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Warm sunlight spilled through the windows and landed on Noel’s dark curls, encasing them in a soft golden glow.
Next to him, Paul lay awake watching the soft rise and fall of the figure beneath the blankets and his eyes roved the sleeping face as he tried to commit each detail to memory.
Noel stirred softly and his eyelids slowly lifted as his body roused itself awake.
Brown eyes met brown eyes as the memory of the previous night rushed in and Noel felt his face begin to heat up in embarrassment. He shut his eyes in mortification only to open it up right back as a thought popped into his head.
‘How long have you been awake?’
‘A while,’ Paul answered softly.
‘And you’ve just been watching me sleep?’
‘You drool a little, did you know that?’ Paul mentioned instead. ‘And you kick a lot as well.’
Noel shut his eyes again and buried his face in the blankets. ‘Please don’t tell me, I kicked you.’
‘If I was still captain of the soccer team, I would offer you a spot right now.’ Paul sighed. ‘As it happens, I’m afraid I would have to content myself with being the sole witness to your extraordinary talent.’
Noel threw a pillow at him. ‘Shut up. You try having twelve siblings then get back to me.’
‘Can I meet them?’
That caught Noel off-guard. ‘Huh?’
Paul’s eyes were hopeful as he repeated the question. ‘Your siblings; can I meet them? You met my family after all, it’s only fair I get to meet yours.’
Noel turned away from his earnest gaze as he considered the question. ‘Are you sure? They are a bit… rough.’
Paul chuckled. ‘And mine weren’t? What’s the problem, Jayden met them, didn’t he?’
‘But you are not Jayden,’ Noel murmured. ‘You are you.’
Paul bit back a snort. ‘Well, I am glad about that. Can you imagine Jayden doing the things I did to you last night?’
Noel couldn’t hold back the horrified shudder that ran down his spine. ‘Never say that again.’
Paul smiled. ‘So, can I meet them?’
Noel hesitated before sighing, ‘Why not?’
Paul’s smile widened and he leaned down to place a soft kiss on his forehead. ‘Thank you.’
‘You wouldn’t be thanking me when you do,’ Noel muttered but there was a soft smile on his face all the same.
Paul began to play absently with his hair. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Tired. Sore, but in a good way.’
‘We need to get ready for class,’ Paul stated as Noel burrowed deeper into the blankets.
‘Do we have to?’ Noel whined.
Paul chuckled. ‘Yes, or people would wonder where we disappeared to or,’ his tone grew mischievous. ‘more importantly what we’re getting up to.’
Noel shot him a playful smirk. ‘What are we getting up to? Last night was a different issue but now, we’re just two friends lying innocently in bed.’
‘Innocently?’ Paul asked as he nipped the soft skin of Noel’s neck.
‘Yes.’
‘Really?’ Paul asked, biting the skin as he moved lower.
The bedroom door suddenly swung open and Samuel walked in. ‘Noel, have you seen…’
Time seemed to stop as they stared at one another, their movements completely frozen.
‘Oh… Never mind, pretend I never came in.’
He shut the door quickly as Noel groaned and buried himself deeper into the blankets, his face burning with embarrassment.
Samuel stood outside the door as his mind slowly processed the sight he had just seen. He couldn’t stop the slow smile that crept up his lips as he replayed the image in his head.
He gave a mental pat on the back to Paul as he walked back to his room, not noticing the extra skip on his step and the smile that remained permanently frozen on his face.
Jayden cracked one eye open as Samuel walked into the room and carefully studied him as he busied himself with cleaning.
‘I don’t like it,’ Jayden declared as if finally coming to a decision.
Samuel blinked at this unexpected outburst. ‘What?’
‘I don’t like it,’ Jayden repeated firmly. ‘That smile on your face.’
Samuel raised a hand to his face in surprise and sure enough, his lips were stretched into what was undoubtedly a smile.
He quickly fixed his expression into a pout. ‘I thought you liked my smile.’
