Torn Between My First Love and Arrogant Bully

Chapter 02

KIARA:

I had expected it to be easy, but it was f*****g hard finding an apartment in Washington DC. Not just anyone, but a place that was affordable because since all of this was unexpected, I was on a really tight budget.

I had two more f*****g days to move out of Adrian's apartment because Nicole was moving in.

When Adrian returned home three days after my birthday and his proposal to Nicole, I told him about my plans of moving out, and though he tried talking me into not rushing it, I was adamant about doing so before she moved in.

I wasn't ready for a long time of emotional torture, especially because I knew my feelings for Adrian weren't going to just disappear into thin air just like that.

The cab driver halted at my fifth destination, and I stepped down from the car after handing in my payment. I walked in, ready to meet the agent with whom I had chatted last week, and although it turned out to be a nice apartment, it was still way above my budget.

One hour later, I was back home, tired and hungry. As I walked in, Adrian was setting up the dining table. He had called me about two hours ago but I was too busy checking out places and I forgot to return the call.

“Finally, you're home. It's past ten, Kiara, and I was worried sick.”

Why was he worried about me?

“Let's eat.” He said, but I shook my head, trying to avoid that face that made my knees go weak and succumb to what he always wanted.

“I'm not hungry Adrian, I just want to freshen up and go to bed so I'd wake up early and continue my house hunting.”

He came over to me and grabbed my arm, pulling me with him to the dining room, then he pulled out a seat and forced my butt on it while I groaned, watching him take his seat next to me,

“That's why I helped you out to make things easier.” He said, a warm smile tugging on his lips, and I felt a little butterfly rumble in my stomach. I hated this feeling that came with his care.

I stared at his jaws, the veins in his arms as his knife sliced through the meat seamlessly. Everything about Adrian was perfect, starting from his well-built abs—ones that I had managed to memorize over the years, his strong jaw, and then his pectorals. Nicole had to be one lucky b***h to have him

“How?”

“A good friend of mine needs a roommate, and it's just $500 a month with all the facilities and furniture available. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Kiara.”

“500 dollars? Isn't that too cheap?”

“That's why it's a perfect opportunity for you,” Adrian said, and I nodded my head. No matter how bad the place would end up being based on the price, I was going to take it, get a job, and move out as soon as I saved enough money

___________

Holy s**t! This place wasn't just an apartment, it was a Mansion and I wondered if I was in the wrong place.

When I checked the address Adrian had sent to me again, I realized it was correct, but how? There was no damn way I could afford a place like this, especially now that I was still jobless and I wasn't about to call mom for some cash.

Nevertheless, I held on to hope, or should I say a miracle, and walked into the gate until I got to the main building.

I gently pressed the doorbell, waiting patiently for whoever was in to come open the door, but there was no response for about two minutes, so I pressed it again, and finally, the door opened.

To my greatest shock… no, most terrible shock, the personal standing right in front of me with a surprisingly gorgeous face, a smirk at one corner of his lips, and those annoying green eyes was,

Dylan Whitmore, Adrian's annoying best friend in high school. I could never forget this face, though a lot had changed about him from the sixteen-year-old teenager I knew in high school. But junior high school in the same school as Dylan was hell since all he knew how to do was be a rich, arrogant teenager, get on my nerves every damn day, and tease me for always being clingy to Adrian.

“Come in.”

His deep baritone voice snapped me back to reality, and for one moment, I thought I had heard wrongly. Not only did his appearance change so much, but even his voice. He still had those eyes, the ones that only made me turn the other way whenever I spotted him from a distance in high school.

“Dylan…” I said as I stepped into the house,

“Wow, didn't think little Kiara Hartley would remember my name, but it's really a pleasure anyway.”

This was how it always started. His bully. He hasn't stopped calling me little after all these years.

“I'm not little.”

“Oh.” He paused and smirked again, “I forgot you grew taller and burstier.”

I gasped, placing my hand across my chest on an impulse,

“Don't worry, there's still nothing to see there, Kiara.”

“Asshole.” My response came with an annoyed groan, but I could have sworn I heard a chuckle from him,

“Follow me. I'll show you to your room.”

My room? Wait, he really owns this house and I was staying here with him? No damn way. I'd rather choose to stay in hell than with my nemesis. I didn't have the time to protest because by the time I looked up, he was gone so I ran behind him until we got to a room.

He opened the door and just standing outside, I got a clear view of the room. It wasn't just any room like I had expected, it was almost as big as an entire apartment. I shamelessly couldn't control my legs as they walked further until I got in, staring at the decorated and well-furnished place. Damn, how could a place be really beautiful beyond imagination? This was ten times bigger than the room I had in Dylan's apartment.

“If there's anything you don't like, you can state it in the contract.”

I snapped back to my senses, reminding myself that this was Dylan f*****g Whitmore, the same boy who swore he was never going to stop taunting me in high school. The guy I hated most in the world. There was no way I could live in the same house with him.

“I'm not taking it.”

I turned to walk away, fast, so I wouldn't f*****g change my damn mind staring at this place, but he grabbed my wrist,

“Why? Because you still can't live without Adrian and you prefer to stay by his side like a puppy?”

My eyes turned red hearing those words from him. He still saw me as someone who was freaking obsessed with Adrian. Yes, I still was, but he didn't need to know that.

“Prove me wrong, Kiara, and live here for a year. Doing so would prove to me that you're no longer that obsessed and clingy girl who's always by his side seeking his attention, then I'll admit my mistake and do whatever you want me to do.”

Whatever I wanted him to do? Oh, good God, I had a lot of things in my mind that I wanted him to do to make him pay for bullying me in high school. Sleep on the streets for a whole month, tender a public apology in the class group, and serve me for a month. Many more that I knew I hadn't thought about yet.

I stared at him, a smile gradually replacing my anger.

“We have a deal, Dylan Whitmore. Ensure this is also stated in the contract, and I'll always be ready to sign it.” I said, and once he let go of my wrist, I walked out of the house, finding my way out of the building back to Adrian's apartment.

At least I was able to achieve two things today. Get myself an incredibly cheap, beautiful place, which of course I would have rejected had Dylan not made that deal, and threading on a path to become Dylan Whitmore’s nemesis after one year.