CHAPTER) 19

                                    

                                          
"Okay boys, this is the last time I can speak to you before you're off and into the fine world of lights, judgment and fame and whatever the fuck else it might entail-" Mid sentence, her eyes trailed down, fixed on their intertwined fingers.
                          
She sighed, then groaned loudly before walking up to them and separating their hands.
Not even surprised when Bright shot her a glare before reconnecting their hands once more.
                          
"Bright, you can't hold his hand!"
                          
"And why's that?" Cara was taken aback by his inveigh.


                          
" Are you serious? The media will be on us in seconds, as soon as you walk past that door with hearts in your goddamn eyes!" She whisper-yelled as a women walked passed them.

                          
"How is that my problem, he's my boyfriend! If I feel like holding his hand then I fucking will. " Their disagreement had reached an impasse.
                          
Win who had been a spectator to the argument decided it was about time to intervene.
                          
"Bright maybe it wouldn't be the best time to reveal our relationship..."
                          
"That's what I'm saying Bright, listen to him! This is for your own good-" Bright lifted a hand, a gesture Cara took as a cue to shut her mouth.
                          
"Oh, is that so?" Bright released their laced fingers, stepping away from the boy.
                          
"Bright I-"
                          
"My bad, I didn't know you were so unwilling. Nice to know from early on, I'm the only one putting in the effort to make this work." He chuckled, the tone sounding more eerie than anything else. He turned on his heel, opening the door to confront the ward of flashes, Win hurrying behind him.
                          
"I didn't mean for that to happen." Cara let out underneath a breath, watching apprehensively as the door shut, separating the two from her.
                          
ooOOoo
                          
"Bright please, you know that wasn't what I meant. "  Win tried through a forced smile, to a much older women that seemed to be gazing at him from across the room all too fondly.
                          
Bright flicked him off with a nudge of his shoulder ambling towards the darned women that put them in this situation to begin with.
                          
"Mrs Gorinna!" Bright cooed fondly. 
                          
"How delightful, the men of the hour have finally arrived." She leaned in, planting a kiss on their cheeks before backing away.
                          
"Your beauty is as enchanting as they say." 
                          
"Oh stop it, you flatter me!" Gorinna chuckled, covering her grin with the palm of her hand.
                          
"And you dear, you're quite a handsome fellow, aren't you?"
                          
" I wouldn't even compare to your allure mam." Win smiled, gesturing towards her elegant form.
"You boys sure have a way with words don't you." She sings in approval.
"Well off you go now, everyone has been waiting for your arrival. Don't let me hold you back!"
Win can almost see Bright fist pumping the air at her  dismissal.
The boys nod in unison before wondering off to some unattended table.
                          
"Fuck, I wanna go home!"  Bright grumbled, pouring them both a glass of wine.
                          
Win feeling restless, immediately reached out for the drink, albeit his arm was held just short from coming in contact with the glass.
                          
Bright leaned forward, close enough for Win to observe each delicate curl of his lashes.
                          
Bright tsked him whilst shaking his head, almost as if amused. "We wouldn't want you getting intoxicated would we?" Bright trailed his free hand down the boy's blouse, stopping short of the hem of his belt, before curving the corner of his lip. He leaned in, lips grazing the shell of his ear "You know I don't like it when you whore around." Win swallowed hard, placing his hand above Bright's as if for security.
                          
"Ahem." Win immediately detached himself from the boy, gritting his teeth at the unbothered chuckle the boy released behind him.
                          
He turned his head, focusing his attention to the girl before him.
Straightened hair, lash extensions, well manicured nails...great the princess has arrived.
                          
"Bright!" She exclaimed in a grating tone, ambling towards the boy with open arms.
Bright snarled openly, pushing her away.
"Achara, it's fucking 50 degrees for Christ's sake." 
She gave him a once over, before moving her scrutinising glare to the boy beside him.
                          
"Why'd you hug him then!" Her forehead creased, clearly miffed by the unfair treatment.
                          
"Oh he just had something to say that's why-" Win interjected, Bright shook his head, giving the boy a dirty look.
"Because I fucking felt like it, what's the problem? I wasn't feeling hot then, but I sure am burning now."
                          
Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears, as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You always do this to me, I try so hard for you but you never return the effort." She points an accusatory finger on his chest.
"No'one asked you to do shit, the fuck? It's not my problem you're all caught up in this fan behaviour-"
                          
Win took small steps backwards, before retreating quietly.  To be entirely fair, he just couldn't deal with being present while the fatuous argument took place. If Bright would berate him afterwards for his escape, than so be it. He was willing to risk it all of it meant missing out on the opportunity to witness Devine's hundred dollar mascara running down her face.
                          
While on his walk to who knows where, he allows himself to revel in his time alone, which seemed like an almost unprecedented occurrence nowadays. It was also a good opportunity to come to his senses since he hadn't entirely regained his composure from whatever the hell Bright was doing before.
                          
"Win...hey." He looked up, feeling an almost compelling sense of urgency to get away.
"No, please don't go!" He grabbed onto Win's shoulder, the familiar gesture sending an unsettling shiver down his spine.
                          
"Did I do something wrong?" He pressed his lips together.
"Elijah it's not that you did anything wrong-" Elijah's  lips suddenly pulled back into a snarl, realisation crossing his features.
"It's because of what happened that day, isn't it?!You're really going to blame me, when he was the one who attacked me for no reason. I didn't even fight back Win,not to mention sue the guy, look at the damage he did to my body!" He unbuttoned the middle of his blouse, just enough to reveal his bandaged wound. " I'm the victim here!" His tone grew harsh, Win backed away slightly at the hostility of it. 
                          
A fervour sense of guilt overwhelmed him. Elijah hadn't done anything wrong, his actions were done with pure intent, it was his own fault for failing to acknowledge how it may be perceived by others. He hadn't reported the incident either, which in itself shows how forgiving and understanding he was of the situation.
"I know, I'm sorry. You really didn't do anything wrong. I just...I just didn't want Bright to see us together, that's all." The taller boy's mouth twitched as he stiffened.
"It's true then I suppose." He asked, though it sounded more like a statement than anything.
All Win could do was nod his assent, refusing to make eye contact with the boy.
Elijah neared, his fingers as as gentle as feathers on his arms.
"Win I know we haven't known eachother for long but...he isn't good for you, he's violent and not to mention-"
                          
"Elijah, I'm giving you 5 seconds to take your hand off of him before I fucking break it!"