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Cassius was now beginning to seem a lot looser and less uptight and James preferred him this way because he was FAR more interesting. Plus James could probably get him to talk about anything that he wanted to, though he wasnât entirely sure if there was anything that James was interested in other than his mouth. Though he hadnât been fully convinced at first that he wanted to sleep with Cassius, he was now completely sure of it because he could just tell that it was going to be good. As he stared at Cassius, he allowed another smirk to slip onto his lips except this one was softer and kinder. âI know youâre not going to tell anyone, babe. Youâre a good boy, I know. Youâve learned your lesson now and you wonât get involved in other peopleâs businesses anymore now, will you?â His thumb traced the sharp edge of Cassiusâ jaw and he moved in a little closer to him, if it were even possible to get closer to him right now. âNo, I wonât get pissed off. If you do everything I say then Iâll be very happy.â Right now, he was feeling too drunk and high to really do much other than obsess over Cassius. Heâd completed his mission and now he was just ready to get off.Â
His fingers traced up and down Cassiusâ arm as he stared at him, an eyebrow raising up at him. âLike what? I thought youâd want to be with me right now,â he said with a childish pout on his lips. âI want you right now, even if itâs just tonight. Youâre hot and Iâm hot and horny. It can just be a one time thing. Or I could just kick you out right now and find someone else, thereâs thousands of people in this city who would want to be in your place.â Before Cassius could say anything else, James moved so he could climb onto his lap, a leg straddling either side of him. âBut I donât think leaving is what you want right now, is it?â he whispered onto Cassiusâ ear. He liked being complimented and the smile on his lips showed that. Especially compliments on his beauty because he knew that was what got him what he wanted half of the time. Their faces were close enough right now and James was too impatient to hold onto the tension for any longer so he decided to close the gap between their lips and kissed him hard, moaning a little as he pulled closer to the other, his hands sliding up Cassiusâ cheeks so he could hold his face. âStop pretending you donât want me right now.âÂ
Except he probably would continue to get involved in other peopleâs business. It was how one found out about the world, and also how he would know more than everyone else. He kept his ears pricked and ready for gossip, just so he knew who to watch out for and who to trust. But for the moment, he wanted to make James happy. The feeling was new, he figured it was more whatever flowed through his system now than anything else. âI promise, Iâll be careful from now on,â he answered, his head tilting with the movement of Jamesâ thumb. âGood, I just want to make you happy.â Cassius was stubborn, which had been why heâd told himself several times that none of this was going to happen. Yet here he was, his shirt gone, his trousers tighter, his cheeks flushed, all on Jamesâ couch. Perhaps he had only told himself it wouldnât happen because he knew it would, which was embarrassing to say the least. âI do want you ...â The pouting worked on him, more than it should have. When James got in his lap, all he could do was grab onto his waist tightly. The idea of being kicked out made his heart sink, and the last thing he wanted right now was to feel down.
With James on top of him, he was forced to look up. His hands slid under Jamesâ shirt then over his sides, fingers tracing the skin carefully after having held him there so roughly. He swallowed as Jamesâ breath hit his ear and he shook his head slightly, afraid to speak. He could tell how much James liked being complimented, he filed that information away for later. As soon as their lips were pressed together, a switch flicked and his brain shut off. There was enough of a boost that Cassius could kiss him back and not feel shame. Once the kiss was broken, Cassiusâ bottom lip quivered slightly against Jamesâ and he took in a sharp breath. âI donât want you to find someone else,â he admitted. âI donât want to leave.â He placed an open palm on the small of Jamesâ back, as he leaned his lips toward Jamesâ ear in turn. âI think you are one of the most beautiful and dangerous people I have ever met. Which is a compliment and is also why I am so afraid of what you are making me feel.â For instance, he knew now what James was, and it wasnât even a turn off, if anything it made him want the man more. He darted forward, then, taking Jamesâ lips again, this time ensuring that there would be no reason for their lips to part.
