━━━━━━ 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒
chapter four: exposure and absorb

~ 💋📣⭐️~

a knock was heard on bella's door as she let out a quiet " come in". the door opened from behind her before closing again as she looked in the mirror wondering what necklace to put on.

" the cross one, it's fits you more" she heard a voice say from behind her. " what do you want lucien" she said to the boy still not turning around to look at him. she could see him from behind her in the mirror.

" let me put it on you" he told her. he wasn't asking. she knew that.

she handed him the necklace before moving her hair out of the way.

his cold knuckles touched the back of her neck as it sent shivers down her back. comfortable silence fell over them as he hooked it on her. he let it fall on her neck as it now laid on her collarbone.

she dropped her hair back as she felt him now move her hair causing the boy to touch his exposed skin. more goosebumps were sent all over her body from his electric touch.

his hand went down from her shoulder to her low neck line of her black long sleeve shirt. her eyes stayed in the mirror as she made eye contact with the boy before he pulled away from her. a burning hand mark left on her skin that only she could see.

his touch always did that to her.

" so have you seen annie" he asked his bestfriend. she shook her head no before finally turning around to look at him. " she left this morning with beatrice, you know the girl you fucked and then fled" bella told him. the boy let out a smile.

" that could be anyone" he told her. " and that's not a good thing" she finished for him.

" why were you protesting yesterday" she asked him. she was curious. even when she knew curiosity always killed the cat.

" did she tell you where she was going" he ignored her question. noted.

" no she didn't" bella told him. the boy nodded. " will you be at caroline's thing later" bella asks the boy he shrugged. " don't know if it fits my schedule, you know bells i'm a very busy man" lucien told the girl. she hummed before sitting down on her bed.

" and busy with what exactly" she asked him. he smiled at her. " see ya bells" he told her before leaving her dorm room. she let out a small smile as she finished getting ready for class.

bella arrived at the sorority house as she saw everyone getting ready. she had just got back from her classes of the day.

" bella" she heard caroline let out. the girl followed her voice as she walked in on cece basically having a heart attack and blaise looking bored.

" hi" bella spoke as she went over and kissed caroline's cheek. " what's wrong with her" bella asked looking at caroline. " ignore it" caroline let out as she sniffed a dessert.

" what's the update" caroline asked it turning around. " it's blandsman" blaise spoke. " what's a blandsman" cece asked. blaise ignored it. " he's refusing to drop out" the boy spoke.

" i thought you said this was a done deal" caroline let out as she spoke to blaise. " i'm afraid this one requires a little extra finesse" blaise let out. and even bella knew what he meant by that as she tuned the conversation out.

she walked past the group as she felt caroline come up on her side and walk besides her.

bella contuined to walk up the stairs and into caroline's room as it was just her and caroline now. the other two going away.

bella put her bag on one of the blondes many chairs before sitting down on the girls bed.

" what are you planning" bella asked her. " nothing" caroline spoke. " oh your definitely planning something" bella edged her one standing up from the girls bed and walking over to the chair that she had sat on.

" where joseph" caroline asked the girl. " i don't know actuall bella spoke. she barley knew where her brother was. they weren't as close as when they were younger.

" did you know lucien was hanging out with annie" bella asked the girl. the blonde shook her head no. " yeah well i'm like her buddy on campus or whatever and—" she was cut off by caroline's voice.

" buddy" she asked. bella nodded. " the first day of school the headmaster put me basically in charge of her" bella told her. caroline nodded. the girl sitting up straighter then how she was before. " but as i was saying lucine keeps asking me where she is, i think he might like her" bella told the girl sitting in front of her as she stood.

caroline nodded before standing up.

" lucien could never like anyone, besides love anyone if that" the blonde told her before turning out to walk out the door leaving bella in her room.

she did have a point.

champagne glasses were passed around as the party had started. bella stood talking with one of the members of the sorority as she wore a dress. it was this dark red short one that was satin velvet. she wore these black heels with it as she walked around it made a sound.

people knew when she was coming.

she socialized with a bunch of girls as she excused herself from the last girl that she spoke to as she had seen her brother.

" hey joey" she spoke walking with the boy who wore a tux. " bella" he spoke walking with a tray in his hand as he offered some girls champagne. " where have you been" she asked the boy.

" hiding from caroline" he told her. she nodded. " what for" bella asked the boy. " you know the usual" he told her. she nodded. " oh totally" she told the boy before she heard chanting coming from outside.

she walked towards the door opening it as caroline appeared behind her walking in front of the girl.

the blonde just keeps showing up out of no where. she must have learned it from cece.

bella stepped more onto the porch as she saw caroline welcome the protesters in. just then in that moment bella realized the game that caroline was playing.

and the girl was on the verge of saying checkmate.

bella stepped back inside of the house as she used this as a opportunity to greet everyone who came in. constantly saying " welcome" or " how are you" or even a simple hello.

bella stood drinking a glass of champagne as she felt hands grab her hips before taking the glass of champagne out of her hand.

the boy moved his way in front of her as he smiled bringing the drink down.

" might i say that you look absolutely stunning tonight if i do say" he told the girl. she rolled her eyes at his antics.

" lovely for you to actually show up and to bring a crowd. how thoughtful" she told him putting a hand on her heart.

" walk with me" he told the girl as he turned around from her not even giving her a chance to protest back.

the two of them bumped into brian blandsman as lucien grabbed two glasses of champagne off of his tray putting the empty one on there.

" brian. how are you doing?" lucien spoke giving bella a champagne glass. " heard you came up a little bit short. it's a real shame" lucien said before walking away. grabbing bella's hand as he moved. the girl being dragged by him.

they entered back into the main room as lucine put his champagne glass down grabbing the girls out of her own hand and putting it down next to his half empty one.

" you know you should wear red more often" he told her. " and why is that" she hummed out. " because i find it very hard to keep my eyes off of you" he told her honestly. she rolled her eyes as she started walking away from him.

she found annie standing alone as scott had just walked away from her.

" nice for you to come" bella told the girl with a smile. lucine popping up behind bella as he put his hands on her hips moving her over slightly to the side.

bella's eyes saw annie's eyes flash down to where lucien currently held us. the brunette smacking away the boys hands from her body. something about lucine is that he would always grab the girls hips. she never knew why. he just would.

the trio heard commotion as they turned their heads watching beatrice make a foul out of herself with her ridiculously short bangs.

the girl walked up the annie urging her to go as annie pulled her away.

lucien stopped leaning on the wall as bella stood next to him. the boy putting his mouth near the girls ear as she could hear the smile that roamed his face.

" checkmate" he told her.

it was a game of chess all along.

━━━━━━ killwes speaks !
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