‘Not this one.’ Jayden shook his head. ‘I don’t know why but even though it looks normal there’s something about it that makes me severely unsettled.’
He sat up and fixed the pillows behind his back before settling back comfortably. ‘Now, are you going to tell me why you’re smiling?’
‘Nope.’
Jayden immediately frowned. ‘Why not?’
‘Just because,’ Samuel said simply as he walked up and placed a palm on Jayden’s forehead. ‘How are you feeling today?’
Jayden’s frown deepened but he didn’t pursue the subject. ‘Much better. Now can I get up from this godforsaken bed or am I condemned to slowly decompose in it?’
Samuel rolled his eyes but nodded. ‘Yes, you can. It’s probably a good idea since you’ve missed a lot of classes already.’
‘I can afford to miss more,’ Jayden muttered as he flung the bedsheets from his body and stood up. He tugged Samuel’s arm. ‘Let’s go shower.’
‘You go first,’ Samuel answered, shrugging his arm away. ‘I’ll go after you are done.’
‘Why can’t we shower together?’ Jayden asked with a pout.
‘Because we are late,’ Samuel answered. ‘Now, hurry up.’
‘But if we are late, wouldn’t it make more sense if we showered together,’ Jayden pointed out. ‘It would save time, energy, water, and all the other pointless stuff you care about.’
Samuel raised an eyebrow. ‘Really? Because somehow, I seem to remember spending far too much time when we are in there together since someone is incapable of keeping their hands to themselves.’
‘You can’t really blame me when it’s your fault for looking like that whenever you get wet.’
‘What do I look like?’
‘Never mind. Anyway, I promise to keep my hands to myself this time.’
Samuel snorted. ‘Just as the lion promised the rabbit. Who do you think you are talking to? Now go before we are any later.’
Jayden grumbled but he made his way into the bathroom and Samuel waited until he heard the shower turn on before continuing to clean up the room before his obsessively clean boyfriend walked out and threw a hissy fit.
An hour later found them both freshly showered and on their way to class. Jayden kept sneaking glances at Samuel as they made their way down the path toward their classrooms.
‘You’re still smiling.’
Samuel immediately straightened his face. ‘No, I’m not.’
‘I just wish you would tell me what it was already,’ Jayden muttered. ‘We both know I’ll find out sooner or later.’
‘Maybe, but it’ll not be from me,’ Samuel replied, his smile already making its way back to his face as his mind revisited the scene, he had witnessed this morning.
Jayden looked away. He didn’t know why there was something about Samuel’s smile that made him uncomfortable whenever he looked at it.
They split up at the entrance to the science building and for a while, he was able to forget all about Samuel’s smile and the meaning behind it as he lost himself in the dreadful monotony that was high school calculus.
He was, however, forced to confront it again when they met up for lunch at the cafeteria but this time, he was spared from having to mention it again by Leo who took one look at Samuel’s face and asked, ‘Why do you have that stupid smile on your face?’
‘No reason,’ Samuel answered.
‘And why do you look as if you want to bury yourself in the ground?’ Leo questioned, this time rounding up on Noel.
Noel just shook his head and closed his eyes as Paul patted his back encouragingly.
Leo stared at Jayden who was looking intently at Samuel, Samuel who was smiling stupidly into space, Noel who was covering his face on the table then Paul who seemed almost amused by this whole situation.
‘It’s not me, right Cam? You can see it too, they’re acting weird. I’m not going crazy.’
‘For once, you’re right,’ Cam answered as he looked suspiciously at his friends. ‘What are you all hiding?’
Leo suddenly slammed his hands on the table and shot to his feet in outrage. ‘You had fun without us again, didn’t you? Admit it!’
‘Don’t yell at me,’ Jayden grumbled. ‘I know just as much as you do.’
‘Sam?’
Samuel shook his head.
‘Paul?’
Paul shrugged.
‘Oh, just tell them,’ Noel blurted, hiding his face in his hands. ‘They are not going to stop pestering us until you do.’
