All Chapters of PLAYING THE PLAYER (M×M): Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

~ ALISTAIR ~I hate most Mondays.Especially the Mondays in which I have a 9am lecture. Unfortunately, I hate all Mondays this semester. I have 9am lectures throughout.And escaping is not even an option. Comes with the entire final year shit package.I adjust my leather jacket before grabbing my backpack and my key. And I mentally let out a sigh of relief when I step out of the now empty house.Everyone's gone, more to my advantage.I start my car and speed off to one of the banes of my existence… school. Some minutes later, I pull up into the lecture hall's parking lot before stepping out of my car and slinging my backpack over my shoulder.Outside is almost empty and the last bit of students are already disappearing through the double doors. Looks like I'm the last one. Again.With a shrug, I make my way into the hall. I walk for a few minutes before pushing open the second door of the lecture room.A grunt tears through my throat as Professor Wilson's eyes lands on me as soon as

~ ALISTAIR ~ “Ali, did you see the message sent to the main group?” Ray asks as we walk to the field, side by side.I chew the insides of my mouth as I grip my bag tighter.“Umm no, what's it about?”His eyes dart around us at the people passing and he lowers his head, peering up at me as we continue walking. “People are here.” He says in a hushed tone and tilts his chin to my phone which was in my hand. “Be fast and check.”I glance at my phone's screen, the message notification glaring at me. My thumb hovers over it, but the words are already starting to blur together letters shifting before my eyes.Fuck. Not now. Not here.Shaking my head, I drop my hand. “I will check it later. I'm not wearing my glasses.” I lied. “You can tell me when we reach the locker room.” “Well…” He shrugs casually as we continue walking.I have a secret.One that I can't afford other people knowing so as not to tarnish the Morano name. Father's words not mine.I adjust my sunglasses as we finally cross

~ ALISTAIR ~I shove my keys into my pocket, barely giving a second thought to the car door slamming behind me as my eyes dart around.The library's parking lot is quiet, almost too quiet. I can hear my heart pounding loudly in my chest as if reminding me that I'm here, doing this. Fucking hell.I'd told myself that I don't care. It’s just Rutledge, just some pathetic excuse for a nerd who thinks he’s better than me. But the tension in my gut disagrees.I need help I hate that I’m feeling this. It’s fucking ridiculous. But I’ll be damned if I let him see me sweat.As I march towards the library's entrance, I shove my hands into my pockets, clenching them into fists, trying to stop the tremor wracking through me. But the nerves won’t settle. They’re already building up for what’s next.I remind myself that Rutledge doesn’t know. He won’t know.He doesn’t deserve to know.And that's it.I didn't bother to sign in my name with the librarian and just made my way to the second floor. The

~ ALISTAIR ~I wait a few minutes before slinging my backpack over my shoulders and shoving my hands in my pockets, making my way down the stairs.That fucker should be gone by now.I descend the stairs, shoulders relaxed while I groan, trying not to think too much. Going back home feels like walking straight into a battleground as a reluctant warrior. But at least, the monsters here have smaller heads and they don't faze me.As soon as I step foot on the threshold of the stairs, I see a commotion unfolding before me.And not just any commotion. It was Rutledge getting his face pounded by the captain of the campus’ rugby team.For a second, I consider just walking past. Rutledge and I? We are enemies. Always have been even. I hate know-it-all nerds. I hate class acers.There's no point in admiring who or what you can't be.And Brandy? He's not exactly on my list of favourite people. But watching someone beat the shit out of that ungrateful fucker feels right. And now, fuck Brandy.He

~ ALISTAIR ~ You won't ever feel lonely if you surround yourself with crowds. And you won't feel like the four walls of your room are closing in on you if you do. There's a bonfire tonight. Not even an eclipse will be able to stop me. And when I say eclipse, I mean my father's men. Not that father or mother gave a shit before. I can go anywhere I want, bring as many orgies as I want to their house. That used to be the only way to get their useless attention before but not anymore. The only thing father ever cared about me was the media and how to hide my escapades from it. Everything I did was just labelled as a shortcoming - a stain on the perfect Morano reputation. And I don't give a fuck. I stopped giving it when I was twelve. “Are you sure they are going to come tonight?” Eva, my sidekick who thinks she's my girlfriend - I'll never use that label - asks as we walk towards my group of friends standing near some piles of wood, some smoking, some with booze in hand. “Of course