A/N - Hello guys! So, a quick request. You (the old readers, not the new ones) will feel the need to spoil things in this chapter. You better resist that need.
Resist it.
I mean it.
I don't wanna delete comments it makes me feel sad.
. . .
Olivia Woods
Ashton and I didn't talk for three days.
It killed me. Every time I thought of him I felt horrible. Maybe I was pushing him too far. Pushing them too far.
Zavier woke me up with breakfast in bed. I knew he knew about my fight with Ashton, but he didn't say a word.
He sat down behind me, pulling me to his chest as he leaned against the headboard. He cut the pancake, and I stared at the knife.
It was a tiny knife.
He had slowly started letting me see knives. It was working. The rush of panic was there, but it was muffled.
I clutched the fork, eating silently. Today was the first day and my stomach flipped every time I thought of it.
He heard the change in my breathing. "I'm here." He stroked his hands on my shoulder, gently digging his thumbs in. "It'll be fun, no?"
"I don't know...," I sighed. "What if I mess up? What if there is something so basic everyone knows but I don't and the professor mentions it in the class and everyone gets it and I don't and I look around like an idiot and someone just throws me out?"
He was silent for a moment. "How long have you been thinking of that one?"
I turned. "It's a possibility!"
He cupped my face, looking into my eyes. His thumbs gently stroked my cheekbones. He dropped a kiss on my forehead, his lips lingering. "You're brave," he whispered. "You've faced people scarier than the nerds who are going to be in your class."
"All artists are not nerds-"
"You're a nerd."
"And you're mean."
He smiled and my panic relaxed its hold on me just a little. "You're a talented, beautiful nerd, Kitten. No one is going to throw you out. Arnaud decided to invite you after sitting with you for just a few minutes." He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. "You said you wanted it all. Now it's time to get it."
I gulped. "What if I screw everything up?"
"But..." He kissed me again. "What if you don't?"
. . .
"Am I dying?" She asked me. "I am dying," she decided. "I am shaking. Everything is shaking. Is there an earthquake?"
I just watched her. "What are you even doing in art history?"
"I like art," she showed me her hands which had sunflowers painted on them today. "Adore it."
"You're really good at it."
"Don't say that. I've seen your art. This is not art. This is a mockery of art. It is Artkery."
I smiled. "Those sunflowers are absolutely beautiful and that's an interesting word."
She grinned. "Artkery. TM."
We were the first ones to class. I had made Zavier drive me here as soon as I could get him out. He grumbled about me being a nerd again and then gave me a very public kiss in front of the building.
I was sure I was still blushing.
"So..." She drummed her fingernails on the desk. "I don't mean to be nosy but...the guy you were with today...he's not the one I saw before."
"I'm...dating both of them."
"Oh, open relationship. Interesting. They look...similar."
"Brothers."
"I want to say I am surprised but I am not, you're gorgeous."
I smiled at her. "Thanks, Rose."
"Daisy," she said, almost instantly, and then smiled. "Call me Daisy."
That was a little weird. I nodded and just then, finally, another student entered the classroom.
He was tall. He was wearing a giant black coat over what looked to be khaki pants and a turtleneck. He had blond hair, and his eyes were dark, which lifted till they settled on us. We were sitting at the very back of the class.
Daisy gasped. "Do you know who he is?"
"No."
"He's Arnaud's son," she whispered. "Declan Arnaud."
Declan Arnaud.
I didn't know she had a son.
"He is gorgeous," she whispered, too loudly. He looked up from his seat, after obviously hearing us. She bent her head to avoid looking at him, accidentally hitting her head on the desk.
It took everything in me to not laugh.
His gaze lingered on her, and then on me. His lips raised in an amused smile and he looked away.
"That was smooth," I whispered to her as she rubbed her forehead. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head. "Physically? no. Emotionally? I have another thing to keep me up at night. What if he tells his mother I am a creep and she throws me out?"
"I-"
The door opened and a group of students walked in, followed by more and more. Only a few minutes were left. And then the professor, a beautiful old lady grinned at all of us and my panic eased further.
