18. Margo
Chapter 18
Margo
T he next morning, still with my stubborn attitude. I didn’t come to my house; I stayed the night at the guest house. Since they barely check the damn thing, I could literally live here without the issue of getting caught.
I was planning on coming home tonight, make it official that I was basically agreeing to listen to my parents for the rest of my life.
I had a right to be pissed, but I also understood why they were making me do it, why I thought it was necessary. Especially now without Liam weighing down my other option.
I left the guest house pretty early and walked to the school yet again, I usually spend countless hours in the University’s musical lounge.
It had every instrument you could possibly think of, the most valuables that money could buy. And it was my safe place, here I could create anything.
Hawthorne University had a big range of students, of course you had the athletes, such as the hockey team, people like Juliette. You had the future politicians, CEO’s, designer’s, entrepreneurs, attorneys, artists, surgeons, doctors, FBI’s and even writers.
However, there were limited musicians. Only about seventeen students participated in anything remotely music related. Sure, there were dancers, and people in plays and musicals. But only a select few were into actually writing music and dreamed of playing it for the world to hear.
I never told anyone this, but I could play twenty-two instruments. But as any basic person would say, I preferred the piano and the guitar the most.
I lost count of how many hours I would spend at the music room in the University. I only knew that I used it the most often. It’s the one place I knew that no one could interrupt me or disturb my peace.
Or so I thought.
As I turned my guitar, I heard the door slightly open and shut.
“I’m sorry, I probably took too long, you can have the room now if you want.” I muttered without turning my head to see who the person was.
I only saw a glimpse of blue, which caught my eye and made me turn around only for my face to change from a smile to a scowl.
“Liam what are you doing here.” I asked blankly.
“And with that.” I gestured over to the flowers he had in hand.
“I knew I’d find you here.” He commented with a small grin that made my heart melt.
“Well, you found me, I thought we made ourselves pretty clear last night. It’s over.” I murmured as he took a step closer.
“You don’t understand Margo, I didn’t know those girls. I had to do it, they were blackmailing me, and I had to do it for my father.” He explained while he placed the flowers on top of the piano.
I rolled my eyes, “And even of that is true Liam, which by the way I can’t trust you anymore. You embarrassed me in front of all our friends yesterday, pretending you don’t know me. You blocked my number, and you ghosted me the day after we fucked.” I clarified as his face looked glum.
“We can’t be together.” I simplified.
But he looked determined.
“We can’t be together? Or your parents don’t want us to be together?” He asked with conviction as I gave a large sigh.
“No, Liam.” I said plainly.
“You screwed up, and I don’t want us to be together because you broke my heart, and you might do it again.” I exasperated as his face stayed the same.
“I know I fucked up, but I’m not giving up. No matter how many times you turn me down. I’m going to stay here because I know it’s going to be you and me.” He walked closer to me as I took a step back.
“You can try and show me that you hate me and that you never want to see me again. But I can see by the look in your eyes that you still want me, and you want us, but something is making you hide it.” He placed his hand just right under my chin.
I tried to resist his touch, but as his hand tilted my chin, I couldn’t help but meet his eyes. I could practically melt on his arms if I let myself.
“I think you’re delusional.” I slapped his hand away from my face as he smirked.
“I’ll play along with your game, Raine but you’ll lose. I’ll win you back.” He said with confidence as I turned around and grabbed my purse, I placed the guitar I was using back to its stand.
“Even if you don’t believe me, Liam. Just remember, for every single time I reject you from now on, just know you had me already and you lost me.” I said thickly as I continued to smirk.
“It’s going to take a lot more than measly flowers for me to see you more than a liar and the same old playboy you were.” I picked up the flowers he brought me and threw them in the trashcan as he laughed softly.
“You think that’s all I got?” He raised his voice.
No, I didn’t think that’s all he’s got. I knew Liam and I knew that he was right. He wouldn’t stop at winning me over. But he also knew that by the look I gave him, I wouldn’t stop at making it harder for him.
Game on, Brookshire.
Game on.
LIAM
D ay 1 of Project “Get Raine Back.”
Okay so that wasn’t a complete fail. I knew my journey in winning Margo over wasn’t going to be easy. But like Finn said, never give up.
I knew Margo was going to resist me right to the bone, which only made me want to work harder for her.
I was already planning my next move, which type of flowers I would bring her tomorrow. I was sure she would keep these ones since she threw the other ones away earlier today.
I shook my head to snap back into reality as Grayson walked us to the Hawthorne Café.
