a/n: To dear reviewer Ryo, thank you for your wonderful input for the previous chapters. I really appreciate your thoughts regarding the story.
And this is my reply to your question…Yes I read the Manga and quite actively. I'm a fan of Kuroshitsuji afterall so I watch and read. So yes, I'm very aware of the fake and real Ciel thing that has been going on now, and I may, may, incorporate that into this story. I'll just need to think of how. It's been a delight reading your reviews, you've no idea how much you've made my day with those reviews.
I do hope that I'll hear from you as much as possible! Maybe you can consider creating an account here so that I can respond to you more promptly? :D
Anyway, this new chapter was written quickly thanks to the burst of inspiration that came from reading all of your reviews! I hope you all like this one as well, enjoy.
Chapter 04 – Smirk Upon Me
Her lips hung apart as Erin blinked. And blinked. And blinked.
Amazement should be a strange thing to feel after someone deemed you his 'dog'. Anger would have been the right emotion to harbour instead. But no, she was amazed. A little incredulous but still, very amazed.
Flipping him off and walking right out of the door immediately would be more sensible thing to do, but she had to do the stupid thing called gawking. Too stunned with amazement and wonder by the man standing before her to make her escape.
In what twisted world was it fair that someone this preposterous could be so appealing to the eyes?
Also, in what twisted world were people who looked barely past twenty think they had the right to make someone else's their dog and think they could get their way?
Apparently and unfortunately, it was the very same world she existed in. And only Ciel fucking Phantomhive could do it because she could see it all on his face.
Yes, that very face before her.
The one that bore a smirk which was treacherously amused – enough to make him look like he could pass for one of the devil's apprentices. But indefinitely more beautiful. His piercing blue eyes that seemed to going straight through her gleamed an unwavering glint of confidence.
He knew he had won.
"Dog…a freaking dog." Erin raised her head with a forming scowl on her face. "You obviously need a dictionary. How the hell do those tasks define me as a dog? I think you meant your servant." She quirked an eyebrow at him.
She saw the smirk slide off his face like he was taking a brief pause to consider her words. Just as quickly as his smirk disappear, his lips curled again in a way that looked like a silent scoff.
"No, humans are annoying. Besides," his gaze swept over her, one side of his lip shot up in a taunting smirk, "it's been a while since I owned a dog. If I say you're my dog, then you are. Anyway, what's your name again?"
"…Erin. Erin Keighley." Erin answered grudgingly with an incredulous look on her face.
If he was in a bad mood because of something he read on his phone minutes ago, it was obvious she was the one who had lightened it. Except it meant being his object of ridicule.
"Hm. There's no harm in checking whether my new dog can understand and obey my commands properly right?"
Eying him warily, she watched him settle himself onto the arm of the chair he sat on seconds ago, crossing his long legs elegantly as he turned his head to her with a look almost like mischief in his eyes. His lips once again curled into a smirk. It reeked mockery.
"Alright Keighley, this is an order."
Startled, Erin's eyebrows rose sharply. "Huh?"
"Bark."
"How is it possible that you know I'm Ciel Phantomhive and not know the meaning of that name?
Do you live under a rock? Be a good dog and educate yourself. This will be your homework and I want it done by tomorrow."
And that was how she ended up spending the previous night googling about that pompous ass instead using her precious time to prepare for her first day of school.
It was not that she doesn't know who or what being that guy meant. Hearing his name did ring a bell. Well, naturally when her friends had mentioned it for god knows how long and how many times. But of course, she wasn't really paying attention most of the time.
'Educating' herself with useless information like that was a waste of brain capacity, but she was sure it was something Audrey and Olivia would gladly give her a crash course on with an extremely detailed PowerPoint presentation.
Of course since they were not around to do that, she had do it herself, plaguing her mind with information of him and goodness, seeing his pictures everywhere was traumatizing.
Just when she thought she had enough of Ciel fucking Phantomhive, an interesting article about him brought her a whole new wave of dread.
He, apparently, still goes to school and her school to be exact. Was that why Audrey kept insisting that she get her his autograph? She knew?
And that was why she was here now, behind the steering wheel of a slick silver Lamborghini Huragan, waiting for Mr. Asshole to get his butt down.
