Authors Note: Since I got mostly positive feedback on the last update I'm going to continue with this story. I know there were a lot of concerns, criticisms, and comments so I'm going to answer some individual reviews at the end of this chapter. Here however is the character list someone suggested. Let me know if this is helpful.
Character List:
Sydney Valmont: only child of Sebastian and Kathryn. Spoiled, arrogant and ambitious she strives to win at all costs.
Garret Hardgrove: younger brother of Annette. As ambitious as Sydney but insecure with his families financial standings. Wants revenge against Syd and her family for the damage they've done to his.
Kathryn Merteuil-Valmont: mother to Sydney and married to Sebastian, running her families publishing company.
Sebastian Valmont: Sydney's father, married to Kathryn, working as a freelance photographer
Steven Reynolds: Court Reynolds son, infatuated with Sydney, use to date Caroline and is a friend of Garret's
Annette Hardgrove: sister to Garret, former girlfriend of Sebastian's and rival of Kathryn. Works as a teacher
Caroline Benson: Steven's former girlfriend who is now interested in Garret. Wants to destroy Sydney.
Paul Martin: boyfriend of Annette, a doctor.
Chapter 3: On the Outside Looking In
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"Hands down the best pussy I've ever had" Steven remarked as he took a satisfied swig of his scotch. "Even better than I could have imagined."
As his friend rattled on about his latest conquest Garret was only half listening. Instead he stood before the Reynolds family trophy case and examined the contents. Six mahogany lines shelves filled end to end with awards and plaques of accomplishment. Sprinkled about were family photos, Steven standing side by side his father and brothers, all with large, confident grins. Studying the rewards more closely he marveled at how Steven seemed to be so precisely following in his fathers footsteps. All American boy. All American asshole more like it.
Coming up beside him Steven placed his hand on his friends shoulder. "I'm telling you man, this girl is something else."
Garret, losing his serious expression for a moment, cracked a grin and replied "is it love or just your hard on talking?"
"Both" he chuckled. "She's incredible, not just at the sex, which granted was fantastic. She's smart and funny and so easy to talk to. Sydney has it all man."
Upon hearing that name Garret froze and his hand clutching his scotch and soda tightened. Slowly he turned to his friend and even though he damn well knew the answer he asked "wait Sydney? You fucked Sydney Valmont last night?"
Steven nodded proudly. "Yep, finally after two years of chasing her ass down she finally gave in and I'm telling you it was WORTH it. Oh, man my dick gets hard just thinking about it. So hot and don't even get me started on how tight she was."
While Steven rattled on about the glory that was Sydney, Garret desperately tried to piece together how this happened. Well he knew how it happened, that bitch couldn't dig any dirt up on him so she went to the next logical step which was to seduce his best friend. It was a smart move but an obvious one. Steven had been lusting after Sydney for years but she always turned him down now she cashed in her chips at the exact right moment when the idiot was in the position to help her out.
Garret knew that Steven didn't really have any info that would be of use to her. Still he was one of the most popular guys in school and had a lot of power. If he wanted Sydney to win the election, victory was as good as hers. That was something Garret couldn't allow. He had vowed to bring the princess down and he planned on following through with that promise.
Interrupting the boisterous boys ramblings he asked "so are you two a thing now?"
"Possibly" his smug smile falling Steven revealed "one problem though, her parents hate me."
"Why?"
He snickered "my old man use to bone her mother. How's that for bizarre? Can't say I blame the bastard though have you seen that woman?" Steven groaned and clutched his groin "now there's a MILF if I've ever seen one. Fuck, I'd give my left nut to bang Kathryn Valmont."
Garret shook his head at his friend's immaturity and sneered "well I wouldn't go telling her daughter that if I were you."
Taking a seat in one of the Reynolds overstuffed leather armchairs, Garret contemplated what Sydney's next move could be. She was obviously hatching something if she was aligning herself with Steven, someone her parents disapproved of. If there was any doubt in his mind that Sydney's sudden interest in his friend had everything to do with the election it vanished when Steven, suddenly becoming serious, turned to him and said "listen about the election, I think you should drop out."
Here it comes Garret thought to himself as he rolled his eyes. Trying to keep his anger from boiling over he asked in a calm voice "oh and why's that?"
"Come on man are you really telling me you want to spend the rest of your senior year dealing with that bullshit? This is suppose to be the time to relax and have fun. Besides which you've already gotten into how many ivy league school's already? You don't need the hassle."
"That's not the point. Ever occur to you that maybe I want to do more than binge drink and get stoned all year" Garret replied darkly.
Steven scoffed at this "well how about getting laid? When was your last decent fuck?"
"Well I certainly know when yours was." Narrowing his eyes at his supposed friend he smirked knowingly and asked "tell me Steven did Sydney tell you what to say or did she just order you to get me to drop out?"
He looked away and shook his head "it wasn't like that. Look Sydney really wants this-"
"Oh, I'm sure she does" Garret snickered. "So much so she was willing to screw you to get it."
