Celeste~

"Not a puppy," he said, an edge of frustration creeping into his voice. "A partner. You fight with me, not for me. But put aside your stubbornness for a moment."

I raised an eyebrow, weighing my options. The stakes had never felt so high. "Fine. But I'm not going to be your sidekick, Caspian. We fight together, or not at all."

He nodded, a flicker of something,

respect? Crossing his face. "Deal."

Well that was that then. After that, he got a call and went about his day. I was still so confused about this whole thing. I knew that like me, he didn’t trust me, I wasn’t going to press for more information that I knew I wasn’t going to get. I didn’t think he was lying though, not that I had any way to tell if he was ‘protecting’ me for his own personal gain but from what I knew I didn’t see a path for this to be part of some elaborate plan, even though I knew that the elite played dirty. Maybe he just felt bad about the fight considering I wouldn’t be fighting at my best if it came to it because I was partly damaged. I had also noticed that while we did quite equal damage to each other during the short time that we fought, he had recovered well, better than me. I couldn’t see exactly where I had hurt him because he was no longer topless but I had noticed that the marks that once laid on his body were no longer there.

I decided that there was no point in pondering on something that I didn’t have enough information about so I was gonna let my mind rest and just relay this all to Chloe once she finished her challenge and we were both well rested.

I continued making my way back to my apartment I was still so exhausted. Every second I spent away from my bed felt like a stab to my soul.

“Wow, she’s a beauty isn’t she.”

I was one hallway away from my room until this girl stopped me. She had olive skin and dark long hair that travelled all the way down her back and stopped at her hips. She embodied elegance as she stood before me.

I barely had time to register the sarcasm and pessimism in her tone before she spoke again. How did people already have so much energy for conversation right now? Did we not all do the same Trial?

Vice and condescension rolled off her tongue like water. “Heard about you and Caspian’s fight. Bet you really feel like the shit now don’t you, no hate though, you did well so fair play.”

How was I even meant to respond to that. I didn’t want to say thank you to the sarcastic bitch but I didn’t want to cause a whole riot either. Who even was she, his girlfriend or something?

“Oh, thanks.” Deciding that she wasn’t even worth the fake emotion I would have to relay, I simply kept my nonchalance and kept it moving. I had places to be and if she thought that she was important enough for me to really stand here and listen to her spew her bullshit hatred then she had another thing coming.

I watched her face go from the egotistical mess that it probably usually was to a surprise towards my lack of care. I didn’t know why though, if this was a petty argument about Caspian or her wanting him than she had to realise that not everyone cared about the silly pedestals they put people on. I didn’t know him and I didn’t need to, there was no brilliant opportunity to seize here or a King himself approaching me. He was just a man.

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“I saw you guys talking earlier as well.”

“Very perceptive, where did you learn that from then?”

“If you think he really wants someone like you then you need a reality check.” Sorry, who the fuck was she talking to.

“Someone like me?” Now she was really taking it to the next level.

“You’re nobody, Celeste.” okay and?

“I suppose so.” I took a pause.

“So, this notoriety of yours, that I’m supposed to want, it landed you where? Oh, having to keep the ‘nobody’ away from your man because whatever it is you have just isn’t good enough to keep him. If choosing between being me and you was ever an option just know that I would rather shit in my hands and clap before ever even thinking about being in your miserable shoes.”

She was stunned at my response. She expected me to care, to want for Caspian like I needed water, to be just as desperate as she was. That just couldn’t happen though, I barely had a loving bone in my body let alone a desperate one. If she wanted an actual petty argument then she needed to start elsewhere. I was not the one.

She ignored most of what I said, still doubling down on my suspected involvement with the man. “So you really think he wants you huh?”

“And if I did so what? even if I was the biggest Man-Clown on earth I would simply be just as pathetic as the one who had to facilitate an argument to keep their man, you.” I instantly felt regret at saying the first part of that sentence. This whole thing would definitely be relayed back to him once this was finished and I didn’t want that because I basically just insinuated that she was right in thinking that I was involved with him. Fuck me.

She softened her once sharp expression and spoke again. “I’m not doing this out of jealousy, I’m simply trying to help you. We’re destined to marry, you know how parents are, and you know how much this society cares about who the elite end up with. It’s not going to be you, it was never going to be you.” So she’s taking a nicer approach. It seemed that she figured out that simple intimidation wasn’t going to win her any medals today.

“Who said I wanted it to be me, not everyone’s as desperate for a man as you are.” And the softness was gone again. This time she looked at me as if I had told her that I had killed her whole family in a house fire.

“A man? You mean the Caspian Raven. Me and you both know that he’s not just your average man. I see the way he looks at you and I see the way you look at him. Don’t try to gaslight me into thinking that I’m crazy. This all started in the ring and it’s gonna end now, you guys are messing around and it’s gonna stop.” What the fuck.

So her evidence is not only based on a simple conversation but also a fighting match? A bloody fucking fighting match is why she thinks we’re ‘messing around’. I mean how Insecure can Insecure get.

“Listen to me and listen to me very closely, stay the fuck out of my life and mind your business when it comes to me and Caspian.” I regretted that as well because there was definitely no me and Caspian. But I just couldn’t seem to fight the urge to irritate her further, I mean the mere sight of me and him together sent her spiralling, is it my fault that I want to see how low we can really go? I personally didn’t think so.

“No. He is mine, it is written in contract, and you, Celeste, will stay the fuck away from him.”

“No.” It was as simple as and she was going to have to accept that.

Although I was blunt in my intentions to continue involving myself with him she still looked determined. “Okay fine, we shall do this another way.”

And with that, she spun on her heel and left.

What the fuck had this day been

Now I felt even more drained than before. I had made it back to my room, thankfully with no further interruptions and just jumped into my bed. I took off my clothes lazily while I was still lying down, I dropped them on the floor and practically dragged my feet to the shower.

I took about 5 minutes, I couldn’t be away from my bed for any longer and I needed sleep, and now.

*Buzz

No, no, no. That better not be the fucking Academy with their notifications.