7:58
Erin read from the dashboard with a heavy sigh of impatience as her fingers continued to drum against the wheel and returned her attention to the car, admiring the luxurious interior around her.
The only good thing about waking at the unearthly hour (to her) of 6am to prepare breakfast and warm up the car was…well, the car.
Even if it meant becoming a chauffeur, the powerful engine humming under her and the comfy leather seat was something she really could appreciate. It was a beast from her dreams and its toy figurine was probably the closest thing she could afford.
8:03
She stole another glance at the dashboard and scowled. Jesus, the opening ceremony was going to start at 8:30am and she was still nowhere near Wellington University! What the hell was he still doing upstairs?
Just then, the passenger door opened and with an annoyed look, she turned her head to see the said man sliding into the seat.
"So did you manage to perfect your makeup? I hope you did 'cause we're freaking late." Erin said snidely as she returned her gaze to the front and started the engine, easing the car out of the driveway.
"Be grateful you even have a ride there." His voice that she hated to admit was smooth, deep and deliciously raspy to her ears emitted coolly from the backseat.
"Oh, I'll gladly take the subway anytime." She snorted as she squeezed them into the busy main road. "But what can I do? Someone needed a car to get to school that's just ten minutes away and apparently can't be bothered to drive his own ass there."
He let out a sound resembling a scoff. "Are you sure this the way you should talk to your master?"
"Just a dog here, remember? So feel free to take it like I'm barking." Erin tucked the car between two buses and stopped at a red light. "Woof-woof." She added mockingly with a roll of her eyes as she leaned back against her seat.
A snort.
"Yeah, one that is clearly untrained. Your cooking isn't horrendous but most of it ended up in the trash." Erin raised her gaze to the rearview mirror with the quirk of an eyebrow and found his eyes already in the reflection to meet hers. With a glint like a smirk. "I'll get Sebastian to train you."
"Wow, I'm such a pitiful doggo to have a nutcase and an ungrateful bastard for a master. Fuck my life, yayyy."
"Watch your mouth, Keighley."
"Want me to bark it out?" offered Erin, moving the car again. "I could use some practice for the cuss words I picked up from Doggy Language 101 yesterday you know?"
"No need, just–"
"Do you know when we say the word 'bitch' twice in doggy, it really means 'bitch', not the female dog."
"I don't care. Shut up and drive, you idiot–"
"And interestingly, two loud barks means 'fuck you'?
"Shut. Up."
"Tsk tsk, even master's language is as uncouth as mine."
"I said shut up already!"
"Woof."
It took her an hour or less to know why everything from this school was so goddamn expensive.
The general office was the furthest she had been on the day she came to settle her administration stuff so she didn't think much of it but simply walking down to the extravagant hallways to her first lecture made her want to punch and hug the person who was responsible for the rich design and exaggerating facilities of the school.
When she drove into the gargantuan carpark this morning, she could instantly tell that this was a school for the rich.
There were people her age stepping out of Porsches, Lamborghinis, BMWs, Mercedes and any other cars she probably could never afford in her life or her next life. She couldn't help being wary of the sky above it, almost afraid that she would find people sky-diving from helicopters or jet planes above.
Erin walked through the bustling hallway with books for her first lecture in her arms and found her eyes drawn from brand logos to brand logos as she manoeuvred around people. She wasn't poor but damn, walking with these people made her feel like she was in rags.
The guys were more than ordinary in all their expensive oxfords and their conversations about their families' company and stocks, besides their horny talks about the hottest female porn stars and who they slept with.
The girls clad in brands from head to toes were talking about their manicured nails, their hair and gushing very loudly about their favorite boy of the school which was not surprisingly, that insufferable jackass she drove in the morning.
Seeing this around her, she could only conclude three things.
This school was ridiculous. The people were ridiculous. And last but not the least ridiculous was once again…Ciel fucking Phantomhive who only brought one item to school – his wallet.
Sighing deeply, Erin slammed her locker shut and left for her second lecture.
While sitting in for her third lecture of the day, she was glad to know that not everyone in Wellington were crazy rich. The third lecture was project-based so getting into a group of four was the first thing they had to do before their lecturer came in.