‘If you insist.’ Paul cleared his throat and turned to Leo. ‘Samuel walked in on us having se-‘
‘We were not having sex!’ Noel yelled then returned to burying his face in his hands.
‘We were about to,’ Paul pointed out.
‘That’s not the point,’ Noel muttered.
‘We already had…’
‘Don’t tell them that!’
Meanwhile, the others remained frozen in shock while Samuel on the other hand still had the stupid smile on his face as he watched their little back and forth like a proud parent.
‘You what!’
Cam’s loud voice was enough to snap them all out of their stupor. He shot to his feet and rushed to grab Noel’s arm, pulling him forcefully up as he dragged him away.
‘Details! I need details!’
Noel’s mouth opened and closed hopelessly as he was dragged pitifully away.
‘You too,’ Cam stated, coming back to yank Samuel out of his chair.
Leo cleared his throat after they had walked away and turned to Paul. ‘Erm, so I suppose congratulations are in order.’ He thumped Paul on the shoulders. ‘Well done, man. It was about bloody time too.’
Paul rubbed his shoulders awkwardly. ‘Thanks?’
‘Now that that is out of the way, come on let’s head to the gym,’ Leo said, getting to his feet.
Paul frowned. ‘The gym? Now? Why?’
‘I’m not talking to you.’ He jerked his chin in Jayden’s direction and seeing the questioning look on Jayden’s face he explained, ‘You look as if you need to hit something which preferably should not be Paul’s face. So, what do you say?’
Jayden considered the offer and stood up. ‘Lead the way.’
Paul hesitated uncertainly at the table. ‘Am I allowed to come?’
‘Don’t be stupid,’ Jayden answered as he grabbed his backpack. He paused when he noticed that Paul hadn’t moved. ‘Well, what are you waiting for?’
A large smile blossomed on Paul’s face as he stood and grabbed his backpack.
Leo smiled and placed an arm around Jayden’s shoulder as Paul jogged up to them. ‘You did good, buddy. I’m proud.’
‘Don’t thank me yet. I still haven’t ruled out punching him in the face.’
Leo, however, refused to be deterred. He placed his other arm around Paul’s shoulders and sighed contentedly as they made their way to the gym.
‘Everything is finally falling into place and with little Pauline on the way, it looks as if we can finally put all the drama behind us.’
‘Who?’
Leo gave Paul a look. ‘How can you forget your own niece?’
‘You don’t even know if it’s going to be a girl,’ Paul pointed out. ‘And besides, why are we giving it my name? I didn’t consent to this.’
‘It’s going to be a girl because I said so,’ Leo stated with finality. ‘And you can’t consent because your voice has no opinion in the matter. Her name is Pauline and that’s that.’
‘Excuse me,’ a tiny voice said.
Leo blinked and looked down to see a nervous first-year staring up at them. They were already inside the gym and making their way to the lockers when they had gotten interrupted.
The first year seemed to wither a little at having three pairs of eyes staring down at her at the same time.
‘What is it?’ Jayden asked impatiently.
Seeing the scowl on the dark-haired senior’s face she quickly mustered up the courage to speak. ‘A s… senior asked me to give this to someone named Paul,’ she explained, raising her arm to reveal the neatly tied envelope in her hand.
‘Thank you,’ Paul said politely as he took the package from her.
‘She.. she said that if you want to tell you can meet … you can meet her in the gardens.’
‘It was nice of you to deliver the message. What’s your name?’ Paul asked kindly.
She seemed a little surprised to be asked this and it took her a while before she answered, ‘Tania. My name is Tania.’
‘Well, it was nice to meet you, Tania. I’m Paul. Thank you for delivering the message.’
Tania gave him a small smile before running off.
Leo watched her leave with a curious look on his face. ‘Are all first years this twitchy?’
Paul shrugged as he stared at the envelope in his hand. ‘I wonder who could have sent this.’
‘Well, open it so we can find out,’ Jayden muttered irritably.
‘Alright, alright,’ Paul chuckled as he tore the envelope open and upended the contents over his open palm.
