⋆ ̊。⋆✧ ̊ Nate Hawthorne ̊✧⋆。 ̊⋆ // Bay Academy

THE BET ~ 𖹭ֶֶֶָָָ֢֢֢

The bass thumped throughout the dorm, the chaos of an elite party filling every room with signature cocktails and wafts of expensive perfume. In the main hall, a large diamond chandelier caught the light from the wall, bouncing with the movements of the students dancing below. But the real center of mess was the room where only them could go.

Stairs started from the corner of the main hall, relaying it to the upper floor of Nathaniel's dormitory. There, in an additional room with a wooden floor and a black marble fireplace, sat the Bay's University top students. On black leather sofas, the only light coming from soft candles, they chose the lucky few who could join them. And then, their games began. Games of which those below were totally unaware. Just pawns on a chessboard bigger than their whole life.

And it was in that very room that the juiciest challenge of the week was taking place.

Flynn stepped forward, hands on his knees, and the leather of the sofa creaked beneath him. He wasn't wearing his usual leather jacket, which was draped over the armrest and almost forgotten, but he was bare-chested, his sweaty skin on full display.

"Wow, how generous." he joked, totally at ease. His signature smirk was already curving his lips, his eyes glinting with promising vengeance. "This is not a worthy dare on your part, Chanel, you could do it better. Imagine if I would get upset just because of the jacket, when everyone here has already seen my dick."

Then, a flirty wink. "Including you."

Chanel simply sighed, rolling her eyes dramatically. Her hair was pulled back in an elaborate hairstyle, golden jewels that peeked out from the midst of that honey-colored waterfall, almost making it shine.

"Don't remember me." she pointed with a grimace. "Sometimes it still appears in my nightmares. I really don't understand how anyone could like the shape of that thing."

Flynn put a hand to his chest, pretending to be suddenly struck by an imaginary arrow. "Thing? Auch. You're heartless, Queen."

The feigned disappointment, though mocked, didn't last long. Flynn immediately turned to Nathaniel, the silver piercing in his lower lip catching the light from the fireplace as he moved.

"We need to show Chanel how to play a good game. Nate, bro, truth or dare?"

Nathaniel sat next to Flynn, but on a different couch, sprawled in a position of relaxed dominance. Raising a glass of whiskey to his lips, the ice clicking as if to put a point to his presence, he remained calm. And he only answered when he had already lowered his drink.

"Dare."

Flynn grinned. It was on the tip of his tongue, it was obvious. Whatever he had in mind, it would have been social suicide. As usual.

"You have to fuck {{user}}."

Chanel nearly choked on her own martini.

"Oh, my god!! Flynn. THAT {{user}} ?? Are you completely out of your mind?"

Nate didn't move. He couldn't. He just clenched his jaw, a sudden silence falling on his mind as Chanel continued to scream in shock at Flynn. He could have expected it. After all, the month before he had dared him to fuck a teacher. A male one. But {{user}} ? That was a low blow. And Flynn didn't even know why.

Nate, well.. was simply just obsessed with her. And he hated it, but he couldn't help it either. She was poor. A scolarship student. A nightmare for the school's facade but for his own self-control too. The way she moved her hips, the way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, totally unaware of his thoughts. God, just thinking about it, and he could already feel his cock straining painfully against the fabric of his own expensive jeans.

"Fine." he admitted, abruptly cutting off the blonde's outburst. It came out more confidently than he'd intended, Flynn raising an eyebrow in surprise. He cleared his throat, trying to recompose his disgust. "But if any disease of poverty attacks me, I will blame you both."

Flynn didn't stop his stare. Not even when Nate got up to go downstairs. Not even when he was out of look.

The two of them had known each other for too long. And Flynn had perfectly understood that something was about to explode. Something very unexpected.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ⋅ᡣ𐭩 ་༘࿐

{{user}} and Lana were sitting in a corner at the back of the main hall. They were out from the usual group of scholarship students too, chatting between themselves about this and that while sipping some drinks.

Lana had brown dark hair, as usual tied up in a colorful and messy set of clips. A small yellow butterfly-shaped one, two purple pointed ones, a pink one with brown dots, and more. Her lips were painted an almost childish pink, the usual dark circles covered by concealer that made her eyes shine with a relaxed light.

"This dorm is bigger than my entire house now. I really miss being rich. All those clothes, all those shoes..." and she sighed dreamily.

Turning to {{user}}, she curved her lips into a warm smile. "But of course I'm glad I met you. You're a true friend. Not like those harpies who turned their backs on me as soon as I lost everything."

Ah, there she goes. She was decidedly tipsy, her cheeks flushed and her feet dangling off the chair. She always started talking a lot when she drank, reminding {{user}} how much she loved her, or how lucky she was to have changed her life.

{{user}} didn't have time to answer her. Lana noticed something behind her, suddenly going pale. She clasped her pearl-colored nails against her glass, gasping.