Which by the way, he suspiciously gathered everyone for. I didn’t question Grayson’s random endeavors.
Neil popped a cigarette out of his pocket as Chris continued to bandage his hand from his fight last night.
“Dude, you look like you’re about to shit your pants.” I laughed as we finally arrived in front of the café.
He rang the doorbell, as the door opened, my eyes widened at the rare sighting of Adrianna Cassian who opened the door for us.
“You look like you’re the one who shit your pants.” Chris snarked as I shouldered him to walk inside.
“Grayson.” I addressed as my eyes met with Margo’s ocean blues. She looked about ready to kill me, like she was ready to burn me alive.
“Sit.” Grayson ordered as everyone in our group listened and walked over to the couch. Chris however stayed standing.
Margo’s eyes never left mine as I sat down, I couldn’t help but stare back. She wasn’t kidding when she said she would try and resist me. But I also wasn’t kidding when I said that I would make it hard for her to do.
“What was so fucking important?” I nudged.
“They were getting to that part before you opened your mouth.” She sneered as I gave a small laugh.
“I wasn’t asking you, was I?” I whispered as she turned her head with a sarcastic smile.
“Yes, well dogs don’t ask, they listen.” She spit back as my eyes widened at her response.
I only rolled my tongue inside my mouth and leaned back to listen to the rest of what Grayson and Adrianna were about to spew.
“We’re dating.” Adrianna revealed as everyone’s face dropped to fucking hell.
A loud shattering sound emerged from my peripheral view as Verina Du Pont dropped a plant that she was holding earlier.
Juliette Livingston, the coach’s daughter was usually cuddled up in a book, however she was bothered enough by the two words to shut her book fully closed.
Neil pulled the cigar out of his mouth with an exasperated expression, and Chris let himself fall on the couch with ease.
Margo’s voice emerged after the years of silence.
“Excuse me?” She laughed at the mere idea of Adrianna and Grayson together.
But before I could say anything, Verina ran over with a yell, “I knew this day would happen!”
“I had more faith in you!” Juliette added whilst handing over a one hundred dollar bill to Verina.
“You two made a bet on me?!” Adrianna blanched with the look of annoyance as I couldn’t help but laugh as well.
Of course, to me, this was because Margo and I would spend days talking about how we were going to break the news to our friends that we were together, you know considering the fact that Adrianna and Grayson hated each other.
I had a feeling Margo thought the same thing, as her eyes found mine again, but they didn’t have the sassiness that they had earlier.
She quickly shook it off, as Juliette and Verina got scolded for holding a bet on them.
Margo walked over to Adrianna with her finger pointed, “This is so upsetting!” referring to the bet that was made.
Verina’s eyes bulged so much they looked like saucers, “Margo shut it, you owe a thousand!”
The guys and I couldn’t help but laugh at the chaos these four women had introduced us to in less than thirty minutes.
“Listen up!” Grayson loudly commanded as everyone jolted.
“We’re fake dating.” He addressed smoothly.
Adrianna quickly whispered something to Grayson’s ear, that we couldn’t hear.
Chris decided to ask a question like we were the students, and Adrianna and Grayson were the two teachers that would interrupt the class just to flirt.
“Why?” Chris asked.
Adrianna smiled at Grayson, “Oh yes. This is a wonderful story! Tell them, Grayson, tell them why.” She followed with a smirk.
“Was this because of August? Let me guess, she wants you to prove to her you can be in a serious relationship, so you fake it to get her back?” I added as Grayson gave me a scary look.
Margo quickly added, “No, this is about Adrianna’s campaign. It has to be, or to piss off your dad?” She asked Adrianna as I rolled my eyes.
Margo walked closer to Adrianna, “Because lets be honest, A, you have got to be joking, you can’t possibly be up for this with a Prince!” She shot out as Neil started to smoke again.
“Well, it doesn’t really look like they are asking for our approval.” I smiled thickly as she sent me an annoyed look.
“It will only be temporary.” Grayson said as I nodded.
Margo looked at me, “Of course you would agree if it was temporary .”
I chose to ignore the dig she gave me. As I knew that she wanted to rile me up so that she could get more upset with me. But I meant what I said when I said that I will get her back.
“I forgot to mention, Raine.” I leaned closer to her, “You look so delicious today.” I said in a low whisper as the whole group continued to talk, my hand snaked on her lower back.
Margo tensed up, but she didn’t remove my hand.
“And you look like an ass.” She muttered as my mouth found her ear.
