forum Under The Painted Sky (O/O CLOSED)

Started March 18, 2019 by Deleted user

tune

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Sterling kept up with her, his free hand stuck in his pocket. “Oh, no? Well, I was thinking we could study over lunch. Since the teacher asked you to tutor me and all.”

“You seemed to be doing pretty well during class,” Eden rolled her eyes.

Sterling shrugged his shoulders, continuing to look down at her. “Pure luck.”

Feeling his eyes on her, Eden stopped walking, sighing heavily and looking up. “I don’t like games, Sterling, unless I’m the cat.”

"Who says it's a game?" Sterling questioned, cocking his head to the side.

Eden released a humorless laugh, shaking her head. She took slow steps towards Sterling before fisting his shirt in her hand and pulling him down, eyes narrowing as they locked with his.

“Isn’t that what’s it all about?” She murmured in a low voice. “To people like you?”

Sterling narrowed his eyes at her words. They cut deep into his skin, reminding him of his reputation. He was a flirt, a player. He'd slept with so many girls, none of which he could recall the names of.

"What do you mean?" he asked lowly, though he was sure he knew what she meant.

Eden let out a cold smile. “I’m sure you know exactly what I mean, Sterling,” she tightened her grip on his shirt. “So before you even start, I’ll let you know that you’re wasting your time and efforts. Move on to your next victim.”

"For your information, Ms. McArthur, I haven't done anything like that since I moved here," Sterling informed her, ignoring the flash of pain in his chest. She knew. Of course she knew. How she knew, he had no idea. But she knew… "And I'm trying to keep it that way."

“Fantastic,” she smiled bitterly, loosening her hold on his shirt and stepping back. That’s what they all said. That’s what they all end up ignoring, too. “Good luck on your little quest, Ainsley.”

"The only 'quest' I have, McArthur, is the one where I try to keep from falling back into my old habits," Sterling declared, glaring at her by now.

Eden smiled in satisfaction at having gotten on his nerves. “And you’re doing a wonderful job at it,” she offered a coy smile. “Keep it up, Ainsley. A good guy like you shouldn’t mingle with my kind, don’t you agree?”

"Good guy" my butt…

"What does it matter to you?" Sterling asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "It's my life, is it not? Do I not get to decide what to receive?"

“Oh, no, you do. Absolutely,” Eden faked a smile, though her eyes remained blank. “But don’t involve me in your decisions. Now if you’ll excuse me…”

“I’d still like to get to know you. In a strictly hands-off way,” Sterling declared, putting his hands in his back pockets. “I’ll just end up sitting with you during lunch, anyway, so you might as well make this easy on yourself.”

“You’re stubborn, aren’t you?” Eden cocked her head to the side. Whatever he wanted, she wasn’t going to give it to him. She wasn’t the girl she was two years ago. She had been foolish back then, but she had grown. Circumstances had opened her eyes. “Well, then, Ainsley, suit yourself.”

“With pleasure,” Sterling said with a humorless chuckle. She seemed to have sucked all the flirt out of him with her earlier comment. It was like even the mere mention of it caused him to cower. He hated how he used to live his life…

Eden moved to walk away when she nearly bumped into someone. The boy backed off, eyes wide before he immediately began to apologize.

“Eden! I’m sorry,” he moved away, clearing the path for her. Eden simply cocked her head to the side, blinking owlishly. “I didn’t see you there. I’ll be more careful next time.”

His eyes flashed to Sterling and then to Eden before he breathed out. Eden walked past him, eyes cold and hard, giving nothing in reply.

“Are you insane?” She heard the student hiss at Sterling, but Eden ignored it.

(I know, I know… I was trying to figure out how to respond.)

Sterling blinked after Eden but turned to the other student. “Why do you ask?” he questioned him, his eyes narrowed.

(XD)

The boy furrowed his eyebrows, looking at Sterling as if he was crazy.

“You’re new here, aren’t you,” he breathed out, his question more of a statement. “I’m asking because you’re talking to Eden like that when she has no business with you. Do you want to be at the receiving end of her fist?”

“I can handle myself, thank you. And I’ve seen what happens around her,” Sterling said, his voice a flat monotone. “Why?”

“I’m Chase,” the blond said without battling an eyelash at Sterling’s tone. “Anyway, maybe I should fill you in on people you should avoid, and definitely not piss off. From the bottom of the hierarchy to the top. Sorry I came out rude earlier, by the way.”