Ava's POV
Rose and Uma duck as the frying pan comes flying at us. I deflects it with a swift swing of my leg. Don't try this at home, that hurt like a bitch.
"You're going to have to do better than throwing random pots and pans at us," I sneer. "Rose, I think this is a waste of time. I'm pretty sure this guy's never been in a fight before."
Asher narrows his eyes at me but retains his composure.
"Well, that was your first test, and pathetically, only one of you passed," he says rudely.
"Asher, we came to you for help, not for you to make fun of us," Rose chides, crossing her arms.
"It's called tough love, ever heard of it?" he snaps back. "Now this time, Smurfette and Rose, try not to act like a pair of babies."
He turns around again, and this time, another pan goes flying. Rose deflects it this time but Uma ducks again. Asher scowls at me.
"You know, maybe instead of throwing things at us we could actually practice some fighting moves," I say, crouching down until I am eye level with my girlfriend. "You ok, Uma?"
Uma smiles and leans on my shoulder.
"I'm better, now that you're here," she says. I smirk and give her a kiss on the cheek.
"How the hell are we supposed to get anything done if you keep coddling her like this?" Asher groans, glowering at the two of us.
"Maybe not everyone is built for tough love, rich boy. Of course you wouldn't understand that."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" He demands.
"Why, didn't daddy give you enough hugs as a child. Neither did mine, and we both turned out to be assholes. I could never let that happen to Uma," I say, ruffling my girlfriend's hair.
"Earth to Flame-Girl, may I remind you that we are in some sort of fancy prison with almost no means of escape, and our only option is to fight our way out? And now you want to go easy on the little brat just because she's too soft to handle it?"
"I am NOT soft!" Uma yells, causing us to jump. This was the second time I've seen her lose her temper. I'm a little worried. "I just...I just don't want to have to fight Jessica or my mom. I really hate them...I mean, I REALLY hate them and all they stand for, but they're family."
Could Uma's loyalty be hanging in the balance.
"Screw family," Asher sneers. "What can they do for me that I haven't already done for myself. I got myself into Statton, I became one of the most popular boys in the 11th grade by myself, and I've been the director of every little play you've starred in, Miss Blueberry. I brought myself to the top by myself. Without the help of my self-serving dad. So when I say screw family, I mean you've gotta cut ties with them and fight back if you have to."
"When did you become such a vigilante," I taunt him. "I heard you're a pain in the ass when it comes to directing, and all your so called friends secretly hate you."
"Up yours, wench," he hisses.
"Make me," I threaten in a low voice. My hand gropes for something to fight back with in case Asher decides to retaliate. My fingers grope a knife. Asher and I eye each other intensely. He also pulls out a knife from behind his back. Rose gasps.
"Guys we don't have time for this!" she tries to get in between us, but Asher and I are on each other, blades clashing like the age of chivalry has reemerged.
"Still think you can take me on?" He growls. "I was the top fencer in my freshman and junior year."
"Your skills are a bit rusty," I comment, deflecting what could have been a brutal blow. "Gooding I've done cheerleading for 3 years. I secretly hated it, but it helps that I have such fast reflexes."
Just when I have him in a vulnerable position, I raise my weapon for the coup de grace.Uma wraps her arms around me and pulls me away as Rose does the same to Asher. I gentle loosen her grip on me and drop the knife. I sigh in frustration.
"Damn, Jessica was right about you," Asher remarks as a final venomous jab. "You're still a psycho bitch like you were when you tried to get rid of Ace.
I open my mouth to retort, but nothing comes out. He's right. I lost my temper and nearly killed him because of it. Just like I almost killed Cruz.
"I...I think I just need to head to bed," I gasp. "You guys can pick this up tomorrow...I'm not really in the mood for fighting right now."
I take off as fast as I can, narrowly missing Jessica walking out of Aiden's room. I try not to confront her and walk away, but she calls out to me.
"Avie," she croons, using the nickname she knows only Uma calls me.
