Oppressed Girl
Arriving at school with August was kind of like how I imagined arriving into the capitol city with the country's dictator would feel like. Everybody stared at us with faint admiration - like they secretly wanted to be us. But of course, that was overshadowed by the fear and hate they felt towards us. We weren't well liked, but we were highly respected.
I found that shocking. I hardly respected myself any more at this point. I felt entirely useless. I felt like I was wasting valuable time. Unfortunately, there wasn't much I could do about that. August kept me on an extremely short leash. He was practically breathing down my throat half the time. Sometimes I supposed that maybe he wasn't as fooled by my innocent act as I thought he was. He certainly acted like he expected me to plunge a dagger between his shoulder blades at any given moment.
It was certainly tempting; what with the way he acted like he owned me. I suppose he did own me, but it was still rude to make it so obvious. He always had that damn arm around my damn waist. It might as well have been a leash. He treated me just like a lapdog after all. A decorative, amusing pet.
How it wasn't obvious to everyone that he owned me I did not know. How it wasn't obvious to Will that I didn't want to be with August I did not know either.
I could see him, Will, over by the steps, appearing perfectly at ease. He was standing on the railing, looking important at the highest elevation in the courtyard. He was smiling and chatting animatedly with Aaron and Mike. The only evidence that yesterday's incident had even occurred was the fact that Kristy was keeping her distance from him. He didn't give off the impression of still being mad but she was wary of him; afraid of pissing him off. So she sat off to the side with Juliet, quietly braiding her hair, giving him his space.
I started veering away from them, heading for the bench that August and I usually occupied, but he pulled me away - towards the stairs where Will and his friends lounged.
"August," I hissed quietly in his ear, pulling uselessly on his arm, "Where are you going?"
"I need to have a chat with William," he said steadily, his voice giving no indication to what type of chat. I could only assume it was bad.
"Leave him alone," I growled, pitching my voice low, "You promised you'd leave him alone."
He rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to hurt him."
"Then what are you-" I whispered just as we reached the foot of the stairs.
"William Sharp," August boomed, "Just the man I wanted to see."
Five pairs of accusatory eyes fell on August. Not a single gaze held a drop of anything but pure hatred. Four of those five gazes slid over to me with the same look of intense hatred in them.
"What the fuck do you want?" Aaron snarled at August. He wasn't sure who he hated more; me for breaking Will's heart or August for stealing me away from Will.
"Nothing of any interest to you, little gothic urchin," August returned curtly, his voice implying that he did not particularly want to waste time talking to Aaron.
Aaron picked up on August's dismissal of him and was not pleased. His face flushed and he stuttered a bit. He was spared from answering though by Mike.
"Get out of here dirt bag," Mike snarled at August before sliding his steely gaze over to me, "And take her with you."
"Wait," Will said, looking down at us from his perch on the railing, "I want to know what he has to say." And of course, the others complied to his will. They weren't pleased about it but they did what they could to appease Will. He was like their petulant prince and they were his subjects. They often questioned his judgment but in the end, they did what he asked. Around here, Will always got his way.
"Privacy?" August hinted obnoxiously.
Will's friends looked to him questioningly. He nodded and they grabbed their stuff before scattering.
"Goodbye juvenile delinquents," August called with mock sweetness. Mike flipped him off silently without looking back while Aaron mumbled curses under his breath. The girls were quiet, but their thoughts were quite vocally hateful. Towards me of course, not August.
"So . . . what gives?" Will asked as he jumped lithely from his perch on the railing. I could tell he was trying not to look at me.
"I came 'ere to apologize to you Will," August said, shocking us both.
"Apologize?" Will repeated, "You . . . want to . . .apologize?"
"Yes. For what happened to us. We used to be mates, yes? Before this whole mess. Amunet's sorry too. She never meant to drag you into our relationship in such a horrible way. Isn't that right dear?" he asked. The shake he gave me to urge to respond was a little harder than called for. I could tell that Will took notice of that as well.
I didn't know what he was playing at but I decided to play along. "Yes," I said, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice, "Terribly sorry."
