Chapter 11
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<▪▪Stars▪▪>
Alexander's POV.
"Is he there in London?" I asked impatiently on the phone as a masseuse massaged my other hand. It never occurred to me that Julius would head there, but when Philip suggested it, it didn't seem so despicable. Yet it disturbed me deeply as to why he'd be there. Which Philip answered almost instantly. To look for the girl.
It seemed absurd in the beginning, but after processing it in my head, I immediately knew that it was possible. Julius's mind was like a Rubik's cube that I only seemed to know its strategy. And it made perfect sense because he disappeared from the hospital and hadn't been at his slut's -Audrey- funeral. This only meant that he was after something more important.
Revenge. My idiotic, moronic son wanted revenge. He was playing dangerous for revenge. He'd always be childish, complaining, arrogant boy.
"I don't know yet, Da-" Augustus replied.
"It's been long enough," I said with frustration. "I'm not sure if I should've assigned you to d-" I glared at the masseuse who started to remove my rings. She noticed and left them in place.
"It's been less than 24 hours, dad. Chill-" He wasn't being serious and I got angrier.
"Are you joking around?" I shouted on the phone. He laughed for long before he started wheezing. I squeezed my eyes shut, smiling involuntarily.
Well. Augustus was Augustus.
"I'm not joking, Dad. But I'll see if he's in London that Julius guy of yours. Who is he anyway?" He asked in a curious voice and I sighed.
"None of your business. Just find him. Okay? I'll send you his picture later today. Remember, you'll get double the usual reward." I said looking at the rings on my fingers.
"For just finding a person? You're spoiling me," he said sarcastically and I almost rolled my eyes. "Dad?" Augustus said after a pause.
"Yes?" I said.
"You do realize that I'm doing this not just for the sake of money, right?" He said seriously and I rolled my eyes this time. I knew where this was going. "I like it when you involve me in what you do, yo-"
"Augustus, we've had this conversation before. Me making you look for Julius is all you're getting. Help me try protecting you." I stated crossly and heard him chuckle.
"I know. Just messing with you, old man." He said and laughed lightly. I sighed heavily.
I knew he wasn't really 'messing' with me.
"Alright, Daddy, I have this new sex joke, wanna hear?" He was now changing the topic. "It's-oh my god- lit. I bet you will relate." He guffawed and I shook my head and lowered the phone to hang up.
"WAIT, DAD DON'T HANG UP-" Then another fit of laughter burst from my phone's speakers and I hung up laughing myself.
What nonsense.
I relaxed back into the sofa in the living room watching some old boring movie and sipping on a cold, strawberry smoothie. I then sighed heavily and kept switching channels.
---
Julius's POV.
I woke up with the sound of my phone ringing. I reached for it from my bedside table and squinted at the bright light.
It was Caroline. I took my time to roll my eye and to consider whether or not should I answer the call. I ended up answering anyway. It turned out, that people got offended by a rejected phone call. And I couldn't afford to lose Caroline, who proved very useful. Who knew? Maybe, I'd use her again.
"Hey!" she exclaimed and I had to put the phone away from my ears, grimacing.
"Hi. Caroline." I stated, trying not to sound bored and she giggled.
"Since you're coming to the party, can please you do me a favour? Like a really important one?" She asked in her squeaky voice and I remained silent for a while choosing between the following possibilities:
1. Hang up on her. (And to hell, with her thinking I was rude.)
2. Tell her the truth that I won't be going. (Turning down an invitation is also offensive, I guessed.)
3. Go kill myself. (But I really valued my life. Audrey didn't die for anything.)
"Romeo? Hello-"
"I'm still here." I chuckled nervously. "Yes, sure what?" I said, realizing that I have abandoned my three options which meant one thing and one thing only.
Going to the bloody party.
"Yay! Sooo, I was at the salon doing my hair. And when I was done, Joe and Ben left in my car as a stupid prank. And I don't like public transport alone. So how about you come and give me a ride or something?" For a moment, I couldn't blame Joe and Ben for what they did.
"Yes. Okay. Sure. What's its name?"
She gave me the salon's name, thanked me then hung up.
I groaned, got out of bed, pulled on my jeans and a plain white shirt topped with my new leather jacket and left. I took a cab to the salon and watched her stand, tapping her sparkly stilettos her arms crossed across her chest.
She looked stunning in her short red dress that revealed a little cleavage. Her blond hair curls were shining under the salon's lights beautifully.
I told the driver to wait for a few, got out of the cab and walked to her. She noticed me and then broke into a grin.
"Romeo, you're such a lifesaver, oh my god!" She then threw herself on me as my eyes widened and I staggered back not expecting the embrace before I steadied myself. I quickly hugged her back while gritting my teeth in pain.