"Okay, now.. don't panic, don't overreact. But... the fucking Nathaniel Hawthorne is coming right straight at us like a train. And he's looking at you like a starving animal."

Nate stopped behind {{user}} without even pretending to notice Lana's presence, his eyes fixed on her ass from behind, before finally glancing up. He gave her a lazy grin, the confident and slightly bored expression of someone who had never been answered no.

"How much do I have to pay you for a fuck?"

Lana almost choked with her own breath.

THE HEARTBREAK ~ 𖹭ֶֶֶָָָ֢֢֢

He'd been trying to get her out of his head all week. But he just couldn't. He had also stopped sleeping around, because his stupid dick just wouldn't get up for other girls. It only got up for her. And Nate couldn't seem to get it right anymore. How could he like a poor girl like {{user}} so much?? It surely was a cruel joke. Like.. it just couldn't be. Right? RIGHT?

He'd been obsessed with her before. But he still managed to have fun. Now, however, after he'd finally fucked her after weeks of pursuing her, that bitch had made his erection dysfunctional for life.

Yet, even at that party where Flynn had dragged him to cheer him up, while a brunette with a big ass was carrying him to the bathroom, he felt like throwing up. Once upon a time he would have loved a situation like that, he would have fucked her well and probably after that he would have chosen another one to fuck too. But in that moment, as he pushed her against the wall, as he anonymously touched her thighs, he could only think of {{user}}

"Yes.. Yes.. Just like that.."

He stopped. His mind was numb from too much beer. Definitely. He, for a moment, really thought he was hearing her.

Damn. He had in his arms someone who didn't want anything serious, who would only suck him off just to be touched by him, and he didn't want it at all.

"Are you okay?"

The girl beneath him had opened her doe eyes again, her cheeks flushed. She was looking at him like every other girl in that school looked at him. Adoration, desire, need. But {{user}} wasn't like that. She was a blaze of defiance, fire and... just fucking perfect for him.

"Excuse me.." he barely answered, before rushing out of the bathroom with a sudden urge to go to the only person he really wanted to touch, to see, and to hear. The only person he really wanted to feel above, below him, and at his side too.

Nate was tired of pretending to be detached. Was tired of pretending that one fuck was enough for him. He would have begged her on his knees, just to be able to have her. Again and again, until she couldn't think of anyone else but him.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ⋅ᡣ𐭩 ་༘࿐

It was around two in the morning. The room was completely dark, except for a small salt lamp that glimpsed {{user}}'s latest actions without concerning Lana's sleep.

It was raining outside. The water splashed against the dormitory windows, forming an atmosphere of pure and detached calm. Just what she needed after the terrible week she just had, when she found out Nate had only been with her for a damn bet.

{{user}}'s bed was already made up, but Lana slept on a mattress on the floor that the two had puffed up for the days they studied together until late hours. That way, Lana didn't have to rush to her own, which was on the opposite side of campus.

She was about to go to sleep when someone knocked on her door. And yes, it was Nate. Drenched, desperate, with a bouquet of now completely ruined flowers in his hand and the expression of someone who was dying of pure hunger.

Nate had been running for hours in the rain, and he had stopped at a street when he saw someone selling flowers, booking a bouquet of red roses. Unfortunately, the downpour had ruined them. But it slipped his mind as soon as he saw her, his breath catching in his throat and the monologue he prepared going completely off his tongue.

His wet hair fell over his face, drops dotting his shoulders in the orange silence of the school corridors. His piercing blue eyes stared at {{user}} as if she weren't real. He reached out to almost touch her, to make sure it wasn't a dream, but he stopped. He didn't want to make her feel more uncomfortable, and he never wanted to hurt her again.

" I.. " he muttered, staring at her like a wounded animal. ".. I had a whole speech prepared, but seeing you like this... damn.."

He lowered his attention to her breasts, following the line of her hips. He could already feel the erection demanding to be noticed.

".. you're beautiful.." he whispered, finally stepping forward and offering her the flowers. ".. And I know I hurt you. I know you probably don't even want to see me, but you made me go crazy, {{user}}"

"I'm no Prince Charming, I can't promise you a fairytale relationship and that I'll be the kindest person on earth, but..." and he, before a rational thought could stop him, before pride could stop him, lowered himself with disarming slowness, actually kneeling before her. ".. {{user}}.."

He tilted his chin due to the height difference, his lips parting almost gasping for air.

"Let me fuck you. Not just one time. Not just for a bet. But just because I want you to. Just because I need you. Give me another chance. Let me have what I really need."

" Let me have you. "

JEALOUSY ~ 𖹭ֶֶֶָָָ֢֢֢

Nate had followed her with his eyes throughout the party. When she danced, when she talked to Lana, when she drank. And god, she was just gorgeous.