"What were you just doing in there? Jason would probably kill you if he found out you hurt Aiden again."
"Pfft, he's too busy having my fiance wrapped up in his arms to notice."
"Fiance?!"
"Duh, we'll get engaged tomorrow. I'm bringing his parents to sign an agreement. We'll twist their arms behind if we have to to get them to sign it."
"You can't do this, you know he's in love with Jason. You know you have no right to get in between their relationship," I sneer.
"Oh, like you had the right to interfere in Rose and Ace's relationship, Avie?" She laughs. "Or did you get selective amnesia and conveniently forget the part where you almost killed a guy because he got close to your crush. Let's see here, you got another guy to beat him up and send him to the hospital, you have him food poisoning that landed him in the hospital a second time, you made a website that relentlessly bullied him and Rose until one incident drives him off the edge and attempt suicide to earn a third hospital visit, you've shot and tasted him, the toll of which came down when you attacked him in a fit of rage after Rose was injured trying to save his life, putting him in...you guessed it! The hospital. So that means you tried to kill him on at least 4 separate occasions...my, my, what a huge rap sheet you've gotten!"
She lists off everything I've done to Cruz on her manicured fingers, my face growing redder my the minute.
"G-go to hell," I choke out. She snickers in an unnerving manner.
"You see, Ava, we're not that different, are we?" She taunts. "We're both willing to do drastic things to get what we want…"
"You're wrong about me," I mutter. "I'm not like that anymore. My actions put my friend's life in danger. I'd never do what you're doing to Aiden. You've physically abused him and manipulated him to turn him against Rose. I'm not justifying what I did, but I sure as hell don't think the ends justify the means in either case."
"Well, well, Miss Avalina Edwards-"
"Don't call me by my full name!"
"Whatever, Avie. It seems you're taking the high road now. I was like that once...like that little pest, Uma. I'm embarrassed to say I share blood with her. But then I realized that no one was going to give me the things I want. I had to take them. So if that means claiming Aiden as my suitor and making sure no one else can have him, so be it!"
With a toss of her hair, she flounces off, leaving me alone. I retreat into my room, where I collapse on the bed and fall into a dreamless sleep.
Mrs. Zhou's POV
The note, trembling in my shaky hands, reads. iF You WaNt to sEe yOUr SoN aGaiN, fOlLow ThIs AddrEsS. NO COPs.
"My child, that monster has him!" I cry, grasping Glen's hands.
"There must be some catch," Glen says. "There's no way she's going to willingly release Aiden to us without something in return. We ought to be careful.
"How can you say that when she's probably hurting him as we speak?" I demand. "Get the keys, we're going to get him back now."
"As much as I'd like to see my son back in one piece, I do think you're...being irrational."
"I was irrational when there were clear signs of her abuse and yet I believed the good in her. Now I'm ready to fight back. Let's go."
I open the door and two students greet me at the door.
"I'm sorry but we don't have time to talk," I say, trying to push past them.
"Wait! Mrs. Zhou, we're friends of Aiden's. We're looking for him and we were wondering if you had any leads," a boy with a freshly cut coif gasps frantically.
"That's where we're headed, but-"
"Mind if we that along? It could get dangerous," a boy with shaggy brown hair interrupts. "We can follow your car."
"I know you want to help, kids but we can't afford the risk," Glen says.
"Look, I get that...but my girlfriend was kidnapped with him just a few days apart. Please...let me find her and your son," the first one pleads.
"Fine," I groan in exasperation. "But make sure no one knows you're following us."
"Deal," they say in unison.
It's a quiet, but intense trip in the car. The address was far away, in an obscure place no one would even think to look for Jessica. We get out told the car and head to the front of the building. The guards at the door let us through.
"Aiden?" I gasp loudly. "Aiden, precious, say something if you can hear me!"
A girl's damned laughter rings in the air.
"YOU!" I seethe, pointing angrily at where the devilish girl sat. "Where is he?"
"Oh, keep your shirt on lady. He'll be here," one of the guards snaps.
