“Arianne?” Richard’s voice echoed as he slowly opened the door to my new room. 

When I told him I wanted to come with him, he looked skeptical at first, but then I told him that I could always run away, so he finally let me come. We climbed down the ladder of my balcony, making sure to avoid every one, then we sped off in his car, and caught the first flight we could. I sat down on the bed, Indian style and stared at the moon through the window beside me. “Arianne?”

“Yes Richard?” I turned to face him.

“Why do you sound so...empty?” He asked me, closing the door behind him, and he sat down on the bed, beside me.

“Maybe I am Richard. Maybe I am.”

“I’m going for an audition tomorrow.” He paused. “Would you like to come?”

“Sure.” I said, nonchalantly.

“Ari..” He sighed.

“Yes Richard.” I swiftly turned to him, daring him to go on.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” He held my chin softly with his two fingers. “I wanted to give him a piece of my mind but-“

“No you didn’t, Richard.” I said firmly. “You knew that if you had defied him, you would have lost your social status of the king’s right hand man. Am I right?” I raise an eye-brow at him.

“I’m sorry.” He breathed. “I know you expected me to-“

“I expected you to do something.” I said softly. “But you didn’t. I don’t know why I expected you to do anything, to be honest.” I shrugged. “Just because we made out doesn’t mean you’re putting a ring on my finger.”

He exhaled harshly, tickling my skin slightly, but I showed no emotion. “I wish you would just trust me Ari.”

“I don’t have any more trust to give Richard.” I whispered. “I trusted you, but you didn’t do anything with it. The only reason I’m still being nice is because you let me come here.” I shrugged nonchalantly. He attempted to lay down, but I stopped him. “Don’t. No one lays on it except me.”

“I really am sorry, Arianne.” He sighed softly, looking into my eyes. 

“Whatever Richard, goodnight.” I said, tearing my gaze from his eyes, and looking at the moon again. I heard him sigh softly beside me, as he got up and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

During the flight, I had racked my brain, trying to decide what to do with my life. I had graduated high-school this year with Richie and Matthew, but I needed time and money, before I could go to Uni. When I was a kid, I used to love dancing. The way my body flowed with the music, made me feel like any negative emotion I had were being carried away by the music. It made me feel so powerful, and for once, I was in control of something. When my mother left, I stopped dancing. I had to. Everything that reminded me of her was thrown out- not that I even argued. Mama had always bugged me about it, when she came with Mother, for a show when I was 10. That was the last time I danced, the very last. Until now. Placing the broken phone on the night stand, I listen to the music that flowed from the speaker. My favorite song.

I’ve tried to be good.

 My body moved in sync with the rhythm, as I did a pirouette, only that I could do it for longer, spinning around and around, the song hit it’s climax.

Once the pianist’s solo came on, I was too far gone to care. Too far to care about Michael, or how Mama never stood up for me, or how Richard let me down. I was going to start living for me. 

My hips moved involuntarily, and my feet moved swiftly. 

“Whoa” I heard from the door, making my freeze. I turned my head to be met with two pairs of eyes. Richard and someone that looked a lot like a Swedish model stood at the doorway to my room. 

“And who might you be?” I asked, being a tease, still enjoying the soft music that played in the background. 

He smirked and walked up to me, holding his hand out. “King, Damon King”

“Oh I don’t shake hands.” I said innocently, catching a ghost of a smirk on Richard’s face. “I hug” I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he grabbed my waist. Watching Richard squirm was the most entertaining thing ever. His nose flamed, then the red color spread across his face. His eyes were white like snow. "I'll call you Winter."

“Um, could you guys not dry hump each other in my apartment?” He grumbled.

I removed my arms from Winter, but he still held my hips, keeping me steady. “There’s always your apartment, Winter." I winked.

Richard’s mouth was gaping open and I walked over to him, closed his jaw, then went back to Winter. “Whatever.”

“Dude, she’s so cool” Winter praised me, but I only smirked in reply.

“Do you dance?” I asked him, noticing his build.

“Yeah, Richie here, wants to learn.” He said, making my eyes widen, as my head whipped to Richard, who was now smirking. 

“You want to dance?” I asked for confirmation.

“Yup.” He said. “I’m a quick learner.” 

“Cool.”

Winter smiled at me then laid on my bed, with his fingers interlocked behind his head. “Comfy.” He sighed. 

“Brute” I muttered under my breath.

“Hey!” He took my pillow and threw it at me, although I caught it quickly.

“You have chosen death!” I screamed, and got on top of him, straddling his waist, and tickling his sides.

“S-Stop!” He managed to say through fits of laughter. I didn’t think it was going to work though, girl-power!

“Apologize!” I yelled.

“N-Never!” He tried to flip us over but I harshly pinned him down by jerking my hips up and down, so it painfully dug him deeper into the bed. Pinning his arms above his head, I smirked in victory, bringing my face closer to his.

“I win” I whispered, then got off the bed, preparing to take a bath.

“Damn girl…” He whispered, making me smile in return. There was just this easy aura around Winter that made me feel safe. Not enough to make me fall in love with him or anything, it just made me feel…okay, I guess. With other people, I was constantly worrying about how I look, and how the other person feels. It probably had to do with my sudden change in attitude, but I liked it, and I reveled in it.

“Anyways, I gotta take a bath so….” 

“I don’t mind.”

“DUDE! GET OUT!” Richard bellowed, turning red. I actually forgot that he was there. 

“Bruh, just chill…” I muttered. “It’s not your body anyways.”

“Yeah.” Winter said, before he sat up and dragged me back to the bed with my hips, making me giggle. “You’re so warm.” He tickled my neck with his breath.

“Okay lover-boy.” I said, laughing but getting up. “I have to go take a shower. Wanna go to the gym later?”

“Sure” He smiled. “Do you any one in mind?”

“I was hoping you could show me a good one.” I said, rummaging through my duffel bag for gym wear. Finding a sports bra and shorts, I sighed in contentment.

“No prob.”

I walked out of the room, but Richard who was being creepy, grabbed me by the wrist and kissed me. It felt really good, yeah, I admit, but it had a sense of possessiveness. I kneed him in the balls as soon as his lips touched mine.

“I’m not a trophy Richard.” I spat, then walked away. I found the bathroom quickly, and took a relaxing soak, then brushed my teeth. I came out in a towel, then went to my room to see Winter still laughing at Richard, who was red. 

“Out Richard.” I said, ignoring him, and immediately going to the vanity.

“What about Winter?!” He yelled, pointing at Winter.

“Winter” I turned to him. “Could you help me brush my hair please?” I asked sweetly.

“Of course I can.” He beamed like a 5 year old, causing Richard to scoff and get up.

“You really are a gold-digging whore.” He spat bitterly, slamming the door on his way out.

“He didn’t mean it, he was jus-“ Winter started to say. 

“It’s whatever, Winter, let’s just go.” I mumbled, forgetting about my hair and getting my phone and airpods.

“Yeah, let’s go.” He mumbled too, grabbing my hand and leading me out of the house. He stopped at the kitchen, then grabbed the bagels on the counter and started stuffing his face with it. “Want some?”

I was about to get some when Richard scoffed. “Keep it up and you won’t have a size on the scale any more.”

“Dude!” Winter yelled at him.

“You know something Richard,” I said, glaring at him, “When I made up my mind to change, I thought that maybe I could count on you, but I was wrong. It’s sad how I now trust a stranger more than you.”

Turning on my heels, I opened the door and slammed it as I left. I waited at the elevator and in no time, Winter was out of the house, yelling colorful words at Richard.

“Let’s go”

*Next chapter is going to be 2 years later, but in Michael’s point of view..