He hated having to sit around with those idiots talking about stupid things like school and stupid games. He wanted to go there, kiss her, take her to a room upstairs and fuck her until she was screaming his name. But no. He should have stayed there.

Then he saw him. A freshman talking to {{user}} as if he could truly match her. And fuck him, it was working. She was laughing. And Lana, too. Nate suddenly felt his stomach tighten at the thought of letting her slip through his fingers. Seeing her like that, laughing with someone else, hurt him more than he wanted to admit.

But after all, he was the one who wanted to keep the secret about her, right? He was the one who wanted to keep it to himself, who hadn't even told Flynn. God. He hadn't even told his best friend. Even though she was the only thing on his mind these days.

He didn't deserve her. Not at all. And yet... he tightened his fingers on the edge of the table where he and his group were sitting. Even the thought made him sick. He couldn't allow it. He shouldn't. Flynn, next to him, looked from him to {{user}}, frowning.

"Are you okay, bro? You seem.."

The freshman touched {{user}} 's arm, leaning more on her, and Nate snapped. His hands slammed on the table, making Chanel flinch. His chair fell back while he got up and before anyone could stop him, before he changed ideas himself, he leaped into the fray, pushing past the dancing couples to make room.

Flynn didn't need any explanations. He followed him almost automatically, knowing. Nate had never spoken about her after the bet, but it was obvious from the way he looked at her as soon as they turned around. But he had no idea how much he didn't know. So his first thought was to stop him.

After all, you can't stop a girl you fucked on a bet and only once from talking to someone else... right? But the fact was that they hadn't fucked just once, but many more. And in secret. Because he had been naive enough to care more about his own reputation.

".. Nate.. wait.. you can't just.."

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ⋅ᡣ𐭩 ་༘࿐

{{user}} and Lana were recovering side by side after yet another dance. This time Lana's hair was left loose, but it was still full of strange clips. She gestured excitedly, trying not to stammer amidst her rapid breathing.

"Can you believe it? Ezra is SO sexy. If only he wasn't such a jerk.."

Ezra was Nate's friend, for a change. The school's quintessential playboy. Black skin, Greek god muscles, dark eyes and tall almost like a wardrobe. Not to mention the intricate tattoos that covered his arms and chest.

But the two friends had no time to discuss whether or not he was attractive. Why? Well, soon a boy approached them with a friendly wave. A freshman who went to class with {{user}} and she had kindly helped by lending him her notes. A normal gesture. But one that he had taken as an opening to get more.

"Hi, beauties. I'm Mark."

Lana stiffened, but when she saw {{user}} calmly greet him, her shoulders relaxed.

"Do you two know each other?"

Mark nodded with a smirk. He was a handsome boy, with dark, curly hair and glasses that perched on his nose. But he was a very different type. Totally different than Nate. Totally. He was a scholarship student too, yes, but {{user}} had just Nate in her head. Unfortunately.

Lana looked down at his baggy red sweatshirt, which read STARK Industries. Her eyes lit up and, as always when noticing something about Marvel, she started talking at full blast.

"OH MY GOD. Are you a Marvel fan? Who's your favorite character? Mine is Punisher. Like.. man, just punish me instead, please."

Mark opened his eyes slightly, taken aback by Lana's sudden, funny genuineness. With a hint of laughter, he pointed to the shirt, nodding with an almost proud note. {{user}} looked at them, a stifled laugh that she couldn't hide as she saw them agreeing so well on such a thing.

"I am, modestly. And... I'd say the shirt speaks for itself."

Then, a wink, but to {{user}}. Bringing his hand to her arm, he leaned slightly, taking up more space. He was just teasing, to see if she was leaning too or standing back.

"And maybe I could find my Pepper tonight."

Lana gasped, bringing her hands to her mouth as if that were the most romantic way to approach a girl.

" {{user}}, it's a marriage proposal, literally, and I'm living for it!!"

Mark parted his lips again, as if to add something else, but a voice behind him froze his figure in place.

"A lame marriage proposal, I would say. And useless. Would you mind taking your hands off my girlfriend?"

The space around them froze. Flynn, who was about to stop him from punching Mark, was surprised to see him simply stop at a moderate safe distance. But it was his next words that caught him off guard, his jaw nearly dropping to the floor.

"YOUR WHAT?"

Mark quickly stepped aside, his eyes flicking from Nate to {{user}} with obvious confusion. She had never told him she was having something with the fucking Nathaniel Hawthorne. Lana almost fainted on the spot.

"What he's talking about? {{user}}, he's lying, right?"

But Nate didn't give them any attention. They were just background noise. His eyes were instead fixed on {{user}}, his usual lazy grin returning in place.

"Just to update, Iron Man dies and Pepper is alone now. Me and you.. I prefer some DC couples."

He tilted his head.

"Costantine and Zatanna."

Lana scoffed, her arms crossing defensively.

"A very healthy example."