บททั้งหมดของ Love on the power play: บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

JACEI hit the blunt for the fourth time, dragging out a little puff of smoke before tossing it into the ashtray. My fingers trailed over the textbook. Line after line I read, yet nothing made sense to me—just jumbled-up words filled with nonsense.My mind drifted away from the notes. Fuck, I had two different assignments to turn in within two days, I had four different projects to work on, and also practice for the game we had this weekend. A buzz settled on my phone—it was an update on my socials. Cassian was out with the boys. He’d invited me, but I’d managed to pull out some out-of-this-world sort of excuse to avoid going.I couldn’t choose. Between him and Averie? Especially not when Averie and I had just gotten started on these little game sites we were going to play. And then… Cassian. I couldn’t cut him off. He was my best pal, I’d need him. Worse still—Julian. How dare he tell me what to do? I was here holed up in my room, reading and smoking blunt after blunt, while news was

AVERIE.Again.He’s doing this again, once again. My heart raced, not from fear or anxiety, but from thrill. Poor Elliot, always being on the end of an assault — he deserved better. And Jace? I’d called his bluff and here he was making the exact point he claimed he wouldn’t be making.“Let him go,” I spoke. My words slid off my lips, he tilted his head, his eyebrow zipped together in mock annoyance, obviously believing things would go just as he wanted.“Wrong, answer Averie,” he tutted as he spoke, twirling the knife in his hands.“I said, let him go,” I said more viciously this time. I was pleading, asking how he’d gotten all so riled up because of me. He didn’t have a crush on me? Fine — he could lie all he wanted, anything to make him feel good about himself. I wouldn’t be cutting that part of his fantasy short.Hastily I stormed forward, cutting between them, snatching the knife away from Jace’s fingers, before turning back to Elliot, who looked really pissed but had managed to k

AVERIE.FUCK!“So. Are you dating him now?” Lena asked, her voice thick with heavy sarcasm and a hint of tease. I flinched into the bed, my shoulders dropping instantly. She spouted that nonsense—I hadn’t gotten a chance to speak with her the entire day. She was odd, with Bryan, and had only gotten home late.Is something an entire house breaking everything down on her, from the bloody bet to the knife incident and then he kissed I—shared with Elliot—who did seem genuine by the way yet no matter how hard I tried, it didn't make my heart flutter, didn't make me anxious, didn't make my heart flutter like jace even without trying, I remember the overwhelming feeling I got as soon as I saw him Standing, angry as hell, pissed senseless seeing me with elliot, I'd gotten excited seeing how he took control of the entire situation.“You must say something else. I didn’t just sound my entire time for—nope, you just got that half-assed opinion. I’m not even into him like that.” I retorted, feel

AVERIE“I’m sorry for today, Elliot. I didn’t mean for things to turn out this way. I’m sorry, and I swear he’ll never approach you like that ever again,” I pleaded, clinging hard to my chances. Jace crossed the line today, by far, and there was no excuse to make up for it. Yet here I was, groveling on his behalf before Elliot, who had refused to say anything else to me.We returned home after the fight. He’d accompanied me to the car, helped me out the door, and made a turn to drop me back off. Home—he stopped a few blocks away from my house and killed the engine without saying anything. I knew it was a gesture for me to exit his car, and now it only made me feel worse.“Elliot,” I whispered again. I reached my arms toward his face. He turned, his eyes holding mine.“Are you really sorry about tonight?” Elliot asked. He sounded hurt. Even though I had no excuse for Jace’s behavior anymore—it made no sense. This shouldn’t have happened.“I am, Elliot. I would do anything to make it up

AVERIE“So? You and Jace?” Cassian asked, leaning against my locker as I shoved in, rudely and slammed it with a force that was rather unnecessary.“What the fuck do you mean by that, Cassian?” I said, trying to hide the knot rattling in the pit of my belly — the annoying manner in which my heart shattered when he walked past me. Jace and I were bound together; we were meant to be, if that was even making sense. But we… If anything, he should not have ignored me like he did this morning.How was he wrong? Badly wrong. He claimed I’d been a liar, called me degrading names, humiliated me — then walked away? How long has he been doing that? How long have I wanted him? He calls people shots, makes me feel like shit, then walks all over it. I did the best I could, but putting up with his bullshit — maybe not. I’d done enough of being wronged.“I don’t know. I mean, I was beginning to think you both were having something behind my back. I swear…” I started.“Wrong with your threats — he is