Thankfully, her teammates were just like her and she liked them already.
Erin glanced across the table at Meyrin and Finny who were laughing at something on Meyrin's phone then over to the guy next to her.
His blond, nearly white hair framing his face were sticking out stylishly from underneath his maroon beanie and behind the obviously fake black glasses, were the brightest blue eyes she'd ever seen. He had a hooded forest green parka over a red flannel shirt and a nicely fitted ripped black jeans tucked in a pair of dark boots marked by a Dr. Martens tag
Alex Traylor was nice and pretty funny but there was something about him that struck her odd. She couldn't tell whether she was reading too much into it or was there a wall between them when he talked to them? Like there was something more to him than this. She just couldn't shake off the phoniness no matter how she looked at him.
"Hey guys," Erin saw Alex look up from his phone just before she turned to Finny who called for their attention. "I heard that BBC is going to film about our school and guess who's gonna be featured in the tour?"
"Ciel Phantomhive…?" Alex offered with a drawl as he leaned back in his seat, his eyes completely glazed with disinterest. She swore she heard something that was almost a sneer when he said his name.
"Yup!" Finny said cheerfully.
"Am I surprised anymore?" Erin's face fell. "No."
Meyrin looked offended, glancing between the blank, unenthusiastic face on their faces. "What's so bad about him? I like him. He may look scary but he's very kind."
"Yeah yeah, I like Mr. Phantomhive!"
"What…?" Erin stared at them, not believing she was hearing. "Kind?" She added with a snort, glancing over to Alex when she heard him do so too.
"It's true!" Meyrin nodded. "Finny and I used to work at a bar called Quartz," Erin snapped her gaze back to her in surprise. "And since our boss was close to him, he told him everything about our desire to attend this school and guess what he did?"
"He sponsored us for nearly everything!" Finny jumped in excitedly, "From our stationery to the hostel! He even sponsored Meyrin a new pair of glasses!"
Erin didn't know she should be surprised by the fact Ciel did all that or the fact that these two used to work at Quartz.
"It was thanks to him that we're here. He's so kind…" Meyrin smiled in admiration.
Then as if Ciel knew they were talking about him, Erin's phone pinged with a new text from him. This is an order, Keighley. Come over to my class with a pen now. You'll figure out where to find it.
Attached to the text was a picture of a schedule. Just as she was about to open it, another text came in. I want you here by 1:05. Don't be late.
Scowling, Erin checked the time and swore. It was 1:01 and it was barely even five minutes!
"Sorry guys, I've got somewhere to go." She rose from her seat, grabbing a pen.
"But the lecturer would be coming anytime now-"
"I promise I'll make it fast. See ya!"
Erin already at the door yelled over her shoulders and opened the door with a resigned sigh.
Oh well, she needed to get a notebook anyway. He can wait.
Trying to determine the location of his class taught her that he was from the advanced module classes in his cohort and this year was his last one in Wellington. And also, that it was going to be awkward and very uncomfortable to be walking right into one of those elite classes.
Climbing her way up the stairs, Erin raised her eyes to find him watching her apathetically, with a hand tucked under his head. She tried not to pay attention to the judging stares she could feel pricking her skin and the not-too-soft whispers.
She swallowed thickly.
In this lecture hall, the girls and guys alike looked gorgeously arrogant. The way their intelligent eyes look at her made her feel like a filthy rat from the sewer.
"You're late." said Ciel the moment she reached his table, taking the pen out of her hand. "You can go now."
"For a pen…" Erin shook her head, about to move off.
"Wait."
"What?"
The next second she found herself watching him pluck her new notebook out of her hand. "I just bought that-"
He raised an eyebrow and wordlessly proceed to tear a page from her book.
"Here."
Erin stared at the single piece he slid over to her in bewilderment. "But I seriously need that for class."
He eyed the incredulous look on her face indifferently.
"Fine, one more then." Ciel slid another piece over. "Be gone, class is about to start." He waved dismissively.
"What-"
"Alright, waste no more time and put those irrelevant stuff away."