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Learning things about Cassius like the fact that he liked cats wasnât a good thing because he didnât WANT to know anything about the man in front of him. He was supposed to be a stranger, just another body for him to discard when his use had been fulfilled. âI donât need anyone else but her. Sheâs all I need.â James shrugged as he looked at his cat. It wasnât even a lie, he didnât need anyone else but her because she was his entire world and the only person who loved him unconditionally and always wanted him around. Maybe most of that was self-caused but he also knew how much his parents hated him too. As he looked at Cassius, he could tell that he was getting drunk too and though he knew that it shouldnât have, it pleased him because at least he would be more malleable. Plus, the little added extra was also going to hit him hard soon enough. He took a sip from his drink, then paused, and grinned at Cassius. âGood. No straight people around here. That would please my parents far too much and we wouldnât want that, would we?â
Jamesâ lips parted as Cassius spoke and a small smirk slipped onto them before he moved forward and put a hand onto Cassiusâ cheek. âI donât do promises. And if I do, thereâs no guarantee I wonât break them. If you donât piss me off then this will stay between us, understood?â His voice had gone darker so Cassius would know that this was a real threat. Why should James care what happened to Cassius if he got himself mixed up in things because he couldnât mind his fucking business? All he had to do was sit there and be well-behaved and have a few drinks but he had to interfere. âAre you feeling a bit hot, babe? Let me help you with that.â He moved even closer and tugged off Cassiusâ shirt to completely expose his chest before trailing his fingers down to his waistband. âI didnât know what to expect from you tonight but so far, youâve exceeded all expectations.â His grin grew even bigger as his hands caressed Cassiusâ thighs. âWhy do you think I put anything in your drink? Maybe youâve just finally drank enough to get drunk.â
They clearly had something in common and Cassius wasnât sure what to do with the information. Both of them preferred animals over people. He frowned slightly, but then nodded to show he agreed. âYes, the unconditional love of a cat is much preferred to the judgement of others.â He was even more annoyed with being sat on this couch next to James, beginning to lose his sense of control. His lips felt slightly numb, and he reached up to touch at his lips before being blindsided by Jamesâ hand on his cheek. His gaze slowly turned toward him, and he stared. Something about Jamesâ low voice made goosebumps roll up the back of his neck. âI understand, I wasnât going to tell anyone I -,â he swallowed, âI donât really mind that you did what you did. I just mind that I was part of it without knowing.â What he wanted was protection from questioning. âIf I do what you say ... you wonât get pissed off?â He hated it, having to do whatever James wanted, but the part of his brain that was enjoying it was far more alert than usual at the moment.
Cassius was hot, it was like the whole room had been lit on fire. He barely even protested as his shirt was pulled away, teeth grazing over his bottom lip once he felt Jamesâ fingers over his skin. âI canât - we canât. Not when Iâm like this,â there was a protest still, especially as he couldnât even tell if James actually wanted him or if this was all some sick part of his game. Would Cassius be next? No, not if James wanted him as his alibi. âYou donât even actually want ME, I know that, you know that.â He reached out with a hand to place it on the nape of Jamesâ neck, trying to use him to sit up slightly as well. âI feel like ... I donât know what.â His gaze settled upon Jamesâ face again, and as he stared at him he wondered how he couldnât have noticed how beautiful he was before. It should have pissed him off, instead he just let out a soft laugh. âYouâre so fucking gorgeous, thatâs not fair.â He didnât think it before, he mustâve been high on something, but whatever it was began to lift him so high up that he didnât care anymore. His hand slid from Jamesâ nape to his cheek and he leaned forward, pressing their noses together. âNo ...â
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Right now, James couldnât really tell if Cassius absolutely despised him or was a little intrigued by him but really, he just didnât care. Especially because soon enough, Cassius would be all over him anyway. Heâd already had a few drinks and come back to his apartment â two things he said wouldnât be happening tonight, so it wouldnât exactly be difficult for James to get him to do anything else. Then the night would be over and James could get rid of Cassius and theyâd never have to see each other again outside of class. âYour abode could certainly use some freshening up,â he mocked in a childish voice before snorting. âI donât care. Itâs not like youâll ever have to come back here ever again after this.â James had been expecting Newtie to hiss at Cassius and run away, the way she usually did whenever she was introduced to new people but to his astonishment, she actually let Cassius PET her and he was pretty sure he could even hear her purring. âHave you got catnip hidden on you or something?â he asked suspiciously as he watched the two of them. A stupid part of him wanted to be annoyed with Newtie for sucking up to Cassius of all people. Usually he trusted her judgement but clearly today was an off day.Â
