Chapter 4

Jacob

I was woken by a loud bang on the door. "It's game tryouts tonight! Wooo!" Kenny's agitating voice was loud, just outside the door. "I know you must be excited, dear Couz."

And I could have truly been excited if the tryouts were weeks ago, but now? It wasn't the right time to put myself in the spotlight, with all the torments from Daniel and creepy texts from whoever else had decided to make my life a living hell.

I was good at almost every sport, especially soccer. I played so well at my old school, that I even made team captain. But it was different here.

I didn't have any friends here, and the only people I spoke to weren't very nice to me. There was Daniel and his friends. Kenny and his minions. The creepy whoever watching and taking pictures of me sleeping.

"Go away K," I managed to say as I tried to rub off the sleep from my eyes.

"So eager to chase me away I see. Danny must be in there then."

I almost fell while running to the door. I opened it and there was Kenny with that very familiar annoying smirk on his face.

"Guess I knew the right words to get you to open the door," Kenny said as he pushed inside the room. "I need your help Couz."

Help? What could Kenny possibly need my help for? He might be insufferably cruel, but he never needed my help for anything.

"What can I do you for, K?"

"Tips. Need a few for the tryouts tonight and you're the right person for that."

"Would love to help Couz, but I'm busy."

"Too busy to help your lovely and only cousin or you're too busy sucking Danny's d...?"

I didn't know if I suddenly grew a wing but I flew over to where Kenny stood and threw my hands on his mouth. "Do not finish that sentence."

"So will you help me?"

"I'll do whatever you want as long as you promise never to bring him up... ever."

"Deal," Kenny said with that annoying smirk on his face.

"Shut the door on your way out," I said as I lay down on the bed, watching my cousin leave the room.

Daniel had managed to bully me into agreeing to do his laundry and I had just a few minutes before it was time.

He made whoever he wanted do his laundry or he could easily pay for it to get done, but no. Why waste money when 'the charity kid' is here to do all his bidding?

I picked up my laundry basket and gritted my teeth as I headed to Daniel's room.

I bumped into a boy just at Daniel's door. He wasn't one of his friends or the junior I’ve caught gulping on his cock. This person was different. New. He had some dirty clothes on his hands. Daniel's clothes.

We stood facing each other for what felt like forever. The look on his beautiful face wasn’t pleasant. It was like this new person hadn’t expected to see me there.

Was he Daniel’s boyfriend or just some boy toy he’s having fun with. Daniel Cobbs sure had a reputation for being a bad boy all over school.

But that didn’t scare anyone away. It did the opposite. More people wanted a taste of the great Daniel Cobbs. New York’s prince.

'Did that cruel bastard get someone else to do his laundry and not just anybody but this... this person who stood in front of me'. 'He was beautiful. Tall and athletic. Shirtless, like every other pretty boy in school. He was almost like a painting of a Greek god.'

Something suddenly shifted inside me. Fear. Devastation. Betrayal… Jealousy?

I thought I was Daniel's only errand boy. Being bullied by Daniel meant you were special because he didn't just bully anyone.

And now, there was someone else. Someone more handsome. Beautiful.

I was so lost in thoughts that I didn't even notice Daniel come to the door. "Give Ares the basket, I have something else for you to do."

Daniel's voice jerked me back to reality but before I could move, Ares dragged the basket off my hands.

"Ares". He even has the name of a Greek god. Very fitting.

I was still staring at Ares walk away when Daniel dragged me inside the room, shutting the door behind us.

"You seem to like Ares, pretty boy," Daniel said in a high-pitched voice before clearing his throat.

"And that would be a bad thing?"

"Yes."

"Why's that? He can't be any worse than you."

Daniel was facing the window and I stood just behind him. I wanted for him to answer my question and when it seemed the answer wasn't forthcoming. I asked again. "Why's me liking Ares a bad thing? Is he a bully like you?"

"Oh calm down pretty boy. This has nothing to do with Ares, but everything to do with us."

"Us?"

"You see. As long as you're here, you're not permitted to like someone else."

"What does that even mean? Wait... you don't actually like me, do you? Cos that would be like the most unexpected event of the century."

Daniel scoffed. "Like you? Don't delude yourself, pretty boy. I just can't have anyone taking your time when you could still do a lot of things for me. He paused and then turned to face me. "I have a proposition and if you agree to it, then you won't have to worry about running petty errands for me anymore."

I knew there was no way Daniel could ever like me, but I wished I felt something other than pure hatred for him.

"Proposition. Does this mean I still get to be close to him?" I thought to myself.

"What do you have in mind," I managed to ask, trying so hard to hide the disappointment that weighed heavily on my chest.

"Come to my room after the tryouts and I’ll give you all the details."

The walk back to my dorm room was filled with questions and thoughts of what proposition Daniel could possibly have for me?