Chapter Twenty-Two | Sorry Not Sorry

"I fear too early, for my mind misgives;
Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,
Shall bitterly begin."

I narrowed my brows as I watched Leo Astrid rehearse his lines as Romeo on the main stage. The other students that were supposed to be working on their respective roles for the play all swarmed around the stage to watch the boy recite his line, though in my opinion, he wasn't doing that good of a job as everyone was making it seem.

"I still think I would've been a much better fit for Romeo than this twat." I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest, causing Toby to look up from his lighting equipment.

"Really? I think Leo was a perfect choice considering the guy has already starred in like two hit Disney shows, been in like three movies — one of them getting nominated for an Academy Award and-"

"Okay Toby, I don't need his life story." I cut the boy off, sending him a look that made him quickly through up his hands in defense. "If you wanted to be in the play so bad why didn't you just audition like everyone else?"

"I don't want to be in the play, I just think I'd be better fit for the lead than Leo. Besides, a story about a girl killing herself for a man doesn't sit right with me anyways."

Cutting my eyes at him, I returned my eyes back to the stage. I hadn't even notice the pad of my fingers had somehow found their way to my lips again as I stared off into the distance. It's like I couldn't keep myself from touching them, my mind unable to comprehend that Asher kissed me earlier today. I try to push the thought in the back in my mind, but it keeps creeping up on me like a gnat in my ear. The kiss didn't feel like fireworks or explosions or like the sun was burning in my soul. But it did feel calm, and safe, and right. The world was spinning around me and it suddenly fell into place. And I think that's so much better.

It's sad to say, but I don't think I've had a kiss like that in a long time. It was only quick peck on the lips, but the feeling of comfort it brought made it seem like so much more.

God, I hate Asher.

Ever since he stumbled back into Stratford with his nonchalant gaze and addicting nicotine lips, he's been driving me nothing but crazy. I don't think anyone has ever had my mind this conflicted; confused.

I don't like him, I really don't. It's just that the sex is amazing and he has a way with his words that makes me forget about everything — forget about my worries, forget about our past, and forget about my relationship with Imani. The poor girl has become nothing more of a absent thought at this point. We barely even talk even more, and it's craztbthat she's still managing to stick around. Most people wouldn't hesitate to shoot someone a quick text chewing them apart but Imani was different. She sent me good morning texts when I'd wake up for school and goodnight text when I'd get out the shower preparing for bed. It seems no matter how I ignore her she just won't go away.

She invited me to her parents dinner party tonight, and I told her I'd attend after I'm finish with rehearsal. Hopefully after giving her the cold shoulder at her own parents party she'll get the hint and finally decide she's had it and leave me alone. She deserves better, and I'm not better.

"Do you guys know how to get paint out of your eyelashes?" Asher's familiar voice startled me, and I instantly turned around to see him covered in paint. Toby let out a laugh at the boy while I just stared at him with a raised brow.

"You look like the pride flag." Toby chuckled, and before getting up and helping Asher clean the dried paint for his face. "Fitting." Asher said to himself, sending me a knowing look and I rolled my eyes.

"Is there a reason you look like a rainbow just threw up on you?" I asked him.

Asher nodded, rubbing the pink paint from his eyebrows. "I was just helping Corbin finish one of the final sets in the art room. Things got a little out of hand as you can see."

"When I was seven I accidentally got paint in my eye. It wasn't fun though. I had to get my eye rinsed out by my doctor, and till this day I still can a see a little green in my right eye if I concentrate hard enough." Toby randomly told, earning blank stares from Asher and I.

"Um, so anyways," I started again, returning my attention back to the colorful looking Asher. "Is Corbin still in there?" I asked.

He nodded and I didn't hesitate to turn on my heels starting to make my way towards art room, but I'm stopped in my tracks when I feel Asher's hand grip around my wrist, putting me to halt.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked and I stared at him for a moment before nodding my head. "Yes, but I want you to come with me." I told him, and he tried to open his mouth and respond, but was cut short when I started dragging him with me.

"Can't you do anything by yourself!"

"Nope!"

••••

It's been a couple days since Corbin's and I argument. Corbin sure made it known that he still doesn't want anything to do with me. His side eye glances and snarled top lip whenever we pass each other in the hallway sure made that known
Standing in front of the art room with Asher to the side of me, I took a deep, steadying my breath, clenching and unclenching my fists.

I hate to say it, but I haven't been this nervous in a while, and I once had to deliver a thirty minute presentation in front of the president of China before. However, I found my stomach flipping and turning more here, as I stand in front of this art room door preparing to apologize to someone who I doubt even wants to breathe the same air as me.

I closed my eyes for a moment, leaning my forehead against the cool frame of the door.

"Why are you making this more dramatic than it has to be?" Asher blurted from beside me, folding his arms across his chest with an inpatient sigh escaping his lips.

I quickly opened one eye and shot Asher a harden glare, but he quickly shrugged it off with an eye roll of his own.

Of course Asher wouldn't understand this. He's always talking and starting conversation with everyone. That's something that has always irritated me when it came to him; the way it's so easy for him to talk to people; always having a way with his words unlike any other. He's smooth, even I can't deny him that. Hell, he did manage to talk me out of my pants on multiple occasions after all. He's charismatic and charming, and even with all the training my father put me through, I still don't think I'll ever be as much of a conversationist like Asher.

I felt a firm grip on my shoulder. "How about this? I go in there first, talk to him for a bit, and you slide in with your apology, sounds good?"