Steven got to his feet suddenly. Filled with piss and vigor he spat at his friend "it's not like that man, I told you! I thought that was all she was after too but then I talked too her for a long while. This is really important to her unlike you who is just using it as some form of amusement or whatever." Taking a deep breath Steven started to calm down. "Look will you just think about dropping out." With a confident smirk he added "I'd hate to have to help her demolish you."
There was no way he would drop out, especially after that little display. Garret couldn't believe that after one night in bed with the little witch she already had Steven so tightly wound around her manicured finger. She really must be a decent lay.
"All right Steven I'll think about it" he lied as he got up and walked over to the bar. While pouring himself a glass of water he took in his friends satisfied smile and shook his head. Watching him Garret came to a curious revelation. "You really like this girl don't you? It's not just the sex."
With an almost sheepish smile Steven admitted "yeah I do. She's so completely different from any girl I've ever dated. She's sexy and intense and smart..."
While Steven proceeded to list Sydney's many attributes Garret pondered this new side of Steven. Ever since they met two years ago the guy had always come off as a Neanderthal, all cock and balls with no interest in anything involving romance or love. Sure he had girlfriends and Garret had observed that he was good to them but it always just seemed he was doing it to get laid. He never really was that into the girl. There had only ever been one girl Steven acted like this around but they had long since broken up.
"I'm telling you Hardgrove I haven't felt like this about anyone since, well Caroline." Steven who had been staring into space as he talked suddenly looked over at him and laughed. "That reminds me, she's been asking about you. Any interest?"
The short answer to that was no. Caroline Benson was Steven's former girlfriend who he dated for well over a year before breaking up with her under mysterious circumstances. When asked about it he claimed they had a parting of the ways but privately he had confided cryptically to Garret that Caroline wasn't who he thought her to be. He never really cared to know more about the situation because frankly Caroline never really held any interest to him. She seemed to be just another spoiler upper east side princess.
"I don't think so" he begged off. "I have enough on my plate already." Plus he added to himself, he really had no inclination to date Steven Reynolds left overs.
Finishing off his drink the blond haired boy nodded "it's probably for the best anyway. Oh by the way I meant to tell you all of us have decided this year we're going to spend winter break in Vail. My parents have this awesome place up there, with plenty of room. You should definitely come. You ski right?"
Actually he didn't but not wanting to admit to his shortcoming Garret lied "a little."
"Well good, you'll come right?"
His confident manor began to subside as he tugged on his ear, a nervous habit he had had since he was little. Garret so seamlessly blended in with the crowd of Manchester's elite that sometimes he himself forgot he was an outsider. While not poor he didn't have their money, he couldn't just jet off across the country when he felt like it. He had obligations to think of. Steven seemed to have dismissed this little fact but Garret couldn't no matter how much he wanted to. "I don't know man it sounds a little expensive."
Steven gave him a careless shrug. "Not really, we'll be staying at my house. All you have to worry about is the airfare and expenses and stuff. That shouldn't be too bad plus don't you still have that job?"
"Well yeah but-
"Cool then it's settled. I'll tell everybody you're in."
Garret knew it was far from that simple and he resented the hell out of Steven for thinking so. It was true he had a job at the garage that paid well and he occasional parked cars at this club but he wasn't sure if he would be able to scrap the money together for an airline ticket in so short of time. Plus it had to be a first class ticket. Thinking back to last year when everybody (the inner circle of the Manchester who always partied and socialized together) went to Miami and flew first class while he was in coach. It seemed like a ridiculous thing but it was humiliating to Garret, especially when everyone kept asking him why he was sitting back there. Like it was his choice.
Garret had worked hard to be respected among these people and although he might not like them most of the time he didn't want to lose their respect. He had to go on this damn trip but he wasn't sure where the hell he was going to come up with the cash. Perhaps he could ask his sister although her teachers salary she wasn't exactly bringing home loads of money. Still she'd helped him out in the past so he would ask her for a loan that night.
Suddenly feeling ill at ease sitting in the Reynolds luxurious townhouse sipping their vintage scotch, Garret had to get out of their. "Look I have to take off Steven, I'll talk to you later."
"Okay I'll see you tonight then"
"Tonight?" He asked drawing a blank.
"Yeah remember the party, out on my boat? We're meeting around eight."
"Right" he replied. It was so the last thing he was in the mood for at that moment. A party on a boat that cost more than his apartment. Standing there in the foyer of the Reynolds grand home Garret had an epiphany of his own. As much as he liked to think that it was he who was manipulating these rich brats around him, as much as he liked to think he was above them he knew deep down it was the other way around. It was they who pulled his strings and somewhere deep within him he would have given anything to have what they did. For that he resented them all the more.
Forcing a smile he turned back to his friend and told him "I'll see you then."
* * * * * *
"O-Oh Steven...yes..fuck yes...I'm cuummmiiiinnnnnggggg" Sydney let out one last satisfied whimper of pleasure before collapsing into her plush bed. Her body flush and bathed in a slight gleam of exhaustion, she disentangled herself from her lover and snuggled up to her pillow. However her bed mate would have none of that. Sliding between her knees Steven moved in between her legs and kissed the inside of her thighs. Still panting she told him "I think...you wore...me...out."