Erin gasped, turning to find a lecturer walking into the hall and felt an instant twinge of discomfort when she found herself glared at by the girls just two tables below.
Turning back to Ciel see him giving her a told-you-so raised eyebrow, she threw back a dirty look and jogged her way down to the door.
The drive back to the apartment was quiet and honestly, she didn't want to talk to him. Today was a day long enough for her and dealing with him was the last thing she wanted to do now. Not even the desire to get him to return her things was a good enough reason.
All she wanted to do was shut herself in her room and hope to never see his face ever again. But of course, that would be her asking for something too good to be true.
Erin peered into the rearview mirror to find him engross with something on his phone and focused on the road again. Happy to be left alone.
A bath and tea were definitely the best way to soothe the weariness in her body.
In an oversized t-shirt and comfy pants, Erin sipped on a mug of warm green tea appreciatively in front of her laptop, reading the online receipt for the exhibition of a world famous photographer she bought a ticket for this coming Friday night.
Grell Sutcliffe – a photographer who was the reason why Prada, Gucci, Burberry and all other fashion industries had such amazing posters.
His work did not only stop there.
He was also behind most of the beautiful wallpapers that she frequently used for her desktop. She only learnt about him months ago and had completely fallen in love with his skills. As an aspiring photographer herself, 'phenomenal' was what she would describe his art.
When she realized his showcase was coming to London, she knew she had to buy a ticket right away.
Watching the printer push out the receipt she command it to generate, Erin happily took the warm paper from the machine and stuck it to the board behind her laptop with a tack. Stepping back to admire it, she snapped her attention to her phone when it vibrated with a ping.
And scowled.
Only one person would've send a text this late in the night. It was already past midnight
Get dressed. Her eyebrows shot up. And get that rats' nest you call 'hair' to look more decent, will you? Meet me in the living room in five. No more or less.
She stared. And stared. And stared.
"Is this freaking a joke!?"
Ciel was sitting on the armchair near the window when she was down the stairs. The casual navy blue long-sleeved shirt and grey sweatpants he had on made the scowl on her face grow even bigger.
Erin took a deep breath as she stopped across him, ready to begin the tirade she had planned while getting dressed. "Do you have any idea what fucking time it is now?"
She could see his blue eyes flicker to the large clock hanging on the wall. "Yeah, and you're late again." He replied calmly.
"By a freaking minute. Big deal."
"Actually," Ciel eyed her completely unfazed by her outburst as he slowly crossed an arm over the other. "It was more like two minutes."
"Oh, sorry I wasn't specific enough." Erin rolled her eyes sarcastically. "Anyway that's beside the point, why the hell do I need to dress up at a time like this?"
Ding-dong.
A smirk crept across his face. "That's your answer." With that, he gracefully uncrossed his legs and stood up, walking toward and past her.
"Huh?" Erin watched him stop at the foot of the stairs with a bewildered look, completely confused and annoyed.
"Outside that door are two guests from India so treat them with the best hospitality you can on the behalf of me," Ciel began to climb the stairs. "Keep them company, afterall, they were the main reason why you could stay. They don't need to know I'm here. I'll be in my room, I don't wish to be disturb."
He paused mid-stairs to glance over his shoulders. Amusement danced in his eyes. "Don't forget to wag your tail."
"A nutcase." Erin glared at him as he continued his way up the stairs and watched him disappear behind his room's door. "A serious nutcase!" She hissed in frustration.
"Ciel, you there?"
An enthusiastic voice that sounded from behind the main door made her divert her look of wrath to it. With an angry sigh, Erin stormed over to it and pulled open the door, seething.
"You're looking for Ciel right?" She asked hotly, ignoring the way the two men had jumped back in surprise at the glare that greeted them.
They nodded meekly.
"Well, he's up in his room. Help yourself after you've locked this door." Erin said briskly and turned away to return her room, leaving the two men staring fearfully after her.
With a huff of annoyance, she stalked up the stairs. "And I'm going to bed."
a/n: Damn, writing this chapter was fun. This one was a lot more about how Erin perceived Ciel and the environment around her. I'll put in Ciel's into the next chapter so you'll be able to understand him better. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I would really appreciate it if you left me a review. Thank you!