4Author Note: This is just a little thing I wrote on spur of the moment about a year ago and have just found again. Now I'm inspired to write more even though I know I really should be revising or writing for 'My Soul Reaper', but I just love this piece! Will hopefully become a good story so hope you like it!
Additional: Apologies for any formatting. FP is still only previewing my uploads in HTML which I CAN'T READ! AGH frustrating! :P
Rated M for some language later, adult themes, sexual content, rape…
The fireworks were dazzling and mesmerising, holding captive the audience of students, faculty and parents that sat on the grassy lawns outside the window. They 'oo'ed and 'ah'ed and gasped as the multicolour spirits of light chased each other and fanned out across the inky black sky. However one person was not enjoying the sight.
Archer stood half hidden in darkness, veiled in the curtain's folds looking out at the world as he always had. He always viewed, never experienced the simple joys that everyone else took for granted. His face was momentarily illuminated as another golden rocket detonated above him, but he barely registered the explosion that reverberated inside his chest. Only one explosion had ever shook him and she was currently far below amidst friends, in the arms of a man that wasn't him. Now he was too numb to feel anything much, except self pity and longing. He wanted so much to go to her, to have her warm, soft body flush with his, to run his fingers through her hair and inhale her sweet intoxicating scent that set his entire body ablaze.
He wanted to kiss her, to explore her body with his hands, to have her hold him in return; he wanted her to want him, to press herself to him to feel his heartbeat like she had long ago. But now she was gone and even though he had done what he thought was right it didn't make it easier to let her go, didn't make it fair, didn't make it less painful.
Still gazing out at the revellers he took another long swig of whisky from the bottle; the crystal glass he had abandoned a good half hour ago was sitting on his student president's desk. The momentary burning ache the alcohol provided soothed as best it could but in the end the numbing effect was only temporary, the stings and aches always returned.
From what seemed like miles away came the sound of a door swinging open and shut. Forcing himself out of once happy memories that now haunted his life, of afternoons spent in the distant corners of the grounds, Archer pulled himself back to the student council office.
He mentally groaned as he saw who it was.
"Haven't you had enough yet?" he asked.
"I have no idea what your talking about." said Lydia, strolling over to the desk and sitting on it innocently.
How had he ever thought her voice sweet? Now the only thing the sound gave him was a shiver up his spine. Turning back to the window so he didn't have to look at her he replied.
"Haven't you had enough of torturing me?"
"Oh that." Lydia exclaimed as though it was a subject of no real importance.
Don't act like that you self obsessed bitch; you've been enjoying this from the start.
"No. And who says I'm torturing you?"
"Me. Why did you have to come onto me so strong right in front of her? It was cruel and unnecessary."
"Oh don't be like that. There was a time you enjoyed all my attentions."
Archer had to work hard not to cringe at her inference. Indeed there had been a time, when they had first started going out, when he had enjoyed being with her, kissing her, holding her. Back then she had seemed so sweet and innocent and pure; but time is a great revealer if nothing else.
"That was a long time ago."
"Perhaps, however all good things come to those who wait."
Yes but I'll have a threesome with James and Elliot before I enjoy your company again. But then he remembered James and Elliot were both refusing to talk to him.
"Are you drunk?" she asked suddenly, noticing the bottle in his hand.
"Oh not as half as much as I would like to be, there's still a chance I'll remember this in the morning; but that is a problem I'm soon going to rectify."
Again Archer took a swig from the bottle, until it was wrenched from his slackening grip by a pair of small well manicured hands.
"Stop that, you'll do yourself harm."
God I hope so.
Then once more Archer found himself looking, not at Lydia but at Carly; dull brown eyes fading to clearest blue, like Caribbean sand under shallow water. He didn't know why but every girl he saw these days reminded him in some way of Carly.
He remembered how she'd said the exact same thing once, and how much it had touched him that she cared; but now his heart was stone cold and all feeling Lydia's words may have once provoked were gone.