"Why do I doubt that" he snickered in between pecks. Sydney let out a small moan as his efforts increased and she marveled at his ability to make her wet again. She really didn't think she had another orgasm in her but she was eager for him to prove her wrong.
Since losing her virginity at fourteen to Eric Richard's Sydney had slept with several men (and one girl during winter break in Miami) but she had really only had four pleasurable experiences. The first was when John Hoffman went down on her for the first time. He was her first real boyfriend (Eric was just an acquaintance ) but he had a problem getting and keeping an erection. They had oral sex mostly, lots of oral sex and he was quite good at it. She discovered a year after they broke up that he was in fact gay.
The second was with Rick something or other. They met during a party, she was a little drunk and allowed him to fuck her in the pantry on his parents house. Half way through it he pulled out and inserted himself in the wrong hole. Deciding he liked that better he continued on and she was a little too out of it to fight him off. What started off as torture soon turned strangely pleasurable and she came hard.
The other guy on this short list was a friend of her fathers who she had always had a crush on. He was also friends with her parents gay friend Blaine so she always assume he was gay too until he kissed her during a trip in the Hamptons. Curious she allowed him to seduce her and that weekend she had the best sex of her life. It was then she came to the realization that high school boys just didn't know how to fuck. They either came to fast or too slow and usually fumbled around like blind, deaf retards. After the amazing time she had with the older man she decided then and there she would quit fucking high school guys in favor of experienced men. However she quickly learned that not all older men were great in bed. Point of fact her physics teacher.
Sydney hadn't expected any better from Steven Reynolds. She really only fucked him in order for him to help her with the election. That's why the night before had been such a shock. He had been amazing, better than amazing. He was considerate, he didn't cum until he knew she was on her way, and he managed to get hard again with no problem.
It wasn't just the sex either, he was actually a really great guy. In the past after sex most guys always wanted to go to sleep or leave but Steven had been different. He had been really sweet, wanting to talk to her and know things about her. The usual cynical Sydney found herself smitten with the boy she had earlier deemed as just another jock asshole.
Thinking back to the previous night she reached down and took Steven by the back of the neck, pulling him towards her for a kiss. He eagerly kissed her back while his muscular hands moved over the curves of her body. Pulling away he whispered to her "you're amazing."
Sydney smiled up at him and replied coyly "well you weren't too bad yourself."
"No I mean it Syd." Tracing a finger down her face he marveled "you're perfect." She grinned at the sentiment before pulling him back into a kiss. They made out for a little while before Steven broke away. "Hey I forgot to tell you, I'm having a party tonight on my boat."
She cocked an eyebrow at this. "Isn't it a little cold for that?"
"We aren't going sailing just hanging out. Will you come?"
"Yeah" she replied pleased that he was including her. However a dark cloud suddenly intruded on her happiness. "Wait a minute, is Garret going to be there?"
Steven shrugged "well yeah, he's one of my best friends." Sydney let out an annoyed huff and rolled away from him. He laid beside her and put a soothing hand on her bare shoulder. "Come on what do you expect me to do, drop him as a friend because you don't like him?"
Yes she thought to herself but she didn't say it aloud. Still facing away from him she demanded "did you get him to drop out of the election yet?"
"Well not exactly-
"Steven!" She shrieked as she whipped back around to face him. "You promised me you'd take care of it!"
He rolled his eyes "well it isn't that simple. Look I talked with Garret but he insists on going through with it but don't worry. You'll win, even if I have to rig the damn thing, my girl is going to be student body president."
"Do it then"
Averting his eyes from her he revealed "you know Hardgrove thinks you're using me."
That figures she thought snidely to herself. Curious she asked "what do you think?"
Steven's blue eyes met hers and he replied "I think you know exactly what you're doing and I think you're ambitious. I think you put on an act for everyone around you but I don't think you're acting with me or at least I'd like to think you're not. I really like you Syd and I think we could be great together."
Sydney grinned back at him and replied "so do I." Tracing her finger over his lips she teased "just make sure I win the election because I would hate to have to replace you Reynolds."
"Replace me?" Picking up her slender frame he tossed her to the end of the bed and began tickling her furiously. "You think you can replace me Valmont?" He taunted playfully.
Sydney shrieked and laughed "yes...yes...I'm sorry! Ah Steven!" As he continued to tickle her she glanced over to the bedside table and saw the clock. Suddenly growing serious she pushed him away "shit! Steven stop, you got to get out of here my mothers home from work by now and if she finds you here she'll freak."
Hurriedly getting off the bed she grabbed her undergarments and put them back on while trying to hurry an annoyed Steven. With an annoyed sigh he started to get redressed. "What's the big deal if she sees me? Have you never had a guy in your room before?"
She rolled her eyes annoyed she had to explain it again "you know why."
"Well your mother doesn't even know me, although according to my father he knows her REAL well" he told her raising his eyebrows suggestively.
