*Lewis Capaldi - Grace is on repeat as I write this chapter ouuuuuu!*
*
His name is Ari Light.
He is japanese but was born here in Vnio.
He's eighteen, which meant he was just one year older till....
Friday.
And I was eighteen.
He seemed to like talking too, just like Eudora and maybe a little bit of Coco, but he was not as touchy, something she was shockingly grateful for.
He helped take her to the Principals office to get her class timetable, then also took her around and explained certain things.
Like the boys for instance.
There were called The Flavoured, or TF for short (He made a small joke about how he mentally called them The Fuck and I had surprisingly laughed at it) and that they were the top richest teenagers in all of Aeira and Vnio put together.
Caramel and Chocolate both were sons of an elite business man that threw parties at least every week and were also rich of their own accord as Caramel was a world recognized Cook and Chocolate was a world recognized artist.
I made a mental mark to go around the house and see his paintings.
Then there was Cream, who was also called Apollo by people who called themselves his fans, that modelled. A statue of him was in the museum and reportedly, though Ari had never seen it, he was naked. His parents were rumoured to be related to some greek god lineage and were also business tycoons.
And Strawberry.
He was the smartest of the bunch (no surprise there) and won competitions for the school every single time. His father a world renowned Scientist that had created more than half of the robotics the world were using and earned at least thirty million dollars a month.
He said that it was Strawberry that got into the school first, which was expected, and the others were in different schools, until one day, he walked in with Cream and a year later, Caramel and Chocolate came too.
Though no one knows why the four richest males attended the same school, they just all believed it was for some sort of 'rich' reason.
Due to their wealth and importance, teachers and students steered clear of them, most of the time regarding them with respect, or fear, as most of them did.
Anyone that was not of an extremely rich family or under their wings, got bullied, especially when they permitted it.
As Strawberry had done for me.
Of course, he had called them by their real names.
Channing.
Carl.
Crassius.
And Stradella.
I understood at least that no one called them their flavour names, even though they knew it, and no one knew they lived together.
Not like I was going to say anything.
Even if I could.
Ari had once asked my name and then laughed "Right, you can't speak"
Then put his hand into his bag and brought out a jotter and a pen, handing it over to me "Could you write it?"
Write....
I had taken it, possibly surprised that he had thought of it as I scribbled my name.
Vanessa Montgomery.
When he saw it, he had smiled and said "Nice to meet you Nessie"
And I realized I liked his smile.
Now, we are both sitted in the same class for geography and though I remember back at the convent that I was always good in my scores.....
I just never understood Geography.
So I am doodling on my book as the teacher talks until a paper is slipped to me.
I look at him, realizing he still has a serious face and is now staring at the board when I look back at the paper and take it, reading it.
Have you been anywhere else except from Vnio?
I stare at the paper, quickly scribbling a reply.
No.
And pass it to him.
He writes back immediately.
Me neither, but I'd like to go to Germany. I hear it's like really cold there and it barely ever snows here.
That's nice.
You don't talk much huh?
.... I'm sorry.
Hey, don't apologise, if I was fun, you'd prolly be replying more. Hey, wanna play a game?
Sure.
And the rest of the class was forgotten.
We didn't spend our lunch in the cafeteria, but instead on the school roof, as we laughed and he told me stories of him and his siblings, apparently they were six.
We had all our classes together and it was fun.
Ari was really fun.
When school was over, he had asked if he could take me home, because his brother wouldn't mind.
And that was when I had blanked.
I didn't know where the Manor was.....
Neither was I sure I wanted him to know I lived with them.
He sounded like he didn't like them....
And I didn't want to lose my only friend.
But of course, nothing happened how I wanted it.
Ever.
"Nilla!"
I freeze as arms wrap around me, squeezing me tightly as Chocolate places a kiss on my forehead "I missed you so much!"
Ari's face registers that of shock as he takes in the scene in front of him as Chocolate let's go of me, his hand holding mine and turns to him, his smirk still on his face "Who are you?"
