reverie. ♡

             '   can’t seem to escape ? … you know you don’t have to watch them , right ?   '   she knows him better than most , all of the quirks & actions he displays in front of everyone meaning something almost entirely different to her . in fact , she values their friendship more than she cares to admit , however in that very moment , she wants nothing more than to simply disappear .   '   trust me , you don’t want to hear about it .   '   rather than clarifying , she begins to walk again , only continuing to speak when she hears his steps following closely behind hers .   '   it’s just … boring stuff .   '    mentioning the conversation she had with julius minutes prior never crossed her mind . not because dahlia wanted to keep the information from xavier , but because every time she speaks of him , the chat between the two of them becomes stalled , almost uncomfortable , & it’s something she’d rather avoid if possible . she sighs before abruptly slowing her pace to a halt . maybe doing exactly what he wanted would be enough to shift the conversation to anything , everything else .   '   fine . tell me about the rumors … i’m interested .   ’

             she's unable to take her gaze off of him , blown pupils almost infatuated with every movement , touch he had to offer her . a part of her knew it was because of the substance they had both just partaken in , but it doesn't stop the almost playful hum to fall from her lips as his touch barely shifts against the exposed skin of her waist .   '   exactly . . .   '   she starts , rolling her head back for a moment to simply maintain a grasp of her bearings . her posture straightens before speaking again ,   '   friendly competition , mon amour  --  .   '   vera doesn't feel the need to further explain as this back & forth is a game they play quite often . whoever takes home the most being the so - called winner & allowed anything they want in return . however even she would never admit she's let him win on more than one occasion for that very reason .   '   except this time , the winner doesn't just get to pick tonight ,   '   she pauses before placing a soft kiss against his jawline ,   '   they get tomorrow ,   '   another kiss ,   '   & the day after ,   '   another ,   '   & the day after that .   '  

             '   at the time …   '   she practically laughs at the sentiment , head rolling back as the reaction passes through her chest . she knows the exact game he is trying to play with her , all done to garner a response to further her embarrassment . she believes to know better now , but even she can be proven otherwise .   '   maybe that's because i'm good at holding my tongue .   '   every part of her wants to move on , forget the feeling of degradation which loomed over her in the very moment he made her out to be a fool . but if only it had been so simple . with their social circles , forgiving & forgetting never seemed to be the option most commonly chosen .   '   fantastic . are we done here ? or are you going to give me another recommendation on how you live your life ?   '   jaw clenches then , head shaking as a very menial attempt to maintain an already dwindling composure .   '   you know what i think you can improve on ?   '   she starts , offering a laugh mirroring his from a moment prior ,   '   for you to learn . . . how to leave me the fuck alone .   '   her gaze stays fixated , lips curling into a faux - saccharine fueled smile ,   '   LOVE .   '

             she has always considered herself to be patient , never one to play or show her cards too quickly . never one to give other’s the satisfaction of a job well done until she came to be sure that the words would benefit her most . in fact , she never enjoyed things that came too easily – . & even now , with all impulses pushing her forward to satiate her ever - growing desire , she forces herself to ignore the warmth growing within her chest , a quickening heartbeat , stalled breath  …  all because of her crippling obsession with pride . -- her family's crippling obsession with pride , that is . one of which she adopted with a force greater than they initially intended .   '   tell me in your own words .   '   the command drops from lips in a soft drawl , yet its tone maintains enough edge to assert her dominance over him . she almost regrets how her control over him , his family , escalated into her satiation of a want ; how a situation of her display of power quickly turned into a back & forth of attraction . almost .   '   what do i deserve ?   '   the flicker within her gaze is almost wicked as patience runs entirely too thin . she inhales deeply when he leans in , stilling her body for a single moment before the hand on his shoulder pushes him a single step back . her hand now rises to slide up the slope of his neck , fingers tangling themselves into raven locks . another pause , & her hold tightens , pulling his hair just enough for his eyes to meet hers .   ‘   if you’re so giving … give me exactly what i deserve .   ’

              '   i’m never cheap ,   '   she huffs , a soft pout taking over her features . her already inebriated condition forces a hum as his hand meets blushed cheeks , almost desperate for any bouts of affection he would come to offer .   '   & i don’t like sharing what’s mine .   '   the statement offers a clear double - meaning , leaning into his touch slightly as a means of reassurance . she can’t explain it , the warmth within her chest that seemingly grows with every moment the two of them spend together . yet she chooses to attribute the fact to her drunken haze . it only takes her a second to shift her posture , leaning down to finish the line he had started . a breathy cough passes through lips as the bitter taste only grows , & without pause , she inhales another line  –  enough to keep her satiated for the time being . vera shifts again , gaze meeting his with a flicker of roguishness .   '   let's make tonight more fun . . .   '   she begins , only trailing off . it's her very nature to bend the rules to fit her own set of principles , press people just far enough to ensure the outcome of their so - called endeavors would match the expectations she has set for herself . the fact made her unpredictable -- to most . she takes a step forward before speaking again , arms raising from her sides for hands to clasp around the back of his neck .   '   hm ?   '

