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Astoria

"Glad you made it. I wouldn't have been able to go through these three days without thinking about you." A chuffed-looking Peter smiled at me.

I returned his smile. I was downright ecstatic that I somehow made it with so many hurdles my way. I was not ecstatic when Ms. Priscilla scolded me for my tardiness for a good chunk of time. When she was done, she handed my room-key and the trip schedule not without sending a warning glare my way and then returning to sort out her work plate.

"After that earful I got, I don't think I'll ever be late for anything," I scoffed. "I thought she was going to kick out for a second."

"Not on my watch." My eyes snapped to his face, his face was dead serious, I found it cute. "I-I mean, I would've led a good defence for you," he added, when he saw me staring at him. My eyes softened at him. He was really sweet at times.

"So what's your room number?" He asked, playfully raking a hand through his chestnut strands. I handed him the key, and he inspected it. "Bummer, we are on different floors."

I cocked an eyebrow at him, putting a hand on him. I didn't think he realized he thought out loud.

Again, flustered, he reworded. "I mean, you're on the 10th floor and I am on the 5th floor. Talk about the difference."

"Right."

"At least, the school wasn't lazy on the trip budget. The hotel is top-notch, isn't it?" I nodded in agreement.

Ms. Priscilla had booked a five-star hotel, no less. The money that the trust fund students bought in was wasted on travelling expenses. Well, I could at least enjoy the comfort of luxury.

Peter stood next me as I sorted out my stuff. In fact, he didn't leave my side at all. He turned a blindeye to my protests and took hold of my heavy duffel bag all the way to the hotel suite.

"Ring me if you need anything and read the schedule, we are to leave in around two hours for a first destination," he reminded me. "You don't want another one of that awful lecture, believe me." He scratched his neck and bit his lip.

"I won't be late, I promise," I smiled at him. "I'll call you when I am ready. We'll go together?" I asked.

"Yeah, sounds great."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye." He slowly backed away and I closed the door after waving at him one last time.

I leaned behind the closed door, a wave of sadness surged through me. I had such a sweet, sweet boy who wanted nothing more than to be more than a friend to me. He was good at disguising his feelings well. I felt terrible for not feeling anything for him other than plain platonic love and admiration.

I liked Peter, but not enough to consider being in a relationship with him. On the other hand, I was sure he was in love with me.

Drama free life wasn't in my destiny, I guess.

I disengaged myself from self-musing and took a well deserved hot shower to relieve my stiffened muscles and the headache I knew was on the verge of breaking out.

My body fell on the cloud-like bed and I stretched like a kitten. Not sure when I had fallen asleep, the ringing of my phone had me on full alert. It was Peter.

"Where are you? Ms. Priscilla is already in a bad mood," he muttered, hastily. "Good, she's giving me the daggers now. Get down quick."

"Yes, yes. I am out of the door, as we speak." That was a lie. I was still in the fuzzy bathrobe.

"Be quick." The call ended.

Wanting to avoid another scolding, my legs scrambled to get my things together. I put on the first dress that touched my hand and wore a jacket on top of it. Without a second glance at myself in the mirror, I was out of the door in record time.

Mentally checking off things in my head, I made it to the elevator and pressed on the button. Thank God for grandma to slip a shopper inside my luggage. I don't know where my things would've gone if not for the shopper.

Room key, phone, notebook, pens...

The doors of the elevator opened, revealing the last person I wanted to be alone in a tight space. No, not a chance in hell.

Jenna Rivers took one look at me and rolled her eyes. The idea of bypassing the elevator ride all together and staying back in the suite sounded very appealing in my head.

"Get in." She scrunched up her nose, annoyed.

Reluctantly, I stepped inside the car and stood in the far corner of the room. Smooth jazz music played inside the elevator. The silence as thick and draggers that were shot to my way didn't go unnoticed.

"The way you two look at each other, I don't like it."

Startled, I turned my head to Jenna. My face muddled in confusion, I stared at her.

She scoffed. "The nerve of this one," she mumbled to herself. "Don't play innocent with me. I know you want my boyfriend to yourself. Your lame attempts don't go unnoticed by me."

"Seriously, Jenna, snap out of your delusion."

