A/N This is a romance throwback story with some personal conflict in it! At the end there may be a little horror and action..... Enjoy!

Val

I remember the day  I met him, how his eyes grasped my mind and tugged on it, how his dazzling smile shocked me and made me swoon. How his emerald eyes made me enraptured in his very being.

He had sandy blonde hair, and perfect, sun-kissed skin. He was strong, and such a caring boy, a star in the local soccer team. Whenever he was goalkeeper, the team would always win by a lot of goals, and he would be showered in flowers from the cheerleaders on the side, them chanting his name. He would smile that contagious grin of his and everyone would lay down their lives for him. I was charmed, I was obsessed in an instant.

I know, I know, how cliche of me. But who can help it? Everyone wanted him. Everyone wanted to be friends or more to him. Most of them, like me, never got noticed. And I was naive to think that I could change that.

My locker was next to his, very close together, and it would always be blocked by the flowers that were always on his, cards, and lipstick marks. Girls were always fawning over him, crowding him. He seemed so uncomfortable but always so nice to even the most annoying of them. I thought he was different. I had no idea.

He was unique. Extraordinary. And I was oblivious to his treachery, drifting in plain sight. I was a young girl, easy to trick, inexperienced with boys. I was in a dream, a dream where everything would have a happily ever after. All of these were thoughts terribly far off the train of ruthless reality.

His form was enchanting, his behaviour was like a magnet for all. Always dazzling in his clothes, his laughing was like a ring of the brass bell of freedom, clear and loud, fresh and light. Fast spreading, like a benign virus. His teeth would always shine and glitter in the sun. He was so likeable, so beautiful, flawless. He was dainty like an angel, but cautious as the devil. I loved that, I once lived for that.

The first time he actually noticed me was in technology, when we were assigned to the same task as partners. He smiled at me and I was instantly hooked, but managed to keep my cool and finish the assignment with him. He kept glancing at me and smirking lightly, with i found endearing. He was so attractive, smart and a delightful presence to be in. The other girls glowered whenever we chatted in class, and he would chuckle and roll his eyes whenever he saw their behaviour. I fell for him so hard.

In the corridor he would ask me to hang out. He would chortle whenever i told a joke. The other girls would stare, and the brave, older ones would attempt to flirt with him weakly. I would giggle and then both of us would stare deep into each other's eyes, as if to share a message. I was young, and he was a player. What a match.

I didn't look too shabby myself. I had sapphire eyes and a sharp nose, with jet black, shoulder length hair. I would always wear the blue school uniform impeccably, without fault, and he would stare at me and compliment me about how pretty I was. I would flush. I would respond. Not anymore.

We hung out at our lockers, ate lunch together, and the jealousy around us was stifling. But neither of us appeared to care. I was content in his company, and i though he was in mine. But I didn't know that he would never be satisfied. I was crushing on him, dreaming of his smile every night. Some might say i was addicted. Truth be told, yes I was. 

Then one day it came out of nowhere. The last day of year 7 rolled around like an expectant thunderstorm, and many had to leave to another, better school for the rest of their high school years. I thought he would move. But he didn't. Of course not. The event changed my life forever, it was memorable, yet the day his venom truly reached my system and began to sink in.

In front of everyone at his locker, he smiled at me like usual. I was about to pick up my bag and leave when he, without warning, leaned into me and pressed his lips to mine, marking me, for good and bad. The others began to cheer, accepting us, out new status.

"Jasmine, will you be my girlfriend?" Joshua asked me. His eyes were shining, but I never saw through the facade. I laughed lightly and agreed, causing myself misery and happiness in the same time. Why? I didn't know to this day.

For 2 years, we were happy. I imagined that we were happy. Soon we became the star couple of the campus, best friends with everyone. Girls never stopped trying to steal him though, and back then i was triumphant and clueless, not seeing how absurd the situation truly was, how hopeless. Now I am enlightened, knowing, suspicious all the time, because of him.

He was with me in every class, charming every teacher with his looks and grades. We walked around hand in hand, an emerald and its ring, prowling around like a married couple. It was fun while it lasted.