How more could my wound be bloody conspicuous? It was in a cast. And-A-Sling. Dammit, Caroline.
She pulled back, her hands still on my shoulders.
Okay. Something you should know about me is that I hated being touched. If I haven't said that before. That girl right there was 2.25 seconds away from getting punched in her pretty face when she suddenly said something that completely caught me off guard.
"You know? You're a very nice person Romeo." She sighed dreamily and smiled.
"Uh-whatever do you mean?" I said averting my gaze, still not getting why did she really say that.
She giggled and I looked at her curiously. "Like Ben thinks you're a bad person and I shouldn't have trusted you. But I think he's so wrong-" She paused and looked in my eyes.
I was already feeling uncomfortable and was ready to detach her arms away from my shoulders.
"We could you know, know each other more. We could get closer-" She leaned in closing her eyes and I was praying god for any natural disaster to save me from this. It was completely uncivilized and unacceptable. She was literally throwing herself on me.
A sharp 'beep' distracted her and I used this moment to shrug off her arms to look at the cab's driver who was pointing at his watch.
I looked back at Caroline who was blushing. "Okay, Caroline. It's time to go. Oh, I forgot to tell you that you look absolutely stunning today." I said biting back my laughter at the disappointment etched on her face.
She couldn't possibly think that I was interested in her. I genuinely hoped not.
---
By the time we reached the party, I was already grilled to the bone with so many questions from Caroline's side. All irrelevant questions which placed her under the amateur-amateur category. She then excused herself cause she was the 'host'.
Good bloody riddance.
I looked at the huge villa that was drenched by a carpet of darkness. Everyone was half naked and glowing as they danced drunkenly to the beat. The swimming pool was somehow glowing too as people jumped into it laughing.
Not my scene. The darkness and the crowd of the place would demand me to be more alert and vigilant. I didn't like that. I walked like a shadow between the glowing people and past the place with UV paint, where people painted their bodies and faces.
I walked past all that to the bar where the bartender was a glowing girl in bra and shorts.
"What would you like, sir?" She said in a playfully as she rested her elbows on the bar and leaned across it so her breasts almost fell out.
"Margarita," I stated solidly and she giggled.
"Why so down?" She pouted jokingly and I smirked. "And why aren't you glowiiing?" She stood straight, bent down then came up, before splattering paint on my shirt and forehead.
The next moment I found myself holding her harshly from her forearm and dragging her across the bar toward me in anger. Her face was a few inches from mine. She looked into my eyes terrified as her mouth hung open unable to form coherent words. I immediately let her go.
"I'm sorry-" I started, but she stumbled back and ran outside the bar. I took a deep calming breath and sighed. I should be able to control my anger. Besides, it was a bloody party, what the hell did I expect?
I rubbed my temples and got up. I needed to stop looking and acting like a lunatic grandfather if I was to disguise properly.
Goodness gracious, all I wanted was Sam Ricardo. Why did I get stuck up in all that drama? And to make matters worse, it was drama that I was never a part of. Whiny women, parties, small talk, etc.
So, of course, I had to walk right into somebody, to get some liquid on my shirt when I was already cold to the bone.
I looked up, biting tongue in anger and found none other than the guy at the bar looking at me in surprise.
"No bloody way! It's you! The bar guy! Romeo!" He shouted over the thumping music and I stared at him.
Nope- no-huh, please no- God please send an air-borne vacuum to suck me out of existence.
"Yes, and it's you- uh-" I tried to search my head for his name but found it impossible in this horrendous atmosphere. Music, people dancing, people colliding with me every once in a while, dancing lights (which I had no idea why someone would waste their hard-earned money on if it cannot illuminate properly, add to that, its ability to cause me a great headache). I was awfully displeased.
"Augustus. See? That's why I wanted to change my name. No one remembers it," he said smiling.
I looked down on him. He was wearing only shorts while his chest had a glowing butterfly on it.
"It's beautiful, right? I insisted on drawing it." He pointed at the butterfly and I snorted.
"Yeah. Beautiful. Of course." I squinted as a moving spotlight shone in my eyes. Bloody spotlight.
"My dear friend, you seem lonely and bored. How about we do something together?" He shouted in my ears and I realized we were walking.
And that was supposed to be a no.
"Really? Like what?" I said, nevertheless, as I chanted 'don't be unpleasant' under my breath.
"Like first, take off your jacket." He said loudly, waving a hand toward me.
"Take off my jacket? It's absurdly cold." I said, shoving my hands in my jacket's pockets.
"How do you think I feel, mate?" He looked at me incredulously as I glanced at his bare chest again. "I feel like my nipples became two tiny, shrivelled raisins. Seriously. Take it off." He stopped walking and waited for me to take off my jacket.
