Something to get used to
Luke came by himself to invite her to dinner. "Tori, it's dinner time. You haven't eaten all day, I'm sure you're hungry."
"Wrong, I'm not. Just leave me be." That was obviously a lie. Regardless of her curves and beauty, she was skinny and did not look well taken care of. But she'd rather be stubborn than listen to him. He sighed and asked a maid to bring food to her room and make sure she ate it all. He also said to add a sweet dessert, because surprisingly, she had quite a sweet tooth. "Oh, and don't tell her I told you to bring it, just say it's protocol or something."
The meal was nice and warm, just like the bed. The thing is, she barely ever slept at night. The moment her head landed on her pillow, her mind would go hyperactive, and her chronic overthinking would kick in. Everything from skepticizing every encounter to thinking about the pain of reality. She couldn't even sleep at night if she tried. That warm, cozy bed still felt cold and empty to her, like everything else did.
The next day, Historiah practically dragged herself to school. Well, more like Luke practically dragged her in. She walked into the hallway, Luke beside her. She was dressed casually in a blue cropped hoodie and a pair of cargos with her hair in a messy bun and yet, it looked like runway models walking in for a photoshoot. "Everybody always stares at you, I even hear them call you the dark goddess!" Luke snickered. "What kind of dumbass name even is that? Yet they ask me why I hate school." She sighs, rubbing her temples.
"You hate everything." He replied. "What's so bad about being a goddess? It means they all know that you're really pretty."
"Yeah." She sighed out of her nose and mumbled, " 'pretty' is all that I am."
"My, me. Historiah actually has a two-day attendance streak!" Rachel taunted.
Does she even think she's funny?
Historiah shrugged and walked past her, completely ignoring her. That struck a nerve. Historiah walked to the back seat in the corner as usual and started looking at some memes. She loved memes. Especially dark humour videos on Instagram.
Rachel walked up to her and spat, "I don't know who you think you are just because you're all buddy-buddy with the governor's daughter. The truth is, you're still just the same old helpless witch you've always been."
"What do you think this is, a teen movie for thirteen-year-old girls?" She asked lethargically. Rachel was irritated even more. "Why do you-"
"Look, Riley, or whatever your name is, I have neither the time nor the energy to deal with all of your shit. The truth is nobody gives a damn about you anymore, and it kills you inside, so you try to make scenes like this for attention. Call me a witch or whatever you like, I don't care. But push me to the end of the rope, and you'll watch me become the villain that you seem to be desperately looking for. You'll wish I was just your worst nightmare. And all you will be able to do is watch it all happen. So, take a hint," She smiled cynically, "And go to hell." Rachel was terrified by the level of destruction masked by that calm, yet sinister voice of hers. The dead, shrewd look in her siren eyes almost held a bit of bloodlust. Rachel was shaken. The teacher walked in and greeted the class. "Good morning students, please take your seats."
Even Luke felt chills run down as she spoke. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."
"You already did. A long time ago."
"So, I'm safe then?"
"I'd simply advise you to sleep with your door locked at night."
Luke laughed and had a little flashback of when he was being assigned to Historiah in the patient affairs room in the HSA. It was barely 16 degrees Celsius with the sheer number of ACs cooling the room, yet everyone was sweating. "Mrs. King, we understand that you have been Ms. Kurrusso's personal therapist for quite a number of years now, but are you sure that a teenager such as Luke can handle her?" A skinny, middle-aged man with a receding hairline and worry written all over his face asked her. "He's only 18."
"I agree. That of Historiah Kurrusso is quite the sensitive case. I'm not sure if…" A lady tried to speak. Mrs. King sighed. "I know why you are all concerned, and I appreciate it. But I know exactly why I want Luke to be her ESP. I typically don't make decisions over patients alone, but I need you all to trust me in this." Everyone looked at each other, some with still unsure glances and some with a bit of understanding. Sociopathy, depression and walls of trauma isn't exactly easy to conquer. Then finally, Dr. Plum, the head of the patient affairs department, spoke up. "Without a doubt, Mrs. King is one of the most exceptional psychologists we have had the luxury of calling a member of this establishment. And no one can deny that she has been a standing mother figure to that girl for quite the number of years now. I believe if she says something will benefit young Historiah, then it will." He then turned to Luke, giving him a little smile of reassurance. "I trust that you will handle this situation shrewdly and give us dazzling results in the end. Do not let us down."
"I promise not to sir." Luke shook his hand.
"Good luck." The skinny man smiled nervously, "You're going to need it." It made everyone laugh a bit. "Not only that, but you're also going to need someone praying wholeheartedly for you!" The mood lit up as everyone laughed and agreed. Surely, he did need it.
Before you knew it, it was lunch time. "You're not going to the cafeteria?" Luke asked. "No." she murmured icily.
"Why?"
"The food tastes like cement."