Soon came the year 10 formal at our school. He planned a big party, just to ask me out. I was in foolish, happy tears, and of course I agreed to go to formal with him. I failed to notice the tiny lipstick smudge on his chin, how dishevelled he was. I was bewildered, in a dream too good to be true. He was a player. A betrayer, and a cheater, as I would soon find out.

I always loved the moon. It was my comfort, the light i would use to heal myself. I needed it that night, desperately, as I clung on to my sanity, toyed by Joshua, ridiculed by the others. High school was a blur, and I was too engulfed in him to think properly.

The light of the moon was high that night as we headed to formal. He was glittering and grinning in his classic blue suit and I was in my blood red dress, long and bridal style, with beautiful, delicate makeup. We were to meet there. It was supposed to be our night. But guess what I saw.

Sienna was on his arm. My best friend was on his arm. I felt myself clench my orange fluffy purse in anger as I watched them smooch and him smile at her. He was a player. I realised in that moment that many girls were like me, living a high school dream, but being played all the time by that guy, that beast. That nightmare.

I boiled with anger, with hate, with hurt. He played me after 2 years of care, thoughtless love from me. He was shameless, terrible, a disgrace. He ditched girls like they were objects without any feelings, like he had the right to their hearts. That was exactly what I felt in that moment. I felt resentful, and resented. He was a monster with emerald eyes.

I stormed into the building and charged right to Joshua and Sienna. Her eyes widened as she saw me and with a silly squeak, she ran off, probably to hide. My face was tomato red and steaming as I stared at the soccer star, who looked the opposite of my irate state.

"Jasmine." He said and nodded, smirking.

"You. How dare you. It was 2 bloody years." I cooled down a little and looked impossibly cold towards him, eyes scanning his for regret. There was none. 

"I cared for you, I loved you, I needed you. And now you do this? How many times have you cheated?!" My voice raised dangerously. He only smiled more.

"You were only a tool. I was a player in soccer and love, silly. Never returned what you had for me! Took what I could get." He laughed, the sound now a blade that ripped through my heart. I scowled and screamed.

"HOW COULD YOU????"

"Women are made to be played."

That was the last straw. I glared at him. 

"Never talk to me again. You will pay for this." I swivelled around and stalked out, and heard merciless laughter behind me. He turned the whole school. He would remunerate for his behaviour, his face, his very existence. They would pay.  I despised him now, and no boy would touch my depths again.

I walked to the carpark, the sounds of the formal already fading behind me. A girl suddenly crashed into me and I barely managed to stay upright.

"Have you seen my boyfriend? Joshua Abbot?" She inquired. The anger returned, hot as ever, stifling my insides. I just controlled the incoming screech.

"He's inside, snogging my best friend." I retorted coldly. 

The girl scrunched up her fists. "I will murder him! That little-" She raced away towards the building. She would be broken, fractured like me soon. I wasn't the only one.

I stood there beneath the moonlight as it healed me, trapped my heart and soul inside. Vengeance will be mine. The shadows writhed below me, streaming into me, helping me to forget, to become determined. 

I would take this night to my grave.

5 years later......

I was a shadow slinking in the night. Eyes open wide, sapphire resolutions clear in my eyes. I was up to the last one, the last one that required cleansing.

I danced in the beautiful moonlight, free. I should have been long ago.

I was in the red, bridal dress from that night. My eyes were murderous and no longer emotional behind my blue mask. They were cold, full of anger and emptiness. My dagger was in my hand, swinging around with every small step.

I reached his house, small yet comfortable looking from the outside. It was made of blue bricks, the only house in a mile that looked like this. He wasn't scared of me. I would change that very soon.

Sirens sounded in the distance. People hid behind the curtains at the sight of the Scarlett Vengeance. Me. I smiled without feeling, and enjoyed, revelled in the stench of fear that floated dominant in the air. I waltzed up his driveway and knocked on the door. Music was playing inside. The boys were always oblivious.

The moonlight, my friend, shone on me as the door creaked open, revealing him. Ever handsome, ever monstrous.

His eyes widened as he recognised my dress, and realised who I was, and my new identity.

"Jasmine?" He whispered, frightened, as he should have been long ago.

I raised my dagger and he attempted to recoil, but fell over. He began to sob in fear as I loomed over him.

"Please!" He begged, pathetic, helpless in front of me.

I just smirked, like he did. "Men are made to be played."

And then there was no more sound.