I sighed, shrugged it off carefully and gave it to Augustus who placed it on a nearby chair.
"Take off that shirt too."
And there was no way I was taking it off. I had horrendous scars on my back and I wanted to hide them away from prying eyes. I was very self-conscious about them and I couldn't help it because the explanation behind them was humiliating.
Sensing my hesitation, Augustus continued. "It's already wet. What's its point?"
He was particularly right. So here I was standing amidst, possibly, a hundred drunk, supposedly responsible adults, trying to find a way out of this as I watched a person I merely know waiting for a response.
So I had to compromise again. It was dark, so no one would notice it. Besides, I was quite sure Augustus was drunk himself. So I peeled off the shirt, threw it on the same chair, quickly reached for my jacket and draped it over my back. He raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
I sighed in relief but cursed under my breath when a cold, unwelcome breeze blew right through my jacket and hair.
"Okay, Romeo. Lemme paint something on you!" He was too excited and I had to stop it. So I put out a hand.
"Do not. Please. I'd rather no-" I started.
"Please don't be the one to draw or don't draw in the first place?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"Both." I felt bored beyond words and wondered if I could possibly slip out and return peacefully to my motel.
"That's it. I'm doing both." He exclaimed, then dragged me toward the painting stall. I pulled my arm away from his clutch as he bent to collect some brushes dripping in paint.
"Okay. I can draw butterflies, stars, hearts-" he paused as if to remember. "Oh and cars. What would you like?"
I cringed at the collection from which I had to choose from. "Stars?"
"Okay. Simple. I'm perfect at this. Do you want a pink glow or yellow glow?" He questioned, raising a corresponding brush to each colour. "I recommend yellow, though, like I did, because we have the same hair colour. What do you say?"
"Yellow," I stated bitterly and he started drawing as I felt my skin crawl under the cool paint.
He then looked up, throwing away the brushes. "Done! Uh- the middle star is a little big, though," he pointed at my torso. "But that's okay."
"That's very generous of you. Augustus." I said between my teeth as I smiled slightly, staring at the disaster on my chest.
"Don't even mention it, man."
"Oka-"
"ROMEO!" A familiar voice rang in my ears and I instinctively (and stupidly, may I add) turned to find none other than a glowing Caroline walking toward me.
"Looks like the fun's here! I'll leave you, then, mate." Augustus shouted/whispered in my ears and I almost ironically begged him to stay before he slipped away in the crowd.
I took a deep breath and faced the other disaster. Caroline had glowing yellow spots lining her cheekbones, nose bridge, the top of her eyebrows and her collarbones. She handed me a drink and I took it.
"So I see you've blended in!" She shouted over the music which I impossibly tried ignoring for the past half an hour.
"Yes. It's a nice party." I commented grimly.
"I'm glad you like it!" She sipped on her drink and I smiled.
She then looked down at my body and laughed. "Who drew those stars?"
I looked down at myself distracted and shook my head.
"A dear friend." I enunciated ridiculously.
She then nodded, smiled and sipped more of her drink. I stared at her hair that shone under the lights and raised my eyebrows.
"Want to see my bedroom? It's quieter than here." She said and I thought that anything quieter than 'here' would be really desirable at the moment.
"Yes. Please."
"Follow me."
And I did.
***
A/N: So...What do you think of my characters? Who's your favourite?
Love, LOVE you all <3
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
<▪▪Stars▪▪>
Alexander's POV.
"Is he there in London?" I asked impatiently on the phone as a masseuse massaged my other hand. It never occurred to me that Julius would head there, but when Philip suggested it, it didn't seem so despicable. Yet it disturbed me deeply as to why he'd be there. Which Philip answered almost instantly. To look for the girl.
It seemed absurd in the beginning, but after processing it in my head, I immediately knew that it was possible. Julius's mind was like a Rubik's cube that I only seemed to know its strategy. And it made perfect sense because he disappeared from the hospital and hadn't been at his slut's -Audrey- funeral. This only meant that he was after something more important.
Revenge. My idiotic, moronic son wanted revenge. He was playing dangerous for revenge. He'd always be childish, complaining, arrogant boy.
"I don't know yet, Da-" Augustus replied.
"It's been long enough," I said with frustration. "I'm not sure if I should've assigned you to d-" I glared at the masseuse who started to remove my rings. She noticed and left them in place.
"It's been less than 24 hours, dad. Chill-" He wasn't being serious and I got angrier.
"Are you joking around?" I shouted on the phone. He laughed for long before he started wheezing. I squeezed my eyes shut, smiling involuntarily.
Well. Augustus was Augustus.
"I'm not joking, Dad. But I'll see if he's in London that Julius guy of yours. Who is he anyway?" He asked in a curious voice and I sighed.