Three glossy six by four photos landed in his palm, and it only took one glance at them to make his blood run cold.
Leo noticed the expression on his face and glanced over his shoulder only to open his mouth in shock.
‘What the hell is up with you two?’ Jayden grumbled as he walked over. His eyes landed on the pictures in Paul’s hand and his expression immediately froze.
He quickly shoved the pictures back inside the envelope as he glanced around them to make sure no one else had seen it.
‘How the hell did this happen?’ he whispered furiously as he pulled Paul to a corner of the gym where they had little chance of being overheard.
‘I… I don’t know,’ Paul answered dazedly as he tried to make sense of what was happening. ‘We just… it was last night, and we were alone in the room. I didn’t think to check… I didn’t know we could be watched. God, how could I have been so careless.’
Jayden closed his eyes and shook his head. ‘It’s not your fault. Besides, it’s too late to blame yourself now that it’s already happened. What we need to do now is figure out a way to fix this.’
‘I don’t understand,’ Leo said. ‘Who could have taken those pictures?’
‘Take a guess,’ Jayden muttered darkly. ‘Do you want me to speak with her?’
Paul shook his head. ‘No, it’s my mess. I have to take responsibility for it.’
‘Don’t be stupid.’
‘You are not the only one who is going to be affected by this,’ Leo pointed out.
Jayden placed a hand on Paul’s shoulder and looked deep into his eyes. ‘I mean it, don’t do anything stupid. I know you have a twisted sense of duty and all that bullshit, but we are your friends. You don’t have to deal with this alone.’
Paul stared at the earnest looks on his friends’ faces, and a small smile appeared on his lips. ‘Don’t worry, I don’t plan on handling it by myself.’
‘But,’ Jayden prompted.
‘But I have to find out what they want first. In the meantime, please don’t tell Noel about this until I get back. I don’t want to worry him until we have the full information.’
Jayden removed his hand from Paul’s shoulder and nodded. Paul turned to Leo.
‘Leo?’
‘Why are looking at me like that? I’m not going to tell him.’
Paul shot him a disbelieving look before walking out of the gym and it didn’t take long before he arrived at the scheduled place.
There weren’t a lot of students at the school gardens which made it easy for him to see the person waving at him from a secluded table next to the rows of tall hedges.
‘So, it was you,’ he said as he slid into the seat next to her.
‘Oh?’ Valentina said with a raised brow. ‘I had no idea I was so infamous.’
Paul was in no mood to put up with her antics. ‘Just spit out what you want so I can leave.’
‘Do you not find my company pleasurable?’ Valentina asked with false pain.
‘I find you to be utterly repulsive.’
Valentina giggled as if she found that thought to be quite amusing. She waved a hand dismissively. ‘You know what they say about sticks and stones. It would do you good to grow used to my company. I’m not saying you have to like me -though it would make things easier for both of us -but you have to at least tolerate me if we’re going to be spending the rest of our lives together.’
‘What?’
‘Hasn’t it clicked yet? You and I are going to get married.’
‘In which version of hell am I possibly going accept getting married to you.’
‘In the version where those pictures do not come to light,’ Valentina answered simply.
‘You would have to thank Jayden for giving me the idea,’ she stated absently as Paul’s jaw clenched in supressed anger.
He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths before opening them again.
‘Good,’ Valentina said as she noticed the look on his face. ‘It seems you’re finally willing to be more compliant.’
Paul closed his eyes. ‘What do you want?’
Valentina gave him a look of surprise. ‘I thought I already mentioned it.’
‘But why?’
‘Why else? I’ve suddenly fancied myself as royalty. Don’t worry, I understand what that entails and I actually mean to do my best as your wife, not only for your family but for your people as well.’
Paul just stared at her.
‘And there’s no reason why we can’t both be happy,’ Valentina continued. ‘You can keep seeing that boy, Noel. I have no objection to that and in time I honestly do hope we can all become friends.’