"Spare me the details please" Sydney huffed as she pinned her dark tresses into a messy bun on top of her head. "Anyway it's not her, my father is the one who disapproves. He thinks all Reynolds men are alcoholic, neanderthals who beat their wives and cheat on them."
Buttoning his shirt up Steven sneered "yeah well my father had a few choice words to say about your dad as well. Syd we're going to have to tell them sometime about us."
"I know" she insisted. "However after you've finished fucking their only child's brains out is not that time. Look I'll tell them when I'm ready, until then can you please..." she gestured to the open door.
He nodded and followed her out of the bedroom. Knowing her mother was likely in her study checking her messages, Sydney sneaked him out of the servants entrance with no problem. As they stepped outside she breathed a sigh of relief. "You know" Steven chuckled while slipping his jacket on "I never took you to be such a daddy's girl."
"I love my parents" she said with sudden sincerity. "I respect them and I want them to respect me."
He cupped her cheek as he seemed to consider this "you're a very complicated girl Valmont. I like that." Leaning down Steven plated a soft kiss on her mouth. "I'll see you tonight then?"
"I'll be there"
With one final kiss he left and caught a cab. As she watched it drive off Sydney wondered what exactly she would tell her parents. They would undoubtedly not be pleased but Steven was right, she couldn't continue to sneak him out of her bedroom forever.
She gave the matter some thought as she headed back into the house and made her way down to her mother's study. Kathryn sat behind a large desk looking over papers diligently. Sydney came up behind her and rested her chin atop her mothers head. Looking down at the spreadsheets before her she asked "what's that?"
"Nothing of interest" her mother sighed. Reaching her hand back she caressed her daughters hair affectionately and asked "what have you been up to all afternoon?"
"Nothing of interest" she parroted back.
Kathryn looked up at her daughter with a sly smile. She pulled the young girl forward and pecked her cheek. "My that's an interesting cologne you're wearing miss Sydney. I hope you at least let the poor boy shower before ushering him out the servants entrance."
Sydney tried to hide the panic on her face by breezily asserting "I don't know what you're talking about. It's just a new perfume I'm trying."
"I'm disappointed in you Sydney. Given who your parents are I'd expect you to be a much better liar than that" Kathryn teased.
Slumping back into a nearby chair she cursed her mother for being so observant. She was impossible to get anything by. Still she was pretty confident her mother didn't know WHO she was with. "You know sometimes I really wish I had normal parents."
"No you don't" she laughed. "Now, who was he and why do you feel you the need to sneak around?"
Sydney shrugged "it's no big deal, he's no one special."
"That's something every mother wants to hear" Kathryn deadpanned. "Her daughters sneaking around with someone not special. Can I at least know his name?"
"No" she replied playfully.
"Do I get to meet him?"
"Maybe, haven't decided yet"
Kathryn just shook her head at her daughter and smirked as she began perusing through the newspaper. Turning the page to the local section something caught her attention. "Well look at that"
"What?" Sydney asked getting to her feet. She looked over her mothers shoulder and to her dismay saw it was a yearbook picture of Garret Hardgrove under the caption 'Largest Scholarship in New York State History Awarded to Manchester Student'. After reading the headline out loud she grumbled sarcastically "how nice."
"Annette must be pleased" Kathryn sighed. Noticing her daughter studying the picture of the young man she remarked "he's rather cute, isn't he?"
Sydney took her eyes off the paper and noticed her mother watching her curiously. She knew although her mother might be telling the truth what she was really asking was 'are you interested in him?' It was a test, one Sydney would have no problem passing. Looking back down at the picture she snickered "absolutely not."
This made Kathryn smile, either because she was pleased with the answer or because she knew her daughter truly was a terrible liar. Setting the paper back down she got up out of her chair and kissed the top of her head. "That's my girl"
Sydney took her mothers seat as she left the room. Picking the paper back up she looked back at the photo and considered it. Maybe he was sort of cute. In an aggravating sort of way. Scowling at his smug smile she stuck her tongue out at him. "Dork"
* * * * * *
"Have I told you how proud of you I am yet?"
"Only about a hundred or so times"
Annette beamed proudly before once again leaning over and embracing her brother. Although it was getting tiresome Garret hugged his big sister back and smiled over her shoulder. Thinking back he was now quite pleased he decided to keep quiet about getting the scholarship. When he found out about it from the headmaster several weeks ago he put off telling anyone. He knew Annette would be over enthusiastic and when she saw that article in the paper she hadn't disappointed him. For some reason his accomplishment made him feel a little embarrassed but he wasn't sure why.
Breaking away he said "all right, all right, it's not that big a deal."
"Oh yes it is!" She insisted "a full scholarship Garret, to anywhere you want to go! Trust me that is a very big deal." Narrowing her eyes suspiciously at him she asked "why aren't you more excited about this?"
He shrugged "I don't know, I guess I'm just worried about what you're going to do next year when I'm gone back in that apartment by yourself."
Reaching across the dinning room table she clutched her little brothers hand and gave him a reassuring smile. "I won't be alone. I have Paul."