"None of your business. Just find him. Okay? I'll send you his picture later today. Remember, you'll get double the usual reward." I said looking at the rings on my fingers.
"For just finding a person? You're spoiling me," he said sarcastically and I almost rolled my eyes. "Dad?" Augustus said after a pause.
"Yes?" I said.
"You do realize that I'm doing this not just for the sake of money, right?" He said seriously and I rolled my eyes this time. I knew where this was going. "I like it when you involve me in what you do, yo-"
"Augustus, we've had this conversation before. Me making you look for Julius is all you're getting. Help me try protecting you." I stated crossly and heard him chuckle.
"I know. Just messing with you, old man." He said and laughed lightly. I sighed heavily.
I knew he wasn't really 'messing' with me.
"Alright, Daddy, I have this new sex joke, wanna hear?" He was now changing the topic. "It's-oh my god- lit. I bet you will relate." He guffawed and I shook my head and lowered the phone to hang up.
"WAIT, DAD DON'T HANG UP-" Then another fit of laughter burst from my phone's speakers and I hung up laughing myself.
What nonsense.
I relaxed back into the sofa in the living room watching some old boring movie and sipping on a cold, strawberry smoothie. I then sighed heavily and kept switching channels.
---
Julius's POV.
I woke up with the sound of my phone ringing. I reached for it from my bedside table and squinted at the bright light.
It was Caroline. I took my time to roll my eye and to consider whether or not should I answer the call. I ended up answering anyway. It turned out, that people got offended by a rejected phone call. And I couldn't afford to lose Caroline, who proved very useful. Who knew? Maybe, I'd use her again.
"Hey!" she exclaimed and I had to put the phone away from my ears, grimacing.
"Hi. Caroline." I stated, trying not to sound bored and she giggled.
"Since you're coming to the party, can please you do me a favour? Like a really important one?" She asked in her squeaky voice and I remained silent for a while choosing between the following possibilities:
1. Hang up on her. (And to hell, with her thinking I was rude.)
2. Tell her the truth that I won't be going. (Turning down an invitation is also offensive, I guessed.)
3. Go kill myself. (But I really valued my life. Audrey didn't die for anything.)
"Romeo? Hello-"
"I'm still here." I chuckled nervously. "Yes, sure what?" I said, realizing that I have abandoned my three options which meant one thing and one thing only.
Going to the bloody party.
"Yay! Sooo, I was at the salon doing my hair. And when I was done, Joe and Ben left in my car as a stupid prank. And I don't like public transport alone. So how about you come and give me a ride or something?" For a moment, I couldn't blame Joe and Ben for what they did.
"Yes. Okay. Sure. What's its name?"
She gave me the salon's name, thanked me then hung up.
I groaned, got out of bed, pulled on my jeans and a plain white shirt topped with my new leather jacket and left. I took a cab to the salon and watched her stand, tapping her sparkly stilettos her arms crossed across her chest.
She looked stunning in her short red dress that revealed a little cleavage. Her blond hair curls were shining under the salon's lights beautifully.
I told the driver to wait for a few, got out of the cab and walked to her. She noticed me and then broke into a grin.
"Romeo, you're such a lifesaver, oh my god!" She then threw herself on me as my eyes widened and I staggered back not expecting the embrace before I steadied myself. I quickly hugged her back while gritting my teeth in pain.
How more could my wound be bloody conspicuous? It was in a cast. And-A-Sling. Dammit, Caroline.
She pulled back, her hands still on my shoulders.
Okay. Something you should know about me is that I hated being touched. If I haven't said that before. That girl right there was 2.25 seconds away from getting punched in her pretty face when she suddenly said something that completely caught me off guard.
"You know? You're a very nice person Romeo." She sighed dreamily and smiled.
"Uh-whatever do you mean?" I said averting my gaze, still not getting why did she really say that.
She giggled and I looked at her curiously. "Like Ben thinks you're a bad person and I shouldn't have trusted you. But I think he's so wrong-" She paused and looked in my eyes.
I was already feeling uncomfortable and was ready to detach her arms away from my shoulders.
"We could you know, know each other more. We could get closer-" She leaned in closing her eyes and I was praying god for any natural disaster to save me from this. It was completely uncivilized and unacceptable. She was literally throwing herself on me.
A sharp 'beep' distracted her and I used this moment to shrug off her arms to look at the cab's driver who was pointing at his watch.
I looked back at Caroline who was blushing. "Okay, Caroline. It's time to go. Oh, I forgot to tell you that you look absolutely stunning today." I said biting back my laughter at the disappointment etched on her face.
She couldn't possibly think that I was interested in her. I genuinely hoped not.
---
By the time we reached the party, I was already grilled to the bone with so many questions from Caroline's side. All irrelevant questions which placed her under the amateur-amateur category. She then excused herself cause she was the 'host'.