‘Sure, we can. And we can braid our hairs and do our nails while we can spill our hearts out.’
‘Don’t pick up Jayden’s bad behaviour. Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.’ Valentina scolded lightly. ‘I don’t understand I thought you would be more excited about this.’
Paul stared at her as if she had suddenly gone crazy. ‘In what way am I supposed to be excited about being blackmailed into marriage.’
Valentina cleared her throat awkwardly. ‘Well yes, I do admit that the means are a bit unsavoury.’
‘A bit?’
‘Nevertheless, I do think that the ends would – in time – come to justify them. And you would too once you’ve had time to properly think about it.’
Paul scoffed in disbelief. ‘Do you honestly hear yourself?’
Valentina rolled her eyes impatiently. ‘I do, and you would as well if you would only pull your head out of your outrage and think. You can’t marry him, and you have to marry someone eventually, you don’t have a choice. I am offering you a solution to both our problems. I need a husband who would raise my standing and in return, I’m offering you a chance to be with the one you love without losing your crown or your family.’
She had a point. As much as Paul hated to admit it, she had a point but he would be damned if he told her that.
‘It’s not like I plan to be a terrible wife or an incompetent consent. With my brains and your kindness, we could be a great team and perhaps, in time, possibly even great friends.’
Valentina stood. ‘I’m not so callous as to expect an answer now. Take some time to think about it. Is marrying me, especially considering all that I’m offering, really worse than the alternative which is losing your crown, your family, and your people?’
She walked over and placed a kiss on his cheek. ‘I know you’d make the right choice. You have always understood the meaning of duty, that’s what I love so much about you.’
Paul’s jaw clenched tightly as Valentina patted his face fondly before turning to walk away, leaving him alone at the table to sort out his thoughts.
He sat there for what felt to him like hours before he finally stood to slowly make his own way back to his dorm.
The long walk gave him enough time to sort out his thoughts and when he finally stood before the door to his dorm, he felt calm enough to break the news but before he could reach for the doorknob, the door suddenly swung open to reveal a very panicked Noel.
‘It’s you, Leo thought he heard someone outside the door. What happened? Who was it? What did they want? Are you alright? What are we going to do?’
Paul shot an irritated look at Leo who shrugged as he flashed an awkward smile back at him.
‘Sorry bro, it just kinda slipped out.’
Paul rolled his eyes as he entered and closed the door behind him. ‘Sure, it just slipped out.‘
‘Don’t mind him,’ Cam cut in impatiently. ‘Tell us what happened.’
‘Well, it was Valentina-‘
‘Surprise, surprise,’ Jayden muttered before shutting up after Samuel elbowed him sharply.
‘Go on,’ Samuel urged.
‘And she wants me to marry her,’ Paul finished.
Jayden snorted. ‘Well, no one can accuse her of not being consistent.’
‘What did you say?’ Noel asked worriedly.
‘Nothing,’ Paul answered. ‘She gave me some time to think about it. She wants us to be friends and promised that we can keep seeing each other. Apparently, she doesn’t want to get in the way of our happiness all she wants is a crown, and in exchange, she will keep our secret and I can continue to do whatever I want.’
‘How generous,’ Jayden drawled, his tone practically dripping with sarcasm.
‘It was, to be honest,’ Paul murmured. ‘Let’s face it, she does have a point. I would have to marry someone eventually, wouldn’t I?
Jayden stared at him as if he had lost his mind. ‘Don’t tell me you are actually considering her offer?’
‘I don’t have much of a choice, do I?’
Jayden looked at him for several long seconds before turning away. ‘I guess I was wrong about you as well.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘It means whatever you want it to mean. You’re right, you don’t have a choice.’
‘Jayden…’ Samuel cautioned uneasily.
‘No, he is right. This relationship was doomed from the start but what I don’t understand is if he already knew that, why did he even bother to enter the relationship in the first place? Why start something you know you couldn’t finish? Why encourage Noel if you knew you wouldn’t even fight for him?’
