Love Or Revenge

4

APHRODITE POV

Cameron, Colton & I have been talking for hours. I didn't even notice the sun coming up. I yawned a bit, covering my mouth. I took out my phone to check the time. It was 6:32 in the morning. Colton scooted back to his seat, he started rubbing my back affectionately. I turned my head and gave him a soft smile.

“Do you want us to let you get some sleep? We have two hours left to drive”, Colton asked me.

“No no I’m fine. I want to stay up and keep talking to you both. You aren’t snobs like I thought” I said, giggling.

“You thought we were snobs?’ Colton asked with his eyebrows raised with a smirk on his face.

“Uhh- I-I-I... So tell me about your community.” Cameron was smirking and Colton was laughing at my complete 360 on the subject.

“Well, we have about 2,500 residents that reside there. It’s like a gated community. We have security and patrols set in place to protect our people”, Cameron said.

“Your people?” I asked, c*****g my eyebrow.

“Yes, our people. Colton & I are like majors of sorts”

“Ah. I see”. For the next few hours, we talked about the gated community they were in charge of. I was very impressed, but honestly, I don’t think I could take care of and look after that many people. That is a big responsibility. After about 15 more minutes, we took a right on a dirt road. I was confused about what we were doing out here so deep in the country. I would say the woods surrounding us were beautiful beyond belief. There were linden trees, oak trees, and even chestnut trees. When we slowed down, my eyes were blessed with the most beautiful Cherry Blossom tree. We came to a complete stop. I looked to my right and saw the biggest and most luxurious house I had ever seen. It was so beautiful. It looked like a mini version of the white house but the coloring of the outside of the house was gold and white. I couldn’t help my gaping mouth.

“Close your mouth before something slams into it” Colton whispered in my ear seductively. I hurriedly closed my mouth. Colton thought that was the funniest thing in history because he was in the front seat cackling like a hyena on the brim of tears. I shot him an ‘I will kick your ass’ look. I saw Cameron out of the corner of my eye, smirking and laughing. I groaned inwardly and opened my door to get out. I was really in awe of the house in front of me. Brandon came out the door, walking over to us.

“Hey guys. Hey Aphrodite.” he greeted us. I gave him a small smile and nobbed. I don’t know why I couldn’t open my mouth to speak to him. He was oddly familiar to me, but I knew I had never seen him before, so why was I getting this feeling in my heart that I knew him? It made me feel weird and uncomfortable even so I was just going to stay away from him this weekend.

“Is everything ready?” Cameron asked him.

“Yes Al-... um, Cam” he said, looking awkwardly at me. Don’t ask me yall! I don’t know what the hell is going on! Just hush and read the story.

“Aphrodite, Brandon will be showing you to your room,” Colton said with a smile. I raised my eyebrows at him. I turned to Brandon and nodded to him so he could lead the way. We walked up the porch steps & into the house and I was in amazement. I stopped in my tracks to admire the beauty of it. There was a beautiful grande gold and white staircase. It was covered with a red carpet. There was a shining chandelier on the ceiling and I couldn’t help but see it was a three-floor house. It was absolutely beautiful.

“Beautiful isn’t it?” I heard Brandon ask me, shaking me from my thoughts. I looked over at him to see him staring at me with a glint of something in his eyes. Something I could not make out. Why is he looking at me that way? Creepy. I shivered.

“Yes, it is very beautiful,” I told him. He continued to guide me up to the third floor. I noticed it only had three doors. I wonder why that is. Brandon walked down the hall, the opposite side of the other two rooms. He opened the door for me. I walked into the room & smiled. It had a California king bed with purple and white sheets & pillows. The 50” TV was mounted on the wall across from the bed. In the right corner of the room, there was a desk & an empty bookshelf, just waiting for me to fill it with books. And lastly, the one thing that took my breath away, in the left corner across from the desk and bookshelf, stood a keyboard, music stand, a recording mic & an Apple Macbook laptop. My eye gouged out of my head. I turned too quickly to face Brandon. I gave myself a headache.

“Did they do this for me?” I asked him, confused.

“Actually….” Brandon scratched the back of his neck, looking down at the floor. He was shuffling back & forth on his feet.