Good bloody riddance.
I looked at the huge villa that was drenched by a carpet of darkness. Everyone was half naked and glowing as they danced drunkenly to the beat. The swimming pool was somehow glowing too as people jumped into it laughing.
Not my scene. The darkness and the crowd of the place would demand me to be more alert and vigilant. I didn't like that. I walked like a shadow between the glowing people and past the place with UV paint, where people painted their bodies and faces.
I walked past all that to the bar where the bartender was a glowing girl in bra and shorts.
"What would you like, sir?" She said in a playfully as she rested her elbows on the bar and leaned across it so her breasts almost fell out.
"Margarita," I stated solidly and she giggled.
"Why so down?" She pouted jokingly and I smirked. "And why aren't you glowiiing?" She stood straight, bent down then came up, before splattering paint on my shirt and forehead.
The next moment I found myself holding her harshly from her forearm and dragging her across the bar toward me in anger. Her face was a few inches from mine. She looked into my eyes terrified as her mouth hung open unable to form coherent words. I immediately let her go.
"I'm sorry-" I started, but she stumbled back and ran outside the bar. I took a deep calming breath and sighed. I should be able to control my anger. Besides, it was a bloody party, what the hell did I expect?
I rubbed my temples and got up. I needed to stop looking and acting like a lunatic grandfather if I was to disguise properly.
Goodness gracious, all I wanted was Sam Ricardo. Why did I get stuck up in all that drama? And to make matters worse, it was drama that I was never a part of. Whiny women, parties, small talk, etc.
So, of course, I had to walk right into somebody, to get some liquid on my shirt when I was already cold to the bone.
I looked up, biting tongue in anger and found none other than the guy at the bar looking at me in surprise.
"No bloody way! It's you! The bar guy! Romeo!" He shouted over the thumping music and I stared at him.
Nope- no-huh, please no- God please send an air-borne vacuum to suck me out of existence.
"Yes, and it's you- uh-" I tried to search my head for his name but found it impossible in this horrendous atmosphere. Music, people dancing, people colliding with me every once in a while, dancing lights (which I had no idea why someone would waste their hard-earned money on if it cannot illuminate properly, add to that, its ability to cause me a great headache). I was awfully displeased.
"Augustus. See? That's why I wanted to change my name. No one remembers it," he said smiling.
I looked down on him. He was wearing only shorts while his chest had a glowing butterfly on it.
"It's beautiful, right? I insisted on drawing it." He pointed at the butterfly and I snorted.
"Yeah. Beautiful. Of course." I squinted as a moving spotlight shone in my eyes. Bloody spotlight.
"My dear friend, you seem lonely and bored. How about we do something together?" He shouted in my ears and I realized we were walking.
And that was supposed to be a no.
"Really? Like what?" I said, nevertheless, as I chanted 'don't be unpleasant' under my breath.
"Like first, take off your jacket." He said loudly, waving a hand toward me.
"Take off my jacket? It's absurdly cold." I said, shoving my hands in my jacket's pockets.
"How do you think I feel, mate?" He looked at me incredulously as I glanced at his bare chest again. "I feel like my nipples became two tiny, shrivelled raisins. Seriously. Take it off." He stopped walking and waited for me to take off my jacket.
I sighed, shrugged it off carefully and gave it to Augustus who placed it on a nearby chair.
"Take off that shirt too."
And there was no way I was taking it off. I had horrendous scars on my back and I wanted to hide them away from prying eyes. I was very self-conscious about them and I couldn't help it because the explanation behind them was humiliating.
Sensing my hesitation, Augustus continued. "It's already wet. What's its point?"
He was particularly right. So here I was standing amidst, possibly, a hundred drunk, supposedly responsible adults, trying to find a way out of this as I watched a person I merely know waiting for a response.
So I had to compromise again. It was dark, so no one would notice it. Besides, I was quite sure Augustus was drunk himself. So I peeled off the shirt, threw it on the same chair, quickly reached for my jacket and draped it over my back. He raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
I sighed in relief but cursed under my breath when a cold, unwelcome breeze blew right through my jacket and hair.
"Okay, Romeo. Lemme paint something on you!" He was too excited and I had to stop it. So I put out a hand.
"Do not. Please. I'd rather no-" I started.
"Please don't be the one to draw or don't draw in the first place?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"Both." I felt bored beyond words and wondered if I could possibly slip out and return peacefully to my motel.
"That's it. I'm doing both." He exclaimed, then dragged me toward the painting stall. I pulled my arm away from his clutch as he bent to collect some brushes dripping in paint.
"Okay. I can draw butterflies, stars, hearts-" he paused as if to remember. "Oh and cars. What would you like?"
