I WAS NOT ASKING, PRINCESS

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

I WAS NOT ASKING, PRINCESS

---- KIERAN ----

I held her in my arms as she snored softly. Even when she’s asleep, she still manages to look flawless and perfect. She had no idea what she was doing to me. Fuck, I didn't even know myself. She could make me angry, horny and murderous in a minute. She brought out every emotion in me.

She had an ugly personality and that was the kind of person I detested the most, so why couldn’t I fully hate her?

She shivered and I placed my jacket over her and gathered her in my arms. She had left her blazer with her cheerleader friend, Laurent. It was quite late. I checked the time. It's two minutes past eleven. Her parents had called her a few times, but I was selfish and didn’t want her to wake up and end the moment. She'd probably start running her mouth and ruin everything. So, I put the phone on silent mode. I don’t even know why I’m doing this.

A more preferential option would have been to leave her here and go home. Let’s see how long she can last in the hood she hates so much.

She clutches my shirt and her lips part a bit.

I remember when I watched her share her first kiss with Marin. I wanted to go there and tear them apart so badly but I didn’t. She thought I was violent and I wanted to prove her wrong. It was a fucking trying moment for me. She could do better than him.

Than me

I didn’t want her to know she had that much control over me. I really wanted to kill Marin on the court today but I couldn’t in front of everyone so I paid him back the best way I could at the moment. Violent basketball.

Every time I wanted to calm down and go easy on his joints, I remember him holding her, touching her and it was enough for me to not want to stop.

I moved her hair out of her face and smiled. She was definitely my own brand of poison. I closed my eyes and breathed in her sweet scent like a total creep.

She smelt like my downfall.

I continued stroking her hair, enjoying the way it felt in my hands.

I watched Moncar get up from the computer and I signaled him to come over.

I was in shock when I saw him come to sit in front of the desktop. At first I thought he acted against her because she spied on us, but then he would have told me. I didn’t want Aaliyah to know he had anything to do with it, she’d have linked it to me. I texted him and asked him to stay, convincing her to wait for the right moment that I knew was never coming. Besides, I liked having her attention on me, spending time with me.

I hated lying to her, but I couldn’t just sell Moncar to the wolves. He was our only lead, so Aaliyah wouldn’t be willing to just let him go even if I vouched for him and I was worried she’d say something offensive to him.

She loves the hood rat line a lot.

“What the fuck are you doing on that computer? Don’t lie to me.” I whisper-yelled, not wanting to wake her up.

“I can’t come to the internet café again?” He asks.

“Stop playing dumb, Moncar.” I bit out

“You posted that crap about Aali. Didn’t you?” I accused

“What is this? I thought you hated her type. Are you fucking her? Is that why you’re taking her side? ” He did not deny or accept it.

“You know damn well that’s not what it is,” I said.

“No, i don't. So explain this situation.” He laughs manically and Aali stirs in her sleep.

“What are you? My wife? Mind your fucking business. Let’s talk outside.” I said as I soothed her back to sleep.

He turned to leave.

“No, Andrew, don’t go.” She murmurs in her sleep, her brows tensed as she clutches my shirt in her little fist and my eye twitches uncontrollably.

Don't get violent, Kieran.

Don't get Violent

You can control it.

Moncar overhears her.

“Yeah, protect her for Andrew.” He snickers and anger flares beneath my skin.

I dropped her on the floor and her eyes snapped open in alarm.

“Bro, what the hell?” She says as she gets up.

Bro? She was fucking calling me bro after everything?

“She looks around and notices we are still in the café.” Her eyes widened.

“I’m going to use the washroom.” She says and rushes out.

I used the opportunity to meet Moncar in front.

“We have more pressing issues than that of you fucking her. The new guy is still gunning for you.” Moncar says as soon as I get out.

"I said I'm not fucking her. You know I hate her." I said, not entirely sure if I was being honest.

"Maybe you're not, but it's only a matter of time. I can see how much you want to...." He shrugged.

------- Aaliyah -------

I slapped water on my face quickly. I usually drooled when I slept, so I panicked and rushed to go and check. It'd be very embarrassing if Kieran saw me like this. I looked down, and realized I was in his jacket. He gave me his jacket?

The Kieran I knew would probably let me freeze to death first.

When I’m sure my face is fresh and the puffiness from my nap had left, I put my glasses back on and head out. When I get back to the café, Kieran is no longer there and so is the hoodie guy.

I frown.

Shit, maybe I got exposed when Kieran tossed me on the floor like a sack of potatoes. The hoodie guy must have seen and ran.

