[08 | Green Eyed Monsters]
When the doorbell rang, I ran down the stairs, deserting my book, in hopes to get there as quickly as I could. With a deep breathe in an attempt to calm down and look like I was unimpressed and not expecting anyone to be here, I pulled the door open. I hadn't talked to Gavin last night which irked me slightly. Mostly because he'd said he'd call and he never did. I could have been doing something more productive instead of just waiting for the bastard's name to blink in my phone. I was going to give him a piece of my mind for leaving me hanging like that.
Surprise, surprise when it wasn't him standing out my driveway the very next day to apologize and attempt to get me in his bed. Instead, my eyes met a pair of dark ones and I wasn't sure if it was disappointment that I was feeling relief.
"Cole?"
"Morning, sweetheart," he greeted with a small smile, scratching that back of his neck. He looked like he just got out of the shower, his hair was still damp and he smelled really nice. Not that I was sniffing him—the smell of his soap was just strong. "Did I wake you up?"
I shook my head and sighed, giving up on Gavin. If he wanted to talk to me, he better put the effort. I wasn't going to run into his arm the moment he appears—no. I would make him beg, grovel and among other things that will break down his stupid pride. That should teach him.
"No, I was awake a while ago," I answered, opening the door more. It was cold outside and the air was a bit dry. As much as I didn't want it to happen, winter was coming. "Get in, it's rather cold today."
Cole shrugged off his jacket and walked to my living room, plopping down on the couch like he had last night. He turned his attention to my direction, taking in my blue PJs and white, fuzzy slippers. The corner of his mouth lifted upwards as his eyes met mine.
"Go get changed into something comfortable," he instructed, his tone suggested that there was no room for argument. His words were absolute. "You're spending the day with me."
I would have been scared with Cole barging in my home like that but with the amount of time I've spent with Gavin, the way Cole barked out things didn't frighten me as it did others. "It's barely been twelve hours and you missed me already," I teased and he chuckled in response.
"Ten minutes, Penny. We're already late." Without argument, I changed into a warm sweater and a pair of jeans before checking my phone again for any missed calls.
There was none.
I sighed, shoving the phone in my purse, deciding that wasn't going to wait on Gavin. When I was down the stairs, Cole was texting someone and he looked rather concentrated on his phone. I cleared my throat and when he looked up, I asked: "Where are you taking me?"
He glanced back on his phone and said, "Everyone's busy today so I figured I'd take you out to the movies."
I rolled my eyes, loomed over him with my hand crossed over my chest, pretending to look rather annoyed and impatient. "You can barely sit and stay focused last night," I noted, remembering how Cole barely paid attention to the screen the whole time, his attention drifting from the TV to everything else in the house.
He chuckled. "Alright, fine," he muttered, putting the phone on his back pocket as he stood up. "I need help picking out gifts."
"For what?"
He looked at me like I was stupid but didn't say anything hurtful. "Christmas," he answered with a shrug. My heart fell for a second. I haven't gone Christmas shopping since the last Christmas Lily was still ...alive. After that, I didn't really a have a family anymore. Just a mom who I see once or twice a year and a dad who worked more than it was healthy. The holidays were just any other day of the year. The only difference was that there were red-and-white themed parties and a lot of candy canes.
"You still have three weeks," I told him.
"If you know my family, you'd know that's not enough."
.
.
Cole and I spent the day together and I didn't even look at my phone to check if Gavin had called. Well, not until we were getting lunch and Cole decided to get us food while I waited and rest. I was a little disappointed and really pissed that Gavin hadn't called. Or even texted. I didn't miss him, per se, but I just didn't like the fact that he hadn't contacted me yet. We'd usually talk nightly and he would call in the morning to ask what my plans were when he wasn't going drop me off school.
"Why so gloomy?" Cole asked as soon as he took a seat in front of me, placing two plates of Thai food on the plate. He must have noticed the fact that I was checking my phone too often because he asked: "Whose call are you waiting for?"
