"Make sure you don't start seeing yourself through the eyes of people who don't value you. Know your worth even if they don't."

ELEVEN: RACE & STRINGS

"OH COME ON Theo, you always use to knock guys off their senses. I might have done it once, which wouldn't have even happened. But that bloody guy had to just go around spreading rumors about me." Christian said. We were all, which included me, Theodore, Rohanna, and Christian were chatting at the parking lot. We were waiting for the car keys which the security would fetch us.

"I used to knock out guys but what about you? One would always find you either in the girls' bathroom or janitor's closet. The entire school knew that. Some students used to avoid going in that area with the fear that they would find you naked!" Theodore mocked, making me suppress my laugh which was forcing me to sputter out.

"Whatever but they wouldn't have regretted looking at this," He retorted, motioning towards his body. "And just don't let me start on how you often asked for my help if you liked a girl."

"Don't go to that topic." He warned but Christian paid no heed.

"Remember that Clarice girl? Long platinum blond hair and blue eyes... " Theodore arched an eyebrow at his Christian's interrogation with uncertainty.

"How come you'll remember, you always fucked blondes. But do you recall her brother James Hughes? The teacher's pet."

"Yeah, yeah the nerd. What about her, I mean Clarice? " Theo queried.

"You wanted to fuck her and wanted me to arrange a date with her."

"But why will he ask your help? He could have done it himself only." I inserted.

"No, he couldn't have done it himself. Theo doesn't have flirting in his system." Christian mocked making Theodore scoff.

It was kinda weird imagining Theodore being a high school jock, flirting, and going around with girls. I have never seen him, even once in a normal sweatshirt and PJ's.

"But then you couldn't because the coach kept you for extra training and I had to attend the date in your place. I tell ya dude, how amazing her mouth worked! You missed it." He explained as if it wasn't a big deal talking about sex which you had with another person, in front of your girlfriend.

Rohanna slapped the back of his head and he winced. "Do you have the shame that you are talking about an amazing blowjob in front of your girlfriend."

She tried to show rage but rather appeared as a cute little angry woman. She was more of a cheerily sweet lady who didn't have anger in her blood.

"Come on, now can I deny the truth?" He quizzed with a smirk.

Her fist collided with Christian's chest and trust me when I say I felt the pain. "Such a shameless brazen douche you are. You deserve it!"

But it looked like Christian had a different agenda. He held her fist and slammed her to his chest and their lips clashed instantly.

I roamed my eyes here and thereafter a second, awkwardly. How come they didn't even think before doing it in front of us?

I coughed lightly and looked at Theodore who was also looking around. But unlike me, he wasn't embarrassed. He was basically ignoring them with a bored expression. I assumed that they have always been playful and open about their relationship. And Theodore was used to it.

"Are we gonna go to your place and sleep?" I dumbly asked the first question which struck my head. His eyes met mine and he opened his mouth to reply.

"Who said we will sleep? If we had to sleep we would have returned back to our own homes. So, we are going to accompany Theo and enjoy his last days of being single." He asserted cheerfully with Rohanna still in his arms, flushed.

"Not that anything will change afterward. Why sacrifice sleep." Theodore plainly said and yawned, making me yawn too. I covered my mouth with the back of my hand.

"Because after you guys are wedded Theo will be tied to his wife's apron strings," Christian said and Rohanna chuckled.

"Trust me, nothing like that is going to happen."

"I trust you but I trust Lia more. She is capable enough to make you forget that the world even exists." He exaggerated and then winked me. I don't know why he says such things when he very well knows that we were marrying each other because we had signed a contract. Nothing more.

I scoffed between laughing and shook my head. What the hell he says sometimes!

There was a silence in the air with remnants of laughter. Suddenly, Theodore said, "Remember the G-sharp thing?"

Christian took a moment to realize before falling into heaps of laughter again. Theodore joined him by laughing wholeheartedly as the sounds of their laughter blended.

"What is it?"Rohanna quipped.

"Bro secret, Annie." He cooed.

"Yeah. Bro secret." Theodore agreed while running a hand through his face, still smiling.

The security guard hurried towards us with keys juggling in his hands. "Sorry sir, something came up in the hall. Extremely sorry."

"No problem. Have a good night." Theodore, unlike I had assumed, didn't lash at him. He looked happy and free of any authority. Carefree and rare.

I walked with Theodore to his car when he turned around and shouted, "What about a race, Chris?"

"When do I ever say no for races. Bring it on! "

Theodore rubbed his hands theatrically and jutted his chin up. " I am ready to beat your ass again little brother."

"The time will tell big brother." He radiated overconfidence and got into his Black Range Rover.

We too settled in and Theodore revved on the engine.

***

We pulled over in front of his mansion. The Range Rover was already parked there.

"Christian won and you lost," I spoke as we made our way inside. My legs were aching like anything and I was 100% sure that there would be blisters on my sole.

"Indeed." Said he with a curt look in my direction.