"She seems nice," Daisy whispered. "I don't trust her."
I smiled. I liked her.
. . .
I walked out of my second lecture and I was done for the day. I waited for Zavier to come and get me but then realized he had texted me, saying he was at a meeting for the hotel the Creeds were building here and would be a few minutes late.
"Hey," someone said, their voice heavy with a french accent.
I turned, looking at Declan. I smiled. "Hello."
He smiled back, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry for sneaking up on you like that," he said, eyes kind and warm. "I was looking for your friend but couldn't find her."
"Oh. I don't know which class she has right now." I did. I was not going to tell him. Did he like her? Daisy was really beautiful.
"Alright," he said. "Well, I'll see you Friday, then. It was nice meeting you..."
"Olivia," I said, extending my hand. "Olivia Woods."
"Declan Arnaud," he said, shaking my hand. "I should go," he said, releasing my hand as he looked at someone over my shoulder. "Bye," he muttered and turned around, walking away.
I spun to look at Zavier who was leaning against his car, his arms crossed over his chest. Dressed casually in dark jeans and a white t-shirt, he was easily the most handsome man on campus.
Although his eyes were covered with sunglasses, I could tell he was glaring at Declan.
I walked towards him. "When did you come?"
"Just when he shook your hand," he said. I expected him to say something more about Declan but he took off his sunglasses and smiled at me. "How was my kitten's first day?" He pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me.
"It was good," I said. "Daisy was nice to me, we have one class together. Everything was...calm. This whole place feels so calm."
"I'm happy for you, baby," he said. "Are you hungry?" He asked. "Let's go. I'll cook you something."
"Zavier."
"Yes." A muscle worked in his jaw.
"He was talking to me because of Daisy," I said.
"Was he?" He asked softly. "I saw the look on his face, Kitten. I don't like that look."
"You don't trust me?"
"I trust you with my life," he said instantly.
I smiled. "Nothing to worry about then."
He hummed, not sounding convinced at all.
. . .
I pressed the phone to my ear as I pushed the cart. "It was okay," I said to Xerxes. "More than okay. It was nice."
"Was anyone rude to you?"
"No."
"Good," he said. "Have you eaten?"
"Yes," I said, putting down a box of red pigment in the cart. "What time is it there?"
"Nine."
"Where are you?"
"Office."
"Have you had breakfast?"
"Yes, Little love."
I stopped walking. "Uh, is Ashton there?"
"He's sitting with me here, yes."
"Can I talk to him?"
"Of course."
He passed the phone. Zavier pretended to not be listening as he examined a pair of frames.
"Little one."
I gulped. "Ashton."
"How are you?" He asked softly.
"I'm okay," I said. "How are you?"
"I'm okay now."
I ran a hand through my hair. "I'm sorry."
"I should be the one apologizing, Little one. I can't blame you for wanting normality after so much shit," he said. "Forgive me?"
"I forgive you," I said. "I'm sorry for not talking to you for three days."
"It's okay," he said quietly.
"I miss you."
I could hear the smile in his voice. "I miss you too, love."
"When will you visit?"
"Soon. I need to wrap up some things at the University."
"You're leaving it?"
"No. I'm not going to be regular. Just a few lectures every month."
"I'm sure your fangirls will miss you."
"I'll miss you sneaking into my lectures more."
I smiled. "I guess I'll miss that too."
We talked for a while and the tension between us disappeared. I bought all the things I needed for my fresco, Zavier bought the frames he had been eyeing. After he had paid, we loaded the things in the car.
"What do you want to do?" He asked me.
"I want to see where you're building your hotel." He raised his eyebrows at me, smoothly driving out of the parking lot.
"Okay," he said. "It's half an hour away. It's not much to look at. The construction just started."
"Is it going to be the new Four Seasons?"
He smirked. "Don't insult me, Kitten. It will be better." He glanced at me. "Especially with you working on it."
"You think so? I thought you hated colors."
"I suppose I love everything when it comes to you."
I grinned.
. . .