Will narrowed his eyes at me, making it clear that he didn't buy either of the apologies. I was glad. I'd purposely kept the emotion out of my voice so Will wouldn't buy it. Because if Will thought I was lying, then August would think I was lying. And then he wouldn't be suspicious.
"That all?" Will demanded, crossing his arms over his chest defensively.
"No. I'd also like to apologize for starting that nasty rumor about you," August said.
I froze along with Will. "What. Rumor," he demanded.
"Just a silly little story I fabricated when I was sore about your former relationship with Amunet," August said with a unconcerned air.
"What. Rumor," Will repeated.
"Just a little tale about you and some oral sex," August said, his voice implied that he thought it was no big deal. But I knew he was only making it seem like he didn't care to piss Will off even more. That bastard. Now I knew what he was playing at. At least . . . I thought I did. I didn't. At least not fully.
"You started that rumor?" Will demanded, outraged,
"I told you it wasn't me," I muttered under my breath.
He glared at me briefly before returning his stormy gaze towards August. "I can't believe you started that rumor! Haven't you fucked with me enough already? Was it really necessary to start some stupid rumor about me? Which has now escalated thanks to my slut friend who told people I gave her oral too. Which of course, everybody believed thanks to the already pre-established rumor that I'll go down on anything female. Actually, I guess I owe the thanks to you."
"Now, now, don't be sore William," August said, "That was weeks ago. It's over now."
"It was two weeks ago and it's not over with," Will growled, "I just found out that somebody spray painted 'whore' on my locker just yesterday!"
I'd seen that. It had been spray painted in hot pink. I'd been glad he hadn't been there to see it. People had been laughing and that would have upset Will. I'd been pretty upset myself by how mean kids were. I did appreciate the few kids who saw the unnecessary cruelty in the act though.
"Tell ya what mate," August said, "To make it up to you, I'm invitin' you to come to the party my parents are throwin' at the manor tonight."
"You're having a party?" I demanded.
"I'm invited?" Will chimed in, sounding just as perplexed.
"Why of course," August said, "It's my father's birthday after all." I wasn't sure what question he was answering.
I was going to meet August's parents, assuming I was invited of course. As terrified as I was of the possibility of going to August's house I was also interested in meeting the brain dead idiots who hadn't realized their son was being possessed.
"Hmm, now tell me August, what would be an appropriate birthday present for Satan?" Will snapped sarcastically.
August laughed indulgently. "Now, now, don't be petty William. I'm trying to be nice," he said, his tone almost threatening.
Will raised an eyebrow and barked a laugh. "Yeah. I doubt that," he sneered. I felt my chest tighten. It was my fault he was so cynical, after all.
"C'mon William," August urged, "It's going to be a lovely gathering. Quite the soiree actually. Black Tie."
"Well bula . . . bula," Will drawled sarcastically.
"Won't you come Will?" August petitioned, "Amunet would just love to have you there, wouldn't you princess?"
His grip on my waist tightened until it was painful. I winced. "Yes," I ground out between my teeth, trying not to wince.
"See? Now won't you come. You may bring a guest, if you like," August sweetened the pot.
"Fine," Will said, grabbing his bag off the floor and slinging it over one shoulder, "I'll come. I need directions though."
"They're yours," August said and Will flinched slightly before shaking his head slightly as if to clear it.
"Thanks," he mumbled as he turned away, towards the building.
"And William," August called after him, causing him to pause and look over his shoulder, "You do have a suit, don't you?"
Will smirked sardonically. "Please. I go to Black Tie events all the time. You have to when you nail as many rich bitches as I do." A wicked smirk was painted on his perfect lips but his eyes held spite, not mirth. He wasn't looking at August though. He was looking at me with eyes that clearly said "Look how well I'm doing without you."
August laughed at Will's comment, as if they were just two normal guys laughing over a sex reference. "Well I'll see you at eight then," he said.
"Eight it is," Will said, "Now if you don't mind, I have an appointment with the principle to 'discuss' my 'episode' in Mrs. Brooks class the other day."
"But they didn't call -" I began as he walked away. He held up a finger.
"William Sharp to the main office. William Sharp to the main office," droned the voice of the secretary over the PA service.
"What I tell you," he muttered, "Anyway, see you tonight. Auggie, Nettie." The way he said the fond nicknames made it clear he didn't think very fondly of either of us.