"And here I thought you would have been fantastic at racing." Though not as good as me, I thought.

"I might never lose to the world but when it comes to Christian, it is something else. I am ready to accept defeat without even participating but yet it would make me glad." He replied. I was out of words.

I trailed behind him towards the pool area with much difficulty as my heels made the 'click' & 'clack' sound. All the energy from my system had been drained by standing and attending so many people back at the event. Now even if someone tells me to die, I would rather ask them to kill me, with their own damn hands.

The enormous pool was in the center with classic beach loungers at the side. The area was well lit with bulbs and the moonlight reached us without any barrier.

Rohanna and Christian were settled with cushions and beer bottles. Both of them had changed into sweatshirts and PJ's. Did they arrive that early? I wondered.

"Lia and Theo, go and change quickly. And Theo, while returning, brings the special beer. We just have four here." Rohanna chimed with a smile.

Finally, I'll be out of this dress. Thank God!

We made our way towards the house with Theodore right behind me. I forced my legs to walk and in the mist my feet somehow got entangled with my sandals. I stumbled and felt a warm hand on my back. "Easy there," He said. Warmth blanketed my entire back.

I straightened myself. Why don't I just open them? I could have done it in the car itself. Dummy me.

I looked for something to hold and ended up holding his shoulder. He was surprised for a second but his it well later. Pulling my left leg up I searched for the ankle straps. It became difficult finding my heel due to the extra material of the dress. I huffed loudly in frustration.

His large hand-pulled my hand from his shoulder and held it. I bent down and opened the straps of each shoe one by one. Finally, my feet made contact with the cold tiles and my toes curled, unconsciously. Sighing I held my shoes in one of my hands.

We started walking when I heard a whistle. Turning around I saw a Christian who was smiling widely. I raised both my eyebrows in a questioning manner. He eyed below and my eyes followed the direction.

My and Theodore's hands were interlocked. Oh!

I pulled mine embarrassed that Christian caught us. I turned around and started walking. Gosh! Now he would be thinking that something is going between us.

Theodore turned on the lights of his room behind me. His room was the same just like that day. A sense of nostalgia hit me looking at the wall he had pushed me to, that day.

I walked around the room, involuntarily and carelessly. Not thinking about anything. I stopped at a large mirror and stared at my reflection. The reflection was the same I witnessed in the elevator just maybe a percent less. My hair was frizzy, to a little extent and my eyes lacked shine.

I saw Theodore taking off his tux at the couch area. I tried to reach for the strings of my dress at the back when he was striding towards his joint entire suite bathroom. They were out of my reach. I thought if I should ask for help or not, knowing very well what it would mean. Finally, after a few failed attempts, I decided to ask for a helping hand.

"Mr. Raymond? Can you help me with the strings?" my voice came out muffled while I still tried to reach for the knots.

I held my breath waiting for his reaction. I felt him behind me after a moment that was conformed with his reflection in the mirror. I let my hands fall on either side.

He was close. Closer than I would allow men to be. His fingertips brushed on my lower back as my breathing swallowed. I looked at him from the mirror at how his eyes were trained at my lower back. His eyes locked with mine and immediately my eyes danced around. I witnessed him smirk as a rumble vibrated and seeped into me. I gulped as my heart thumped within.

What the hell is taking him so long?

His fingertip skimmed over a slightly elevated skin of mine. "You have a mole here." He murmured as the pit in my stomach fell deeper.

Unconsciously, my hand went behind and brushed with his rough ones. I was about to retreat when his hands caught mine. I stopped breathing and after a second I felt the rocking music of my heart against my ribs.

His hand wrapped around my palm as two fingers guided my index digits over my skin.

I dared to look up and instantly looked away when I caught him looking at me intently. With fierceness and passion.

How come I never knew I had a mole? The sane part of my brain tried to divert my brain.

My hands started fidgeting as I grew nervous and uncertain. A mild wave of insecurity passes me without a warning. Not a word escaped my lips. Looking around I felt him take a step forward. I inhaled sharply when his hand traced the curve of my waist with his expertly trained fingertips. His touch was light but my breath was becoming heavy every passing second.

The air felt chilled and charged. I didn't leave my ground. His eyes met me through the mirror. My knees felt as if they would buckle any moment and I'll fall. His dark, stormy eyes were telling me too much but I was afraid to read.

I found it excruciatingly difficult to contain myself as a whirlpool of emotions destroyed my sanity. My eyes danced around, hoping he would pull away because words were clogged at my throat.

He pulled away after his eyes have taken enough. His behavior was like he didn't just see me undone and a mess.

Theodore made it to the last wardrobe among five and opened it. He motioned with his eyes for me to go there, which I caught from the mirror.

"Help yourself." Saying, he was out of the room.

I counted till ten, hoping my heart would stop rocking and the brain would furl to its sane part.

***

In immense need of your constructive criticism. It would be great if you could tell me where I could improve.

Waiting for the feedback! ❤