Kieran was probably going after him. I took my mask and glasses off. It’s no use if I’ve already been discovered anyway. I grabbed my phone and hurried out, dialing his number, but I hung up quickly at the sight in front of me.

Kieran was talking with the hoodie guy beside the car and they were looking real friendly. He gives him a package from the boot and I lose it.

Did he bring me here for a drug deal?

He lied to me about getting a lead and brought me all the way here, fooling me.

Or maybe he was in on it. And had actually posted those videos of me. He’d then proceeded to fake this whole thing to throw me off.

I headed over to confront him, and got a glimpse of the hoodie guy’s face.

It’s the guy from that night. This couldn’t be pure coincidence.

Kieran was definitely playing me for a fool.

“What’s going on here?” I asked Kieran.

“She looks prettier without the mask and the glasses.” Mr. shady in a hoodie guy says and Kieran grunts.

“Did you lie and bring me here to come see you deal drugs? Or are you in collaboration with this hood rat to ruin my life….”

“What did you just call me?” Mr. shady in a hoodie guy asks.

Said hood rat advances on me with a scary face and I step back. I forgot I couldn’t run my mouth here. These people didn’t care about my status.

Kieran steps in between us.

“Don’t touch her. Just leave Moncar. I’d talk to her and take care of this.” That was his name then, Moncar.

“You’re one ugly bitch once you open your mouth.” He says before leaving.

Is he kidding me?

He hacked my shit and has the audacity to accuse and insult me?

Oh, he was definitely getting hauled to jail. I didn’t tell him that though. I’ll pass the message through my lawyers when I am back in the safety of my house.

“You really don’t have any of the old you on the inside. Do you? Do you even have a conscience?”

“What are you talking about?” I shook my head, confused.

“I know why you’re like that, why you’re bitter against the world, why you hate kids from this side of town and look down at them but you’ve let it go on for too long.”

“I’m just like this because I can.” I walked into his space, pointing my finger at his chest with every word.

“It’s not because you were bullied in middle school? It’s not because people took advantage of your kindness, it’s not because I walked all over you and never treated you well? That girl that targeted you was from this side of town, right?”

I tried to move back but he held my hands and kept me in place.

“How long are you going to let this eat at you? How long would you let it control and design your life? How long will you let them win? How long will…”

“Shut up, you hypocrite. You don’t get to tell me how to feel after who you’ve become yourself.”

He grabs me by the throat, cutting my air supply off and shutting me up.

“Are you going to shut me up with violence?” I challenged.

“Shut up.” He groans before shoving me away from him.

“Why did you come out?” Kieran asks.

“Are you kidding me right now? That’s what you’re asking?” I laughed and ran my hands through my hair.

“You should be apologizing right now. Don’t you get it? I’m going to end you, Kieran Castles.” I smiled, knowing I held the power this time round.

“Moncar didn’t do anything wrong. Anyone can log in to use that computer.”

“Save the explanation for the police.”

“You don’t have proof. It’ll be our words against yours. The café would not give you evidence and would support their regular instead. Don’t be silly.”

I hate that he’s right.

“I don’t want to see your face right now. Why would you do this to me?” A tear falls on my cheek. God, I hated the waterworks.

He made me believe he didn’t do it but he lied to me.

Or he was shielding his friend.

Or maybe he was even right.

I don’t even know what to believe and it is just really frustrating me at this point.

“I’m going home.” I move to stop a taxi but he stops me.

“I’ll take you home. It’s late and you’re upset.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you. Your intentions for me are clear. I’m trying not to get hurt, so stop giving me mixed feelings. Stop acting like you want me, like you want what’s best for me when you’d hurt me in a heartbeat. It’s tiring, Kieran.” I cried harder. I felt betrayed. I had actually believed him that he wouldn’t lie to me at least, but he clearly was hiding something.

“I’m not trying to hurt you. Let’s go home.” He grabs my hand but I twist it out and he lets go.

“I said no. Leave me alone. You’ve hurt me enough.”

I stop a taxi and start getting inside, but one look from Kieran sends the driver away in panic. I nearly fell in a puddle of muddy water on the sidewalk...

I turned to scowl at him.

He wipes my tears gently. His hands feel cold on my warm skin and it’s soothing enough to stop more tears from flowing. How could he make me cry and make me stop so easily? He could hurt me and comfort me at the same time.

He grabs me by my shirt and a button pops.

“I wasn’t asking, princess. Get your ass inside the car.” He pushes me towards the car.

I take three steps towards the passenger seat before I bolt into the nearest alley.

I ran past a group of guys smoking something foul, and didn’t look back, even as Kieran swore angrily.