"Where did you find this bottle anyway?" asked Lydia, draining the last few mouthfuls before dropping it on the long leather sofa that faced the window Archer stood by.
"Doctor Harrison's desk. That man has kept a couple of bottles handy since my dad came to school here."
Lydia laughed dryly.
"Good to know."
Then they both stopped as music began drifting up from the party below. It was a cover of Lifehouse's 'You and me' and the dance floor was filled with couples. From their lofty position they could see that revolving slowly in the centre of the throng was Lysander and Carly. Dimly illuminated as they were by the paper lanterns hung on lines all around, it was still obvious they were locked in a close embrace.
Archer felt a soft touch on his cheek as a tick began in his jaw at the sight.
"Well looks like she moved on pretty quickly, maybe she didn't like you as much as you thought."
'Maybe she didn't like you as much as you thought'?
Suddenly the ache returned to Archer's chest, so hard and fast it made him want to double over.
Maybe I didn't mean as much to her as she meant to me. he thought, and a little part of him died at the sight of the couple.
"Why can't you just forget about her? She's obviously forgotten about you, so why keep living in the past? It's over now but I still want you."
Absentmindedly Lydia began twirling a strand of his hair around her finger while she leaned into his chest, looking up at his face attentively.
"You know, you were the greatest lover I ever had."
"Pity, I wish I could say the same for you Lydia." retorted Archer flatly.
"Oh yeah?" Lydia smirked sarcastically, pulling his hair sharply as she withdrew her hand and turning her back to the window.
"I'm sure that whore had plenty of experience; bet she was the best whore you've ever…"
In a flash of anger Archer had strode across the room and before he could stop himself had spun Lydia to face him and backhanded her across the face. Lydia yelled and staggered backwards from the force of it towards one of the tall filing cabinets against which Archer pinned her.
"Don't you dare call her a whore!" he yelled his face an inch from hers. Every modicum of sense telling him he would regret this, but the alcohol kept egging him on. He turned his mouth into a snarl that succeeded in making Lydia's eyes widen in fear. He could do her a lot of harm in this state and they both knew it.
"I put up with you as long as I have to in order to keep her safe but remember I'm only doing this for her, so don't you dare badmouth her or assume I still have any feeling of affection towards you. She is a thousand times better then you and if it wasn't for that deal I'd be the one down there with her, not Lysander."
He released her, letting her run across the room to the door, tears in her eyes.
He paid her little attention as he strode to the desk and fished out the other bottle he'd stolen. Suddenly he hated himself for hurting her. If he had been clear headed he would never have done it. Abruptly he reprimanded himself for his pity and remorse- she deserved none.
He raised the bottle to his lips before realising there was a clacking coming from the door. Turing on his heels he saw Lydia was still in the room with her back to him, and there was some kind of artificial light illuminating her black curls and pale blue dress.
"What are you doing?" he asked, putting down the bottle.
"I'm Facebooking everyone the truth about Carly."
Dread flooded him as he hurried across the room and tried to win the phone from her.
"Don't you dare, we had an agreement!"
"And do you think I'm going to keep to it while you manhandle me? Dream on."
Releasing her in an act of good will he stood back hands raised to shoulder height.
"Please, don't." he whispered and Lydia was pleased to hear the panicked, pleading note in his voice.
Whipping around she held the Blackberry in one hand, her thumb hovering threateningly over the 'send' button.
"And what will you give me in return for not sending it?"
Closing his eyes and lowering his hands he sighed. There was always a price with Lydia.
"What do you want that you don't already have?" he moaned.
"You."
If he wasn't so depressed Archer would have laughed.
"You already have me." he reminded her dejectedly.
"No, I want the you that Carly had. Before you met her you would do anything I asked without question. That was a condition of the original agreement, but the amendment I'm making now is that you have to act the way you did around Carly with me."
It was as though a shockwave had just hit him full on in the chest. He couldn't do it.