"Billy," August returned in the same tone.
Will flipped him off in a friendly manner before disappearing inside.
August sighed. "What a remarkable ability is his . . ." he trailed off appreciatively, "To see into the future . . .
I ignored him. "What the hell is going on?" I demanded, my voice an angry hiss, "Why would you go out of your way to talk to him! You know he hates us!"
"I believe he hates you just a tad more my dear," he said.
I snorted. I doubted that. Will may have treated me with icy spite, but I knew that he still loved me. Even if he did hate me, I knew he still loved me. I'd seen the truth in his eyes when he'd broken down in front of Aaron and Mike. He loved me, still. But that didn't change the fact that he hated me for what I'd done to him. I speculated that, because he loved me, he hated me even more than he would hate any other cheating ex.
"What the hell are you playing at?" I demanded of August, brushing off his attempt to upset and thus distract me.
"I don't know what you're talking about flower," he lied through his teeth.
"Don't fucking lie to me," I said, pushing him away, "I know you're up to something."
He reached out in a lightning fast moment and secured his hand tightly around my wrist. Painfully tight. "If I tell you something," he growled, pulling me close enough so that his face was a mere inch from mine, "You better believe it's the fucking truth."
"August," I said, struggling against him out of fear of this flare of his infamous temper, "You're hurting me."
"Good," he snarled, "You gotta fucking learn not to question me. I know best."
"Okay," I said desperately, praying for him to let me go.
"Say it," he snarled, grabbing my face roughly.
"You know best," I repeated, my voice muffled by his fingers pressing in on my cheeks.
"Good," he snarled, "Now no more stupid questions. Or you're going to regret asking them."
I let my eyes slide over to the crowd of onlookers. Not many people remained in the courtyard but the ones who did had their eyes trained on us in shock. August followed my gaze and seemed to remember that we were in public. He released me entirely and paused for a moment looking around. After surveying the area and coming down to reality he picked up my hand gently and began rubbing my wrist soothingly.
"Sorry princess," he apologized, sounding like he was back to normal. I couldn't tell if he was being sincere though, or just putting on a show for the crowd. "Did I hurt you?"
"Yes," I snapped. I was acting annoyed but really, I was relieved. I'd half expected him to beat me again - in front of all these people.
"Here. Let me kiss it make it better," he said, gently lifting my hand to his mouth before applying a butterfly kiss to my wrist. Still holding my hand gingerly he stepped closer to me and kissed my lower cheek, where I was sure his fingers had left marks. He moved his mouth all the way down my cheek to my jaw and then back up my other cheek - kissing every spot he'd affected when he'd grabbed me.
This public display of affection served to scare away some of the onlookers. Of course, it also served to hold the attention of others. Many teens retreated inside for first period which would shortly begin, but others lingered, watching us with interest. Some were interested in our display of affection while others were intrigued by how August had gone from yelling at me to practically licking the underside of my jaw in submission.
"Do you forgive me?" he asked sweetly, looking up at me as he paused in his deliverance of beseeching kisses.
"Yes. I forgive you." I didn't have a choice.
"Thank you my little African princess," he purred, moving his mouth up to peck me on the lips. It went from a peck to a full blown French kiss in mere seconds. He had a hand behind my head as he kissed me in a passionate, but not aggressive way. It was a good solid minute before he pulled away. "Don't worry flower," he said when he pulled back, "It won't happen again. I promise."
Two phrases I was uncomfortable with. "I promise" and "It won't happen again." I'd promised things before. I'd promised Will I wouldn't hurt him. I'd broken that promise. August had promised not to hurt me again and he'd broken that promise too. And I was sure he was going to break it again.
"I have a surprise for you tonight Am," he said as he absently stroked my sore wrist with his thumb.
Oh Good God . . . .
"What is it?" I asked anxiously. I could just imagine the type of 'surprise' he'd like to give me.
"Your new car," he purred, lifting my hand to his cheek and nuzzling it gently.
Good God.
"Oh . . . cool," I said in a small voice, struggling to calm myself.
I couldn't help but remember what I'd promised to do for August when he got me my car.