I shook my head and placed the phone away. "Gavin," I answered with a sigh. "He said he'd call but he hasn't yet and—it's nothing."
Cole raised a brow; obviously not believing my words. "What did Maddy say? He's not going to leave you for Sophie, if it's bothering you."
My eyes widened and I looked up to meet his eyes, slightly scared. How did he figure that out from noticing me staring at my phone? Did Cole know something was up? If he's able to piece out what I was thinking of with very little effort, then—
No. He couldn't know. Cole didn't show any particular signs that he was aware of my plans much less was he trying to prevent any of them. Lily mentioned that he has fantastic perspective on things but I doubted that he suspected anything if he expected Ellie and Tristan to break up. If anything, my plans are flawless and couldn't be traced to me.
"You really think so?" I wondered, biting my lip, feigning uncertainty. It was best to act stupid around him.
Cole gulped, looking a tad distracted, his eyes at me but he didn't seem like he was looking at me. "Yeah," he answered with a shrug, blinking repeatedly before looking away. "He's a one-girl type of guy. He won't bother with you if he didn't like you."
Yeah, he liked the sex with me, probably. There was barely anything emotionally tying between us, but I didn't tell him that.
"Thank you."
Cole just nodded. "After this, were dropping by the florist. I have someone I want you to meet."
"Is it the girl?" I asked, faking excitement. If he decides to drive me to Lily's grave, I might get sick.
Cole just smiled and started eating his food, not answering the question.
With a sigh, I ate as well, all while trying to dissect his personality. I already had Ellie and Tristan down, and I was in the process of breaking David and Maddy. With Cole, I wasn't sure if I was doing things right. His friends and their wellbeing is what were important to him—without them, their loyalty, he was nothing. Or so that's what I thought. With what I recently learned about him and Gavin from Maddy, I wasn't so sure anymore.
He was supposed to slowly break while I ruin his friends but it wasn't working as great as I hoped. I needed to find another approach to him.
"I never pictured you much of an avid shopper," i said after taking a long drink of my drink. This dish he ordered was extremely spicy but it tasted fantastic. Way better than Maddy's tea coffee.
He smiled. "I get mauled if I don't get the right presents," he answered with a shrug.
"You bought Maddy a Super Soaker," I reminded him, raising a brow. She wasn't someone who would run around playing with water. It wasn't like her. If anything, I would have thought that he'd buy her something brand named and expensive and imported—not a toy.
"Once upon a time she liked those things," Cole answered before we stood up and headed out the mall. "It's more sentimental than anything really."
"You're such a sweetheart, Cole." That word made me pause.
Sweetheart.
It was a nickname both Gavin and Cole used often. Was it just a coincidence that they used that pet name so often or—
"Something wrong?" Cole wondered, noticing my slower pace.
I shook my head, clearing out the thought. I'd look into it later. Right now, I was mustering up all the guts I had if Cole was going to take me to Lily's grave. I don't think I'd be able to function properly if I get near the cemetery with him. "I just remembered something unpleasant, that's all."
"You wanna talk about it?"
"It's nothing," I lied, casually shrugging. "Just my Dad. He wasn't here this morning. I don't think he came home."
"You're right," he noted and frowned. "Are you alright, Penny?" He sounded sincerely worried. Could it be that he thought of me as the same importance as his other friends?
"Yeah," I answered with a small smile, thankful that he was buying it. I wasn't really worried about Dad—overworking was his way of coping. "I told you, it's nothing. It just takes me by surprise sometimes after the, err, the divorce. But I'm okay."
Thankfully, he sighed and let it go. Cole opened the passenger side's door and said cheerfully, "To the florist?"
.
.
We didn't go to the graveyard and I was thanking every higher being out there for it. Instead, I found myself standing awkwardly with Cole in front of another castle-like house.