"Yeah, I guess." I growled at myself in annoyance, snapping my eyes open and straightening my back. Before I could think about it or second-guess my actions, I let Asher slide past me and into the art room and I followed right after.

"Corbin, I'm back," Asher greater, making his way into the room and I immediately spotted Corbin on the floor covered in as much paint as Asher was.

Corbin's brown eyes brighten into a welcoming smile at the sight of Asher, but the look left just as quickly as it came when I stepped into the room behind him. "Liam," He glared at me. "This room is reserved, and no, your daddy can't buy your way into it."

I blinked at him, feeling my tongue twitch as I fought to restrain it from saying something I'd most likely regret.

"Corbin..." I started. "I didn't come here to argue with you."

"And what did you come here to do? To come and brag about how your father just signed another multimillion dollar deal, for to come and show off your custom made Louboutin made by Christian Louboutin himself. Either way, I don't care nor do I want to hear anything you have to say."

"If you would just let me talk, you'd realize that I came here to apologize-"

The a-word lingers in the air for a moment, and I could see Asher leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest, his eyes darting between Corbin and I.

"Apologize?" Corbin cut me off with a soft chuckle before rolling his eyes around the room, "What ever could Liam Claremont be apologizing to me about?"

I clenched my jaw, trying my best not to let my natural intentions get the best of me. It took everything inside of me not to just let my thoughts roll off my tongue and call him everything in the book, but then I see Asher eyeing me from across the room. Those big brown eyes locked on me with such a stare that I found myself unable to turn away for a moment.

It's amazing really — the way his eyes spoke for him, telling me what he was thinking without him having to mumble a word. You better not, they said.

I exhaled a heavy breath, swallowing my pride and pushing it to the side. "Corbin, I know I can be a bit of a dick sometimes, and okay, maybe I'm a showoff, and maybe I'm not the nicest person in the room-"

"The point." Asher tried to blend in his words with a loud abrupt cough that cut me off.

Corbin raised a cut brow at me, and I exhaled a low sigh. "Basically, what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry, and that I know it doesn't seem like it, but I really do regret a lot of things I've said and done to you. After seeing your mother at my father's company-"

"Oh, so this is what this is all about," Corbin cut me off with a low chuckle, his eyes darting elsewhere for a moment, before meeting my gaze with a squinted eye stare. "So you seen my mom at your father's company and seen how people treat her, and now you feel you need to apologize? Is that it?"

I blinked at him, before nodding. "Well, yeah but-"

"But what Liam? You're just apologizing because you feel sorry for me and my mom, not because you're actually sorry that you're a spoiled, narcissistic, brat who thinks everyone is supposed to bow down to him whenever he enters a room."

"That's not it at all. Corbin, I'm actually sorry." I tried to defend myself, but Corbin wasn't hearing it.

With his nostrils flared and fist balled, he said, "Bullshit Liam and you know it. If you we weren't on school grounds right now, I'd deck you straight in that sack of plastic on your face you call a nose!"

I lost it.

"This "sack of plastic" cost five-grand and it's silicon bitch!" I retorted, and before I knew it, Corbin and I had found our way in each other's faces. My 6'1 challenging his 5'11.

I rarely argued with fists because my words packed more powerful punch than my hands ever could. Words flew from my mouth that I never thought I'd even think, let alone say out loud. I knew instantly from the look in Corbin's eyes that they'd hit their mark. In that instant I realized all apologizes had left out the window, and if anything, the boy probably hated me more now.

"I thought I could come in here and apologize, you know, be the bigger person and try to settle our differences, but it seems nothing works with you." I told Corbin, placing a hand in my hip as I stared him up and down. "You're always gonna be this sad and bitter loner who hates anyone successful because he feels it's unfair, but guess what Corbin? Life is unfair! I'm always gonna be that rich, narcissistic bitch you hate, and you're always gonna be sad, broke and bitter!"

"Liam," Asher's voice sounded off this time, before he inserted himself between the both of us. His eyes lingered on Corbin's anger-filled ones for a moment, before shifting to mine. He had a look in his eye that reminded me of my father. It's that same look he gives me when I mess up an introduction to a new investor or when I forgot the company's stock numbers. He was disappointed.

"Let me get out of here before I murder someone." Corbin growled under his breath, quickly turning on his heels and stomping his way out the art room, slamming the door behind himself.

I exhaled a low sigh, rolling my eyes. "I tried Asher, I really did and you seen how he wouldn't even let me talk-"

I didn't realize I was rambling until Asher's hand found their way on my shoulders in a comforting manner. The disappointing look in his eye had vanished and was replaced with a more subtle look.

"Hey, it's okay. You said you wanted to apologize and you did it. Although it may have went left, you still went through with what you said you wanted to do and I hope you know how amazing that is." He said, rubbing my shoulders before softly resting my head on his shoulder.

I sighed, sinking into the crease of his neck. "God, I'm so stupid. I can't even apologize right."

"I don't think it's whether you apologized right or not," Asher looked down at me, and I quickly averted my gaze, too ashamed to meet his gaze. "Like you said, life is unfair and it's the same with apologies. You can cry and beg for someone's forgiveness, but that still doesn't mean they have to forgive you. It sucks but that's just the way it is."

Rolling my eyes, I shoved myself off his shoulder and mumbled, "God, I hate when you're right." as I made my way out the room.

Asher followed behind with a snarky grin on his face and it took everything in me not to slap it off. "When will you learn I always am?" He teased with a wink.

••••
Excuse any mistakes or errors

No, I'm not dead lol.