SEBASTIAN
The sun glared through the windows as I cursed myself for forgetting to close the curtains. I shuffled to the large window, holding a hand up to shelter my eyes. I glanced out at the grassy terrain, acres of green lay before me.
Turning, I began to get changed and started making my way to the dining room. I could hear the lively conversations before I entered the room, smiling faces blinded me from every angle.
"Good morning Sebastian." My mother began, followed by my father -and a quick morning from Jackson who stuffed his face with a croissant- as I took my seat, a plate was placed in front of me.
"You are going back home today?" My father asked in between eating.
"Yeah, I gotta get back, can't miss any lectures," I reply, picking up my fork and digging it into an egg.
"We're going to miss you so much, isn't that right Jackson? Jackson!" My brother jumped at my mother's shout, looking at both father and me for the answer.
"Sorry, what's happening?" He asked obliviously, my mother rolled her eyes with a small smile.
By the time I had reached my apartment it was just before noon. Since it was Sunday, students sat on the benches dotted around the campus, sheltered from the scorching sun by vibrant green trees.
Unlike Audrey's apartment complex, mine didn't have a restaurant, mine wasn't as high class compared to Audrey's but compared to the apartment complexes in the main city it was much more luxurious.
I stalked into the lobby, throwing a nod to the receptionist, going straight to the elevator. The steel doors part, a robotic voice announcing the level number. I walk out and turn in the direction of my apartment but halt suddenly, noticing a girl leaning on my door, the crimson waves all too familiar.
"Rachel." I greet, facing her and taking out my keys.
"Hello Sebastian," she purrs, "do you have a minute? I need to talk to you." She smirks, her eyes daring me to decline.
"Of course. Come in, take a seat." I say, holding the door for her. She takes a seat on the sofa as I shut the door, declining when I offer her a drink.
I cautiously walk over to the sofa, sitting an arm's length away. I watched her, expecting her to start talking, to say whatever she needed to say. She picks this up and nods quickly.
In the span of seconds, I watch her whole demeanour change completely. Instead of the predatory gaze she bore just a few seconds ago, her eyes were soft and innocent. Her smirk, the smirk girls wouldn't dare to provoke, was replaced with a small frown. She lowered her head and began to fiddle with her hands.
"Sebastian." She began, her voice was soft, this was the Rachel I grew up with. But why, she was completely different last night and anytime before, instead of a tiger, an unsure kitten sat in front of me.
"What's your relationship with Audrey?" She asks suddenly, "Not that I'm backing down or care but, just what is she to you?" Her eyes shone with curiosity, but also with pain.
I kept my gaze on her eyes, just to make sure she was serious. When I saw no change, I answered.
"She's my girlfriend, as I said before, at the beach, I love her," She dropped her head, watching her hands, "I'm...in love with her. I guess you could say that she's everything to me." I didn't care if it was true or not, I needed to convince her.
I've thought about it before, it's not the first time I've been asked or asked myself this question. I thought about the moments I shared with Audrey, even though it's all for the case (because I lied when I probably shouldn't have.) Everything we did together, the memories with her, what did I feel?
I felt happy. I felt happy. She made me feel like I belonged, made me feel like I wasn't an outcast. And even when I did, she was as much of an outcast as I was. She made me feel like I belonged even when my family couldn't. I owe it to her, not to mess this plan up.
I felt a stare that brought me out of my thoughts. Rachel observed me, her gaze scanning my face, I could practically feel her trying to pick through my emotions and thoughts.
"I've known you for a long time Sebastian, practically my whole life. So I would know if you're lying." I gulped nervously, waiting for her to continue. "I can see it now, you're telling the truth. You really do love her. You're a shit actor but this, this is definitely real."
She stood and began to make her way to the door, turning the handle. "I can see it, yes, but I'm not giving up." She purred, the Rachel from last night returning. The door clicked shut and I sighed in relief.
I leaned into the sofa and closed my eyes.
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick-
Because I am the client, I have no idea what Libby has planned, sure, I know the plan but there's so much happening at once that I don't know if I can keep up.
Tick, tick, tick, tick-
Then there's Audrey's side of the plan. I only know the basics of what she'll be doing, I was told to have faith in her and to put my entire trust into her, that she never fails.
Tick, tick, tick-
What happens after? The plan is carried, Rachel and Oliver get together...then what? Do we part ways and never talk again? Do I completely forget about her? About everything that happened?
Tick, tick-
Do I want to?
Tick-
I glare at the clock that hangs on my wall, it's ticking me off. I bolt upright, standing suddenly, marching towards the door. I sprint to the elevator and press the button. The longer I wait, the more irritated I become. Huffing, I take the stairs instead, not bothering to wait for the elevator that, at the moment, took an eternity to reach my floor.
By the time I stumbled out the doors of the lobby, I was panting, causing a few lounging students to do a double take. Not wasting any more time, I run. I run. I don't know where, I just let my feet take me where they want me to go. The world around me is a blur, consumed by thoughts, questions, all the things I didn't want to think about.
My chest ached and I could feel the heat radiating off my cheeks. My preoccupied mind suddenly cleared, I looked at the building that stood before me. The windows glistened in the sunlight, the grass was freshly mowed, the flower beds were covered in a blanket of colour. I ran in, taking large strides towards the elevator which opened as soon as I reached it.