"Do you alll live in huge houses?" I marveled, remembering Gavin's neighborhood, Ellie's ginormous estate, the parties I was dragged to, and with the way everyone was on Ashcroft, everyone else must live so lavishly.
"Aren't you coming in?" Cole wondered as he gave the shopping bags to two women in uniform before taking the bouquet of carnations from me. I followed him in and he gestured me to sit in what looked like a living room while he looked for this person he wanted me to meet.
While I waited for Cole and whoever he wanted to see to get here, I looked around the room. It was furnished like one of those fancy interior decorating magazines. The furniture was clean, placed strategically in the room, and it felt like no one lived here at all. Much like my own home—except one of these couches was probably the cost of my whole living room.
"Penny?" Cole called out and I turned to face him, turning my attention away from the painting hanging on the wall. I walked towards him and a girl I've never met before. She was a lot shorter than I was, probably a few years younger, I wasn't sure, with bright green eyes and long, red hair—the cinnamon red, not the fake dyed one a few girls from Ashcroft had.
"So, this is Penny," Cole said, pointing towards me. The girl smiled, and I couldn't help but marvel at how pretty she looked. Then with a small smile, he turned to me and said, "Penny, this is Sofia—or Sophie as what she liked to be called."
For a moment, my world stopped.
This was Gavin's ex-girlfriend? I was rather doubtful. She didn't look like she was a day over fourteen, let alone the exotic-y, model-like, plastic-perfect girl I thought he liked. This whole time, I've been picturing Gavin rolling in bed with some picture-perfect woman named Sofia doing god knows what. I was relieved, to say the least, that he wasn't doing anything of the sort. Though, I was still a little angry that he hasn't called like he'd promised.
"I've heard so much about you!" Sophie stated cheerfully and stepped in front of Cole, placing the bouquet of carnations on his hands before me in her arms for a hug. She wore very strong perfume, probably one that costs more than my whole closet. I didn't like her already.
"Good things, I hope?" I asked with a polite smile, pushing all hostile thoughts away. I didn't expect any new variables popping up in my plan and I didn't appreciate it. I had to find a way to put this girl aside and make sure that she doesn't ruin what I had in stored for everyone.
"Of course!" Then she turned to Cole ushering him and telling him to get us some cake and tea while we talked and get to know each other. I was reluctant for him to leave but I didn't want to offend either one of them by voicing that out. "Make sure you boil the water this time! What is tea with cold water?"
"Iced tea," Cole muttered before he left.
"Penelope Masterson," Sophie said once we were alone for good. She led us up three flights of stairs and to a door that lead to a glass hall on the rooftop of the mansion. I could see enough plants at the other side of the glass hall behind a glass door to assume it was a greenhouse.
"Yes?" I wondered, entering the green house through the door at the end of the path. I wasn't very sure of her motives, so I decided that I'd let her ask the questions and I'd answer it the best I could without causing her to strike me with her perfectly manicured nails.
"I heard you're dating Gavin Reeves?" She said it with uncertainty, as if she couldn't believe it. Sophie pointed at the white chair in the greenhouse and I sat, eyeing her graceful movements. There was a smile on her lips but it wasn't genuine. It was a kind of smile you'd give to someone you were tempted to stab.
"Yes, I am," I answered.
She smiled wider but it didn't look anymore sincere. "Congratulations," she praised, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned back and smirked. She didn't sound very congratulatory and I was preparing myself for her true colours to show. "To think you'd stop with Cole," she spat maliciously, "Now, here you are with Gavin. Rather greedy, don't you think?"
I was wholly confused. I was not expecting this. "I beg your pardon?"
One of Sophie's perfectly plucked brows quirked upwards in question, and the hostility in her tone only got more venomous. "What? Do you think I'm stupid, Lily?" she barked, laughing dryly. "Well, of course you do. Who are you trying to kid here? You might have everyone fooled with that new look of yours, but you're still the same little whore you are."
