Chapter 11: ❝ i can hurt you from inside ❞

(unedited)

I'm learning all your tricks;

I can hurt you from inside.

I made myself a promise;

You would never see me cry,

'Til I make you.

"The Devil Within" -Digital Daggers

­The next day brought a whole new meaning to the horrors of Monday.

I think most of the Elite were on edge after what had happened to Skylar -who was still in the hospital. Ashton and Jenna were both mysteriously absent, though I wasn't sure whether or not their absences were related. And on top of that, Jacen had caught onto my leaving-class-early-to-avoid-him thing, and started showing up earlier than I left, which made it impossible to avoid him.

"You know you can't ignore me forever," he said as we were to walking to my locker.

I, of course, ignored him.

"Come on, Elena, I didn't even do anything that bad."

Don't react. Don't react. Don't react.

I shot him a glare.

He smirked.

Damnit.

That was another annoying thing. Jacen was acting like nothing had happened. He was acting the way he had been when we had first met- still jerkish, but more teasingly, without cryptic messages and kisses in dark closets.

He and Ashton would get along great, I'm telling you. I don't know why they aren't BFF's already.

"Go away Jacen," I told him, too tired to come up with a better brush off.

There was someone leaning on my locker.

Well, actually, to be more specific, there were two people making out on it, drawing several stares. More so than usual. Blatant displays of affection weren't all that rare at this school. But really, of all places, did it have to be my locker?

The two people were Keira Winston and Nathan Sinclair.

Well, that explains the extra stares.

"Do I need to get Elena a cleaning crew for her locker?" Jacen called, causing the couple to break apart. I glanced at him and bit back and laugh. Despite his confident, teasing tone, he looked ready to throw up. Understandable, considering Keira was his sister.

He groaned and his disgust seemed to deepen. I glanced back at Keira and Nathan to see they had resumed their make-out session.

And they' were still on my locker.

"Dude," Jacen said, when we reached them. He grabbed Nathan's shoulder and yanked him away from Keira. "That's my sister."

"And that's my locker," I added.

Keira pushed off the metal. "I need to talk to Elena," she said.

No one moved.

She sighed. "Alone."

This caused most of the students to scatter, but did nothing to Jacen and Nathan.

"That includes you guys, you know," she said, glancing at them. This seemed to finally make them get the message. Nathan grumbled and leaned down to give her a quick kiss, but stepped back, dragging Jacen with him.

As Keira waited for the last of the students to leave, I turned to open my locker.

"I didn't tell Ashton or Nathan about your listening," she said once they were gone. The coldness in her voice and the sudden emptiness in the halls made me stiffen.

"Do you want a thank you or something?" I asked, not looking at I entered my combination.

"Ashton hates eavesdroppers," she replied.

"That's fucking awesome for him." I knew I was pushing it, but I couldn't help it. Something about Keira just set me off. She was the one member of the Elite I still couldn't figure out and she was probably the one pulling the strings. I shoved my books in the locker, purposely stalling a bit so I wouldn't have to look at her.

That didn't slide past her. Keira straightened and slammed my locker door shut, almost catching me in the face. "Don't forget this is a game, Elena," she said. "You're supposed to make him love you."

"I haven't forgotten," I replied through gritted teeth. I couldn't. Every time I got anywhere close to doing so, someone, or something would remind me that none of this was really real.

I had a little less than two and a half months left. Until the end of January. With how things were going, it was doubtful that I'd pull it off.

"You know," I started slowly. "You never said what would happen if I don't so it."

She raised an eyebrow. "I think you can guess what it is," she replied.

Ruined reputation? "I don't care much about reputation," I told her quietly.

"But your parents jobs rely on it," she said, correctly guessing the one reason why I hadn't already walked away.

"I don't think you could ruin them so easily," I lied. I wasn't quite sure what to think. Raine and Kaden were pretty powerful- Raine was an internationally famous actress and Kaden owned the world's most successful law form. But it was the Elite. Four of the most powerful families in the world.

Keira laughed, but it was more mocking than humorous. "If you really believe that, you wouldn't be here."

"Maybe I'm just curious," I countered. And I was, curious, that is. I wasn't sure whether it was curiosity, or fear that made me stay.

She shrugged. "Maybe that too, but whether you admit it or not, you're still afraid of what will happen if you don't play by our rules."

I dug my nails into my palm. Everything she said was a little too close to the truth for comfort. "Why?" I ground out.

Keira raised an eyebrow. "Why what?"

"Why do you guys play this... game?"

"Maybe we're just bored little rich kids looking to have fun," she replied, both sarcasm and bitterness dripping from her tone.

"I doubt that." My response came out barely above a whisper, despite the fact that I had tried to make it strong.

Her eyebrow arched higher. "Why so?"

"Nathan wouldn't agree to it. Neither would Vanessa. Even Skylar and Ashton wouldn't, I think."