Paul Martin, who's brownstone on the upper west side they were having dinner in that night, was Annette's boyfriend of almost two years. He was a cardiologist who sometimes volunteered at a free clinic and worked extensively with charities. That was how they met. Although not filthy rich he made more than a decent living and came from a modest upbringing in the Midwest like them. For awhile Garret had not been a fan of Paul's, thinking him to be just another wealthy phony who only wanted to get into his sisters pants. Over time however he came to like and trust him when he saw how happy he made Annette.
Breaking him out of his thoughts his sister asked "Garret is something else bothering you? You've been distracted all night."
She wasn't wrong. Ever since leaving the Reynolds earlier that afternoon all he could think about was winter break and how he was going to come up with the money to go. Looking through the want ads earlier he had spotted a possible part time job but with his hectic school schedule, plus hockey practice, and his other job he wasn't really sure how he could juggle it. The only other way to get the money in time was to ask Annette for it which was something he really didn't want to do.
Tugging his ear he explained anxiously "well, um, the thing is I-"
"Here it comes!" Paul sweeping back into the dinning room called out as he clutched a silver tray with a small chocolate dessert. Setting it down in front of his girlfriend he said "it's all for you. Sorry Garret I only got one...it's sort of special."
He shrugged carelessly in response, privately cursing the unknowing Paul for his timing. Annette smiled down at the decadent dessert then back at him "I don't see why we can't share it, it's certainly...oh my god!"
"What is it?"
Setting her fork down she gently picked something off the top. As he leaned forward for closer examination Garret realized it was a very shiny diamond ring. Slowly sitting back down in his chair he wondered if it was what he thought it was. Obviously Annette was wondering the same thing because she turned to Paul and asked his cautiously "what is this?"
"Well it looks like an engagement ring" he joked as he kneeled down beside her. "So what do you say? Annette I love you more than anything and if you let me and if it's okay with Garret, I'd like to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Annette, who at this point was close to tears, flung her arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. "Yes! Yes of course I'll marry you!" As she squeezed her boyfriend tightly she looked over his shoulder to her brother and nodded excitedly.
Garret smiled lovingly at his sister as he took in how beautiful she looked at that moment. Annette hadn't had the easiest life and for as long as he'd known her she always thought of others before herself. When their parents died she took him in without question and never hesitated for a moment to give him anything. She above anyone else in his life deserved happiness, true, pure happiness. Seeing her now so excited and giddy there was nothing in the world he wanted more than this.
As the happy couple kissed and embraced Paul looked over at him expectedly and asked "well do I have your blessing?"
"Of course" he replied taking in his sisters smile "congratulations."
"Thank you" Annette exclaimed as she hugged him once again. "Oh Garret we both are going to be so happy! We're both getting everything we wanted!"
He broke away and offered his sister a grin and a nod although for some reason he knew he was far from having everything he wanted. Pulling away from him Annette asked "so what was it you were going to tell me?"
Garret certainly couldn't ask her for a loan now. He had never seen Annette look this happy and he wasn't going to ruin it by bothering her with his pathetic high school shit now. Smiling he shrugged "it's nothing really. I just got another job."
The party was well under way by the time he arrived. It was brisk outside for mid October and he wondered why on earth Steven wanted to meet on his boat for this gathering. The obvious answer to Garret seemed to be that he wanted to show off to everyone his latest toy. And he wasn't just referring to the yacht.
Garret was anxious about running into Sydney that evening. He already had enough on his mind without having to deal with her. Although he very much wanted to see her taken down and her parents as well, he was thinking of putting his vengeance on hold for the time being. Perhaps he really would drop out of the election after all. Besides the fact that he now had more than his fair share on his plate there was also his sisters engagement. Annette was finally happy and he didn't want anything to ruin it. Him getting involved with the Valmont's would surely do that.
As Garret climbed aboard the large vessel he made a vow that, that night he was just going to relax and not let her get to him. Let Sydney have her precious position and anything else she wanted. She and her fucking family had nothing to do with him anyway.
"Hey, Hardgrove you made it" a tall, dark haired guy from the hockey team greeted him as he passed.
There was about fifteen to twenty people on the top deck. All young, pretty and members of the Manchester elite. Garret recognized a couple familiar faces at the end of the boat and approached them. "Hey guys have you seen Reynolds?" He was thinking he could tell him about the election in private.
"No man I think he's downstairs"
"The refreshments are downstairs with him" another party goer informed him. "Help yourself."
"Hey, bring me back another beer!" Someone called out.
Garret chuckled and nodded as he made his way down the few steps that led to the cabins underneath. "Reynolds?" He called out but was met with no answer. Spotting a keg and enough bottles of alcohol to fill a full bar he smirked and went to help himself. As he was grabbing a couple beers he stopped when he heard the distinct sound of moaning. Grunting actually, followed by a strangled cry that sounded decidedly female. Garret smiled and shook his head figuring someone was having a very good time.
He was about to turn to leave when he suddenly found himself standing not ten feet away from Sydney. That's not what made him stop in his tracks however. She was naked and ridding Steven. The kitchen featured a large window that over looked the living room space of the boat. Garret couldn't see Steven but he could see Sydney, boy could he see her.
