complexion.

He dropped my hand languidly, making sure to keep his intense gaze locked on mine. "Do you want to dance?" he suddenly asked with a tilt of his head. I stared at him, momentarily duped into thinking he was serious.

When I didn't say anything and felt my Mother nudge my side, then I realized he was dead serious.

"I-" I started to say, the decline playing on my tongue but not fully coming out. Maybe it was because my Mother was standing right next to me and I could practically feel her shooting flames at me with her eyes.

And then there was my Father, silently brooding at my prolonged response.

"-I'd love to." I altered quickly, saying it through gritted teeth. The abrupt rush of fear elapsed past me when I saw Link take a step forward. I quickly scanned the massive crowd for Brandon's messy bob of blonde hair but my heart dropped when I caught nothing. He was nowhere to be seen.

My only chance of rescue evaporated in front of me.

I felt his cold hand wrap around my wrist as he slowly pulled me closer to him. To everyone else overlooking the simple act, it wouldn't pass as more than innocent. To me - I felt captured. His hand dropped from my wrist to my fingers and he carefully intertwined it together before he turned around.

"Excuse us," Link nodded at my parents and his dad behind us and started to walk.

I followed after him silently, ignoring the wild hammering of my heart that was thumping in my throat and instead tried to focus on my steps. One misguided step and I would collapse to the ground in utter humiliation. He led us towards the centre of the dance floor and I silently cursed whoever was in the charge of the music for graciously putting on a slow music.

"I can't dance." I whispered at the back of Link's head, hoping to every Star that he would have an ounce of empathy for me and let me go.

I was suddenly spun on my feet, the quick twirl taking me by surprise. I felt the misstep of my feet and hurriedly tried to catch my equilibrium before it was too late. Link had me facing him and I suppressed a growl when I spotted his smart smirk. "We'll make do with what you can do." Link said back at me, one hand snaking around my waist.

My mouth dropped open slightly and let out a small gasp when Link yanked me into his chest. "You look beautiful tonight," he complimented with a sly tone to his voice. I gritted my teeth loudly, frustrated at myself for allowing this. I had to stay away from him; that was a simple mission but I was already failing horrendously.

I scanned around the place, the slight hope of finding Brandon again arising. He was my only escape. "Looking for your boyfriend?" Link asked airily, and when I looked up to his face I realized he was looking around as well.

"Yes," I told him truthfully

Link dropped his head down and his eyes met mine. "Would you be surprised if I said he went with his other girlfriend to the balcony?"

I smiled a smile filled with hatred and ice back at him. "I wouldn't be surprised to hear your ruthless lie, no."

Link's chest rumbled against mine which slapped me back to realizing we were still pressed close to each other. To any over-looker, we looked tremendously entranced with one another with no care about our surroundings. We looked like a young couple, figuring out one's anatomy without stripping our clothes off entirely. We swayed to the music, keeping in harmony with the slow beat. I shivered at the image we were portraying because it was wrong in so many ways.

I tried to step back but the harsh dig of Link's fingers in my back stopped me. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Frustrated at my inability to push harder, I glared at him and welcomed the feel of my cheeks flushing. "And why is that?" I smiled contemptuously at him, repositioning myself so it seemed like I had the upper hand in this dance.

"Your parents are looking and we all know perfectly moulded Orianna stays perfectly moulded."

"I haven't been perfect lately." I replied back with the tilt of my head. With the way I've been acting lately, one could confidently say I haven't been my perfect self. My grades were falling, my parents were constantly disappointed in me but I was managing.

I wasn't as bad as I was two years ago, when I was at the brick of breaking into diminutive pieces with no luck of putting myself back together again.

A sudden thought came to my head. "Where have you been - for the past two years I mean?"

The stiffness that coursed through Link's body gave me a clear indication that my question caught him off guard. The ends of his eyes twitched before he answered.

"I've been... collecting my thoughts on things."

Only a fool would take that answer and walk away. Especially if said fool knew the truth. "More like locked up?" I asked slowly.

Link's eyes darkened and my own caught the movement of his jaws clenching. "For your wrongdoings," he shot back.

I narrowed my eyes coolly at him. "I did nothing wrong."

Link scoffed loudly, the harsh sound ringing bells in my head. "You did everything wrong."

I breathed in audibly, hoping the music, the loud yapping of the guests and every other sound veiled the loudness of my pounding heart.

"You'll forever hold me onto every single thing I did wrong. Yet, none of them affected you in any way."

Link shook his head at me slowly. "The biggest mistake you have done in your life affected me the most. Not you."

I fought the urge to stab my heels into his foot. I despised how much he knew about me and how that one day, all those two years ago, shaped us both to be like this. How one day changed us and made us who were today. He knew I was just holding on for later and he reopened and re-carved every single wound.

"Stop thinking about your boyfriend and focus on me."

I frowned at him, wondering where the darkness in his posture and tone disappeared to. "I'm not thinking of my boyfriend."

"Well you should."

"You just told me to stop thinking about him."

"You should really stop listening to me."

I arched both eyebrows at him, duped into thinking he was actually joking around with me? I swiped away that possibility out my head as quick as it came. "Are you trying to joke around with me?" I said slowly and seriously.

Link's facial expression slowly dissolved, until I was just staring up into a blank face. "No." He deadpanned, sending me flying into a twirl. Both of his hands were suddenly on my waist and I was facing away from him. He pulled me back into his chest and moved slowly.

I felt the hot air of his breath fan the side of my face, leaving a prickling trail along my exposed neck. He dripped his head slowly, the surprising soft drag of his hair tickling my cold skin. His mouth was suddenly at my ear and I shivered inwardly at the gasp of his lips. "Look ahead of you."

Even though I was already looking ahead, I redirected my full focus in that direction. At first, all I was seeing were couples dancing along to the song, embarked in the beauty and the serenity the atmosphere managed to give. But then the crowd slowly parted and through the gaps, I saw it.

"No." I whispered around a choke, my throat closing up. I felt my ribs tighten around my heart and the sudden excruciating pain was unbearable.

His voice was back in my ear. "Still surprised?"

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> also, try to refrain from giving away spoilers!! xox