Iliana can't help but laugh at who she finds at the desk outside of the Brinks office. The one person she was planning, hoping, to avoid for as long as possible, which wasn't going to be long since they share the same friends... but Iliana was optimistic in her ability to avoid and ignore.

They were in their girl form, which would've surprised Iliana if she didn't take into account how long she's been gone. She noticed their hair pulled back into a short ponytail, headphones in, and the necklace. The necklace. Iliana swallows as she tears her eyes away and keeps moving towards the door.

Jordan stares at the back of the blonde's head in horror, though they did not show it of course. They made their face stone cold.

Jordan knew Iliana was coming back soon, being it's all Luke, Cate, and Andre could talk about as of late and why Jordan hasn't been hanging out them as much this past week and drowning themselves in music.

Iliana is back. Iliana is back. She's back.

It's all Jordan could repeat in their head of theirs, and it made them want to explode. Their chest felt achy, their palms felt sweaty, they were hating every single fucking second of this... Jordan needs to snap out of this asap-

"Hey." The feminine voice snaps, stopping Iliana in her tracks. "You can't go in their without an appointment." The voice forces goosebumps to grow on Iliana's arms and she curses herself in her head.

She slowly turns around, a smug smile gracing her lips. "I have an appointment." She avoids eye contact but she can't help but notice the cold, blank stare that belongs to Jordan Li.

"I don't see your name down." Jordan snips right back.

"Maybe you're not looking hard enough." Iliana crosses her arms. Jordan's jaw tightens.

So that's how she wants to play it?

Before the pair can exchange anymore words Brink swiftly opens the door of his office. "It's okay, Jordan." He holds his hand up. "This was a last minute meeting."

Iliana can't help but smirk in Jordan's direction, as if to say I won. They sigh through their nose.

"Iliana." Brink opens the door further, beckoning her inside.

Iliana stood still, staring at Brink's extended arm. Why was she even happy she won the little argument when she doesn't even want to meet with Brink in the first place?

"Iliana?" Brink repeats. "Is there a problem?" He looks at her.

Compose yourself.

She sighs irritatedly. "No. No sir, of course not."

As she approaches the elder man he wraps his arm around her shoulder and closes the door, but not before she sneaks a glance over her shoulder to see Jordan shooting daggers at them with their eyes.

Once the door clicks shut Brink's arm moves downward, dangerously close above her ass.

"I've missed you." Brink says.

"Mmm." Her body tenses as she bites the inside of her cheek, drawing blood. The metallic taste coats her tongue and she finds it more comforting the position she's in right now.

Brink releases her and moves to his desk to pour himself a drink. "Please, sit." He motions towards his couch.

"I'm good here."

"I'm proud of you and your brother, Iliana. You've made this university rise beyond what I could've imagined it to be after previous members of The Seven graduated." He opens the crystal bottle of scotch. "Brought in lots of money, sponsors, your movie- my has it done well already."

"Thank you, sir." Iliana takes in his compliments, rather genuine or not, her and Luke have worked their asses off since Freshman year.

"I remember when I first met you and Luke. Luke, he was shy, poor thing could barely make eye contact, but you, you were a star in desperate need of a stage."

Iliana remembers the day Brink came to their house. It was embarrassing, he had to sit in a fold up lawn chair, neither her nor Luke knew how to control their powers or just how powerful they actually were. But Brink, he saw potential. He saw a victim.

"I knew you two, but especially you Iliana, were born to rise to The Seven. Far more powerful than that little Starshine girl." His shakes his head, unimpressed. He moves over to Iliana and places his hand on her back guiding her to the couch. Once sat he places his hand on her leg, high on her leg that it was her thigh.

"You have a suit being designed as we speak. There were some drafts, but I didn't think they would do you justice." His hand slides further up causing Iliana to shift and move it back down. Her mind was screaming to blind him and make a run for it. Melt his hand, melt his eyes, his skin, her skin, and make him pay. She felt disgusted and her face contorted angrier and angrier by the minute, though one would only be able to tell through her eyes, which Brink was not interested in. "When you take your place in The Seven, you will make history."

Iliana looks at him.

"That's right. What I've been telling you since Freshman year. It's signed now, done deal. Lawyers are taking care of it now, but after you and Luke graduate you're going straight to The Seven." Brink beams with pride.

Iliana has been told her entire time at God U that she was going straight to The Seven, no draft or anything. Yes, she's met some of the members and been paraded around as if she was already a part of the team, but hearing it was officially a done deal just solidified it all. Her hard work, the countless nights she spent studying her lines, having a double major, her blood, sweat, tears, and abuse have all paid off. The people she's had to push away, including her own twin, the amount of isolation...