Jamesâ eyes remained on Cassius, staring at every inch of his body as he undid the top button of his shirt, evidently loosening up with everything James had thrown into his system. He shrugged off his leather jacket and tossed it over a chair before moving to sit on his couch, nodding at Cassius to follow him. âDoesnât bother me. As long as youâre not some asshole pretending to be straight and then fucking men in the dark like some dirty little secret. Might have to put you on my hitlist for that.â He smirked and lifted his glass to his lips. He was drinking much faster now but it wasnât as though it were anything new to him considering he could very much hold his alcohol well now. âSounds like your fucking problem. If you werenât so cocky and didnât go up to him then you wouldnât be in this mess, would you? If it counts for anything, Iâm not going to frame you for it unless you piss me off. Tonight youâll just have to be a good boy for me, wonât you?â There was a sickeningly sweet smile on his face as he could just sense that he held all the power in the room and it was a good feeling, even if that made him an asshole. âI didnât bring you to watch, I brought you as an alibi so I had a reason to be there. Not that anyone would dare question me. Itâll probably get blamed on one of his asshole friends.â Sometimes he planted poison on other people for fun but he hadnât bothered tonight because his focus was now on the man in front of him. âDid you enjoy figuring it out?â
Why was he here? Cassius didnât even need to go to the bar in the first place. He could have kept to himself and just lied and said he needed to do schoolwork, instead heâd gone. He was just curious about James and his lifestyle, a curiosity it seemed that could literally get him killed if he didnât stay vigilant. âRight, this is a one time thing ...â He responded because he hoped if he said it then it would be true. Newtie was a sweet cat and he was almost annoyed that someone like James got to have her. Did he even deserve companionship after taking another personâs life? âNo, I donât. She just LIKES me. Iâm good with cats, I want to have several, I just donât have the space or time for it right now.â The journey to the couch wound up making him realise just how drunk he was. As soon as he went to move, the world tilted slightly, and he had to force himself to stand up straighter, trying to get his eyes to stop rolling around. Carefully he sat down beside James, staring at the glass in his hand for a moment before finishing off the liquid inside it. He didnât have time to sit here and contemplate what he was doing anymore and this was the quickest way to get his brain to turn off. âI donât know what I am, but I at least know it isnât straight.â
Sexuality was something Cassius had not really explored like several other people, but he did know that he liked men at least. Sometimes he thought maybe he could like women or anything else in between. Honestly, his issue was more that he tended not to like people at all. âJames, seriously, I canât lose what I have going for me. You have to promise me that no one is going to find out it was you or that I was there,â for a moment he allowed himself to pull off that mask of annoyance and show what was actually there. His fear for the future. He was realising that he didnât even care about the murder part, he cared more that he had been involved. âOkay, if youâre sure thatâs whatâll happen,â he murmured, reaching forward to set his glass down on the coffee table. It was in this moment that he began to feel his pulse quickening, and he continued to feel heat rush through his body, like someone had turned the temperature all the way up. His cheeks were flushed now, and he couldnât help but reach to undo more buttons of his shirt, fully exposing his chest. âI donât -â He was about to say he didnât know if he liked figuring everything out, but as his gaze travelled back to Jamesâ, his jaw went loose. âYes, I like being right ... fuck, what did you just give me to drink?â Â
