All Chapters of Love on the power play: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

JULIANI felt like shit for asking. Matter of fact, I had booked this entire dinner tonight and called Elliot to meet up on impulse. A dark bark of laughter coursed through his lips on cue, earning a dark glance from me. My eyebrows creased together, wondering what the fuck seemed and sounded so pleasant to have him laughing.“So? You mean to tell me, you were worried about something like that? Knowing fully well you just had your dick eight inches down some bitch’s throat and her face painted in your nut?” Elliot asked in response. Of course, I knew the fucker would have his time dragging out my humiliation and making the best of it. That’s how we became best buddies anyway. He was my type of friend and I was perfectly his—away from the doofuses we both left hanging behind us, calling themselves our friends while literally kissing up to our asses.“C’mon man, I’m being real here. You got something to say or not?” I asked again, my tone now tight, yet Elliot didn’t seem to give a fuck

AVERIE.My alarm went off like it was personally offended that I was still alive. I smacked it so hard it almost flew off the nightstand, then I lay there staring at the ceiling for a full thirty seconds, waiting for the usual post-breakdown hangover—swollen eyes and shaky breathing, the kind of self-pity that makes you want to crawl under your bed and live there.But it didn’t come.What came instead was this weird, cold clarity, like the universe had iced over my insides while I slept. I got up, dragging my feet across the floor, and stared at myself in the mirror above Lena’s desk. My hair looked like a bird had died in it, my mascara was still smeared, and my skin was blotchy. Basically: a walking PSA for why crying isn’t cute.Behind me, Lena groaned. "You’re up early. You plotting murder or something?""Maybe.." I said flatly, tilting my head at my reflection. "Or maybe I’m just realizing I look exactly how Jace would want me to look. Like a tragic before picture."That woke her

AVERIE.The cafeteria buzzed with the usual midday chaos — laughter and chattering echoing across the large hall from the numerous students in it, the sounds of cutlery meeting plates, and the aroma of food lingering in the air. I sat at a corner table with Lena, picking through the plate of food before me and pretending to listen to my friend as she rambled on about something from psych class, but I could still feel it. I could feel him.Just across the room, Jace's Carrington's gaze burnt through the crowd like a spotlight, and though I hadn't looked up or at his way since I and Lena had both walked in, I could feel the weight of his eyes staring at me with every fiber of my being.Lena leaned in suddenly, distracting me for a moment. “Averie? You okay?” I nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah, I'm good. Totally.”“He's been staring,” Lena said.“Who?” I asked, pretending not to know what she was talking about. But that was a futile attempt. It was Lena, after all.“Jace. He's been starin

AVERIE.“Look, Ave. I've really got to say this. You were incredible out there,” Lena said, pulling her knees up on the bed beside me. “Seriously, I can't even seem to get that episode out of my head for one minute. The cafeteria today? Iconic, I tell you! I actually thought he was going to combust, or worse still, explode.”I gave a tired laugh, curling tightly into my blanket. “He looked like someone had hit him with a physics textbook.”“He looked worse, my love. Worse!” Lena said, grinning from ear to ear. She seemed really proud of me and what I had done that she had ordered us takeout that evening and had gotten me a new pair of sneakers, something she knew I loved so much.“He couldn't even think of a comeback,” she continued, her eyes lit with delight. “Couldn't utter a single word. Almighty Jace Carrington, speechless in front of a whole crowd, silenced by the most quiet person I know. Oh my God!”“Lena, stop,” I said, stopping myself from blushing too hard.“Stop?” she asked

CASSIAN.I dashed out of the building, the door slamming behind me as the party kept buzzing inside like nothing had happened. My breaths came out in heavy exhales, and I could still hear Beck's voice echoing inside — yelling some stupid, drunk nonsense. But Beck and every other person inside were the least of my worries right now. The only thing that made sense to me right now was Elliot's admission that he had seen someone lead Averie outside to a car, and that he didn't know who it was.I could think of no one else but Jace. The smug bastard had gone against my warning and had gone too far with this one. I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed his number.“Hello,” came Jace's voice from the other end.“Where's my sister?” I barked.“Uh… what are you talking about?” he asked, sounding puzzled.“Don't you dare respond to my questions with questions, Jace. Where's Averie, and where have you taken her?” I asked again.“Yo, chill the fuck out, man. I'm not with your sister, and I'v