as if nothing happened.
That’s the thing about Silver. Her happiness is visible to the entire world through her social media and her hashtags, but her misery is only for herself.
And me.
There’s always me.
It’s not Aiden whom she comes back to for more. It’s not Aiden that she’d demand a redo with. It’s me.
Always me.
Silver never gives up. Never.
You can bury her under ten metres of dirt and she’ll dig her way out and demand a rematch.
Her phone dings and she pulls it out to stare at the text. I lean on my hand, pretending to watch the TV or Ronan and Xander’s show. In reality, I’m only watching her. The slight parting of her lips, the way her shoulders tighten a little before she throws the phone back in her pocket and feigns interest in whatever Aiden is telling her.
She’s agitated. No. Not just agitated. She’s scared.
Usually, it’s something to do with her mother’s well-being, but lately, she’s been disappearing without a word and spending less time with Mum.
In the beginning, Silver did her best to resist her dad’s relationship with Mum, but it only took her a talk with them during the first introductory dinner to change her mind.
I went to the restroom and when I came back, I overheard her tell them she’s happy they get their second chance and that she’d secretly planned for this and she’ll do her best to help out in anything.
Secretly planned for it. Which means she wanted it.
After that, she did as promised. Silver became their perfect daughter. Her only problem is me. She can’t feign getting along with me when she constantly, without fail, tells me she hates me every day. It’s her mantra.
Mum told me not to be mean to her, but that’s the thing, I’m not. At least, not in front of them. So they always think the problem is with Silver, and the reason she won’t get along with me is her secretive way to resist their relationship. Her frustration and inability to tell people I’m actually mean and have them believe it gets her more riled up against me.
Did I mention that I like creeping under her skin? It’s the only time when she’s not putting on a façade and letting out her genuine emotions. It’s just anger, but it still counts.
The change in her patterns lately hasn’t escaped me. She lets her father’s driver pick her up early. She doesn’t go out late and she’s been having that expression when reading her messages sometimes.
It’s hardly noticeable since she’s mastered hiding her reactions.
Aiden sure as hell doesn’t pick up on it — or care enough to.
He fucks girls he literally doesn’t remember the names of. She’s aware of this. She caught them once, but she just threw his jacket at him and told him they had a fundraiser to attend.
Aiden is nowhere near her ideal. I know because she writes about that in her journal.
And yes, I read her journal whenever Sebastian invites us to dinners at his place.
Surprisingly, she doesn’t write much about me except. I hate him. I wish he wasn’t Helen’s son.
That makes two of us.
She calls Aiden a pig and says how much she can’t stand him on almost every page, but she’s still with him anyway.
The other time, I told him I’ll accept all his challenges if he breaks off the engagement with Silver.
“It’s not a child’s play, Nash,” he said. “Jonathan won’t let me.”
“You want me to believe you’re afraid of your dad?”
“No, but I know how to pick my battles with him.” He grinned. “Why, Nash? Are you finally admitting your black heart actually has a spot for another human being?”
When I said nothing, he continued, “Or are you being a doting older brother who’ll come at me with an axe if I hurt his sister?”
She’s not my sister.
But I didn’t say that so he wouldn’t latch onto it and perhaps even tell her. I’ve been using that taunt to make her go crazy.
Mum and Sebastian are still dating, and considering the latter’s commitments and Mum’s writing schedule, I say they’ll break it off soon.
They care about their respective careers more than emotional balance — especially Sebastian.
Since he’ll undergo important general elections soon, I have no doubt that both of them will call it quits. Mum doesn’t like the flashing of cameras and attention, and she won’t let them label her a politician’s wife. Now that they’ve had their adventure, each will go back to their respective world.
And that’s when