My throat was went dry and I lost the ability to form any sort of retaliation for defense. Not because she saw right through all the changes I put myself to, or that she might say something to Cole and his friends or Gavin. I swear, I saw red from pure rage of the words she'd used to describe my sister.
How dare you.
But I couldn't say anything or show that I knew who she was talking about. With a gulp, I shook my head at her and tilted my head to the side slightly stating, "I think you got me confused with someone else."
Sophie laughed, throwing her head back as she twirled strands of her hair between her fingers. "Don't be so silly," she cooed once her laughter died. "Of course, of course. Hadley, if I didn't know any better, I'd think that your acting skills have improved significantly. But of course, you'll never surpass me."
There was a sound of a door opening and Sophie leaned in towards me, her lips curled into a grin. "Don't worry, though, my dear. I won't tell a soul," she whispered quietly, her words meant for my ears only. "Your secret's safe with me—s'long as Gavin is mine at the end of this, capisce?"
I mirrored her smile when Cole brought us a tray of sweets and tea.
"Thanks, Cole," Sophie said sweetly, and poured us all a cup of tea, her personality turning a complete one-eighty. She took a sip from the porcelain dup and turned to me, her sickeningly fake smile beaming at my direction. "I didn't know that Penny was such a huge fan of the theatre. Did you know that?"
Cole turned to me, looking rather skeptical and confused. "You are?"
I nodded. I was. Lily wasn't, she was more into the writing, painting, crafting part of the arts. I appreciated musicals and the theatre more. "Yes," I replied enthusiastically. "I just love the music and the way things just come alive—it much different than watching movies. It just feels so surreal."
Suck on that, Sophie.
"You were about to tell me about the last one you've seen?" the bitch egged on.
"It's been a while," I answered honestly, with a slight shrug. "The last one I saw was Rock of Ages with my Dad before moved here. It was a little inappropriate for my age with all the... err, sexual theme and drugs at the time, but it was fantastic. The music and choreography was absolutely brilliant."
Cole smiled. "We should see one then," he suggested, the question directed at me.
"That'll be super fantastic!" Sophie agreed eagerly, her eyes, when Cole wasn't looking, was glaring daggers at my direction. "We can go to Broadway after Christmas!"
"You'd have to buy the tickets months before the show," I said sadly, "It's practically impossible to get some with such short notice."
Sophie smirked. "Well, Masterson," she stated sweetly, the malice in her tone hidden, "Just sit back, and watch me work my magic."
.
.
My door opened with a bang, hitting the wall rather hard, causing one of the photos hanging to fall off. From my bed, I looked at Gavin, glaring furiously at my direction. He looked rather delightfully attractive when he was angry like this. His eyes were burning, his mouth was squared, his hands were clenched, and he looked absolutely terrifying.
"Did you lock the front door?" I asked, turning the page of my book. Gavin didn't reply, but instead, he closed the door with a little too much force than necessary before locking it with a decisive click. It was rather late at night and I didn't really expect anyone to come by. Dad came by earlier today but he left just as quickly as he'd gotten home.
"What the hell did you do?" he barked angrily, throwing his jacket on the foot of my bed as he stood beside me, his tall frame looking rather furious in my angle. I sat up, placed my book away, and faced him.
"A lot of things," I answered carefully. When he scowled, I stood and faced him, glaring at him with just as much malice. He didn't scare me. "Care to elaborate what made you scuffle away from your busy schedule to grace me with your presence."
"Broadway?" he hissed. Sophie must have worked her so-called magic rather fast.
"That was Cole's idea."
""Why the—" Gavin paused before frowning some more. "What's Cole got to do with this?"
"If you must know," I said, walking around him, and pretended to examine the miscellaneous makeup lying on my vanity. It ticked him off not having my full attention. "We went to get lunch today after we spent the whole day yesterday."
"You did what?" he sounded completely shocked and irritated, like the thought of me hanging out with Cole was ridiculous.