“I did,” he said quietly. I thought I didn’t hear him right but I knew I did.

“Why? Why would you do this for me?” I asked him, getting even more confused.

“It’s something we have to discuss but I would like to do that after the ceremony if that is okay?”

“Why would you need to talk to me?”

“It’s about your father..” he said, looking me in the eyes.

“My father.” I got so angry so fast that I didn’t know what got into me.

“What about my father?” I asked, anger clearly in my tone.

“He wants-”

“My father’s & I's relationship is none of your business nor your concern. I would greatly appreciate it if you stayed in your place.”

“But-”

“NO BUTS! How dare you snoop in my-” I stopped myself so I could take a deep breath.

“Please get out,” I asked him calmly. He stood in my face, looking hurt. How dare he get in my business with my father?! First, he mentioned my birth mother and now my birth father. He is crossing the line and he doesn’t even know me! I paced back and forth in the room, my anger raging. Who is he to meddle in my business?! Brandon left my room when he realized I had nothing more to say to him.

“Your father wants... Your father wants..” I mocked his tone and voice while pacing. Who gives a f**k about what my so-called father wants?! He abandoned me! I sighed heavily. I walked around the room to see what the other two doors were. One was a walk-in closet and the other door was a bathroom. I walked into the bathroom and looked over the decor. The walk-in shower had a waterfall-like showerhead. It was beautiful. I took my clothes off as I walked towards the shower, stepping in. I looked around for a handle, a knob, a switch, something, but there was nothing. I was so confused about this shower I got frustrated even more because I just wanted to take a shower.

“Now how the hell do you turn this shower on”. When I said ‘on’ suddenly the shower turned on, scaring the hell out of me. The water felt so good on my skin, it was just the right temp to soothe my emotions and my sore body from the long car ride. I started to hum the song I was going to sing at the ceremony, ‘Bound to you' by Christina Aguilera. I couldn’t help the emotions that were clouding my head, so I began to sing.

Sweet love, sweet love

Trapped in your love

I’ve opened up, unsure I can trust

My heart and I were buried in dust

Free me, free us

You’re all I need when I’m holding you tight

If you walk away I will suffer tonight

I found a man I can trust

And boy, I believe in us

I am terrified to love for the first time

Can’t you terrified to love for the first time

Can’t you see that I’m bound in chains?

I’ve finally found my way

I am bound to you

I am bound you

So much, so young, I’ve faced on my own

Walls I built up became my home

I’m strong and I’m sure there’s a fire in us

Sweet love, so pure

Suddenly the moment’s here

I embrace my fears

All that I have been carrying all these years

Do I risk it all? Come this far just to fall?

Fall

I felt myself getting more emotional because the reality of it is that I have never been in love. I want to have that but all I get is people who get tired of me and abandon me. I am 22 years old and I haven’t had s*x. I don’t mind it but when Sam comes to me and tells me about all her encounters, it makes me want to lose my v-card already. It’s not even the s*x, I just want to feel wanted. I want to feel needed. I sigh.

“Shower off”

I stepped out of the shower, grabbed my towel from the sink, and wrapped it around myself. I walked to the mirror and started to take down my hair. After about 30 minutes, I washed and blow-dried my hair. I looked at the time. It was 9 AM. Perfect time for my morning jog. I walked over to my luggage. I hadn't yet unpacked so I dug in my suitcase to get my purple & gray Nike sports bra with matching leggings. I put my hair in a high ponytail that touched the middle of my back. I grabbed my phone, AirPods & pocket knife, making my way to the door.

Once I was downstairs, I noticed it was oddly quiet. I shrugged it off because we had a long drive. I’m sure they were sleeping. I looked around and I saw a tall slim blonde-haired woman who I was in the middle of checking her makeup in the hanging mirror. I cleared my throat to get her attention because I did not know her name. She turned around smiling, but when she saw it was me, her smile faltered drastically. She was glaring at me for some odd reason, but I just put it to the back of my mind. She does not know me or I her.

“I am sorry to disturb you, but would you mind showing me to the kitchen?” I asked her with the gentlest smile I could muster. She scoffed. What is this chick's deal?!

“It’s right down the hall, third door on your left,” she said while pointing to the hall diagonal to her. I smiled and gave her a small nob.

