๐‘€๐‘’๐‘™๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘™๐‘ฆ

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I didn't know how much I wanted to go out tonight. Staying home wouldn't be so bad considering my parents are keeping their distance. One quiet night of just me laying in bed until I fall asleep with Victor and Emily in the background. I didn't want to think about anything, though my time with Leighton lingered in the back of my mind.

Should I seriously just go for him? What do I get out of it? I had no interest in hearing revved engines and choking up on cloud dust. His entourage would be enough, he didn't need me to win.

"Ede." My father pushed the door ajar and peered in. I turned and looked at him over my shoulder.

"You're still in your school clothes?" He questioned pushing the door farther and walking in.

I shrugged. "I'm too lazy," I told him. He answered with a hushed hum. He continued making his way to me. I paused the tv and sat up.

"How was school?" He stopped at the end of the bed, arms folded.

"Ok."

"Good, good," he nodded. "Do you want to take a walk with me outside?" He asked.

I glanced at him unsure. He didn't seem to be in a bad mood, but sometimes it was hard to tell. "Do I have to?" I asked cautiously.

"I want to show you something." He gave a sincere smile. "You'll love it."

I sighed then rolled off the bed. The both of us made our way down the stairs. I trailed behind him silently. Through automated doors, we entered the backyard. I haven't been back here since we arrived. There was an infinity pool, its edges bordered by palm trees. In the far right corner was a steaming jacuzzi. Beach chairs and mini tables spread about the lawn. The sun had already set and the lights were on to prevent it from being too dark.

After walking through yards of grass and natural scenery we began to approach a miniature house. At first glance, it looked like a guesthouse with unusually large windows. Most of its exterior was glass and wood, its lights were a shimmering gold, lighting the inside from across the lawn.

Inquisition shrugged my brows "What's this?" I turned to him. He glanced at me with a smirk. I tilted my head, looking at the building again.

I continued behind him until he stopped a few paces from the entrance. "Go," he pushed me ahead. I hesitated, excited to see what was behind the doors but a bit scared. I couldn't have been more confused.

I pulled open the double doors to an interior decorated with all my finished pieces. Stations with limited art supplies embroidered on the back walls. There were plants and seating areas that gave it a boho look. There was a small desk and stool placed in a corner with a window that displayed a view of the horizon. Above it was my name. In the middle was a faux fur rug with pastel green bean chairs adjacent to each other.

I turned around to my father who stood behind me, pleased by my speechless reaction. I was taken aback by disbelief, surveilling the room like a deer in headlights.

I always wanted a space other than my room to paint in. In all of our previous homes, there were always enough rooms for me to transform one into a studio but my mother bid against it every time. She said I shouldn't waste my time on insignificant things. Father always opposed the idea too because he thought a career in art or as a leisurely hobby was redundant.

"Is this real?" I gestured to the room. My eyes began to water and my heart overflowed with joy.

"Surprise." My dad chuckled, walking to me arms wide. I ran into him and expressed my gratitude in our embrace.

"All of this is mine?" I looked around again not able to believe it.

"My sincere apologies for the gallery." His expression dampened with a frown. "And I know how much you've wanted this, your own studio."

"Thank you so much, dad." I hugged him again.

"Okay, finish looking around. Don't stay out too long, your mother won't be happy." He rolled his eyes then left.

I travelled the room, running my fingers over all the furniture and soon to be used art supplies. I couldn't shake this giddy feeling, it was everlasting. This was Haven.

My phone began to ring. I swipe right, picking up the facetime from my brother. "Hey," he said shouting over the wind, waving his hand at the screen. The sky behind him was dark but the area was illuminated.

I drew my brows together trying to see where he was. "What are you doing out, what time is it there?"

He seemed breathless like he had been running laps. "I have something to show you," he panted.
"Ok." I chuckled nervously.

He flipped the camera and on the screen twinkled the golden lights of the nighttime Eiffel Tower. My jaw fell in awe, a huge smile taking over my mouth. "Oh my gosh! It's beautiful," I said.

"Every time I pass it I imagine how you'd paint it," a well known New York accent spoke up.

"Is that Danielle?!" I shouted.
He turned the phone to a girl with blue and black box braids, his girlfriend. Her pearly teeth shone at me through the screen.