               she's known him since they were children , growing up with the same set of morals & instructions towards obedience , power , pride , all with the common goal to mediate a potential threat & grow their already flowered egos . however , even after so many years , octavia has never seen him so willing to give . so willing to protect himself & his family that it draws an open - mouthed beam .   '   i've never seen you like this ,   '   she muses , every glance thrown in his direction offered with a flicker of cruel intention . it's quite obvious how her demeanor shifts as his tone weakens , knowing full well that her blatant threats left him in a place of desperation . a part of her takes pleasure in the control she has over him , but another questions just how far she can press until julius is nothing less than malleable , every word spoken to please her whims .   '   what are you willing to do ?   '   barely a murmur , unsure if he even heard the question despite their close vicinity . tone is considerably softer to her previous words , yet still offering no room for him to gain the upper hand .   '   almost . . . i don't know if almost is enough .   '   palm squeezes atop his shoulder , gently , yet with more force than before .   '   your family isn't subtle ,   '   her grip tightens again , an attempt to maintain a metaphorical hold of the situation .   '   tell me then ,  --  i'm known to be giving .   '

               the feelings she held towards him years prior were never truly allowed to disappear , with a reminder of her foolishness plaguing the halls of their university every given hour . but it would take far more than a slight vexation for her to come to admission , as far as she was concerned .   '   oh , my apologies . what would you like me to do instead ? because i like to think my reactions are appropriate considering ,   '   eyes roll , & the grasp against books only tightens with every passing moment . it irritated her just how easily he was able to maintain such a vice grip on her emotions ,  -  both then & now .   '   so have i … i’m sorry to disappoint you .   '   it takes every remaining ounce of will - power from walking away then , however the mere idea of giving him the slightest satisfaction , control , forced an obviously fabricated beam to form atop pained lips .   '   you’ve always been fond of them , haven’t you ? from what i remember . --  am i supposed to assume you're suddenly different ? a better person ?   '   dahlia pauses , taking a small step towards him . a part of her wishes to say more , truly break him down to everything she believes him to deserve . but rather she continues to test the waters , see the reaction her accusations seem to garner .   '   am i ?   '

               slim fingers wrap around a glass cup with a weakened grip , gaze unmoving from the door of the restroom they've occupied . call it inane , but a part of her wishes to be caught . for someone to walk in on them with fingers covered in white powder , hundred - dollar bills littering the floor near an emptied crystal tube on a dirtied counter . the very thought of uncertainty excites her , & she may be able to attribute it to the already subtle drunkenness or her nature of over - defiance ,  -  the almost soft laugh passing through parted lips confirms that the answer is BOTH . head rolls back for a passing moment , finally shifting her gaze to meet his . features soften slightly as a single hand extends out in his direction ,   '   are you done ?   '   faux annoyance slips into her tone , setting the cup beside her in a manner of exaggeration .   '   or do i have to remind you that bill that's currently up your nose is mine ?   '   vera shrugs then , an aggrandized sigh huffing within her chest .   '   s'il te plaît bébé , i thought being greedy was my thing .   '

               '   i must be drunk because you're actually listening to me … are you okay ? have you felt sick recently ? oh my god , are you dying ?   '   she offers a breathy laugh , even though from experience she knows that her advice will be met with a false promise . she's used to it , probably more than she should be , yet it seems to be in both of their natures to do what wasn't the best for people around them .   '   i don’t know . you’re the first person i told but noah could have told anyone .   '   yet even she questions if he would go as far as to letting this information spread beyond his control . & telling anyone beyond their immediate circle would do just that . head shakes at the suspecting glance olivia passes in her direction , figuring that her denial from the moment prior almost fueled the exact confirmation the other woman had been looking for .   '   or maybe the source of their problems is that she's boring . . . & he's well  --  not ,   '   the sentence trails off as an amused scoff passes through stained lips .   '   are you kidding ? he was at their house two days later picking up wes for soccer practice . i don't think he gives a fuck , liv .   '   she raises the glass to eye level , staring through the red liquid ,   '   which i mean is kind of hot , but . . .   '

               she has never been able to perfect the art of masking emotions , every feeling of vexation , anger , uneasiness spread across features for those who even bothered to spare a glance to see . dahlia never considered it a flaw , no , but more so it made her ability to tell a realistic lie invariably thin . & normally she'd be more than happy to see him upon hearing his approach ( it's hard to miss ) , ecstatic even , but considering her rather foul mood it wouldn't seem to be the best for either of them .   '   i'm not in a rush ,   '   she counters , tone overcompensating for the very evident anxiety spread throughout her person . instead of attempting to feed him another lie , one that he will surely see through , she secedes . he knows her better than most , & she truly was not in the mood to be prodded about every detail in regards to her recent meeting with a certain someone she didn't want to give attention to .   '   i just had a meeting with a professor . didn't go as well as i thought it would .   '   not necessarily a lie , yet she still offers a soft smile in distraction .   '   of course i'm happy to see you . . . it's just a bad time .  --   nevermind . sorry . . . so , is that your way of inviting me to something or ?   '