My foot tapped impatiently and something in my chest felt relief at the sound of the ping. I ran down the familiar corridor, reaching the white door. Knocking, I waited, patiently.
The door yawned open, and so did the sleepy girl behind it. She stood there in a pair of pyjama shorts and a tank top, and despite wearing so little, she wrapped herself in a large fluffy blanket.
She yawned again, holding a hand over her mouth. "Sebastian? What's wrong? Why are you red, and sparkling? If you wanted to sparkle like Edward Cullen then you should've just poured a bucket of glitter over your head."
I chuckled lightly, the tension in my chest dispersing. "Hey, Audrey."
AUDREY
I brought over the mugs of coffee, setting them gently on the table.
"What's up? Is there an explanation as to why I let a tomato into my apartment or is this a go-with-the-flow-improvisatory-scene?" I commented.
He smiled gently before taking a sip of the coffee. He lowered the mug, resting it on his leg, staring intensely at it as if he were trying to figure out what to say. He looked up at me and took a sharp breath. He must've thought what he was going to say didn't make sense or something as he looked back down at his mug.
"It's okay," I began, he raised his head and looked at me curiously, "You don't have to say anything, we can sit and watch a movie or something."
He sighed heavily and placed his mug on the table. Leaning his elbows on his knees, he held his head in his hands. Something about the atmosphere was all too familiar to me, I knew that feeling. With this I stood and placed my mug on the table, I walk over to him and sit beside him. I turn the TV on and play a movie.
He looked confused, watching me with curiosity. I grabbed the corners of my blanket in each hand and opened my arms out wide, wrapping them around him and lean into his side. He once again looks at me in confusion, but seeing my small smile makes him nod and lean his head on my shoulder. We watch the movie in silence, staying in that position. After a while, I hear his breathing even out as he lightly tightened his grip on my waist. He's sleeping.
MARGO
My sister hadn't answered her phone in a while and I was beginning to grow worried. I opened the door with my key and quietly walk in. I turn to see her lying on the couch asleep, with someone beside her. I walk closer to them to see Sebastian's back to the couch, holding tightly onto Audrey as if she's going to fall off. Audrey isn't any better, she has her arms wrapped around his neck.
I giggle as quietly as I could, trying not to wake them up. I spot two mugs on the table with coffee still in them. Since when did Audrey leave coffee in her mugs, she goes crazy if they aren't washed because of bacteria and all that. She must really care for him, of course, she does, Audrey doesn't sleep unless she feels safe.
I wash the mugs and leave them to dry. I fetch a thin blanket and drape it over them, leaving afterwards. I walk out of the building and make my way towards a nearby Starbucks. I take a seat at one of the tables and gaze out the window.
"Margo?" I look over, interrupted from my hobby of people-watching, to see Logan. "Can I?" He squeaks.
I nod, watching him take the seat opposite me.
"So, uh, what're you up to?" He asks nervously.
"Nothing much, just people-watching," I reply.
"Ah, people-watching, it's a good past-time." He twirls his cup with his hands, glancing up at me, then to his cup, and then back at me.
The silence continues for a few minutes before he suddenly clears his throat. "Um, I was wondering if, um." He took a deep breath before continuing, "Do you want to go to see a movie with me?" He blurted, turning red afterwards.
"Yeah, sure." I giggle. He smiles brightly, gasping and somehow smiling even wider than before.
"Really?" He asks, I nod, "I didn't, I didn't think you would say yes." He finishes in a small voice.
I furrowed my eyebrows and tilted my head to the side. "Why not?"
"Um, because you're Margo Parkinson and you are, um, totally out of my league." He blushed, the tips of his ears turned pink and he pulled some of his blonde hair to cover his face. It wasn't working but it was cute to watch.
"That's not true. Even if I was, I wouldn't say no. You asked me on a date, you're a really nice guy and you wrote me a song about how much you loved me last year when you were drunk." I laughed, "It wasn't bad either, you have a beautiful voice by the way, even when you're drunk."
He looked at me, awestruck, he pushed his cup to the side before placing his hands on the table and pushing his face into his arms.
"You remember that?" His voice was muffled.
"Of course I do. No one has ever done that for me before, and it was extremely cute. Most guys buy me loads of presents and boast about how great of a person they are and think that I would be into them because they have a load of money." He lifts his head, his cheeks are adorably pink.
"Like I said, you are a really nice guy. A genuinely nice guy. Even when a child got lost in the shopping complex and started wailing, you comforted them and helped them find their mother." I giggled at the memory.
"You were there? How come I didn't see you?" His eyes were with curiosity.
I couldn't help but mentally awe at his adorableness. "Yeah, but I was on a mission to get my sister a birthday present, the house staff and I planned a surprise party for her and we held it in her room so I couldn't stay."
Though it was a happy memory, I could feel the anger rising up inside me. My father only acknowledged her birthday until her fifth, after that it was another day for working. I shook my head in shame.
"What's wrong?" Logan asked, he looked worried.
"How about we go on a date now?" I reach over and put my hand over his.
His eyes widened, glistening with excitement and the tips of his ears reddened. "Okay."