"In the meantime," Jessica says. "You two can step into my office."
"I'd rather step on your neck, you entitled brat," Glen spits. "I can't believe we ever trusted you with our son."
Jessica rolls her eyes and ushers us in. She and an older woman who looks like her fill us in on what's going on. Glen and I gasp when we hear about how long Aiden has been a target for their society.
"He was just a child when you sought him out," Glen sneers. "How could you agree to this?"
"Well, you know Aiden's a very talented young man. He's very gifted in the music department. I heard he's already got a spot at Juilliard. Very impressive, I must say," the older woman says, leaving through a file with our son's face on it. "Of course he's such a high target here. We were out the extremely wealthy or the extremely gifted. Your son fell into the latter category. Of course, it shouldn't have had to come to this Mr. And Mrs. Zhou, but our plans to have him court my niece Jessica here were interrupted when this Rose character came into the equation.'
The door bursts open, and a disheveled Aiden stumbles into the room, flanked by guards.
"What...what time is it?" He mumbles, clearly disoriented. "M-mom? Is that you?"
I wrap my arms around him and hold him close.
"I'm so glad you're safe," I whisper, tears falling from my face.
"Where am I?" He asks.
"It doesn't matter," I say. "We're going home now."
Glen and I stand up to leave but guards block our exit.
"I can't let do that until you sign this contract, making your son legally engaged to my niece," the woman says cooly.
"Never!" I bark. "I'd rather die than let that bitch near my son again."
"I thought you might say that, so here's a little incentive. I have 6 other teenagers in my possession. For every hour you refuse to sign the contract...one of them will...disappear. So do you really want blood on your hands?"
Just then, Jason holding a large document in his hands bursts in with two guards chasing him.
"Come on guys, you couldn't even join me for the victory lap?" He teases. The woman snatches the document out of his hands.
"I'll take that, young lady," she snaps. "Here."
She hands the contract to us. Aiden reaches out for the comfort of his boyfriend's arms.
"J-jay…" he murmurs. "I'm so tired all of a sudden.
"Did you drug him?" Jason demands.
"Drug is a strong word, little lady. I prefer the word, sedated. And yes, we had to."
Jason's fist clench as he holds Aiden steady. Glen and I read over the contract. We get to one phrase am in particular...and stop. We look up. Jason gives us a knowing smirk. He must have tampered with the contract. I just hope it's the right move for him and Aiden.
"After reading the terms of your agreement, we've decided to sign the contract," Glen says. Jason pretends to be horrified.
"You can't do this," he rages. "I thought you loved him!"
"We do, but we've decided that this is what's best for him," I say as Glen and I sign the paper. Aiden, apparently somewhat cohesive, visibly panics."
"What are you doing?" He slurs. "Don't take me away from Jay!"
He clutches his boyfriend's arms, trembling.
"I'm sorry, Aiden dear, but your parents have signed time contract. Until this is null and void you are legally engaged to...Jason?!"
Jessica steps back as she and her mother reread the contract. Apparently, Jason had gotten a hold of the contract and swapped his name for hers. Hence why the guards were chasing him.
"This is a fraud!" The woman bellows.
"Well, we signed the contract, so we're out of here," Jay states. "Adios, putas!"
(Bye,whores!)
"This is not fair!" Jessica screams. "You changed the terms. This is NOT what we agreed to. He's supposed to be engaged to me!"
"Well we didn't ask to be kidnapped! Now If you'll excuse me, I'm going to break the news to my new fiance."
He walks out with Aiden in tow. I decide to follow them. Jason gently rubs his face, giving water to drink.
"Jay...what happened in there?" He asks.
"Well...and I need you to be very calm about this...Jessica tried to get you engaged to her...so I did a little switcheroo, and now you're engaged to...me."
Aiden gasps.
"I know this is hella sudden, and I haven't even proposed to you, but I thought it was the only way to get them to leave us alone. I understand if you want to break off the engagement and wait a few more years...Babe, are you ok? You look like you're about to pass out."
In fact, he does.