‘Jayden, that’s enough!’ Samuel pulled him away. ‘No one is giving up, not yet. And definitely not without a fight. Now have you calmed yourself or do we need to leave?’
Jayden rolled his eyes but didn’t argue anymore, opting to sit quietly on the couch as the rest of them brainstormed a way to escape this current predicament.
An hour into their discussions, Samuel suddenly stood up. ‘I think I have an idea.’
Everyone immediately stopped talking and stared up at him.
‘I mean, it might be a longshot but it’s worth a try.’
‘And are you going to tell us with us, O Great One, or are we fated to be held in suspense for the rest of eternity?’
Samuel gave his boyfriend a droll look. ‘Are you finally done sulking now?’
Jayden scowled. ‘I do not sulk.‘
‘Whatever helps you sleep at night. Anyway, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted,’ he paused to throw a glare at Jayden only to receive an eyeroll in response. ‘We just need to ask the one person who we know for a fact is capable of controlling Valentina and has proven to do so in the past.’
Leo looked at him curiously. ‘Who?’
‘Azrael,’ Samuel answered which caused Jayden to scoff.
‘Good luck getting that one to help. He is more likely to laugh in your face than lifting a finger to help.’
Samuel was starting to grow impatient. ‘Do you have any better ideas? No? Then shut up. What have I told you; if you can’t say anything productive, don’t say anything at all.’
‘But would he help?’ Noel asked nervously.
Samuel shrugged. ‘We won’t know until we ask.’
‘Who is going to ask him?’ Cam asked.
‘It was my idea; I suppose I should do the honours. Besides, he would be more willing to listen if it came from me.’ He glanced around the room. ‘Who knows where he is likely to be at this time?’
‘He’s most likely grading papers in the staff common room,’ Leo stated. ‘I remember seeing him there a few times when I went to turn my homework in.’
Jayden snorted as if the idea of Azrael bent over a task so mundane as grading high school students’ essays was highly amusing to him.
‘I guess I’ll be on my way then, and in the meantime,’ He shot a meaningful look at Jayden. ‘Don’t do anything stupid.’
He took one last glance around the room before walking out.
The sun was already beginning to set when he stepped out of the building and the sky was dyed with a faint orange hue.
It didn’t take long for him to arrive at the staff common room and sure enough, Azrael was bent over his desk as his pen scribbled lazily across the page of what seemed to be some poor student’s essay.
‘Sorry to disturb you,’ Samuel said as he came up to the desk. ‘I can come back later if you’re busy.’
Azrael glanced up and his eyes immediately lighted up when he saw Samuel. ‘Disturb me, please. I need a break from the stupidity that is sixteen-year-olds’ abysmal grammar.’
He placed the pen down and studied Samuel curiously as he leaned against his chair. ‘To what do I owe the singular distinction of your unexpected company?’
‘I need your help.’
Azrael raised an eyebrow in interest. ‘Oh?’
‘You see I-‘ Samuel cut himself off as his eyes landed on the teacher at the other side of the room.
‘I see,’ Azrael stated as he followed Samuel’s gaze. ‘It’s all very hush, hush, then. Very well,’ he cleared his throat and called out loudly. ‘Professor Smith, the headmistress was looking for you.’
The professor immediately jerked up. ‘What? When was this?’
‘About thirty minutes ago. You should hurry Professor if you don’t want to keep our esteemed headmistress waiting.’
The professor was so busy scrambling for her papers that she missed the sardonic edge that crept into Azrael’s tone.
‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner?’ she snapped irritably.
‘You know me professor; my looks are not the only things dreamy about me.’
The professor just huffed before rushing out of the room.
‘Lovely woman,’ Azrael commented fondly before turning back to Samuel. ‘Alright, what is it?’
Samuel quickly explained what happened to an increasingly bemused Azrael.
‘Did she really offer to let Paul continue with his affaire de coeur compliquée? That was awfully nice of her.’
‘Of course, you would think that,’ Samuel muttered.
‘If anything, it shows that she is able to learn from her mistakes,’ Azrael continued absently.
