Chapter 5

Jared looked through the car window and stared at the night sky, dark houses and passing trees. They started blurring, and flashes of the past appeared in front of his eyes.

Almost two years ago

“So, she invited you again?!” Parker laughed and kissed the cheek of his girlfriend.

The streets were starting to get filled up with people, going to the regular Saturday fun. And here Jared was, also headed to the place he dreaded and couldn't wait to see. It was mindblowing, the way his heart felt.

“Why? Does she want to use you as a stress relief again?” Maria joked and stared at Jared.

His guts wrenched at her words, but he remained silent. So what if that was the truth? He was doing the same thing... more or less. The moments he was alone and kept dreaming of Amely confessing her love for him were going to remain a secret.

“That's how the procedure works—she makes fun of him during the party. Annoys and teases him, and after that, climbs to his room on the second floor! Just like a bloodthirsty vampire!” Parker joked and huffed a laugh.

“Or a hungry succubus!” Maria chimed and joined in with his mirth.

“Yeah, I know.” Jared smiled bitterly. “Women are weird.”

Parker touched his forearm, and he halted.

“Don't pretend it's not hurting you, Jared. This is not a healthy relationship, and you know it. Take the reigns and prove her you're a man. Don't let Amely play you. You're better than that and deserve a better partner than her!”

“I'll deal with it.” Jared's lips pulled up reassuringly, and he patted his friend on the shoulder. But his smile wasn't believable even to him. “I can handle one woman. I can end it whenever I decide, I don't care,” he said, stubbornly trying to lie and convince himself of that.

But he did. He cared. He had cared since the first time he saw her in that convertible.

Jared didn't know what it was, but there was something about Amely... Something about her presence alone that made him want to stick close to her. And he had enjoyed that so much when they were friends in high school. At least until senior year, when something snapped in her and she changed so drastically. He kept searching for the light he used to see in her all those years ago. And it happened. Only when they were alone and in bed.

His jaw clenched.

...

Jared sat on a chair and grabbed one of the beers on the table. The lights everywhere were turned off, and the only things lighting the space were colorful LED lamps and TV screens. The place really looked like a club. What was it like when it was empty? Loud music was blasting through the speakers, reaching every part of the full house.

It was making a small headache pound in his head, but Jared tried to ignore it. It was nothing. The evening was just beginning. He wanted to see Amely. And see what she would do. Thinking about the past and the way they were in the beginning put him in a sour mood. He wanted those years back. The woman he saw now only broke his heart in front of people and used his dick for fun when they were alone. At the end of the day, everything she did hurt him. Of course, he wanted to have sex with her, but he wanted it to be as an added bonus in a romantic relationship.

Jared gulped the beer down and threw the empty can in the trash bin next to the table. He knew this was all stupid. His twisted relationship with Amely was stupid. But why did he keep holding onto it?

He grabbed another can from the table and opened it. His eyes found Amely's figure on the sofa in front of him and froze on her. There were so many people separating them, but still, she was the only thing he could see. No matter how masochistic it was of him, he couldn't get his eyes off her. His stomach was tingling just by remembering how it felt to touch or kiss her. Her scent and her sharp perfume... He could still sense them in the air and on his body. They were addicting. Just like his drug he couldn't stop taking. Just like the woman he loved and hated.

Her blonde hair was falling on her slender shoulders and back in stylish waves, and her short dress showed more than Jared wanted others to see. All these short skirts and dresses... They had been a part of her wardrobe ever since he first met her. But then other men's eyes didn't bother him. He didn't feel as insecure as now. He didn't hope something more would happen between him and Amely.

All the men around were watching, waiting to pounce on her. Amely had always been full of admirers and men that desired her, but most of the time she just ignored them and remained alone. The short, casual flirts she had in high school, most of them to mess with Jared, were also gone.

Jared chuckled under his breath. They used to do that to each other a lot. But their games who could mess with the other more had started morphing into something twisted and dark, and he was starting to get tired of this procedure. Maybe if he talked to her... just for once seriously talked to her, things could change.

He glanced at her. Amely was still on the sofa, talking with Mila.

But even if she had abandoned her short flings, this didn't mean she couldn't have other men she played with in the middle of the night. Perhaps, it was not only Jared? He wasn't her only toy?

This thought pissed him off, and he squeezed the can of beer, the liquid bursting on his hand and dripping on his leg. He shot up, grumbling under his breath, and threw the almost empty container in the garbage bin.

When a girl, obviously slightly drunk, approached him and tried to wipe the wet part of his jeans, Jared grabbed her hands and motioned for her to leave. He didn't care about casual sex. He already had a partner in crime for that.

When he looked ahead again, he saw the blue eyes of the girl he wanted, glaring at him. They were full of anger and disdain. The apocalypse inside them immediately put him on edge. He hadn't done anything bad. He pushed the girl away, again reserving himself for her. Even if she didn't deserve it.

Jared's heart dropped at her intense gaze, and he started walking. His steps were slow, unsure, and the more he got closer to her, the more pulled to her and scared he felt. Could he really talk to her? Here? Now?

“Oh, look who's here!” Amely announced, her voice powerful. “Our orphan boy! Long time no see, orphan boy! How long has it been since the graduation ceremony? Three years? And here I thought people change and evolve in such a long period of time! How come you're still the same old poor orphan boy of our school?” She smirked, that familiar evil glint shining in her eyes. She looked like a monster. The most beautiful monster Jared had ever seen. Which made her the deadliest too.

Jared stopped mid-track and noticed the crowd's gazes were trained on him. Almost every single person here had studied in their high school or had been in the same class as either him or Amely. A chill ran up his spine, and he swallowed. Now he really couldn't move. He was stuck, just as Amely blamed him to be.