Why didn't she feel happier? More excited?

Probably because she's already had a jump start and gotten a taste of the industry for the past year and a half.

And it's miserable.

"We did it." Brink squeezes her leg bringing her back to conversation. We?

But she plasters the biggest smile on her face anyways. "Yes, we did."

"Ah, I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut our conversation here for today." He glances at the clock before standing. "But don't be a stranger." He looks at her, as if reminding her that she is not free, nor will she ever be.

Happiness is hallow. It is not real. It is a fabrication, something Iliana learned all too quickly but also too late at the same time.

Her eyes flicker over to Brink again as she hears a click and she see's him holding a small riffle. Her brows furrow in confusion.

"Don't worry, it's part of training." He looks at her excitedly before opening his office door. "Jordan!" He shouts. She stands making her way to the door to watch.

"What the fuck?" A girl lets out as Brink shoots Jordan as they turn to him and shift to their male form as the bullet hits their chest.

Iliana turns to the dark-skinned girl, looking her up and down and nods. Cute. Probably won't last.

Jordan smirks as they grab the bent bullet off their shirt. Iliana rolls her eyes.

Brink laughs. "Goddamn, that's the fastest draw I've ever seen. "

"Uh, you're gonna need to buy me a new shirt, Professor." Jordan 

"Oh, hey, sorry, champ." Brink chuckles.

"Maybe you can send Iliana on an errand to buy me one." Jordan smiles cockily.

Iliana scoffs, narrowing her eyes at them.

The unknown girl turns to Iliana, not having noticing her until now.

"Oh my god, you're Iliana Riordan." She says in awe.

Illie only nods with a small smile.

"So, what do we got?" Brink asks Jordan.

"Um... Ashley Barrett asked you to speak at the Vought retreat in Sun Valley." Jordan begins and Iliana scrunches her nose at Ashley's name. She's met and worked with the woman one too many times and can confidently say she is too much for her.

"Mm, hard pass." Brink says.

Iliana knows she doesn't have to stay any longer, but she likes to keep her eyes and ears open. She looks strangely at the girl who was still standing there as well, looking doe-eyed and hopeful at Brink, as if desperately waiting for him to acknowledge her.

Jordan continues. "Good Morning America wants to interview you about 'how Brink's technique with Super kids can help with your kid.'"

"Tell 'em to read my book." Brink gruffs, cleaning the gun.

"I've read your book." The girl jumps in.

Who is this girl... Iliana thought to herself. Everyone turns their attention to her.

"I've read all of your books."

"I've already handled this, sir." Jordan is quick to intervene. Well, that only makes Iliana want to hear more from her.

"Sir, she... I mean, he... they..." She turns to Jordan very confused causing Iliana to laugh quietly. "Rejected me from your Intro class. But they're dead wrong."

"Who are you to reject people, Jordan?" Iliana asks, walking towards the bigender TA who apparently thinks they have all the power around here, and places her palm flat on their desk.

"Stay out of this, Iliana." Jordan snaps, looking up at her.

"They don't know me." The girl finishes, looking strongly at Brink.

"That so?" Brink glances at Jordan who sheepishly shrugs before glaring at Iliana.

"It's like you always say: "It's not about the talent. It's about the drive." Right?" She steps closer to Brink. Iliana looks impressed, which doesn't happen often, piecing together at this point that the girl is a Freshman, which was pretty obvious given her young, ready-to-learn face and attitude. "And that's me. I could go all the way. I just... I just need the chance."

Iliana glances at her manicured nails. "I think you should give her a chance, Brink." She voices.

Jordan scoffs, grabbing her by her elbow, pulling her back. "What do you think you're doing?" They whisper-shout causing Iliana to snap her head towards them and they hurriedly let go, realizing what they had just did. They both ignore the tingling feeling the contact gave one another and quickly compose themselves. "You're just sticking up for her because I rejected her." Jordan's words pour out like venom.

Iliana smirks. "What's wrong with that?"

"Performing Arts is a fine program." Brink's voice snaps the two out of their heated discussion. "Isn't that right, Iliana?" She snaps her head to him. She wouldn't know that much considering she only began to take Arts classes right before she left... "You could be on Dancing with the Stars." He nods before entering his office and shutting the door, taking the girl's last hope and dignity with him.

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Helloooo lovely readers <3

Can we all just say a quick F U BRINK!

Also Iliana is very much a pot stirrer, and I love it!!

And what did y'all think of her and Jordan's interactionnn ;)

Hope y'all enjoyed the kick off of episode 1, many more parts to come. Please don't forget or be afraid to comment your thoughts, questions, and reactions!! Comments are so motivating for me to write! See you in the next part!