‘What are you talking about?’
Azrael blinked in surprise as if suddenly remembering that Samuel was still there. ‘Don’t you remember her unfortunate misalliance with your current beau? She obviously realized that keeping people from the ones they love only makes them more determined to fight back. This is her way of keeping your friend docile.’
‘It’s not going to work.’
Azrael hummed in amusement. ‘She sounded just as determined as you the last time we spoke.’
That made Samuel take a step back. ‘Wait, what do you mean the last time you spoke? You knew?’
‘I didn’t know the details but yes, I was aware that she was planning something.’
Samuel couldn’t keep the outrage out of his voice. ‘And you didn’t tell me?’
Azrael seemed genuinely puzzled by that question. ‘Why would I?’
‘Because we are friends,’ Samuel pointed out.
‘Why does everyone keep saying that? Since when did friendship with me entail you get a free pass at life?’
Samuel just stared at him in shock before remembering who he was talking to. ‘Nevermind. Anyway would you help?’
‘Now, why would I do that?’
Samuel opened his mouth, but before he could respond, Azrael cut him off.
‘If you say because we are friends I am going to punch you in the face.’
Samuel closed his mouth as he tried to think of a different answer.
‘Because you owe me?’ he tried. ‘Remember when Jayden and the other wanted to leave you to die? I was the only one who spoke up for you.’
Azrael cocked his head curiously. ‘Did you really think that was enough to get rid of me?’ He shook his head. ‘That’s neither here nor there, but yes, for what you did that night, I am willing to give a hand whenever you need my help.’
‘I do. I need your help now.’
‘Paul is the one who needs my help, not you. Yet he is curiously absent and here you are begging in his place.’
‘Would it have made any difference if he was?’
Azrael grinned. ‘Nope, but it would have been fun to witness.’
Samuel rubbed his head as he closed his eyes tiredly. Dealing with Azrael always had the exciting effect of leaving him with a pounding headache.
‘So I came here for nothing. I don’t get why you won’t help though.’
‘I find it wildly entertaining.’
Samuel stared at him. ‘What?’
‘What did you say last time at the beach? They’re my new favourite soap opera and if I swooped in and ended it now just when the suspense is building, not only would I be doing myself a disservice, I would also be doing a disservice to the people in an alternate reality who could possibly be reading about us right now even as we speak!’
Samuel shook his head. ‘Somehow, I keep forgetting you are a crazy person.’
Azrael sighed pitifully. ‘I’m a man far ahead of my time.’
‘Goodbye, Azrael.’
‘Let me know how it goes,’ Azrael called out just as the door swung shut.
Samuel sighed and leaned against the closed door. He knew it had been a long shot but something in him had still felt certain that Azrael would have helped.
He pushed himself off the door. He had wasted enough time already and it was getting late. Time was running out and they needed to figure a way out of this mess soon or…
A shudder ran up his spine. The alternative was far too horrible to even contemplate.
‘Well?’ Noel greeted the moment he walked back to his dorm.
‘He’s not going to help.’
Jayden snorted from his corner. ‘I could have told you that,’ he said as Samuel walked over dejectedly to place his head on his shoulder.
‘What do we do now?’ Cam asked.
The room was silent as no one had any answer to that question.
‘You’re wrong, you know,’ Paul spoke up suddenly after a few minutes. He was staring directly at Jayden. ‘I’m not going to give up, and I’m not going to stop fighting.’
Jayden raised an enquiring eyebrow. ‘Oh?’
‘She can go to the press and share the pictures as much as she wants, I don’t care. I’m not going to marry her, and I’m not ashamed to love him so why should I care what people say?’
Jayden stared at him for a couple of heartbeats before shaking his head. ‘I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I don’t think you’ve fully thought about this.’
‘This is what you wanted, isn’t it?’