"But you think me and Jace would."

I didn't say anything.

Yeah, maybe a little. The Winston siblings were confusing, cryptic, and downright cruel sometimes.

"You're very quick to judge, Elena," she said, her voice low. Dangerous.

"You're forcing me to get someone to fall in love with me, and telling me there's consequences if I don't," I shot back. "What am I supposed to think?"

"It's a game," she said.

A game, my ass. "You don't have to threaten to ruin reputations."

Her mouth quirked into a bitter half-smile. "But then how else would we get you to play?" she asked, walking down the hall. "The guys are waiting in the cafeteria."

"You could've at least picked someone who was willing," I yelled after her, not moving. There were enough girls at this school who would've loved the chance to hang out their Elite. The only girl I knew of, other than me, who wouldn't sell their soul to be noticed by the Elite, was Jenna.

And there was no telling how she had been involved with the Elite.

Calm down, Lena, a voice, that sounded strangely like Devon's whispered in my mind. The less control you have, the easier it is for them to find your weaknesses and hurt you.

But what if they already knew my weaknesses and were just waiting for a chance to act?

Keira stopped. "I didn't pick you."

"Right, your brother did." I walked a bit faster than I usually did to catch up with her before we entered the cafeteria.

She shook her head as she pushed open the doors. "Maybe not even him." I just barely heard her words over the chatter from the students.

I didn't reply. Because we were around other people, the conversation was over.

When we got to the table Jacen and Nathan were sitting at, they were in the middle of an argument. About which chocolate bar was better- Twix or Snickers.

Yeah, I know, deep, right?

And keep in my mind that they, plus Ashton, were the guys 95% of the female population drooled over.

Jacen was gesturing to the Twix bar on his tray while explaining some facts to Nathan, who had stopped paying attention as soon as he saw Keira.

I watched the two of them. Why would they have agreed to the game? The only reason I could think of for Nathan agreeing would be because Keira pressured him into it. He wasn't a complete saint, but he was still one of nicest people I knew. Jacen... I wasn't sure about him. But even with him cryptic, and jerkish as he was, I couldn't see him okaying the game either.

"Hey Keira," Jacen said, glancing at his sister as she sat down. "Do-"

Keira held up a hand. "Don't drag me into this, I don't eat chocolate."

Jacen sighed and turned to look at me. "Elena, do-"

"You can sit down you know," Nathan interrupted. "Jace is wrong, but he probably won't do anything drastic."

I stayed standing and shook my head. "I think I'm gonna go home, I have a headache," I lied. Sort of. I did have headache, but not because I was sick or anything. It was from Keira's words, everything she had told me and everything she hadn't. But I wasn't going to admit that, even though it looked like she already knew, if her rolling her eyes was anything to go by.

"Everything okay?" Nathan asked, looking concerned. Why couldn't all the members of the Elite be like him or Vanessa? They'd be a lot more harmless.

"Yeah, I just didn't get much sleep last night." Not a whole lie. I had lain awake in bed for a bit longer than I usually did, but I could function just find without much sleep.

"Thinking about me while in bed, Elena?" Jacen asked with a smirk, dropping the chocolate thing.

"You wish," I retorted, rolling my eyes.

He opened his mouth to reply, but Nathan, ever the peace keeper, stepped in and stopped him. "No innuendos, Jace, she's Ashton's," he said. I resisted the urge. Are we really going back to that? Nathan turned to me. "Hope you feel better, Elena."

"Thanks." I stole the Twix from Jacen's tray and walked away, ignoring his angry 'hey!' from behind me.

♡ the trouble with love ♡

For the second time today, there was someone leaning against my locker.

It was Vanessa, this time, which explained why she hadn't been in the cafeteria with Jacen and Nathan. She looked worried, and distracted enough that she didn't even hear or see me approach.

"Everything okay?" I asked when I reached her.

She jumped and turned to look at me. "Elena!"

I blinked at her shrill tone. "Hi?"

"Jace said you were talking to Keira." There was an almost... Accusatory tone to her words that I didn't quite get.

"Yeah, I was..." I replied hesitantly.

"What did she say?" she demanded. I blinked again.

What the hell? I had never seen Vanessa like this. Sharp, frantic, accusing, it wasn't like her. "Vanessa, are you okay?" I asked.

"What did she say?" Vanessa repeated, her voice harsher this time.

"Nothing. She just reminded me that I was supposed to make Ashton fall in love with me." I didn't mention all the extras. That had been between me and Keira. And while Vanessa was my closest friend in the Elite, we weren't really close enough to be trading secrets.

"Is she trying to be friends with you?" Her voice was quieter now, more so than usual.

I stared. This just kept getting weirder and weirder. She had gone from a panicking tone to a shy one so quickly. "No, not at all." The opposite actually, I was pretty sure she hated me.

Vanessa sighed, and relaxed. "Sorry," she said, looking like she had returned to her normal self.