"Lydia I'll do anything, but I can't… you know I can't do that."
"Then forget it, I'll just destroy her like I first intended to."
"No, please Lydia. I'm a good actor but I'm not that good, I can't fake lo…" but he stopped as he realised what he had just admitted.
"What was that? Were you going to say love? Give me a break; I couldn't care less about who you or anyone else loves, I just want you to look happy and smile, instead of being a moody downer all the time. I want you to marry me like we planned. I want you to merge our companies so we can become two of the most powerful people on the planet. What you feel for me is your own business, all that matters is what other people see and think. And if they think we're the perfect, happy, idol couple then that's enough for me."
Archer's head was blanking; he couldn't see a way out of this. There was no point in trying to arrange a compromise; Lydia didn't compromise, you did as she wanted- end of story. There was nothing for it, he had to at least try and give her what she wanted.
"Fine, whatever you want; just hold up your end of the deal."
"Yes, yes. As agreed the little whor…"
Archer looked up at her sharply with the feral look of a pet ready to pounce on an abusive owner. Lydia corrected herself hurriedly. She knew she had to tread carefully; one wrong word and he may start dealing blows again.
"The little girl's identity along with the pictures will remain a secret. I do nothing more to make her miserable but only as long as you stay away from her, keep the deal secret and do anything and everything I tell you to do, without question. Agreed? Good, now beg."
His brows contracted as he gave her a severe expression. All Lydia did was smirk.
"You heard me. You didn't think I was going to let you off that easily. If my cheek or back bruise because of you I might forget our little secrets. So get down and beg for my forgiveness."
There was a long moment of silence between them, punctuated only by the faint drone of music from below. Then Archer folded.
Closing his eyes he lowered himself to his knees. He had no choice and at that moment he wanted nothing more then to die. He had lost everything, had suffered for a girl who would never know it, and now Lydia was going to make him beg for more.
How did you end up here? he asked himself.
Lydia was delighted. She had always wanted a man at her feet, with complete control over him. It was liberating and empowering at the same time. Viciously she used the toe of her blue Gucci heels to press Archer's head to the floor. She had no mercy for him, for he had had none for her.
"Beg." she ordered. "Say 'Please forgive me.' sweetheart. Say it or who knows what will end up plastered all over the internet?"
There was another long pause in which Lydia wondered if she had actually broken him or not.
"Please, forgive me." answered Archer.
"Again." she ordered gleefully at her success.
"Please, forgive me." he answered again.
Little did Lydia realise that under the long blonde fringe Archer was speaking to Carly, begging and in his head to forgive what he was doing.
"Again." she ordered.
"Please," Carly. I'm sorry; I never meant to hurt you. "Forgive me." Everything I'm doing now is to keep you happy. I'll endure this for you so please don't hate me forever.
Tears began to cloud his vision then, and it was a good thing that the room wasn't lit and the sky outside was now black. So when Lydia ordered him to rise she couldn't see his face clearly.
"That will do. Now make me feel good."
And with that she walked over to the desk with a gait that was evidently supposed to excite but instead brought a bitter taste to Archer's lips. Climbing up onto the polished wooden surface Lydia kicked off her heels, unhooked the halter fastening at the base of her neck then beckoned to Archer with one long finger.
Suppressing a grimace Archer did as he was told and approached, stripping off his jacket and discarding it onto the couch as he walked.
Just a few hours. That was all he had to endure, just a few hours and he could spend two weeks vacation with his family and perhaps forget for a bit.
As always he slid his hand around Lydia's waist and began unzipping her dress as she attacked and began kissing him fiercely, needily. He put in as little passion as he could get away with while Lydia unbuttoned his shirt before moving to his belt. Archer had a feeling that even if he had protection to hand he wouldn't need it. Road kill was more likely to gain sexual pleasure when confronted with a four tonne truck then he was about to get from fucking Lydia.