Facing Gavin, I placed my hand on my hip and stated firmly, "We were hanging out." How dare he be angry at me for this? This was ultimately his fault. If he'd just call me that night, I wouldn't have spent time with Cole because I would have bullied Gavin into spending his free time with me. Plus, I hadn't heard from him since he left my house and I wasn't exactly blind with his old habits. I wasn't sure what he was doing the whole time but I was sure that they weren't completely innocent.
Not when his stupid ex was around.
"Hanging out," he echoed bitterly. "Why the fuck are you hanging out with him suddenly?"
I rolled my eyes at him, masking my anger, wanting to play this casually only because I knew that it would upset him even more. And I was right; his eye twitched slightly and his jaw hardened, his eyes burning with such passion. "What is it to you, anyway? Are you jealous? It isn't like you're actually my boyf—"
Then, before I could even finish what I was saying, he was kissing me. It wasn't soft or careful or anything sweet. It was needy, demanding, rough, and completely turning me on. I contemplated on pushing him away and say something spiteful and hurtful but the way he was molding his lips with mine, I couldn't help but to submit to it. This was overloading all my sense of rationality. My anger and annoyance on top of Gavin's biting, touching—it was all too overwhelming.
I wasn't sure how long he was kissing me so ravishingly but at one point, I stopped disliking it—him—this—and got lost with the feel of Gavin against me. Suddenly, the proximity between us wasn't enough. It was like every senses I had was heightened and was fully aware of Gavin and the desire and pleasure he was causing.
"You're fucking mine, Penelope," he growled, pulling lips free from mine only to plant it on my neck, licking, biting, sucking and—oh my God.
He was going to leave a huge bruise but I couldn't think properly anymore. I didn't comment on his declaration, not when the very thought of him being jealous was clouding my common sense. I didn't stop him from hastily pushing all my books and pens and highlighters off my desk and I didn't protest when he pushed me on my back, his hands suddenly on my wrist, gripping them tightly. Then, they weren't and I pushed Gavin to my bed, straddling him as I dug my nails to his shoulder unconsciously.
"Penelope, I—fuck," he muttered unintelligently. And before I knew it, Gavin had pushed me off of him only to wrap his arms securely around my body, burying his head at the crook of my neck. His breathing was uneven and ragged, and his breath felt hot against my skin.
The two of us sat on my bed like that for a while and I relished the warmth radiating from his body. It made me feel secure, like I meant something to him.
"You're mine, Penelope," he repeated in a whisper, sounding tired.
"I'm not exactly a possession."
His grip tightened. "You know what I mean," he muttered. Then with a sigh, he kissed the skin he'd bitten me earlier lightly. "With Sophie back, I just thought of the worst."
I frowned. "And what was that?"
"She's a lot like you," he stated, not answering my question. "Kind of psychotic."
I elbowed him lightly, causing him to chuckle, the vibration from his chest on my back making me feel warm. "You're so romantic." Gavin just laughed, slipping a finger under the hem of my shirt.
"She's not fully convinced we're through," he explained, pulling me down on the bed. Gavin shifted and pulled the covers over us, pulling my back to his chest. "When you mentioned Cole after I got that invite from Sophie—it just thought... you know."
"No, I don't know." I wanted to make him squirm. It was nice whenever he was sentimental like this.
"You're just growing on me, alright?" he barked grimly, "And I'm not keen on sharing."
I turned to face him, wrapping an arm around his neck. So he was jealous. "I'm not either."
Gavin grinned. "What do you suppose we do about this, then?" he wondered playfully, his finger hooking on the strap of my bra.
"Sleep it off," I suggested.
He chuckled, placing a light kiss on my forehead. "I was thinking more along the lines of making this kind of exclusive."
"Kind of?" I wondered with a yawn, grinning as I snuggled closer to him. "What does that entail?"
Gavin rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean." I giggled. He sounded amused and annoyed all at once. "You're not making this any easier, Sweetheart."
"I never do."
/--////
It's exam week(s) and I really hate it.