I still continued to watch her warily. "What was that all about?"

She shook her head. "It's nothing."

"I really doubt that," I replied dryly.

"It's just-" She grimaced and glanced around the hall, then leaned closer despite the fact that everyone was in the cafeteria. "I'm pretty sure Keira hates me."

"Really?" Keira and Vanessa didn't talk a lot, I had seen that much, but I hadn't played with the idea that Keira hated her. I thought they just weren't as close. It was possible, likely even, that there were hidden tensions in the Elite, though.

Vanessa nodded, shrugging delicately. "I think she thinks I'm stupid."

I blinked. "And she hates you because of it?"

She nodded again, frowning. She glanced at me. "Nathan and I used to be best friends, you know?"

I nodded, having guessed that much from the picture in her room.

"But then he started dating Keira," she explained, biting her lip. "And we don't really talk anymore."

"I'm sorry," I said, feeling genuinely sorry for her. I hadn't really had any close friends, but it must've sucked to lose someone to someone who hated you.

She shrugged. "It's just hard finding someone to talk to, you know? Ashton and Skylar are already best friends, and Jacen's..." she trailed off, wrinkling her nose. Her disgusted expression made me laugh.

"Yeah, don't worry about me and Keira. I'm pretty sure she hates me too," I admitted.

This caused her to brighten up. "Hey, where are Skylar and Ashton, anyway?" she asked, suddenly changing the subject.

Did Vanessa not know what happened to Skylar? "Skylar's in the hospital," I said slowly. I wasn't sure whether or not I should've said it. If she didn't know, well, there had to be a reason it had been kept from her, right? But on the other hand, Vanessa deserved to know, considering Skylar was her friend. I think. Come to think of it, I hadn't seen Skylar and Vanessa talk much either, aside from a couple teasing remarks.

Vanessa's eyes widened.

Oh shit, did she actually not known?

"Still?" she asked, causing me to let out a silent breath of relief, only to be taken by surprise again. "Nathan said she just fell down the stairs and hit her head."

So they had told her Skylar was in the hospital, but not the real reason. Why were they keeping Vanessa in the dark? Was it to protect her, somehow? Because they thought she was too delicate or innocent, or something to handle the truth?

Vanessa was still watching me curiously, so I shrugged, forcing a casual tone. "I guess she hurt something badly." I needed to ask one of the Elite why they hadn't told Vanessa the whole truth about Skylar's accident when I had the chance. But right now, I just wanted to get out of here. I had learned enough surprises today to make my head spin, and I wasn't sure whether or not I'd be able to keep up a decent conversation.

Vanessa blinked, her eyes still wide. "I hope she's okay."

"Ashton said she'll be fine." For the most part. I stepped around Vanessa and opened my locker. "I gotta go. I'm supposed to be on the way home. Doctor's appointment," I lied.

"For what?" she asked.

"Just a check up." Worst lie ever, but it would have to work for now.

Luckily, Vanessa believed me. "Okay, see you tomorrow," she chirped, surprising me by pulling me into a hug. I hugged her back awkwardly, not really sued to hugs from people other than Raine, Kaden, Devon and other family friends like them. So I'm anti-social. Sue me.

"Bye," I said as she walked away. I winced. Either Raine's thinking that everything she does is awkward was rubbing off on me, or I was just off today after talking to Keira. I was hoping, and betting on the latter.

It wasn't hard getting out of the school. I made up an excuse that Raine had texted me to come home because of some kind of emergency, but I couldn't show them the text because my phone was dead. I had a feeling they didn't really believe me, but didn't say anything. Possibly because I was somewhat tied to the Elite.

I had used my car today since Raine had watched me leave today and she didn't know I used her bike when her and Kaden were gone. I parked outside, not wanting to risk opening to garage door and alerting Raine and Kaden that I was home, if they were here.

The first thing I heard when I stepped inside was voices. Close by.

Damnit.

Kaden was home. And with a client or friend or something, I think, because the quiet murmurs I heard were too low for it to be Raine. I tiptoed to the wall separating the front hallway from the living room, pressing myself against it.

What am I gonna do now?

I had to go through that room to go anywhere else in the house.

The hallway opened into the living room, it was a miracle they hadn't heard or seen me yet. The best I could do was hope that they would move the conversation into Kaden's office and that way I'd be able to make it upstairs.

What was Kaden talking about anyway that needed to be said so quietly in an empty house?

"-get this over with too," Kaden was saying. "But it won't stick."

So he was talking to someone from work. But then why would they be here, and not at building where the firm was? That was usually where Kaden met his clients. Unless, he was talking to Daniel...

The other person spoke, his voice low and smooth. Male, but not Daniel. But I recognized that voice.

Ashton.

-- ♡ --

Raine ---->

Teaser: "You're- You," I sputtered, his words not registering in my mind. "You have a case against the Elite?"

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