With her eyes shut tight, she bit her pink lip as she whimpered and gently rode him. He hated to admit it but she was quite the sight. Her long dark hair hung in heavy curls that framed her beautiful flushed face. Garret licked his lips as he took in how perfect her white porcelain skin looked against that dark hair. She was quite a vision looking so aroused.
Suddenly her blue eyes fluttered open and she was looking right at him. He panicked for a moment figuring she would shriek or call out to Steven to go kick his ass for spying on them. However she did neither. Instead her lips curled into a small smile as her hand trailed up her abdomen towards her swaying breasts. Two perfect, full globes of flesh peaked with matching rose bud nipples that stood out at perfect attention. Her eyes never leaving him Sydney's right hand cupped her breast as her fingers pinched the hard nub.
Watching this little display Garret shifted uncomfortably, his groin area now feeling uncomfortably tight. He couldn't understand it, even after that time she kissed him in his apartment he never felt especially attracted to her. He just saw her as a slut and although this little show wasn't doing much to diminish that opinion, it was the first time he wished to be the one underneath her.
His trance was eventually broken when his elbow accidentally hit a bottle of Jack Daniel's and caused it to crash to the floor loudly. "What was that?" Steven called out from underneath her.
Quickly Garret ducked and as quietly as possible he all but crawled back to the top deck. As he did he heard Sydney tell him soothingly "it's nothing baby, come here."
He rejoined the party but for the next hour all he could think about was what he walked in on. Garret actually found himself getting hard and for a little while he considered charming one of the useless girls wandering around the party to accompany him someplace a little more quiet so he could relieve himself.
A little while later however Steven and Sydney finally emerged hand in hand both with lazy grins on their faces looking quite fulfilled. Garret greeted Steven but tried his best to ignore Sydney. When Reynolds went to get himself a drink she strut up to him. Garret pretended not to notice her but she made it difficult. Looking up at him with a gloating grin her eyes sparkled mischievously as she pressed herself into him and whispered "did you enjoy the show?" When he only stared stonily back at her she laughed "pervert."
Without another word Sydney turned and joined a crowd of girls. As he watched her walk away Garret cursed himself for not telling her off. He should have said something devastating to wipe that smug look off her face but his mind went blank. Taking his eyes off the curvy brunette he noticed Caroline Benson standing among the group of girls sipping a beer. Her eyes were fixed intently on him and clearly she had witness the whole exchange with Sydney. She watched him curiously for a moment before turning away from the group of girls and disappearing into the crowd.
As the hours rolled on about half the party or so ended up taking off but Garret and about ten others stayed. Huddled together to keep warm as the wind began to pick up, they all were pretty intoxicated. He however was always good at holding his liquor so he had no problem keeping his wits about him. As the chatter died down someone suggested the drinking game, I never. The rules went someone suggested something, usually outrageous, insisting they've never done it. Those who have though have to fess up and drink.
"Okay, okay I'll start" volunteered a junior cheerleader named Ashley. "I never...did it on my parents bed."
More than half the group drank and Reynolds hollered "boooooo! That's lame! My turn, I never....fucked someone of the same sex."
None of the guys owned up to this, even Richard who everyone knew was secretly in the closet. About four of the girls, including Sydney though took a swig. Steven noticed and laughed "that's so hot baby!"
"My turn!" Giggled another female. "Um, I never had wanted to fuck one of my friends parents."
Everyone except Sydney and Garret drank. Instead they eyed each other wearily while everyone around them chugged and laughed. "Oh come on Syd" Ashley yelled "you're dad is such a hottie!"
"Seriously" her friend Brenda laughed. "According to my mom, he use to have like, the worst rep in school! I heard he fucked the school nurse."
"I heard he fucked everything that walked!"
"Including Garret's sister" Steven laughed as if it was the most hysterical thing on earth.
He glared coldly at his friend not even pretending to find it amusing. Drunk or not the guy was an asshole. Sydney just shook her head in disgust and hissed "ew! New topic please!"
"Okay it's my turn" Garret spoke up. Aiming to make both Sydney and Steven squirm he recalled a rumor he heard about her not too long ago. "I've never...fucked a physics professor."
Raising her bottle of wine to her mouth Sydney took a sip and Garret grinned back triumphantly. Now he couldn't be sure if she owned up to it because she was too out of it to realize not everyone else was drinking along or because she honestly didn't give a fuck. When the group noticed they let out a collective wail of hoots and hollers. Steven however shifted uncomfortably next to her and muttered "you did?"
The smile on her face fell as she looked back at her new boyfriend and offered him an apologetic shrug. As the crowd died down Sydney's eyes fell upon Garret. She stared daggers at him but then suddenly a smile crept back on her face. "My turn" she called out. When the group fell silent in anticipation she offered "I never...wrorked as a servant."
"Well no shit" one of the other guys chuckled.