I cringed at the collection from which I had to choose from. "Stars?"
"Okay. Simple. I'm perfect at this. Do you want a pink glow or yellow glow?" He questioned, raising a corresponding brush to each colour. "I recommend yellow, though, like I did, because we have the same hair colour. What do you say?"
"Yellow," I stated bitterly and he started drawing as I felt my skin crawl under the cool paint.
He then looked up, throwing away the brushes. "Done! Uh- the middle star is a little big, though," he pointed at my torso. "But that's okay."
"That's very generous of you. Augustus." I said between my teeth as I smiled slightly, staring at the disaster on my chest.
"Don't even mention it, man."
"Oka-"
"ROMEO!" A familiar voice rang in my ears and I instinctively (and stupidly, may I add) turned to find none other than a glowing Caroline walking toward me.
"Looks like the fun's here! I'll leave you, then, mate." Augustus shouted/whispered in my ears and I almost ironically begged him to stay before he slipped away in the crowd.
I took a deep breath and faced the other disaster. Caroline had glowing yellow spots lining her cheekbones, nose bridge, the top of her eyebrows and her collarbones. She handed me a drink and I took it.
"So I see you've blended in!" She shouted over the music which I impossibly tried ignoring for the past half an hour.
"Yes. It's a nice party." I commented grimly.
"I'm glad you like it!" She sipped on her drink and I smiled.
She then looked down at my body and laughed. "Who drew those stars?"
I looked down at myself distracted and shook my head.
"A dear friend." I enunciated ridiculously.
She then nodded, smiled and sipped more of her drink. I stared at her hair that shone under the lights and raised my eyebrows.
"Want to see my bedroom? It's quieter than here." She said and I thought that anything quieter than 'here' would be really desirable at the moment.
"Yes. Please."
"Follow me."
And I did.
***
A/N: So...What do you think of my characters? Who's your favourite?
Love, LOVE you all <3
StarsAlexander's POV."Is he there in London?" I asked impatiently on the phone as a masseuse massaged my other hand. It never occurred to me that Julius would head there, but when Philip suggested it, it didn't seem so despicable. Yet it disturbed me deeply as to why he'd be there. Which Philip answered almost instantly. To look for the girl.It seemed absurd in the beginning, but after processing it in my head, I immediately knew that it was possible. Julius's mind was like a Rubik's cube that I only seemed to know its strategy. And it made perfect sense because he disappeared from the hospital and hadn't been at his slut's -Audrey- funeral. This only meant that he was after something more important.Revenge. My idiotic, moronic son wanted revenge. He was playing dangerous for revenge. He'd always be childish, complaining, arrogant boy."I don't know yet, Da-" Augustus replied."It's been long enough," I said with frustration. "I'm not sure if I should've assigned you to d-" I glared at the masseuse who started to remove my rings. She noticed and left them in place."It's been less than 24 hours, dad. Chill-" He wasn't being serious and I got angrier."Are you joking around?" I shouted on the phone. He laughed for long before he started wheezing. I squeezed my eyes shut, smiling involuntarily.Well. Augustus was Augustus."I'm not joking, Dad. But I'll see if he's in London that Julius guy of yours. Who is he anyway?" He asked in a curious voice and I sighed."None of your business. Just find him. Okay? I'll send you his picture later today. Remember, you'll get double the usual reward." I said looking at the rings on my fingers."For just finding a person? You're spoiling me," he said sarcastically and I almost rolled my eyes. "Dad?" Augustus said after a pause."Yes?" I said."You do realize that I'm doing this not just for the sake of money, right?" He said seriously and I rolled my eyes this time. I knew where this was going. "I like it when you involve me in what you do, yo-""Augustus, we've had this conversation before. Me making you look for Julius is all you're getting. Help me try protecting you." I stated crossly and heard him chuckle."I know. Just messing with you, old man." He said and laughed lightly. I sighed heavily.I knew he wasn't really 'messing' with me."Alright, Daddy, I have this new sex joke, wanna hear?" He was now changing the topic. "It's-oh my god- lit. I bet you will relate." He guffawed and I shook my head and lowered the phone to hang up."WAIT, DAD DON'T HANG UP-" Then another fit of laughter burst from my phone's speakers and I hung up laughing myself.What nonsense.I relaxed back into the sofa in the living room watching some old boring movie and sipping on a cold, strawberry smoothie. I then sighed heavily and kept switching channels.