Ari seems to stammer now "Ar.... Ari Light"
"Ah, the one with the scholarship" Chocolate says with a nod then he smiles again "Do you like Vanilla?"
I gasp, hitting him as I blush as Ari says, uncomfortably "I guess...."
"Do you like like her?"
"I... I don't know...."
"Don't"
Chocolate's face is that of hate as Ari moves back in shock while I try to move but his grip on me his tighter as he says "She belongs to us"
U.... Us?
Then he turns to me, a smile on his face "Come on Nilla!"
I don't get to tell Ari bye as he begins to pull me along, forcefully, and when we reach the bike, I pull my hand away.
He looks hurt immediately "Vanilla, did I do something?"
Something?!
What... What was that he just did?
But I don't say anything, frowning and huffing as he suddenly laughs "Oh, was it because of the boy? Vanilla, he can't be with you. You're ours now"
What....
He suddenly pulls me into his body, and holds me still as he bends to my ear and whispers "Though not officially, until Mistress approves but there's nothing wrong with leaving a mark you know?"
Then he lets go and says "Ready to go home?"
And I know....
There was something definitely wrong with him.
*
Immediately he parks the bike, I'm off it and I also see the other boys walking into the house.
My eyes landing on Ber.
I need just one explanation.
Of why he hated me.
Of what I did.
I know that I was obviously not someone that was pretty, or nice enough to be around, or fun.
But his didn't have a reason.
I just needed....
I walk fast now, leaving Coco behind though he doesn't seem to mind as I try to catch up with them.
Though when I reach him and touch his hand....
I am pinned to the wall, his hands around my neck as his brown eyes stare at me in obvious rage.
"Vanilla!"
That's Mel.... But someone's holding him back....
Cream's holding him back.
I am coughing, trying to breathe as I try to get his hands off my neck as Ber says "How dare you touch me you filthy thing?"
Stupid girl.
God will never forgive you Vanessa.
"You don't belong here" He continues "The only reason you're here is because Mistress pities you. She sees you as something no one would want and because she's a good person, she took you in, nothing else"
Dirty....
Trash belongs on the ground....
"So leave while you have the chance and stop burdening her" He says, his eyes flashing "Or Id have to do it myself" And let's go.
I fall to the floor, sputtering and coughing for air as he walks away.
I am still on the floor, coughing and crying when I feel a hand touch me and I jerk.
Coco's blue eyes stare at me with worry "Are you okay?"
And I run.
*
I am sitted on the floor at a corner of my bed, my nails now digging into my skin.
He was right.
No one wanted me.
She was only taking me to save me.
I was a burden.
That's why Aunt gave me out.
I was always....
I scream loud, burying my hand into my hair and pulling as I bang my head on the bed.
I hear my door open and I hear a voice that sets my whole body to freeze.
"Vanilla?"
I see her find me as her eyes dilate into that of pain as she takes in my state, and not saying anything, she walks to me and picks me bridal style.
I bury my face into her chest and cry.
She still says nothing, just walks out with me still in her arms and takes me to an office of a sort and then to her chair, setting me on her laps, rocking me.
Her hand rubs my head as I cry harder.
When I'm giving out nothing but sobs, the door to the office opens and I hear a voice I don't want to hear say "You sent for me"
"Come here Berry"
I grab her shirt and bury my face into it as she says "We agreed you wouldn't hurt her"
"I told her the truth"
"You touched her"
"Mistress...."
"You made her cry, you hurt her. You broke your promise to me"
There was silence then a pained "Mistress..."
"How could you?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean...."
"You did, that's why you did it. I thought we agreed you would stay away from her if it got too much, and you would come to me if you did not feel okay"
"I am sorry!"
"I love you Berry, I trust you.... You're hurting me"
Then I hear it.
He's crying.
Deep loud sobs and I don't want to look....
I hear her sigh and say "Leave. We would talk later tonight"
And even though I hear the door shut....
I know he would never forgive me for this.