Everyone sort of laughed nervously, not sure what that was suppose to mean until they noticed Sydney with her eyes locked on Garret daring him to drink. He had in fact worked at jobs which could fall under that heading and she knew it. Soon the rest of the group did as well and all eyes were on him, waiting for him to admit defeat. Miserably he raised his beer bottle to his mouth and took a bitter sip. A chorus of snickers followed. "Hey Hardgrove are you going to clean up this mess or do we have to hire someone else" one of the more wasted guys called out.
As the snickering a whispering around him continued Garret stared down at his bottle in humiliation. It occurred to him then most of them probably didn't even know his financial situation. Well now thanks to that bitch they all did and were having a grand old time with the information.
Unable to stomach much more he got to his feet and started to walk away. "Hey man don't leave" Steven asked sounding actually concerned.
"Let him go" Sydney instructed "I think the downstairs toilets need to be cleaned."
Garret stopped and looked down into her taunting face. She smiled back at him in triumph as everyone else snickered around them. "Syd you're so bad" chided another girl playfully.
He was just going to turn and leave but he wanted to wipe that look off her face if only for a moment so he did the first thing that came to him, he dumped the rest of his beer out on her perfect hair. Sydney jumped to her feet and shrieked as she wiped the beer out of her face, "you asshole! You're nothing more than a worthless wanna be, piece of shit!"
"And you are nothing more than a worthless cunt!" He snarled back.
Sydney looked as though she was going to leap at his neck but Steven quickly grabbed her. "Okay, enough baby, let's go get you cleaned up."
Shaking his head angrily Garret left in the opposite direction. Fuck 'em all.
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An hour later he found himself sitting miserably all my himself at the stern trying his damnedest to get drunk. Garret wasn't quite there yet but he was hopeful. Needless to say everyone was mostly ignoring him, apparently calling the hosts girlfriend a cunt does not endear you to people. So when everyone went downstairs to get warm he stayed above board. He would have gone home but he didn't think now was the time he should be driving. Plus he had hoped to smooth things over with Steven but that didn't look to be happening tonight.
She had gone too far with the servants crack. Did they really expect him to just sit there and laugh it off or maybe just walk away with his tail between his legs? He couldn't do that, had it been anyone else maybe he could have but it had to be that snotty bitch pressing his buttons. God how he hated her. Not just because of what she said but for making him feel this way. Utterly pathetic and inadequate. Thanks to Sydney Valmont he was becoming a poor boy cliché. He told himself he didn't care about what they thought of him but it was a lie.
"Care for some company?"
Turning he looked back and saw Caroline standing behind him. "Not really" he answered coldly wondering how long she had been standing there.
Garret thought she would give up and go back to the party with the others. She surprised him when instead she joined him anyway. Leaning against the railing beside him she looked out at the water and mused aloud "I know how you feel. I know what it's like to be any outsider."
He scoffed loudly as he took another sip of his beer. "Yeah it must be devastating being rich and having everything you ever wanted."
"Trust me I'm far from having everything I want. You think you have it hard because you don't have the same bank account we do? By tomorrow they'll all forget about that. Try being one of Steven's castoff's. Try having everything they do and they still treat you like a leper" Caroline spat bitterly.
Garret turned to her curiously. Feeling a strange need to be kind he told her "they don't, I mean they don't think of you that way."
Even as he said it he knew he was a lie. On more than a few occasions Garret had over heard the other girls gossiping, wondering why after he dumped her Caroline still insisted on hanging around. They called her pathetic, needy and other not so pleasant names. Garret found it somewhat cruel but couldn't help wondering at the same time why in fact she still hung around the same crowd.
As if reading his mind explained "they use to be my friends. I mean most of them knew me before Steven but after we broke up and even though were still friends they still treat me as if I was the one who broke his heart." Shaking her head sadly she added quietly "it never occurred to them it might be the other way around."
"Well then I guess we're both just fucked then aren't we" he snickered.
"Guess so" she offered him a slight smile and then reached over taking the beer out of his hand. Taking a sip out of it they relaxed into a comfortable silence.
Standing beside her in that moment it occurred to Garret that this was the first time he really talked to Caroline. Even though they often hung out at the same parties he could count on his hand the number of things he actually knew about her. She was eighteen, a senior and a member of the wealthy Benson family. Her father was a successful real-estate developer and her mother did what all rich woman in New York did who didn't work, shopped and fucked her personal trainer. On the popularity scale she ranked high was her status plummeted when she broke up with Steven.
It didn't help matters that she wasn't exactly beautiful. Oh she was pretty but she didn't posses the classic beauty of Sydney and some of the other more popular girls. In many ways Caroline was the polar opposite of Sydney as far as the way they looked. She was tall, the same height as Garret, with an almost waif like body. She didn't have huge breasts but her body was attractive none the less. Her hair, possibly her best feature was so blond it almost looked white in the sunlight and it fell a little past her shoulders. Caroline's face was her biggest drawback. While she had pretty brown eyes her nose resembled that of a pug, and her mouth seemed to be in a permanent scowl. Garret tried to remember ever seeing her smile but he couldn't.