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People called James fucked up all the time but if only they knew HOW fucked up James was. In fact, Cassius was probably the first person to truly find out. Maybe his parents knew that their son was quite literally insane and maybe that was why they hated him so much but THEY were the ones who had driven him to insanity. âOh darling, is fucked up not your type? Shame, because itâll have to be tonight.â Maybe that made him even more insane but James didnât even care to watch it sometimes. The thrill of doing it and getting away with it was enough for him. But more so, he just enjoyed running away and then searching the news the next day to see what had been reported and if there were any suspects. It was never him and it never would be. âWhy not? Why CANâT I get rid of people who are assholes? Iâm a fucking POTTER, I can do whatever the fuck I want without any fucking consequences.â He laughed again at the sight of Cassiusâ face. âEverything is just a game to me. Maybe tonight I donât hate you. In fact, maybe youâve even grown on me.â He knew that Cassius would follow him into the taxi â technically heâd been given some sort of ultimation but James had known all along that heâd be coming home with him tonight. No guy went on a date with him and didnât end up in his bed at the end of the night.Â
Luckily the taxi ride home was quick because James had reached the point in the night where he was becoming impatient and just wanted the things that he desired and right now, that was Cassius Wilkes. âWelcome to my abode.â Most of the time, his apartment wasnât what people were expecting. In some ways, the place represented the real him with little bits and pieces from his life scattered around. The entire place was also a mess â unlike his parentsâ house, he didnât want a cleaner here, not wanting anyone around poking in his business. Plus he liked the mess anyway. The empty alcohol bottles scattered around probably werenât a surprise, nor were the remnants of cocaine on the kitchen counter. As they entered, James heard a meow coming towards him and he grinned, picking up his kitty and kissing the top of her head. âMeet Newtie, sheâs my baby angel but sheâs also an asshole and hates everyone. Itâs why we get along well.â He gently placed her down on the kitchen counter so she was at the right height for Cassius and then rummaged around, searching for glasses and more alcohol because they both evidently needed it. âNormally at this stage I would be dragging you for a good fuck and then kicking you out but âŠâ He trailed off and shrugged, pushing over Cassiusâ glass as he sipped at his own. âI figure you want to do boring shit like talking.âÂ
Apparently fucked up was his type considering this was one of the only dates heâd ever been on and it was with James of all people. He didnât let James know this, he just shook his head at him, âNo, I donât really have a type at all. Iâm more focused on anything else.â These words coming from Jamesâ lips were all the ramblings of a man who was so high that he probably could barely feel anything, but Cassius had to take some of them as fact. He could get away with this, and he could do whatever he wanted to make Cassius shut up because he had the funds to do it. There was something absolutely terrifying in that. One person could destroy his whole life if they wanted. He had to destroy him first, or at least manipulate his way out, it was all he could see moving forward. âIâve grown on you ... you did do all of this just to force me to be near you and to coerce me further.â Though, whether murder had been involved or not, he was genuinely going to go to Jamesâ flat no matter what. He wanted to see it for himself. Yet when he got there, he grimaced slightly. God, he needed help, this place was a disaster. Of course he didnât have the experience Cassius did, being whipped with a belt when so much as a can of soda was left out on the table rather than put in the recycling. âYour abode could certainly use some freshening up,â he murmured under his breath.
He followed James to the kitchen, eyeing over the cocaine on the counter, he reached down to slide his fingers over it then dusted the powder off on his trousers. The meow, however, caught him more off guard than Jamesâ tongue on his face had. His weakness ... cats. James should have opened with that. Immediately his eyes were on her, and he moved toward her, holding out her hand so she could sniff it. Once she had, he began to give her long pets along with scratching under her chin, grinning as she accepted and didnât run from him. âI donât know, she seems pretty nice to me. Isnât that right, youâre so sweet, yes you are,â his voice changed and he crooned to her like she was a baby. He couldnât help himself even in his current situation. His hand suddenly became occupied with a glass, and heâd stopped questioning it so he easily put the alcohol to his lips and just drank. He finally forced himself to look at James again, already feeling hotter in this apartment. He undid the first button of his shirt, then the second before nodding. âI think youâll be disappointed to know that Iâve not been with many people. Iâm not sure Iâll be the high youâre looking for.â Heâd had sex before, itâd always been a mistake. âTalking ... like about how you just poisoned a man in front of me and are now going to be able to hold it over me. You let me talk to him, fuck, I wouldnât have even looked at him if I thought you would do something like this. I just thought you were trying to fuck HIM.â It was a near perfect crime, Cassius was the only one who knew the truth, he had to come to terms with it and he kind of already had. âWhy did you bring me with you to watch? Did you know I would figure it out?â