"Hi, Elli!" She waved excitedly at the phone. "I miss you so much."
"I miss you more," I said with a pouted smile.

River took back the phone. "Did you see it?"
"I did, it's so beautiful, thank you."

"I'm sorry I haven't called since I left," he said apologetically.
"It's alright, we've both been busy," I assured him, he shrugged.

It was quiet for a minute then I say, "I wanna show you something too," my smile reappeared when I looked up from the phone, and to the room. I worried he didn't hear me because of his delayed response and on his end, it was pretty windy.

"Show me," he said. I turn the camera to my new art studio, panning slowly so he could see all of it.

His eyes widened. "Is that?"

"Yeah!" I squealed. "My own art studio!"

"I love that you're painting again." He smiled but his tone sounded off. I flipped the camera back on me. My smile fell quickly when I saw his grim expression. He moves to somewhere quieter, without Dani.

"What did he do?" He grumbled.

I wasn't surprised by his question, it's rare for me to receive something that's genuine. I just wished he hadn't asked. "Nothing believe it or not. It was more mom than him."

He waited for me to elaborate and I did.

"Whether or not he did anything to you directly, this is still just something to gain favour from you."
I started to get irritated. "Fine but is that really so bad, I've been wanting this."

"Sure, but you won't feel great when he takes it from you. You always let these good little things evaporate all the bad things," he argued petulantly.

I swallowed hard. "Am I supposed just live in hell forever-he said we're starting over."

He laughed and a sharp pain struck me in the chest. "Right, until it's back to square one," he condemned.

"What do you want me to do River?" I said defeated. "I'm alone now, remember? You left me with them." My words drew his head back like a punch in the face as what he had already known but not truly considered washed over his face.

I didn't give him the chance to respond. "I have to go now, tell Dani I said bye." I hung up.

The anger that had built was quickly replaced with immense regret. I shouldn't have said that. It wasn't fair. I looked down at the phone for a long while, my thumb hovering over his name. I just wanted to be happy without the reminder that it was false or temporary.

I looked around the room again and it was no longer the paradise it would've been. I felt ridiculous for seeing it as such in the first place. I decided to leave before the tears came. Walking back into the house, mom was waiting for me, arms folded.

"Your food is cold now," she snarled.
"I wouldn't have eaten it anyway," I said and strolled past her.

I fell back into the same position dad had taken me out of. Curled up in my bed, with Victor and Emily in the background. The only difference was the sadness I now felt. I looked at the time, I definitely didn't want to go to Leighton's race now.

My phone dinged and I grabbed it hoping it was River. It was a message from an unknown number.

๐‘Š๐‘–๐‘™๐‘™ ๐ผ ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘’ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘–๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ก?

I stared at the screen skeptically then I replied:

๐‘Šโ„Ž๐‘œ'๐‘  ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘ ?

๐ด๐‘›๐‘”๐‘’๐‘™

I raised my brows in surprise. A quick smile came into effect.

๐ป๐‘œ๐‘ค'๐‘‘ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘”๐‘’๐‘ก ๐‘š๐‘ฆ ๐‘›๐‘ข๐‘š๐‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ

๐ถ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘“๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘’๐‘›๐‘‘

I assumed it was Rowen then typed:

๐‘‚๐‘˜ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘›, ๐‘›๐‘œ
๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ก ๐‘“๐‘’๐‘’๐‘™๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘–๐‘ก

๐ท๐‘Ž๐‘š๐‘›
๐ผ ๐‘‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘›๐‘œ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘›

๐‘Š๐‘‘๐‘ฆ๐‘š

๐ผ'๐‘š ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘ก๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘‘๐‘’

I got up from my bed and to the window on our top balcony that showed outside. He couldn't have seen me but he was leaning on a black Lexus waving towards the house.

I exhaled but not in annoyance, I was definitely pleased by whatever this was. I texted him and told him I would be out soon. Ten minutes I spent getting ready and the other ten I wasted freaking out over nothing. I told my parents I was leaving with a shout as I exited the house.

"How did you know I live here?" I asked as I got into the car after him.

"Friend of a friend." He grinned. I lowered my eyes at him.

His eyes trailed down my body and with a subtle bite of his lip "You look nice...amazing for a date." He perched his brow with a mischievous smile.