Actually that wasn't true. Earlier that evening she had smiled and laughed when he dumped the beer on Sydney's head. He realized then Caroline most likely wasn't a fan of Sydney's seeing as she was dating her former boyfriend. "So Caroline what are you doing up here? Looking for a way to get back at Steven for fucking Sydney?"
She nodded "you are smarter than I thought. That's not a bad idea."
Yanking the beer bottle back he sneered "I'm too wasted to fall for flattery. What are you after?"
"The question isn't what am I after but rather what are you after?"
"Oh joy riddles, that's much better."
Caroline moved closer until they were standing almost intimately near one another. Reaching out she cupped his face and asked "her parents hurt you sister bad didn't they?"
Garret yanked away from her and demanded suspiciously "how do you know that?"
"I know a lot about both your families" she explained confidently. "For instance I know Kathryn Merteuil screwed your sister out of a better job. A job had she gotten you wouldn't have had to work in those menial jobs anymore. It has to hurt to know that little bitch and her family are responsible for all the hardships done to you and yours. If it was me I'd be just itching to pay her back."
Even a little bit drunk Garret could still tell when he was being conned. Still he was curious what Caroline was suggesting. "Yeah and if my boyfriend dumped me for a younger, cuter model I'm want pay back too." Garret chuckled dryly "once again, what exactly do you want Caroline?"
Moving even closer to him she whispered "I want the same thing as you. I want that little cunt to suffer until her last breath."
Her intensity freaked him out a bit. Taking a step away he remarked "you really hate her don't you?"
She shrugged "I imagine almost as much as you. Tell me are you still planning on running against her for student body president or has Steven talked you into backing down already?"
Garret had completely forgotten about the election and also his plans to quit. He had never gotten Steven alone to tell him the news. Perhaps it wouldn't be necessary. "I haven't decided anything yet. Why are you interested?"
"I want to be your campaign manager"
The absurdity of the statement caused him to laugh. "My campaign manager? And what would that entail exactly? Are you going to help me make posters and buttons?"
"Actually I was thinking I'd help you destroy Sydney Valmont's life. The election will only be a stepping stone." Caroline wrapped her arms around his neck and explained "I think we could make a good team. What do you think?"
Before he could answer Sydney and Steven came above board. They were both laughing loudly, clearly intoxicated, with there hands all over each other. Both were so wrapped up in each other they didn't even notice the other couple standing together in the dark. Watching her look so carefree and happy only proved to piss him off more. Scowling he turned back to Caroline and told her "what the hell, you're hired."
- to be continued (Please Review)
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Okay if you haven't figured it out yet these are going to be long chapters. This will be a fairly involved story and I hope to update it once a week but will see. Anyway in response to some questions and criticism I got from the last chapter I've decided to answer some reviews:
Drucilla Black: you review every chapter to every story I write so I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU! You're also one of my fav authors on this web site and I want to urge you to continue your pansy/draco story.
Xquisite Cherry: I have a problem working on one story at a time, I get bored. If there's a certain story you want me to update let me know and I'll try to get to it.
J: thanks for your positive review, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I think thanks to her parents genes Sydney is exquisitely beautiful (though I have no one person in mind for who she's suppose to look like). This story is darker than I originally planned, so much so that I almost tempted to go back and rewrite the first chapter
Jamie: thanks so much for the critique. I rather have someone write me a book worth of things I could or need to improve rather than just saying nice story, write more. It's incredibly helpful! First off I agree with what you said about the two characters, they aren't quite flowing yet (hopefully they start to develop a little more in this chapter). Sydney and her motivations for what drives her will be slowly explained, but I can tell you it has a lot to do with her mother. I see her as being a lot more uppity and snobby than Kathryn but I think she allows herself to feel more than Kathryn ever did. As for Garret although he's not terribly likable right now I'm not sure he's quite as ruthless or evil as Joshua. Like Sydney his insecurities will slowly be revealed. It does have a lot to do with class. Although he isn't poor there's a big difference between being middle class and extremely wealthy. I'll try to do a better job of showing where he's coming from and hopefully it won't be too much of a battle. Also about Sydney's sexuality I think it's better explained in this chapter. I tend to agree with what you're saying but you have to remember she's only 16, most 16 year olds don't have great sex. She's not quite as aggressive about her sexuality as her mother is because frankly she doesn't have to be.
Martina: thanks! But I'll probably devote equal time to both this and CI:the serial
Morgaine: I think Sydney tries to emulate her mother but in fact there is a lot more of her father in her (the good parts) as the story moves on this will start to become apparent. As for Garret I don't think he's quite as disturbed as those guys in that movie, lol.
Sellene3: I hope you're not disappointed with this story. I think you may be right Kathryn is bitchy but just because she's in love it doesn't make her a good person.
Bebeluvspikey: you make a good observation, I don't think Sydney really is quite as good as her parents at manipulation because I don't think she's as hard as them. She knows what it means to be loved, she's had a good is slightly twisted home life. Garret has oto but he has a lot more anger behind him. By the way update you stories, they are my favorites!
Marie: Garret might take some time to warm up to, hopefully you'll come to understand him more.
Thanks to everyone else for the reviews, please keep them up and I'll keep updating!