~AriaI was dazed and confused when I next woke up. My body aches from my neck, down my back and to my legs, that are cramped up under the dashboard. The seatbelt has left a heat rash on my neck and I feel as though one half of my face is on fire from sleeping against the window. "Good morning," Malik says from beside me, making me jump. Even though I knew he was driving, his voice still took me by surprise.Maybe it's because I haven't fully accepted the fact that we are running away from our lives in the Love Pack. Outside, the sun is brighter than anything I've seen since the Passion Pack, however, there is no beach with glistening water here. Instead, it's a straight road leading straight toward the horizon, desert stretched around, leading into hills, concealing what was beyond. "Where are we?" I ask, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes."We just passed over the equator. We are on the warmer side, heading toward a better climate," Malik tells me. At his words, I feel myself brigh
~AriaI stare at Malik from where I sit on the window ledge, admiring him. This is my second experience sharing a room with him, and I believe I have gathered enough evidence to say he isn't a morning person. He sleeps now, while I wait, wondering how to act around him after last night. We might have only kissed, however, it's more than I have ever committed to with any male, ever. Which I'm sure he would find great pleasure in hearing about. The rising sunlight streams in from behind me. It's a mellow colour this morning, drenching the room in a milky yellow, that I assume is normal for this side of the equator. Malik looks beautiful laying there, as he typically does. The only thing that plagues this stunning image any artist would be jealous of, is his scars. I wish I could kiss them away...what am I thinking? As attracted as I am to Malik, he still makes me nervous. At times I'm comfortable, but at other points, he makes me feel inexperienced in life compared to him. I clear
~Aria"You know what you need?" she says pointedly. "Sex."My head jerks up, my gaze finding my friend who lounges casually on my bed, magazine in hand. Her head is tipped down the side of my bed, blonde hair spilling across my bed sheets.Alexa. Our parents were friends before we were. Back in preschool, she was super intimidating with all the friends and her own personal sandpit at home. Our friendship was forced upon us, and on the first day of primary school, we realised we needed one another, and haven't left each other's side since.She still intimidates me though. Not only, in my opinion, is she flawless, but she is so confident and impressive. I was often told I was charismatic and easy to talk to, but she was another story.Some people knew me as Alexa's friend, since she was my barrier to cling to when it came to meeting the outside world. Although we were stark different in our looks, for
~AriaI felt a little guilty coming here.Hugging my jacket closer to myself, I tilt my head away from the onslaught of sleet hitting me sideways. It had to be this kind of weather for what I am committing to. At least the piece of paper I brought with me was tucked under the faux fur of my coat. Not that it mattered.Really, I wasn't trying to protect it. In fact, it was my lame attempt at trying to hide it from Alexa. Now I'm about to make trash out of Alexa's idea.Pulling the slip of paper out, I assess it through the thick weather, hitting the side of the rubbish bin with a tin slap. The face of my very own Alpha glared at me, his blue eyes, melting slightly from the icy rain, staring deep at my soul.Maybe if I could see past the blurry pixels from botched printing, I might have thought he was attractive.Sure, I've seen him on television, but I never took much notice of Malik
~AriaI anxiously tap the tips of my fingers together, leaning forward on the couch."Take it," Alexa insists, nudging the glass at my face. Rolling my eyes, I dismiss her, not wanting any of the Chardonnay she was nearly drunk with. My eyes are glued to the television, anticipating what is to come next.My best friend flops down beside me, balancing the stem of the glass between her fingers.Here we are, waiting for the live announcement of every name that has been pulled for from the ballot. The names of the people who will be competing in Alpha Malik's competition for love. I had a slight glimmer of hope that maybe, maybe I wouldn't be selected. That everything those rogues had told me was a lie.It has been a month and a half since I saw them last. The main rogue, who I was requested to call Grey visited me once, reminding me of my ties to the organisation I didn't know a anything about. All I k
~Aria"They're here!"My growl of disdain is caught rough and short, as the pressure against my chest grows. Alexa's insistent hands rest against my ribs, as she sits on my stomach. Kicking my knee up, I groan again in protest. What a way to wake up."Get off me," I snap, but she doesn't move, keeping me pinned against the bed.My curtains have been thrust open, a rich, orange morning sun streams in, lighting up the make up smeared face of my best friend. Her hair has been gathered up into a wild ponytail, that had clearly been slept on. But the elated grin on her face suggested she had been up for hours."Get up lazy, they're here!" she exclaims, shaking my shoulders, the exuberant look about her not fading for a single second.I attempt another way of getting Alexa off my lungs-by rolling my body-but she remains adamant. "Who?""Who do you think? Malik's little en
~AriaI plucked at the lining of the car seat, irritating Elaine, the woman who has been paired with me. Apparently, it was her job to make me win this entire thing; which basically meant she would get a hefty paycheck if I did so.Little did she know, I wasn't going to be here for long. At least I don't plan to be."This car is expensive," he whispers harshly, still keeping a smile on her face as she said it. The cameras were off - the man behind it wiping the lens with the corner of his shirt - so we weren't expected to keep up with any facade.So, I took it upon myself to relax, propping my leg up under me, despite wearing a dress. The blue fabric bunched under my breast, to flow nearly down to my knees. This is the first time I've had the chance to wear something that pretty, despite the snow falling gently outside. Elaine had my faux fur coat on her lap, ready to
~AriaMacie clung to me the entire drive there, and after awhile, it got extremely uncomfortable.However, I wasn't about to call her annoying or tell her to get off me. Perhaps this strange meeting just for the cameras had secured me a friendship while I am apart of this competition. Someone on my side, to help me deal with the other girls that will be there, who I am not looking forward to meeting, let alone living with.Macie didn't seem stressed about our lack of information, about what was going to happen next. She just nonchalantly sat back in her seat, brushing back the fur on my coat, while I threw rapid fire questions at Eliane.There is no way I am about to walk into this like a blind man."So we will be staying with Malik then?" I question. I knew that his estate would be where our home would be for however long we were chosen to stay, but I couldn't fathom how living next to Malik would