Acaia

          "See you soon, Ronan." I farewelled as I exited his car, chucking his blazer over to him. "Goodnight, Acaia." He responded as I closed the car door.

          I quickly entered the house, noticing the only source of light was coming from the lounge, followed with muffled sound.

          As I entered the room, my eyes widened slightly.

          I spotted Belle and Nikolai cuddled up on the couch. He was still sitting pretty much up right with his head leaning to the side whilst Belle's head was rested on his chest with his arm draped over her waist.

          But what was even more shocking, was the fact that they was watching The Walking Dead without me. "Cunts." I mumbled as I grabbed the closest blanket, throwing it over them.

          I paused the tv before quietly walking away towards my room. I kicked off my heels as I walked into the room, heading in the direction of my en suite.

          I began running a bath before taking off my make up. I dragged the dress off of my body as I stared into the mirror, my eyes scanning over my tattoo's.

          I had the word strength tattooed under my boob in Russian — it was my second tattoo, though I had no recollection of ever getting it. looking at my semi colon tattoo. I had a line of small, fainter tattoos, going down my stomach, which were a mixture of flowers and patterns. It was my favourite one.

          I turned around, pulling hair to the side as I stared at the tattoo behind my ear. It was just like Ronan's. A semi colon.

          I wouldn't say my attempt haunted me, because I realised the moment after I took the pills that I had to live. For my siblings. And I knew that my mom would never have wanted to waste my life away like that.

          It was a rational decision. I hadn't thought it through at all. I was simply dealing with a lot after my mothers death and I thought that was the only escape, but it wasn't.

          I like to think I've changed a lot since then. I'm no longer little broken Acaia. I haven't fully ever moved on from my mothers death, but I think that's mainly because I never got closure.

          And now, i'm learning to accept that I never will.

༊*·˚

"Are you going to the Hale's ball?" Belle asked me as we laid in my bed, taking full advantage of our day off — though I wasn't really, I had hundreds of emails to respond to.

At some point last night, Belle snuck back into my room. I opted against teasing her about Nik, but I think she already knows I know.

"Yeah. Rumour has it Benjamin's going, and if not him, then at least one of his children will be there." I replied as Belle hummed in response. "My father said I didn't have to go if I didn't want too, but I might. "

I didn't respond. Sometimes, I couldn't help but wish I was Belle. I mean, she wasn't the next heir to her mafia's throne, she didn't have pressure on her. I don't think she had ever actually killed anyone before. Her parents protected her at all costs.

          I shouldn't even be the next heir. Ilias should be. But my father claimed he only saw the strength in me to be the leader, and whatever he says,
goes.

My eyebrows rose slightly in curiosity as I noticed I had gotten an email from Ronan.

As I clicked it, my eyes scanned over what the contents of it was. "Это маленькое дерьмо." I mumbled.

Apparently, my father had gone behind my back to make Ronan my date to the Ball. I closed my lap top, having a rest from work for five minutes. I dropped my face onto my bed, letting my neck rest.

"Acaia?"

"Yeah." My response came out muffled as I was on the verge of having a mouthful of my covers. "Did you see me and Nikolai yesterday?" She asked, I lifted my head back up, a small smirk on my face. "Yeah."

As I stared at the blonde, I watched all the colour drain from her face. "Belle, don't worry. I approve. So does my whole family."

She bit the inside of her cheek before nodding. I sat up, grabbing a cigarette from my side tables as I lit it. "But do you think he actually likes me?" My eyebrows furrowed at Belle, who seriously seemed in unsure.

"Bel, I don't doubt his feelings at all." I responded as she nodded, biting back a smile. I smiled at the the look on her face as her cheeks tinted pink. "Awe, Belle has a crush!" I teased, squeezing her cheeks. "Shut up." She grumbled making me laugh.

Sometimes I seemed to forget that we was still teenagers, sure we was both turning 20 soon, but we was still so young. I don't think I ever really lived my teenage years properly.

I never went to parties, never got that joy of having a new crush, never played dress up or anything like that. I was just constantly surrounded by death and violence.

          This was the life that got my mother killed.

༊*·˚