“Why don't you dance for us? You're in the middle of the room, aren't you? Come on, make some space for him!” she cooed, and people immediately listened to her, stepping away from him.

Now he was all alone, isolated, and frozen in horror. And this wasn't the first time. Amely enjoyed seeing him like this. Frozen in fear and humiliation. Was she the sadist who had claimed him? Had he found his tormentor?

Amely continued, “I remember the night of the basketball match and the stupid cock that danced for the team! It was really amusing! But I guess it was the best you could do when you didn't get accepted into the team! You could become their jokester!” She laughed and took a gulp of her wine.

The room erupted in amusement, and Jared blushed, anger starting to consume him. He balled his fists, his knuckles whitening. That night had been one of the worst and the best of his life. He broke his leg, slipping on the stairs in the saloon, and after that, Amely found him in the hospital and took care of him.

And here she was again. Her sinister half had taken control of her body and mind. Maybe it was time Jared's own brain started working and he dropped the girl like a hot potato. She was poisoning his heart.

“Fine,” he grumbled. The laughter in the room was much stronger than his words, so he knew nobody would be able to hear him. “So be it. I'm putting an end to this. I've had enough of your games!” he growled, glaring at Amely, and her eyes widened a bit. He was sure she hadn't heard him, but was it possible that she read his lips?

...

When he left the much-needed shower, Jared found just the person he didn't want to see on his bed.

He threw the wet towel he had used for his hair, and it almost hit Amely's face. She grabbed it at the last second. Jared headed to one of his drawers and took a pair of boxers. When he turned around, the blonde mischief was still there, just staring at him.

“What? What do you want?” he growled in a husky voice. He was tired. Both emotionally and physically.

“Nothing.” She shrugged with a small smile, but even a stranger could tell she was feeling uncomfortable. “I just came to see you.”

“Well, I don't want to see you. Now if you may?” He twirled his finger, hinting at her to turn around so he could get dressed.

Amely let out a small sigh and stood up. She shifted to the slightly open window and stared at the curtains.

“Jared, I...” She turned to face him.

He jumped.

“Wow, who told you you can look!” he spat and finished putting his boxers on.

A small smirk colored her face, and he was immediately reminded of the way she had treated him again.

“Can you just leave?” Jared coldly said and stepped to the bed, reaching to lift his slacks from the mattress.

Just as he was about to take his clothes, Amely grabbed his forearm and pulled it to her cheek, rubbing it against her flesh. She blinked, and her eyes somehow softened. The open beautiful girl Jared loved spending time with appeared again. The same girl who helped him fight bullies and became his friend in high school. The girl Jared loved. What had happened to her? Why did she change so much and became his bully?

Jared looked at her blue orbs and felt like sparks were flying between them. Every time he gazed into Amely's eyes, he felt like he was being sucked inside them. She was enchanting him just with her presence.

“Please...” Amely stood up from the bed and slowly touched his muscular chest. She was so close to him that Jared could feel her warmth and perfume. It made his heart beat faster, and blood rushed through his veins.

“Don't leave me...” she whispered, looking up at him. Her words barely reached his ears. It felt like she was afraid to just think of it. And she was terrified to say it.

“No, Amely, I think it's better if we just-”

“Jarr...” she mumbled and looked into his eyes. She knew using his nickname always softened him and cracked his shell.

“No, stop playing with me!” he said a bit louder than he intended, stepping back, and Amely grabbed his hand again.

“Who said I'm playing?” she retorted, decreasing the distance between them, and Jared stared at her.

“If you're not, why are you being like this? At one moment, you're cruel and cold, and the next, you cling to me like a hopeless puppy!”

“I... I...” Amely trailed off, unable to find the right words. She pursed her lips and shuffled through the back pocket in her shorts, taking something small out. She looked at Jared again, her gaze uncertain, and took his palm, putting the item in it. “This is for you. Happy birthday, Jarr.”

“What?” he murmured with a small scowl, but when he looked at what was put in his palm, his heart missed a beat. “What is this?”

Jared lifted the small chain with a round pendant and examined it. It had a small coat of arms on it with two shields and something like a dog or a wolf between them. It was beautiful.

“Your birthday present.” Amely smiled shyly. “It's something that would protect you. I want you to wear it everywhere you go. You can put it around your wrist if you want, but I want people to see it on you without a problem. So, it should be better near your heart.” She touched the skin on his chest and bit her lip.

Jared didn't know what to say. This had come out of nowhere; as usual, Amely had come out of nowhere, and now, she was so different than the woman at the party.

“I'm going to fight this. I'm going to fight for us,” Amely suddenly said, and her eyes lit with a new fire, ready to extinguish everything that stood in her way.

It was the first time she admitted that 'us' existed. It made Jared's heart nearly burst, and his breath hitched.

“I promise... I won't give up!” Amely vowed and looked at his darkened gaze. Her small innocent smile made him want to melt.

This happened every time. She was bad, she was good, and Jared couldn't resist her. She was like the bone, tied in front of the dog, and he was the dog, chasing an empty hope. Something he couldn't stop himself from doing no matter how much he tried.

But this night it was different. There was something in the air and Amely's eyes. It felt like the first time she really opened up to him after they became intimate. She opened her heart for him, and he was already inside, feeling the warmth and love.

Amely slowly stood on her toes, still staring at his eyes, and gently put her soft lips on his. She was so careful and tender, that it felt like she was terrified that if she moved a bit more roughly or quickly, she was going to lose him or make him run away.

...

Why, when Amely could be so kind and gentle, had she hidden such an important thing from Jared for almost two years? Why hadn't she told him she was pregnant? Was she so ashamed of the orphan of Oak high?

This was utter betrayal, and it made his blood boil in anger.