Aiden's POV
Flashback
Madison approached me with an air of urgency. "Aiden, we need to talk," she said, her voice low and insistent.
I looked at her, suspicion already forming in my mind. Madison always had an agenda. As she handed me a folder, I opened it, my expression shifting from boredom to shock. Or at least, thatâs what I let her think. Inside, there were documents accusing Amelia of cheating.
"This is about Amelia," Madison continued, her tone falsely confident. "I didnât want to believe it either, but the evidence is clear. Sheâs been cheating her way through school. I thought you should know before it becomes a scandal."
Internally, I was laughing. How could she think I was such a fool? Her immature manipulation was almost amusing. Madison really believed she could sway me with this half-baked scheme.
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, maintaining a facade of concern.
"Because I know you care about her," Madison replied smoothly. "And I thought youâd want to protect her. If this comes out, it will ruin her. She may be expelled, her goals will be snatched." The way she tried to snatch you, I tell myself mentally.
Oh, Madison, I thought. You really donât get it, do you? Your petty jealousy is so transparent it's almost cute. I watched as she laid out her plan, clearly thinking she had me cornered.
As I flipped through the pages, my jaw clenched for effect. I could see the conflict she expected in my eyes, the struggle between my loyalty to Amelia and the damning evidence before me.
"What do you want?" I asked finally, pretending to be caught in the dilemma she created. I couldnât wait to see what her big demand would be.
Madisonâs satisfaction was humourous. The trap was set, and she thought Ameliaâs world would come crashing down tonight. "It's simple," she said, leaning in slightly and lowering her voice. "At the prom tonight, I want you to humiliate her. Say something that will make everyone question her integrity, something that will hurt her reputation. Bully her in front of everyone."
Internally, I was almost rolling my eyes. Did she really think I'd turn on Amelia so easily? Madisonâs underestimation of me was laughable.
"You want me to humiliate her publicly?" I asked, keeping my voice steady, lacing it with a touch of disbelief and anger.
"Yes," she replied calmly. "It will distract everyone from the fabricated documents. If you do this, these papers will never see the light of day. It's for her own good, Aiden."
I looked at Madison, struggling to keep a straight face. The turmoil in her eyes was real, but not for the reasons she thought. She was torn between her desire to ruin Amelia and her need to manipulate me.
"You're asking me to destroy her," I said, my voice low and dangerous, knowing thatâs what she wanted to hear.
"I'm asking you to save her from a scandal that could ruin her future," Madison corrected, her tone smooth and convincing. "This is the lesser of two evils, Aiden. Do it, and you'll protect her in the long run."
I stared at the documents again, pretending to consider her words. Each second was heavy with the weight of my supposed decision. In reality, I was simply playing along, giving her the illusion of victory.
Then I walked away, feeling her eyes on me. Madison really thought she had won. But I couldn't help but smile to myself. The stage was set, all right, but not in the way she imagined.
As I moved through the crowd, I reflected on Madison's attempt at manipulation. Just last week, it seemed impossible for her to do anything against Amelia. But here she was, trying to pull the strings.
A small, satisfied smile crept across my face. Madison always underestimated me. She was so caught up in her own schemes that she couldn't see the bigger picture. Love makes you blind, they say. Well, Madison was blinded by her jealousy, and she couldnât see that I was onto her from the start.
Everything was falling into place. Amelia would be fine, I would remain loyal, and Madison would never know how thoroughly sheâd been outplayed. The thought filled me with a sense of power and satisfaction. Tonight would be interesting, but not for the reasons Madison believed.
Flashback Ends
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She's still silent. She's confused. She's breathtaking, not by her face or by her body but breathtaking by the power she holds to make my moments precious.
As I waited for Amelia's response, she finally spoke, sounding surprised and uncertain.
"What's happening, Aiden? Are you serious?" she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and confusion.
I smiled warmly. "Yes, Amelia," I replied sincerely. "I mean it. This isn't a dream; it's real."
Amelia raised an eyebrow playfully. "Real, huh?" she teased.
