Never an Ever After

The game we play

SONG FOR THIS CHAPTER:

ALL OF ME-JOHN LEGEND

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

ELLORA

The night came and I have to practice my singing for the Saint Mary’s festival this week. I chose to do this on nighttime so that no one will be at the church at this time, and I can just be alone all by myself. Don’t get me wrong, I love all my church mate and choirmate. But sometimes, I feel they didn’t like me because I am me, they just like me because I am the Reverend’s daughter and the church will be in their glory. Maybe what I am thinking or feeling is true, or maybe it was just my overthinking mind makes me think about this about other people.

I am practicing the song “Ave Maria” the one I will be singing for this year’s festival. I also play the piano for myself while singing. And it felt good. Having to sing without so many eyes looking at me.

Then I feel it.

I feel him.

I don't know when it started that when he's around I can feel him. But somehow, I did. Maybe I've just gotten used to his presence lately.

I stopped playing the piano along with my singing and I find him instantly sitting on the far end part of the church, watching me, void of any emotions or some sort.

I didn’t move nor stood up, I just looked at him. And he did the same to me.

Another staring episode with Ronan Hawthorne. No one even dare to back down.

He stood up and starts to walk towards me, I swallowed hard as my heart starts hammering. I clutch my chest to even my breathing. Am I really this scared from him?

He stopped when he’s in front of the piano and me “Come to prom with me.” he said that almost my breath hitch. This is the first time, he ever asked me on something. He didn’t ask me before when he kissed me, he didn’t ask me before when he shove me on his car and onto the wall.

“I am coming with James.” I shrug and bow my head pretending to practice the piano keys.

“He asked you?”

I nod and bit my lips. James asked me about the prom via text the other day after Ronan’s façade at the cafeteria. And off course, I will say yes to him immediately, isn’t that my dream? But why do I feel so guilty towards Ronan that I can’t even looked at him in his eyes.

“He is.”

“When was this?”

This time, I looked at him, his fist is clenching and his body isn’t relaxed just like earlier when he watched me singing. “Ellora, when was this?”

“The night when you told everyone that I kissed you back.”

He scoffed and his muscles tightened. Why am I even looking at his fine muscles? What am I thinking?

I clears my throat and swallowed hard. I stood up and looked up at him “I need to go. You can close the church.” I left him inside, I know he’s mad. He has this thought in his mind that he somehow owns me, that sometimes I feel that he really is. What does that mean?

That is why I won’t ever trust myself whenever Ronan is around, I should never ever let my walls down for him.

His nothing but a person who is drowning in his own darkness and secrets.

But nothing bad will happen to me if ever I will try to find out what his secrets are. I can still use that for him when I need to.

That’s the thing I have learned with Ronan Hawthorne, used whatever weapons you can use for someone. It’s either you die and they live. Or they live and you will die.

Somehow, people destined to be in need of survival. If you don't fight, you will eventually lose in the end.

And for someone like me, I can’t afford to lose this battle or else I’m going to let myself in fire with him.

********************************************************

RONAN

After Ellora tells me that James asked her for prom this year, I know my friend is on the move.

I went to their clubhouse where he organized another party. But I have no intention of partying with him, because I feel nothing else with him now but anger and hatred.

I know he heard the news about Ellora and I's kiss, and I really meant to let everyone know so they know where they will be when it comes to Ellora. I just f*****g marked my territory and here he is, invading it.

When I arrived at the party, he was again surrounded by different women. And my blood boils, he invited Ellora to the prom giving her false hope that they both have hope, when in reality he will never be satisfied with one woman and much less with Ellora. And I couldn’t bear to see his filthy hands holding Ellora, No. If I could I would cut off his hands before he even touched my pure Ellora.

“Hey, Hawthorne. Glad to have you here.” He said while raising his glass.

I sat down on the couch in front of him, Cloud is here too. Looking at me, as if sensing there is something wrong.

I raised my glass to him and f*****g gave him the fakest smile I can offer. f**k you, I will f*****g kill you, I said to myself.

“Have you asked Ellora for the prom?”

Cloud instantly snapped his head on me, signaling that James is on the f*****g move.

“I do. How did you know?”

“She told me.” I shrug and drinks my beer.

“Why? Did you asked her too and declined you Ronan Hawthorne because of me?” He smiles big as he said that full of bitterness in his f*****g voice.

I tilt my head and smiled at him “Unfortunately.” I told him, getting his ego bigger.

He laughed amusingly and stood up “Didn’t you hear that everyone? I beat Ronan Hawthorne for the Reverend’s daughter.” He lifts his cup and partied o what information I feed him, enjoy it while it last, asshole.

I laughed darkly and drinks my beer. Cloud is looking at me while smirking, he knows me damn well that I wouldn’t let this slide.

James sat down beside me and put his arms around my shoulder

"Don't worry, bro. After I'm done with her, I'll call you right away for you to get your fine share of her ass." He growls and laughed excitedly. I clenched my fist, and I did everything I could not to kill him in front of many people.

I nod and sip my beer “We’ll see.”

James looks at me as he tried to picture Ellora on his bed “That’s a f*****g sweet, bro. Let's just see if Reverend's ass doesn't turn when Ellora's video spreads all over Pennsylvania. That's the f*****g sweet revenge." Yeah, I know this is James' plan for Ellora many weeks ago, Reverend is angry with my family and James' family, so I found out that they plan to get a revenge to Reverend Sullivan using the only thing that matters to him; Ellora. That he knew he could easily get because that girl is obviously in love with him.

James changed, so did I.

But James is different from me.

He becomes this eager and sloppy when it comes to power and money.

He’s impatient for all the things he wanted to get.

Him and his brother Robert.

But with me being here, is another barricade for the two of them.

As long as I am here, they both know that Pennsylvania won’t be for them to reign and to rule. And so, I know all the plans they laid to get rid of everyone who tries to stop them from getting what they want.

Silly.

“Saint Mary’s?” I asked him.

He smiled at me “Why? Did I just hurt your pride?”

“A little.” I cringed at my lie, I just want to feed him bullshit and see his f*****g face getting smitten. “Why you afraid of me or something?”

“Off course, not.” He stood up “Everyone! The party is moved at Saint Mary’s. You will definitely see the two of the undefeated at the caged ring.”

All of the people hype up and shouts as they start to head their own way to the Saint Mary’s.

Once again, James put his arms on mine “Let’s feed this fucker the game we play.”

Wrong f*****g move, Asshole.