“Thank you.” I walked in the direction she was pointing before I was stopped in my tracks by her speaking to me.

“I don’t know what game you are playing but they are mine, so you better watch out,” she said with venom in her voice. I turned around to face her, both amused and confused, because who was she referring to?

“Ugh, I don't think I follow? Who are you claiming as yours, love?” I asked with an emotionless expression on my face.

“You know who! Don’t play dumb with me mortal!” I rolled my eyes at her because she was crazy. She was telling me to stay away from some guy who I probably did not know. Then she called me a mortal like she isn't one herself. Weirdo.

“For the sake of your stupidity, enlighten me dear. Who are you referring to? Because I can assure you I want no one here” I said, fairly annoyed.

“Stupid?! Did you just call me stupid?!” she was now in my face yelling at me

“Yes, I did call you stupid because you are speaking in riddles rather than being direct about what you speak of. You sound fairly stupid to me” I said to her with a smirk plastered on my face. I knew I was getting under her skin because she was as red as a tomato.

“Cameron and Colton. They. Are. Mine.” She spat with more venom in her voice. Now, I am confused. They are a married gay couple, so how could they be hers? Were they into poly relationships or something? I shook myself from my thoughts to divert them back to this botched barbie groupie.

“Look, sweetheart, they can’t be yours if they are already with each other. Even if they did want a third, I’m sure they wouldn’t want you. They need beauty and brains and you only have one-third of that. No brains and half beauty love, I’m sorry to be the one to break it to you” I said with a fake sympathetic look on my face. The way her mouth flew open was so priceless I wanted to laugh harder than a lumberjack chopping wood, but I suppressed it.

“b***h y-” she started but was stopped by a husky voice,

“Brianna, why are you yelling?” Brandon said as he was walking up to us. I did not want to stay and talk or hear their conversation. I was still kind of mad about the comment Brandon made earlier before my shower. I turned around to make my way to the kitchen. I found the kitchen with no problem when I heard footsteps coming up behind me. I opened the fridge to grab a bottle of water. I turned around to come face-to-face with Cameron and Colton. Both of them were shirtless, looking sexy as ever. Just looking at them like that alone makes my bud wet and hot. I squeezed my thigh to contain myself. They were both staring at me like I was the main course at the last supper. I cleared my throat and that seemed to make them come back to reality.

“Do you guys have a track here?” I asked no one in particular.

“We have a training ground,” Colton said. I raised an eyebrow. Why would they need training?

“Training?”

“Yes, training. Some of the residents here volunteer to become ‘warriors’ to protect everyone. They train every day to be at their best,” Cameron said. I nodded my head in understanding.

“That is very brave of them,” I said, smiling.

“Yes it is. We are very proud of them all. So if you follow us we can show you where it is”, Colton said, walking towards the back door. I went to follow him when I was stopped by a soft hand on my waist. I looked back to see who it was. It was Cameron. I couldn’t help but stare into his chestnut-brown eyes. They were so beautiful, like a sweet melody. They were calling me. They were singing to me. My eyes diverted to his sexy lips, I wanted to kiss them, lick them and bite them. Gods, this man was so sexy. He made me hot all over. I want him to bend me over the countertop and take me over and over again. Wait! What am I saying?! Snap out of it girl!

“Is something wrong Cam?” I asked him with a small smile like I just won't fantasizing about him bending me over.

“Maybe you should put on a shirt. There’s a lot of men training. I don’t want them looking at you” he said boldly. I raised my eyebrows at him because now I felt like he was stating a claim against me, but why would he do that? He has Colton, right? Then again, what botched Barbie said makes sense now. Even if what she was saying made sense, she wouldn’t be acting crazy if they didn’t have something going on. So all in all, he is taken and not mine. I should not overthink his words.

“I appreciate the concern but I can handle myself”. He looked upset and hurt by my words. I don’t understand why, nor do I understand what's going on, but his face tugged at my heart. I had to put it at the back of my mind. I reluctantly walked away from him. As I walked away from him, I missed his warm touch so much. I didn’t understand those unknown feelings I was having but I had to put them back. Two-day Dite. Just two days and you will be back to your normal life.