‘I wanted you to fight for the person you love, not throw him under the bus. Have you thought about the consequences of letting those pictures come out? Homosexual relationships are still a federal crime and while all you may lose is your throne and a few months of scandal, Noel does not have the influence your family does. Legally, he could be looking at a few years in prison, not to talk about the ostracization of his entire family and a lifetime of notoriety.’ Jayden shook his head. ‘It’s not worth it, at least for now.’
‘Then I would take the blame. I would say I forced him. No one would be able to find fault with him, he would be completely blameless.’
Jayden gave him a wry smile. ‘I don’t think things are quite that desperate yet, and let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.’
He stood up. ‘I think it’s time we all go to bed. Things always appear clearer in the light of the morning sun after a good night’s sleep.’
‘It’s strange, isn’t it?’ Noel muttered. ‘When I woke up, I felt as if I was at the top of the world only to end the day with the crushing realization that my world is a spark away from going up in flames.’ He laughed dryly. ‘Life does have a cruel sense of humour, doesn’t she?’
Paul reached for his hand and squeezed it as Jayden gazed at him with a sad smile.
‘Don’t worry, chico.’ Leo stated confidently as he got to his feet. ‘We’ll soon sort out this mess and send that puta, Valentina, scurrying with a smack on the bottom.’
‘What a disturbing thought,’ Cam muttered as he followed Leo’s lead.
‘Before you leave, do you still carry your lighter around?’ Jayden asked.
‘Erm, I guess? Hold up, lemme check,’ Leo responded uncertainly as he quickly rummaged through his pockets. ‘Yep, here you go.’
Jayden accepted the lighter from Leo’s hands and walked over to Paul with an outstretched hand. ‘The pictures please.’
Paul handed over the envelope with the pictures and Jayden glanced at it one last time before holding it over the open flame of Leo’s lighter.
‘There,’ he stated, letting the flaming envelope fall. ‘The shrew definitely has a couple more, but it would be a cruel irony if this got out simply because we weren’t careful with the ones in our possession.’
They watched the flames hungrily creep across the envelope, greedily consuming the paper until all that was left was ash.
‘If only we could get rid of all of them that way,’ Leo muttered. ‘Come on, Cam. Let’s head out. See you guys later.’
Cam walked over to Noel and placed an encouraging arm on his shoulder before turning to follow Leo out the door.
‘Do you think I can sleep here tonight?’ Noel asked Paul. ‘I don’t think I can go back to my dorm, and I don’t want to be alone.’
‘Of course.’
‘Jayden and I would sleep in your dorm then,’ Samuel stated, getting to his feet. ‘You can have my room if you want, though I don’t think you will need it. Come on, Jayden. Let’s leave them alone.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Jayden said to Noel. ‘Everything will turn out fine.’
‘You don’t know that, but thanks for saying it anyway.’
~
Later that night, they were lying in Jayden’s room when Samuel suddenly sat up.
‘Jayden? Have you fallen asleep yet?’
‘Is this going to be a pattern? Because if it is, I might have to reconsider our future sleeping arrangements.’
‘Do you remember exactly what the pictures looked like?’
Jayden was quiet for a moment. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘It suddenly occurred to me that with the way those pictures were taken it might just be possible…’
Jayden immediately sat up. ‘You had the same idea as well?’
Samuel glanced at his boyfriend in surprise. ‘Oh… I see you were thinking the same thing.’
Jayden bit his lips as he frowned. ‘I didn’t want to bring it up in case you didn’t think it was right…’
‘I definitely do. I’m just surprised you thought the same.’
Jayden’s brows furrowed slightly in worry. ‘Are you sure? Once we do this, there’s no turning back.’
Samuel smiled. ‘Am I sure? I’ve been wanting to do this for ages, and now we finally have a good reason.’
‘It’s not going to be easy,’ Jayden warned.
‘Which part of our relationship has been easy? I just wasn’t sure if we were strong enough.’
‘And now?’
A wicked grin appeared on Samuel’s face. ‘And now, I think we are more than ready to unleash hell.’
Author’s Note:
Hell is empty and all the devils are here.
~ William Shakespeare
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