---Julius's POV.I woke up with the sound of my phone ringing. I reached for it from my bedside table and squinted at the bright light.It was Caroline. I took my time to roll my eye and to consider whether or not should I answer the call. I ended up answering anyway. It turned out, that people got offended by a rejected phone call. And I couldn't afford to lose Caroline, who proved very useful. Who knew? Maybe, I'd use her again."Hey!" she exclaimed and I had to put the phone away from my ears, grimacing."Hi. Caroline." I stated, trying not to sound bored and she giggled."Since you're coming to the party, can please you do me a favour? Like a really important one?" She asked in her squeaky voice and I remained silent for a while choosing between the following possibilities:1. Hang up on her. And to hell, with her thinking I was rude.2. Tell her the truth that I won't be going. Turning down an invitation is also offensive, I guessed.3. Go kill myself. But I really valued my life. Audrey didn't die for anything."Romeo? Hello-""I'm still here." I chuckled nervously. "Yes, sure what?" I said, realizing that I have abandoned my three options which meant one thing and one thing only.Going to the bloody party."Yay! Sooo, I was at the salon doing my hair. And when I was done, Joe and Ben left in my car as a stupid prank. And I don't like public transport alone. So how about you come and give me a ride or something?" For a moment, I couldn't blame Joe and Ben for what they did."Yes. Okay. Sure. What's its name?"She gave me the salon's name, thanked me then hung up.I groaned, got out of bed, pulled on my jeans and a plain white shirt topped with my new leather jacket and left. I took a cab to the salon and watched her stand, tapping her sparkly stilettos her arms crossed across her chest.She looked stunning in her short red dress that revealed a little cleavage. Her blond hair curls were shining under the salon's lights beautifully.I told the driver to wait for a few, got out of the cab and walked to her. She noticed me and then broke into a grin."Romeo, you're such a lifesaver, oh my god!" She then threw herself on me as my eyes widened and I staggered back not expecting the embrace before I steadied myself. I quickly hugged her back while gritting my teeth in pain.How more could my wound be bloody conspicuous? It was in a cast. And-A-Sling. Dammit, Caroline.She pulled back, her hands still on my shoulders.Okay. Something you should know about me is that I hated being touched. If I haven't said that before. That girl right there was 2.25 seconds away from getting punched in her pretty face when she suddenly said something that completely caught me off guard."You know? You're a very nice person Romeo." She sighed dreamily and smiled."Uh-whatever do you mean?" I said averting my gaze, still not getting why did she really say that.She giggled and I looked at her curiously. "Like Ben thinks you're a bad person and I shouldn't have trusted you. But I think he's so wrong-" She paused and looked in my eyes.I was already feeling uncomfortable and was ready to detach her arms away from my shoulders."We could you know, know each other more. We could get closer-" She leaned in closing her eyes and I was praying god for any natural disaster to save me from this. It was completely uncivilized and unacceptable. She was literally throwing herself on me.A sharp 'beep' distracted her and I used this moment to shrug off her arms to look at the cab's driver who was pointing at his watch.I looked back at Caroline who was blushing. "Okay, Caroline. It's time to go. Oh, I forgot to tell you that you look absolutely stunning today." I said biting back my laughter at the disappointment etched on her face.She couldn't possibly think that I was interested in her. I genuinely hoped not.---By the time we reached the party, I was already grilled to the bone with so many questions from Caroline's side. All irrelevant questions which placed her under the amateur-amateur category. She then excused herself cause she was the 'host'.Good bloody riddance.I looked at the huge villa that was drenched by a carpet of darkness. Everyone was half naked and glowing as they danced drunkenly to the beat. The swimming pool was somehow glowing too as people jumped into it laughing.Not my scene. The darkness and the crowd of the place would demand me to be more alert and vigilant. I didn't like that. I walked like a shadow between the glowing people and past the place with UV paint, where people painted their bodies and faces.I walked past all that to the bar where the bartender was a glowing girl in bra and shorts."What would you like, sir?" She said in a playfully as she rested her elbows on the bar and leaned across it so her breasts almost fell out."Margarita," I stated solidly and she giggled."Why so down?" She pouted jokingly and I smirked. "And why aren't you glowiiing?" She stood straight, bent down then came up, before splattering paint on my shirt and forehead.The next moment I found myself holding her harshly from her forearm and dragging her across the bar toward me in anger. Her face was a few inches from mine. She looked into my eyes terrified as her mouth hung open unable to form coherent words. I immediately let her go."I'm sorry-" I started, but she stumbled back and ran outside the bar. I took a deep calming breath and sighed. I should be able to control my anger. Besides, it was a bloody party, what the hell did I expect?I rubbed my temples and got up. I needed to stop looking and acting like a lunatic grandfather if I was to disguise properly.Goodness gracious, all I wanted was Sam Ricardo. Why did I get stuck up in all that drama? And to make matters worse, it was drama that I was never a part of. Whiny women, parties, small talk, etc.So, of course, I had to walk right into somebody, to get some liquid on my shirt when I was already cold to the bone.I looked up, biting tongue