"You're such a child." She looked at him from the corner of her eye and put her head back on her desk. "I had the chefs pack a lunchbox for you."
"You eat it then."
"You do realize that you need food, don't you?" He acted like he didn't know that she ate dinner last night. "I need sleep more, yet you dragged me to this place."
"Tori!!!!" Someone squealed from a distance, yet it could be mistaken for a siren. They both turned towards the door in shock. It was Ivy, her best friend.
"I didn't see you at the cafeteria, so I came here, and I knew it was the right call! This dude is trying to hit on you!" She ran towards her. "I'm not hitting on her," Luke protested calmly. "I'm her-"
"He totally is, Ivy! He's been stalking me and won't leave me alone! He even forced me to go to his house yesterday!" Tori pretended to be helpless.
"What!? I'm calling the police right now! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" Ivy's expression changed completely. She looked terrified and appalled.
"What?! No! I'd never do that!" He denies.
"So, you haven't been following her around?" She raises an eyebrow, taking a step back.
"Well, I have, but-"
"And you didn't take her to your house?"
"I did, but that's-"
"You dirty scumbag!!" She screamed.
A complaint from a governor's child won't be taken lightly in the police station, and If I can get Ivy to say the right things, I can get rid of this creep once and for all. Then the HSA will think twice before assigning me a new ESP. If I can shed a few tears and claim to be traumatized, it'll all work out. Historiah grinned cynically and walked closer to Ivy. Putting her hand on her shoulder she whispered, "He isn't actually stalking me, Ivy."
"Really? Are you sure you aren't being threatened by him?"
"Yes, unfortunately, he's from the HSA. I'm staying with him because my house isn't fit to live in right now."
"Is that it? Why couldn't you stay with me then? We're a big family, but we still have plenty of room."
"I don't know, it's just protocol. So, calm down." Ivy was silent. It was the first time in years Historiah had ever seen her so scared.
"Thanks for clearing up the misunderstanding." He breathes.
"Don't think I did it for you." But if I didn't do it for him, why did I? I could've been free from this idiot, so why did I change my mind?
"Anyway, have you had lunch, Tori?" Ivy asked.
"Well, I.."
"No, she is refusing to eat anything." Luke cut in, pointing at the bento.
"We can't have that, now, can we?" Ivy smiled mischievously. She pulled her to a seat, sat next to her and scooped up a spoon of mash potatoes and said sweetly, "Say ahhh!"
"I should've let you go to jail." Tori stared at Luke. He laughed. It seems there really is someone Tori can't say no to.
At the end of the day, Luke and Historiah were driving home. "Ivy. She's your best friend, right?"
"What's it to you?"
"Nothing, she just looks really familiar. Like someone I used to know."
"Well, she's an influencer after all."
"No, not it's that. Anyway, you must care for her a lot, don't you? I didn't even know you had that side to you."
"Regardless of how much you have learned about me, it seems there's some things that you don't."
Luke was silent. It was confusing whether it was in agreement or not.
"But if you do know so much about me, why not come out and say something?! Why not ask about it? You knew very well that Ivy was my best friend before today, yet you asked. You asked like you don't know me at all! Is that just you being self-righteous or your way of showing me pity?!"
"No, it isn't!" He spoke through gritted teeth. "I act like I know nothing about you because I don't! So, what if I know what happened in your past, I know your address and hobbies, all of that is completely useless if you don't let me in to know who you really are! Knowing what went wrong with you is useless if I don't know exactly how you felt when all that happened. I can't learn that from a file or some pictures, Tori!" The car was silent for a while. They reached the villa, and he parked it. "I know who Historiah Kurrusso is. But I don't have a clue about you, Tori." He looked in her emerald eyes and she looked back in his midnight blues.
Green. So breathtakingly green. Like a forest I could get lost in. Like a sacred, ethereal temple covered in delicate vines.
Poisonous vines.
"This isn't a romance novel, I'm not going to kiss you." She blurted out, aloof and stoic. He laughed and laughed. "I wasn't even expecting you to." They left the car and went inside. Sinclair greeted them. "Miss Kurrusso, your permanent room is ready, let me take you to see it." He led her to a room upstairs and opened the door. It was painted cream and burgundy, well furnished with a reading table, dresser, bean bag and other articles asides the bed. The carpet in the centre was so soft, she couldn't judge which was softer between it and the bed. It also had a window nook, decorated with pillows and plushies.
The perfect spot to watch the rain fall.
"We modelled the room based on master Luke's recommendations, I hope it is to your liking. If there's absolutely anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask." He closed the door gently behind him.
"What an absolutely stunning room." She thinks out loud.
She looked at the big "H" decoration on the wall next to her closet. On opening it, she was surprised at how fully stocked it was with different outfits. It was definitely Mrs. King's recommendations they got for this one.
"How on earth did they do all this in one day? I guess money really does move mountains."
She lays down in the soft, bouncy, warm bed.
I could get used to this.