"Shut the fuck up. Don't you fucking talk to me that way."

"You asked for it." I straightened my spine and turned towards her entirely. "I am not trying to steal your boyfriend. Unlike you, I have the decency to know when to draw lines."

Her eyes blazed. "What are you trying to inter, bitch?"

"Bitch, I am not implying anything," I threw her words right back at her. "You can infer whatever you want."

She tsked, crossing her arms which made her breast appear prominent in her halter neck, knit jumpsuit. "I can smell your jealousy from a mile away, Astoria," she paused. With the upwards tilt of her lips, which could be only labelled as malicious, she continued,"Or should I say toots?"

The erratic beating of my heart increased when she used my nickname, the one Axel had given me. How did she...

Manicured nails on her lips, mouth formed in an o. "Oh, are you surprised, baby toots?" She snickered. "Ever wondered why the most popular girl of the school would be interested in being friends with a nobody like you? Your puppy love was bound to end one or another. Axel has been mine since before you came into his life. We are equals, not you. You're just the help he got—"

I didn't let her finish, my hands sought her perfectly styled ponytail, I pulled it, harshly. Jenna let out a screeching sound.

"Think twice before calling me the help. You have no right to degrade me, you bitch." I loosened my grip on her hair. "And listen carefully, if I wanted to get my ex-boyfriend, I won't have to try because he'll come running back to me. Lucky for you, I don't want him back so enjoy the charity. I can't help it if he's still interested in me. That's your problem. Deal with it." Withdrawing my hold from her hair, I patted her cheek. "Good girl."

The elevator car opened at the right time, I sauntered out with my head high. I didn't miss the shower of curses that left Jenna's mouth.

The moment I was out of Jenna's line of vision, I hit behind the walls of the alcove and let my shoulders drop. Hand on my mouth, I finally let the emotions get to me.

***

I made sure my eyes didn't show any signs of redness. It was a good thing that my glasses provided me with a sense of sanctuary. I hid my emotions well behind them.

Peter's impatient eyes relaxed once they saw me. I slipped my hand in his and offered him a smile. Peter must've noticed the change in my demeanor, he squeezed my hand and tipped his chin at me. What's wrong? His eyes questioned.

I shook my head at him, displaying a reassuring smile on my face. I was not in the mood for confrontation, just a friend.

He seemed to have got the hint, because he was soon rambling on and on about the places that we were about to visit. My head was not in the right place, I just aimlessly nodded to everything he said, and provided trite suggestions.

My heart caught in my throat when my gaze landed on Axel and Jenna. They were making out like nobody's business and we weren't even on the bus yet. Everyone second stretched a little longer as I watched them.

I told myself, damn near pleaded myself to not look at them, but why did my gaze always sought him out. I really hated myself because I watched them the entire time.

I can smell your jealousy from a mile away.

I tore my gaze away from them and turned to Peter. "Let's get to our seats, shall we?"

"Yeah, come on."

Lincoln Memorial was a joyride for Peter. He looked like a kid in a candy store. I was amazed at his in-depth information on the historical significance of that place and whatnots. I jotted down the things our teacher was saying and of course, Peter's add ons too.

Peter and I separated ourselves from the group and navigated our own way. After what seemed like an hour of joking around, occasionally stopping to appreciate the architectural structure of the building, we joined the group again.

Our hands drift apart, I don't pull Peter back to me when I noticed that he was enjoying the group discussion and absorbing Ms. Priscilla. I let him be. I tried my best to keep myself engaged, but failed.

I studied one of the murals not realizing that the group had gone ahead. My eyes looked around, scanned the crowd, but I couldn't spot them. I fished out my phone and dialed Peter's number. It rang before going to voicemail.

Maybe they had gone on the upper level.

I cursed, inwardly at the thought of another elevator ride. This time around there won't be any hindrance though. I asked around for the directions of the elevator. Already dreading walking, I took long strides to get to the lower level lobby.

I felt strong fingers closed around my elbow. No, not him. I had developed a belief in fate. You can't escape it even if you wanted to. The next better alternative other than to always run from it was to embrace it.

This day had confirmed that my fate was hellbent on whipping my ass. Everything happens for a reason, yeah, yet I don't see what possible reason he was meant to bring in my life.