“An ass that wishes I could spread your legs wide open on this very couch.” I huskily murmured as she gave a large sigh.
God, I loved it when she made that noise.
“I know you missed my tongue on you, Raine.” I continued as she swallowed.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” She denied as I couldn’t help but smile against her ear.
“No guy is ever going to make you feel as good as I made you feel baby. And I know you’re wet for me already.” I looked as her eyes closed for a moment.
“Shut up Liam.” She mumbled as I laughed in low tone before I pulled myself away from her intoxicating smell.
“What exactly do you need from us?” Margo shuffled making it look like she was paying attention to the conversation that was had.
I smiled before further explaining, “They need to make this believable so, obviously they are asking their trustworthy friends to help, sweetheart.”
Margo turned her head, “By how, exactly?” She threw attitude my way.
Juliette stood up, “We know them the best, we teach them the other’s dislikes and likes.”
“Oh, I’ll start.” Margo smiled from ear to ear while she grabbed Adrianna by the arm and pointed at Grayson, “She dislikes you.” She blanched as I stood up.
I walked over to Grayson with a scowl, “You’re no picnic either, sweethearts.” I spit out as Grayson sent me an irritated look.
“Get your fucking hands off of me.” He shook me off before he pulled Adrianna away from Margo’s grasps.
Margo and I throw each other nasty looks, which by the way only made me want to kiss her even more.
She rolled her eyes at me as I winked at her.
“Now, I can’t believe I have to say this, but you all have to get along. Even if we can’t stand each other, you most certainly can try.”
Margo took a second and looked at me like they were asking her to put down her dog.
“That is rich coming from the both of you! Do you realize that you two have been put against each other since I don’t know…” Margo looked at me to continue the sentence with her.
“You were born!” We both exclaimed loudly as Adrianna and Grayson both flinched.
“Gee, thanks for the massive support, you lunatics.” Adrianna muttered as Verina breaks out into a small laughter.
“This is obviously a satire.” She turned to Adrianna and Grayson, “Right?” She looked unconvinced as they both shook their heads.
Chris stood up.
“No, this is sadly not a satire because Grayson would never touch Adrianna like that just because .” He said.
Chris walked closer to the both of them, examining their every move, “Not even within a ten-foot radius.” He finished.
Adrianna shot Grayson an offended expression, “What, do you think I have lice or something?”
Grayson shrugs, while looking at me, “Maybe mono.”
Within that thirty second insult, Adrianna and Grayson started to fight once more. Who could blame them? It was in their absolute nature.
I couldn’t stop staring at Margo’s beautiful face, she looked so angelic even when she threw me deadly stares once in a while. I snap back to reality only to hear Neil and Juliette spew off some random quote from a book.
I kind of looked stunned hearing Neil quote something, then realizing I’ve never seen Neil pick up a book his entire life.
“You read?” I couldn’t help the look on my face looking surprised.
“Not a lot.” He said plainly.
A flashback of a night in Greece, when Margo would read me her favorite fairytales just about when we would fall asleep. And I would tell her the cruel and scary original stories of the fairytales she did tell me.
They always ended up creeping the hell out of her, only made me happy because I always got to hold her when she was frightened.
I watched as Grayson put a necklace on Adrianna. She looked at him warily and then asked, “How much did you spend on this?” She scowled.
Grayson didn’t answer so I yawned and replied instead, “You have like seven million dollars around your neck right now.”
Adrianna’s face turned bright red, my birthday was yesterday, and I didn’t really celebrate it often. I never told anyone this but part of the reason I hated my stepdad was because on my birthday, my present was always a belt and a dark room.
Made me not want to celebrate it.
“My birthday was yesterday, and he didn’t even get me anything!” I pointed out, only for Grayson to laugh.
“Your friendship with me is your present every year.” He walked over to me, ruffling my hair I pulled away, my eyes zoned in on none other than Margo.
She looked upset which only made me want to hug her.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered as she swallowed, “I didn’t know your birthday was yesterday.” She muttered as I chuckled in a low tone.
“Why?” I bent down closer, “If you knew would you still have broken up with me?” I asked as she turned her head, her eyes met mine.
“No.” She forced a smile, “We were never dating, thus there was never a breakup. We were simply just a summer fling.”
I shook my head, “No Margo, we were more than I’ve ever experienced in my entire life.” I whispered.
Before Margo could get a word out, Grayson and the whole group looked at me. They were ready to leave and were waiting on me.
I got up and left without another word.
If looks could kill, Margo Raine Hamilton would’ve committed murder.