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The adrenaline rush that James always got after doing this was better than all the fucking drugs he was on. If he could feel this way all of the time then he wouldnât even NEED all of the shit that he used to make himself feel better. And somehow it was even more fun whenever he dragged somebody else into it, it just made the risk even more fun. James could see something in Cassius and though he didnât quite know what, he just knew that Cassius wasnât going to dob him in. Not that James worried if anyone would â his family had enough money to make any convictions just magically vanish, or he could just simply push the blame onto Cassius if he made any threats. He was practically bouncing on his feet as they left the bar and when Cassius grabbed his arm, a shit eating grin appeared on his face. âWhat do you THINK I did, babe?â They were so close that James could smell the whisky on his breath and he could see all the flecks in Cassiusâ eyes. God, they were going to fuck so good and hard tonight when Cassius got over himself. Maybe he just needed more alcohol and James had plenty more in his own apartment.Â
âMurder?â James tilted his head to one side and smiled innocently at him. âWhoâs murdering people? Thatâs a terrible thing to do. Could go to prison for something like that.â The combination of cocaine and adrenaline in his system was making him feel like he was floating up in the air, above everyone else. He found himself laughing again as he stared at Cassius. âDo something to me? Technically no. Seemed like a fucking asshole and we have too many of those in the world already, donât we? Somebody needs to do something about that. Youâre really fucking gorgeous, arenât you?â His words felt like they were blurring together or like his mouth was running quicker than his brain could manage. Grinning once more, he leaned forward and licked a stripe up Cassiusâ cheek and pulled away. âCome on, we need to fucking move. Wouldnât want to go down for murder or something, hm? Iâm real fucking horny, too. Iâm sure you could do something about that if you pulled your head out of your ass already.â He smirked and then flagged down a taxi, opening the door as it stopped. âYou coming? Or are you still being a pussy?âÂ
Cassius was terrified, to say the least. Terrified of his entire life coming crashing down around him because heâd finally become what everyone said he would. That he would never actually be what he wanted because instead heâd be in prison for something terrible that James had done. Heâd only really properly spoken with James for about twenty four hours and already the man had somehow ruined his future. He stared right into his eyes as he grabbed him, searching his enlarged pupils for any recognition or regret for what heâd done. Instead he could only see how pleased he was. âI knew you were fucked, I didnât know how fucked,â he muttered, letting go of his arm a hand running through his hair in aggravation. âYes, it is a terrible thing to do, which is why I canât believe you just did it. You ... well youâre not even watching it - I thought that was what murderers did I -â Everything was confusing and coming at him too quickly, he had to focus on something, and it didnât help that he was already tipsy, verging on being properly drunk.Â
What was worse was knowing that the man didnât even do anything to James ... heâd just done it for fun. Cassius stared at him as he laughed, âOf course there are assholes, but just because people are the worst doesnât mean you kill them for it.â Except the final bit caught him off guard, being called gorgeous after watching as someone was poisoned in front of him was certainly a 180 that he wasnât ready for. Then he froze as he was touched by James, odd sensations of goosebumps rising over his neck. Shouldnât he be disgusted? âWhat are you talking about, you hate me. This was all just some sort of game to you.â Yet as the taxi pulled up, and James got inside, he followed. He couldnât let James frame him, he couldnât go down for this, and he also had to get away. Fuck, heâd talked to the man, which meant that if someone there other than James knew his name heâd be in trouble. But no one had seen it, he hadnât even been carded, James never said his name, he didnât know anyone there. So that made James his only liability. Which also meant James had him wrapped right around his finger, because when the police eventually questioned notable people who had been in the bar and Jamesâ name came up on the list of patrons, he could slip them his name. But if he made James happy then he wouldnât say a word. âAs if I have a choice,â he responded as he entered the taxi.