Heartache, torment, maybe even early death?

Willing myself to face him, I turned my face halfway to meet his. He leaned down, his gentle breath fanning my cheekbones. I felt his light stubble on my skin. There was nowhere I could run. So I stood there, anticipating his next move. What I hadn't expected was to feel the softness of his impossible plump lips on my forehead, he kissed it.

My breath hitched. I didn't stop him. He turned me around so that we were standing facing each other. My heartbeat quickened, I know what that means. He still had an effect on me. His impossibly greek god features made look unattainable. It was my weak point. I was not proud of it.

He didn't utter a word when he maneuvered me around the place. I didn't know where he were going until he pushed me against the wall, the alcove hiding us from prying eyes.

It was then, he unleashed his wrath. His fingers took hold of my chin, forcing our eyes to connect.

"I am running low on patience, Astoria. Are you doing this to get a rise out of me? If yes, then fuck, you're succeeding." His eyes alight, daring me to tear my gaze away from his blues.

"Y-You can go fuck yourself. I don't know what you're talking about."

One thing about me, I never uttered, or had a habit of swearing out curse words. It was rare for me, almost nonexistent. In fact, I often advocated the use of clean language. Axel knew how much I disliked using them. He had never heard me curse before.

Stunned, he gasped out a dark laugh. "He's influencing your language. Where's the christian girl mannerism gone, baby?"

I pushed at his brick of a chest. "Who's he, Axel? You may as well speak in a foreign language now because I don't understand what you're saying."

He squeezed me against him, the hold bruising. "That fucking nerd, Astoria. He's buzzing you around like a fly. He wants to get in your panties."

"Don't speak of Peter that way. He's not like you."

"I don't need to try my way around to get in your panties. They have been mine for a long time," he said with a gleam of arrogance in his voice.

"You sure are getting ahead of yourself. Nothing of mine is yours." I push against his iron hold. "And stop cornering me at every chance you get. Go to your girlfriend, she'll appreciate your attention."

His fingers left my chin and went to my braided hair. He ran his fingers over my hair.

"Axel," I uttered his name with a slight caution when his hands started to trace the length of my back, pulling on my hips. "Don't start this again, please."

"What if I want to," he rasped, leaned forward and buried his face in the crook of my neck. I subconsciously tilted and gave him access to my neck.
"I hate that you don't smell of me." He inhaled deeply, dropping sensual kisses on the skin. "There are so many things I haven't done to you."

"Leave me alone, Axel. How many times have I told you that I will not have you back in my life. Your girlfriend already assumes that there's something going on between us."

"What did you say?" He asked, perplexed. "Jenna," he started. "Did she do anything to you?"

"No, I can handle myself. You on the other hand need to back off."

He blatantly ignored me and to my amazement, his hand came to wrap around my throat. My heartbeat quickened, I stared at him. For the first time, he looked more like a man capable of things to my body.

A lock of hair falls on his forehead, effortlessly. His gaze takes in my body, a hint of smile forming on his sculpted lips. "It's difficult to do things to you when you still dress like you're thirteen. Still an awkward teenage girl with braces on her teeth. That's still you. Sometimes, I don't understand why it's you, still
you who makes my heartbeat. Why, toots? What have you done to me?"

"I ask myself the same question," I told him, surprising myself. "Why does it have to be you. You're selfish, arrogant, stubborn, you take without asking and expect everyone to fall down on their knees in front of you. In reality, you're nothing, but a bully."

His gaze hardened, yet it didn't stop me from telling what I wanted to. "I have had sleepless nights over a cruel heartbreaker like you. I was discarded like yesterday's meal, you didn't even bat an eyelash my way. You moved on quicker than I had anticipated. That's the kind of hurt you've never experienced and never will, because the mighty Axel Trent always gets what he wants. You threw away everything like that." I snapped my fingers. "How do you expect me to feel, baby? Do you want me to cherish the ground you walk or have me back as your dirty little secret? What do you want from me and why can't you leave me alone?" I yelled, not caring if anyone saw or heard us.

Breathless, the tears pooled in my eyes. "I hate you, Axel."