I let out an amused scoff as I began shaking my head. "Is that why you're actually here?"

"I did say I want to get to know you," he reminded with an acute smile.

He put the car in reverse and his hand on the wheel, indicating that he was ready to leave. I had not been anywhere besides home and school, and in both many things happened. It was hard to believe that it was still just my first real day here.

We didn't go into the city, but where we were was like a mini version of it. My favourite thing about nighttime drives was the chill of the air which made everything feel alright. I loved how the skyscrapers from afar looked like stars. The moon whether crescent or full always made itself known.

"So did you bet for or against Leighton?" I asked after a while.

"Which one takes away my points?" He glanced at me with the corners of his mouth slowly perking up.

"Against." I turned to him, arms folded, jokingly serious about his response.

He sighed, knocking his fist not too harshly on the steering. "Damn," he grumbled comically.

My eyes widened. "You bet against him, he's your friend!"

He chuckled. "He wouldn't say that," he told me with a dismal tone, but I had stopped listening. Through my window was a red-lit sign with a redhead in pigtails.

"You're taking me to Wendy's?" I was definitely more excited than I should've been.

I exhaled a sigh of reminiscent delight. "It's been like three years since I've been there, or to any fast food restaurant really!"

"Seriously?" His voice rose in pitch.

"Yeah ever since my mom decided she didn't want to age." I rolled my eyes.

I realized as he continued that he wasn't in the lane that lead there. His plan wasn't to take me to Wendy's, which I guess made sense since this was a 'date'. Still, I felt deflated as the excitement left me. He took quick glances between me and the road. I smiled so he didn't think I was disappointed or anything.

He had taken a U-turn about the stoplight and we were driving back. My eyes brighten and the amusement flowed back into me like electricity.

"Time to break your streak." He grinned. I squealed and immediately regretted the annoying sound that left my mouth, but his grin widened and warmth flushed through my chest.

He proceeded to the drive-through and we gave our orders. I got a grilled chicken combo and he order a spicy chicken wrap. We both got extra fries to share. He found the farthest part of the lot with the least amount of cars to park. Together we sat, unwrapped our sandwiches and ate them as the radio punctured the silence.

"You're my favourite person in the world right now," I said in between sips of my drink.

"That's what I strive for," he said smugly with a wink.

When we finished eating we stay for many minutes longer, talking because we had time to spare before the race.

"Why don't you go to Stonewell?" I brought up.

"The Wylder's and my family had a falling out...wasn't pretty," he told me, shaking his head as he recalled it.

"So you and Leighton..."
"We were never truly friends, we only ever interacted because of his brother."

"He has a brother?" I said surprised.
He looked down, away from me. "Had, he died a few years ago."

I felt sorry for bringing up this topic in the first place. The reality of how little I know deepened.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, taking his hand in mine.

"The strain on our family relationships happened during and after that time," he continued melancholically. I wanted to ask what happened, but I felt prying further would dampen the mood more.

He fixated his eyes on our hands together, my thumb caressing his tanned skin. I kept my eyes on him, hoping he would meet them again, to maybe tell me what more to do.

"Thank you for taking me out tonight." I felt changing the topic would be best.

He met my eyes, I smiled and time slowed. "Thank you for letting me," he said in a funny tone. I laughed and so did he. I was relieved.

At this point, we were both facing each other in our seats. I felt this gentle pang that willed me to kiss him. Looking at his face for so long I think I'm in love with his smile. His gaze had fixated on my lips a few times.

There was something different with being with him. I wanted to kiss him, my heart sped up the closer we got but it wasn't something I felt a craving for. He tilted his head slightly as he neared my lips, within seconds they touched and butterflies flew everywhere. The kiss was cute, like the main character's first kiss in a teen romance movie.

It was weird because I had this idea that he was a lot similar to Leighton. In the way, I thought they both were popular guys that get all the girls and sleep with them. In their world it's not a thing to commit to one girl and falling in love is taboo.

But kissing Angel didn't feel like that. I wasn't overwhelmed with the need to sleep with him. I felt like while I'd never even dream of Leighton as my boyfriend. With Angel, I would hope for it days on end.

A/N
I'll say it now, Leighton is Eden's only true love interest, no love triangle because I hate those lol.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, comment and vote and don't forget respectable feedback is always welcomed <3


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