"My dad's honestly going to kill me once he finds out all the shit I've taken. He's on this 'clean wave' or whatever the fuck that means." Sofia shared. I was actually getting along with her. No, she wasn't a friend but she was a good chat. And very intriguing since her accom could basically be a pharmacy.
"Shit, I have to take a piss, watch my drink?"
"Of course." Thank God she didn't ask to go to the bathroom with me.
When I came back, I noticed a familiar face. He was the one who Killian was with at that party. Smug-looking fucker. I couldn't see Sofia's reaction to his approach before I sat down in my seat, the stool he'd been eyeing to sit down on as he came around the corner of the bar.
"Problem?" I asked, turning my head to Sofia to make sure she was alright. A flush of pink rose in her cheeks as she looked down at her drink. She probably didn't expect to see him here. I recalled her telling me about having a wild night with a Libertine. And he looked like the epitome of one.
"No, no problem," he interjected.
"Sorry, I don't remember asking you." I spat at him. "Are you lost?"
"No. I'm not. I just wanted to ask for this lovely lady's name." he tried to sound sweet but he came off as entitled.
"Wow. You have sex with a girl and can't remember her name? No wonder you're a Libertine." he was taken aback by how much I knew.
"Hey, I don't appreciate you judging me like that."
I was about to reply back when another familiar face joined us. Killian. A half-finished glass of beer in his hand.
"Hello, darlings. You know I heard that-"
"Nobody gives a flying fuck about what you heard."
"I was just trying-"
"Didn't I tell you to leave me alone and suck your- hey!" I called out to Sofia as Nathan managed to take her hand and lead her to a small table behind us.
"It's okay, Persy. I'll be back in like ten minutes." She smiled.
I rolled my eyes, not unaware that Killian was still standing next to me.
"Persy?"
Was he really playing this game?
"Yes. That's my name. Congratulations."
"I'm Killian." he had the fucking nerve-
"I don't care."
"What do you study?"
I eyed him up and down. "I know who you are."
I watched the colour drain from his face, giving me a very satisfying feeling. But I decided to continue the charade. "You're a fucking Libertine."
It took him a moment to process. "I'm sorry?"
"A libertine, aren't you? Why do you care so much about asking superficial questions?"
"Contrary to your belief, I don't fuck random girls without even knowing their name."
"You're friend seems to."
"Nathan's harmless."
"Of course, you'd say that."
"Look, I-"
"No, you look." I was tired of this. I couldn't bare to see his stupid face acting all innocent. "You're a leech. You suck the life out of everything you touch. And I can't stand being in another second of your presence, Killian." I saw realisation flash across his eyes, but I wasn't staying to find out anything more. I walked to Sofia and told her I was going. I didn't wait for a reply.
It was freezing outside. But I'd rather freeze than stay in the same room as him. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. He had a social life here, friends, he probably was getting full marks on everything from that stupid photographic memory of his. I couldn't bear seeing him thrive when I'd done nothing but deteriorate. Yes, it was selfish and irrational and completely unjustified to wish that someone stayed in a worse state, but he deserved it.
•
"I'm sorry, what did you just say?" Killian was dumbfounded.
"I said take your shoes off."
"How is that-"
"You know what? If you're just going to complain and question everything I do then you might as well leave." I shook off my shoes, with more vigour than I intended to. He was getting on my nerves.
"Okay, okay." He begrudgingly took off his shoes and placed them neatly against the wall. "What now?"
"What role are you in?" I asked as he handed me his script.
"Thomas."
After reading the introduction, I glanced back at him. Could he really play the role of a kind-hearted artist falling madly in love with an aristocratic model who was terminally ill?
"I'd have picked you for Christoph," I muttered under my breath, referring to the villain, the bitter doctor who felt he was more deserving of her attention.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. I want you to act out..." I skimmed past the pages and arrived at a particularly emotion-driven scene. "Act 5, scene 2. I'll play Vivienne."
Killian visible shuddered. "Uh..." He had the text memorised so this struggle clearly wasn't him trying to remember the words. "Miss Rose, I seek a moment of your time, please."
That was pathetic but I decided to keep going. "Sir, you cannot just approach me here," I gestured around myself, "and expect me to just fall into your arms and let you whisk me away."
He stood an awkward step forward. "Please... Vivienne." It sounded a lot more like a question than a desperate beg.
I couldn't resist the laughter that struck my chest. Killian gave me a threatening glare. "Fuck you."
"I'm sorry but yes, fuck me, you sound like you're constipated."
"You know what? This shit is over." He went to put his shoes back on.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. It's just that this segment is meant to be very emotional. Thomas is begging Vivienne to leave the cafe so he can profess his love for her. Like his life is on the line."
"Yeah? Well, he should just fuck off," He retorted as he wobbled slightly, with one foot raised and being shoved into his shoe. "The only reason Vivienne chooses him over Christoph is that she sees him as weak, as a pawn. She knows she'll get what she wants if she stays with him."
"So, you think Vivienne is just a leech?"
"Yeah, she is. She sucks the life out of everyone she touches. Thomas and Christoph were both content and happy before they met her. I don't think she deserves a happy ending."
•
Looks like Killian had his happy ending after all.