He stood there with an impossibly impassive expression on his face. What was he thinking? Did my words even have any effect on them or were they nothing more than an act of hysteria to him?

I expected him to walk away or to utter something nonsensical. Instead, he cupped my face in the palm of his hands and kissed me. He groaned loudly against my lips and feasted on my lips.

Soft mewls left my throat as he continued the torment. I can feel butterflies in my stomach, somersaulting. He was drugging me every second that passed our mouths locked together.

He kissed with such fervent intensity which made my stomach knot. I became a puddling mess under his magnetic field. His hands pulled at my hips, I gasped when his enormously, hard erection dug into my stomach, he forced me against his erection.

"Axel," I breathlessly mumbled. "Your—"

"That's my cock. It has never been this excited over a damn kiss," he said, in between kisses. "This is what you do to me."

When we had begun dating, there was never a time when we touched each other intimately. Yes, we often slept in the same bed, tightly wrapped against each other and yes, Axel did get very touchy at times, but nothing like this.

Momentarily, he pulled away. I inhaled much needed air. He took my glasses and shoved them inside the pocket of his overcoat.

"Look at me." I blinked, my vision a little blurry. "All you need to do is hold onto me." My arms had turned into custard, I wrapped them around his neck for support.

His cock was still pressed into my stomach. He tucked his hand under my inner thigh, my face reddened at the realization that I was wearing a dress, not jeans. His hand was very close to my wetness.

"My sweet, sweet, Astoria. You remain innocent." He opened me in such a way that my dress had ridden up and now his shaft was pressed against me. I moaned, he grunted. "Oh, fuck." His fingers pressed into my hip, rolling them to his, stimulating his cock.

His tongue ran down on the length of my neck, I threw back my head in pleasure. It was that moment when my phone rang. I was transported back to reality and very aware of the position I was in.

My eyes rounded as I stiffened. "Axel," I said. "Wait."

He saw right through my expression, because I know, balls of fire emitted from the deep ocean of his eyes. "I am not going to stop, and who the fuck is calling you." He let go of my thigh, still holding flush against his body. He picked my, now fallen, shopper and searched for my phone.

One look at the caller id, he was already tightening his arm around me.

"Answer him. Tell him you're with me," He stated.

"Have gone completely crazy?" I found my voice back. "One kiss and you think you have the right to dictate my life. Grow up."

"Oh, Astoria, you have gone crazy if you think there's any chance of you getting rid of me. You let me in again. I felt the dampness of your beautiful panty clad cunt against my jeans. You let me in again and now you'll suffer the consequences."

I don't whether it was pent up hurt, frustration or the arrogant way he spoke, it just riled me up the wrong way. Before I had known what I was doing, my hand met his cheek.

"There's a limit to everything, Axel."

The palm of my hand hurt. I had slapped him way harder than I had intended to.

With a ruthless hold on my braid, he tugged on it. "How dare you slap me? Tell me have I ever slapped you? Hit you?"

"Take a trip down the memory lane, Mr. Trent. You had pinned to the floor the first time we met, your bloody friends had chopped off my hair, you broke my heart into a million pieces. That's way more damage done than a slap."

Instantly, he let go and stepped back.

"There's a lot of things that I should do to you, but it's not worth it. Only thing I ask of you is to leave me alone. Please."

I picked up my shopper and escaped on the first chance I got. Not caring that my vision was blurry, I just sprinted away.

I bumped into somebody, lost my balance and was about to fall when comforting hands held me back. "Hey, easy there."

Peter.

"Peter, it's you right?" I touched his face.

"Yeah, it's me. Where had you disappeared off? What happened to your glasses?"

"I lost my glasses. I was searching for them and lost my way," I lied.

"Hmm." He didn't sound convinced. "Where did you last remove them?"

"Uhm, in the washroom. I don't know where they disappeared, but I did bring a backup pair. It's back at the hotel."

"Stay close then," he said. "We don't you losing your way, now."

***

guys, i am letting you decide whether y'all want two chaptera week, or one chapter a week.
two chapter a weeks length may vary everytime, but one chapter a week will contain maximum of 8K words.
I'll go with the majority, so please decide.

accordingly, i'll put the next date for the update in the book description.