I grinned confidently. "Absolutely," I affirmed. "So, will you go to prom with me, Amelia?"
She hesitated, looking thoughtful. "I'm not sure, Aiden," she admitted slowly. "I need some time to think about it."
"Now you're playing hard to get," I joked back, my smile widening.
Amelia raised her right eyebrow, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Maybe I'll say no," she teased, enjoying the banter.
Leaning in closer, I whispered in a mock-serious tone, "If you say no, I might just have to drag you onto the dance floor by your hair and dance with your tears."
She pretended to be shocked, laughter bubbling up. "You wouldn't dare," she countered.
I maintained my playful demeanor. "Try me," I challenged with a determined grin.
Amelia hesitated, her thoughts clearly processing my words. "I'll take my time, Aiden," she finally admitted, uncertainty in her voice. "This is all moving so quickly and unexpectedly."
Understanding her hesitation, I nodded sincerely. "Take all the time you need, Amelia," I assured her. "I respect your decision, and I'll wait for you."
After a brief pause, I couldn't resist a remark. "Well, Amelia," I told her gently, "you're taking a bit too long. My knees are starting to hurt. As you can see, I'm still kneeling here patiently."
Amelia chuckled softly, amused by my persistence. "You said to take my time," she reminded me, handing back.
"Yes," I admitted with a grin, "and you've taken your time. It's been a few seconds now. So why don't you say yes, I can stand up, we can go to the prom, and finish all this?"
"You're impossible," she replied, shaking her head fondly.
"Ofcourse I'm impossible, possible isn't related to me." I agreed playfully, feeling a surge of hope in between our banter.
We were lost in our own world, enveloped by the magic of prom night, when suddenly a sharp voice shattered the moment. It was Madison. "What are you doing, Aiden?" Her words sliced through our beautiful moments , drawing everyone's attention.
I felt Amelia stiffen beside me. Madison's arrival felt like a storm crashing into our perfect evening. "I told you this wasn't going to happen," she continued, her voice rising with each word, "or else I'm going to..."
Before she could finish her threat, I stood up quickly, facing Madison head-on. "Shut your mouth," I said firmly, meeting her gaze with determination. "We'll discuss this later."
Madison scoffed, her expression defiant. "No, we're not just sweeping this under the rug," she shot back, moving closer to us.
I took a step forward, my tone steady but commanding. "I suggest you step back," I said evenly. "We can talk after prom is over. Or else, I can find other ways to shut your mouth, the methods you won't like." The implication in my words hung heavily between us.
Madison hesitated, clearly weighing her options. She started to say something but then thought better of it, closing her mouth with a frustrated glare. She knew me well enough to sense the seriousness in my voice. We had a history that made her aware of what I might do if pushed.
After a tense pause, Madison stepped back, slumping slightly. With a final, disapproving look at Amelia, she turned and walked away. The music resumed its enchanting melody, but the atmosphere around us had changed.
Turning back to Amelia, I offered a reassuring smile, hoping to ease the tension. "Sorry about that," I murmured, reaching for her hand again. "Let's not let anything spoil our night."
Certainly! Here's the continuation of the scene in a unique style:
Turning back to Amelia, who stood patiently with a hint of amusement, I couldn't help but smile. "Let's continue where we left off," I said, attempting to ease the tension.
Amelia chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "How much are you going to make me work for this?" I teased lightly.
"Amelia," I responded with a playful plea, "my knees are starting to protest."
"Say please" Amelia demaned.
And here I'm taking it as a command, "Please" This foreign word left my mouth, the word I rarely used my entire life.
Amelia laughed again, a warm sound that melted the tension. "Alright, Aiden," she agreed finally, her voice softening. "I'll dance with you."
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Funfact: I love stalking reading lists of y'all to which Dominance and Defiance is added. It's so much funn!
And I'm baking cookies while writing this chapter maybe that's why it's sweeter ââ â¿â â
(cookie effect)
Plus I'm releasing my new story soon
Xoxo