in anger and found none other than the guy at the bar looking at me in surprise."No bloody way! It's you! The bar guy! Romeo!" He shouted over the thumping music and I stared at him.Nope- no-huh, please no- God please send an air-borne vacuum to suck me out of existence."Yes, and it's you- uh-" I tried to search my head for his name but found it impossible in this horrendous atmosphere. Music, people dancing, people colliding with me every once in a while, dancing lights which I had no idea why someone would waste their hard-earned money on if it cannot illuminate properly, add to that, its ability to cause me a great headache. I was awfully displeased."Augustus. See? That's why I wanted to change my name. No one remembers it," he said smiling.I looked down on him. He was wearing only shorts while his chest had a glowing butterfly on it."It's beautiful, right? I insisted on drawing it." He pointed at the butterfly and I snorted."Yeah. Beautiful. Of course." I squinted as a moving spotlight shone in my eyes. Bloody spotlight."My dear friend, you seem lonely and bored. How about we do something together?" He shouted in my ears and I realized we were walking.And that was supposed to be a no."Really? Like what?" I said, nevertheless, as I chanted 'don't be unpleasant' under my breath."Like first, take off your jacket." He said loudly, waving a hand toward me."Take off my jacket? It's absurdly cold." I said, shoving my hands in my jacket's pockets."How do you think I feel, mate?" He looked at me incredulously as I glanced at his bare chest again. "I feel like my nipples became two tiny, shrivelled raisins. Seriously. Take it off." He stopped walking and waited for me to take off my jacket.I sighed, shrugged it off carefully and gave it to Augustus who placed it on a nearby chair."Take off that shirt too."And there was no way I was taking it off. I had horrendous scars on my back and I wanted to hide them away from prying eyes. I was very self-conscious about them and I couldn't help it because the explanation behind them was humiliating.Sensing my hesitation, Augustus continued. "It's already wet. What's its point?"He was particularly right. So here I was standing amidst, possibly, a hundred drunk, supposedly responsible adults, trying to find a way out of this as I watched a person I merely know waiting for a response.So I had to compromise again. It was dark, so no one would notice it. Besides, I was quite sure Augustus was drunk himself. So I peeled off the shirt, threw it on the same chair, quickly reached for my jacket and draped it over my back. He raised his eyebrows but said nothing.I sighed in relief but cursed under my breath when a cold, unwelcome breeze blew right through my jacket and hair."Okay, Romeo. Lemme paint something on you!" He was too excited and I had to stop it. So I put out a hand."Do not. Please. I'd rather no-" I started."Please don't be the one to draw or don't draw in the first place?" He cocked an eyebrow."Both." I felt bored beyond words and wondered if I could possibly slip out and return peacefully to my motel."That's it. I'm doing both." He exclaimed, then dragged me toward the painting stall. I pulled my arm away from his clutch as he bent to collect some brushes dripping in paint."Okay. I can draw butterflies, stars, hearts-" he paused as if to remember. "Oh and cars. What would you like?"I cringed at the collection from which I had to choose from. "Stars?""Okay. Simple. I'm perfect at this. Do you want a pink glow or yellow glow?" He questioned, raising a corresponding brush to each colour. "I recommend yellow, though, like I did, because we have the same hair colour. What do you say?""Yellow," I stated bitterly and he started drawing as I felt my skin crawl under the cool paint.He then looked up, throwing away the brushes. "Done! Uh- the middle star is a little big, though," he pointed at my torso. "But that's okay.""That's very generous of you. Augustus." I said between my teeth as I smiled slightly, staring at the disaster on my chest."Don't even mention it, man.""Oka-""ROMEO!" A familiar voice rang in my ears and I instinctively and stupidly, may I add turned to find none other than a glowing Caroline walking toward me."Looks like the fun's here! I'll leave you, then, mate." Augustus shouted/whispered in my ears and I almost ironically begged him to stay before he slipped away in the crowd.I took a deep breath and faced the other disaster. Caroline had glowing yellow spots lining her cheekbones, nose bridge, the top of her eyebrows and her collarbones. She handed me a drink and I took it."So I see you've blended in!" She shouted over the music which I impossibly tried ignoring for the past half an hour."Yes. It's a nice party." I commented grimly."I'm glad you like it!" She sipped on her drink and I smiled.She then looked down at my body and laughed. "Who drew those stars?"I looked down at myself distracted and shook my head."A dear friend." I enunciated ridiculously.She then nodded, smiled and sipped more of her drink. I stared at her hair that shone under the lights and raised my eyebrows."Want to see my bedroom? It's quieter than here." She said and I thought that anything quieter than 'here' would be really desirable at the moment."Yes. Please.""Follow me."And I did.***A/N: So...What do you think of my characters? Who's your favourite?Love, LOVE you all 3