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Sober James didnât even exist anymore. He hadnât seen the light of days for years and it didnât bother him because inebriated James was far happier. At least he called this happiness because James didnât want to admit how sad and fucked up he was. What was worse was that somehow Cassius appeared to see right through him and he just didnât understand HOW. Probably because nobody had ever bothered to look close enough. âWhy would I even WANT to know what itâs like to be sober? Itâs fucking boring from what I remember.â Awful too, he felt like shit in the mornings until heâd had his fix, so evidently he was right about the way he was living being much better. âItâs complicated. I donât hate the attention and sometimes I will do shit to create more of it. But itâs mostly for other purposes.â He shrugged. Usually the negative attention was to bring that negative attention onto his parents and his family name and to piss off his father and watch him desperately scramble to clear up his image again. Though it was proving to be fairly impossible these days considering everyone knew what a fuck up his eldest son was. âHate myself? What makes you think that I hate myself?â His lips formed a frown and he remained quiet as Cassius knocked back the drink and stood.Â
As Cassius went to the bar and stood beside the man James had been watching all night, a scowl appeared on his lips. If Cassius ruined everything just because he was a smartass, James was going to be pissed because this was the main reason he was out tonight. He didnât even fucking CARE for Cassius that much. The entire time, he sat there with his arms folded over his chest, glaring over at Cassius until he finally came back with a drink in his hand. They needed to get the fuck out of this bar so James just needed to do what he came here for and LEAVE. âFine. We can go back to mine,â he responded with a scowl still on his face. âDown that drink, weâre leaving in five minutes.â Standing up, he didnât even bother to look back and Cassius and made his way to the bar, standing beside the man. He didnât even give him a second glance and simply ordered himself a drink â the exact same as the obnoxious man was drinking. It was a simple trick, almost too fucking simple, but it worked when the victim was too drunk and self-centred to pay attention to anyone but themselves. When the drink arrived, he furtively looked around to make sure nobody was watching, then pulled out the tiny vial heâd been carrying around all night and tipped it into the drink. He swirled it around so it was mixed in then put the drink down next to the man before casually picking up his drink and turning away, heading back to Cassius as he knocked it back. âCome on, weâre leaving. NOW. Weâre going back to mine.âÂ
Even though Cassius was currently drinking and allowing himself to become inebriated (which he rarely did), he was always one to say that control was what people needed in their lives. If he didnât have it, he was afraid of what he would turn into. Letting things like drugs or alcohol take him away and release his inhibitions didnât seem to be a good idea whenever his inhibitions were one of the few things keeping him sane. âI find it necessary to have control over my actions. Who is to say what I would allow to happen if I werenât alert and aware? I donât want know.â Cassius shook his head at Jamesâ explanation. He didnât understand it at all, he would rather have his face completely hidden from the world with only his name floating around. âMost people that hate themselves do everything that youâve been doing. And if you actually liked yourself, maybe youâd stop fucking around with all of this nonsense.âÂ
His trip to the bar had the effect it needed to, and it only made his suspicion become reality. When he sat and analyzed Jamesâ face, a smirk fell on his lips, he enjoyed being right. âFor someone who wasnât interested in him, you look rather upset. Keep scowling and people might realise you actually arenât here for me.â As soon as James got up, he followed him with his gaze. Strangely enough, his whiskey went down far smoother now that he was actually feeling the heat of the other drinks catching up with him. No one else was paying attention to James, but of course Cassius was. So when he saw the switch between the drinks, his eyes widened. Envy had been a far smaller sin than the one that James planed on committing, and somehow heâd now made Cassius part of it. âOkay, yes, sure,â but as soon as they had exited the building, Cassius grabbed hold of Jamesâ forearm and moved closer to him so he could whisper in a voice low enough no one else would hear. âWhat the fuck did you do? I know I was calling you fucked up before but I didnât think you were insane. I am not going away for murder for you.â Because it was something that had crossed his mind hundreds of thousands of times, but heâd never been dumb enough to do it. âWho was that man, did he do something to you?â
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Cassius had a point, not that James would ever admit that. He did have no idea who he was, though that wasnât exactly a brand new revelation considering heâd never known who he was outside the rebellious disinterested rich boy act he put on most of the time. It was just easier to act like he didnât care because then eventually he just didnât. âYou think Iâm fucked up?â James raised an eyebrow at Cassius and then leaned back in his chair before a wicked grin appeared on his face. He knew perfectly well that he was fucked up and he didnât try to pretend otherwise. The fact that he was sitting here high on cocaine, downing whisky until he was drunk, whilst scoping out a man he was about to poison really said it all. âI knew I was recognisable but I donât exactly see myself as infamous.â Though now he thought about it, he supposed that was rather stupid considering everyone in this city knew the name POTTER. His father was one of the richest men in New York and James was his erratic and rebellious child who made headlines left, right and centre. âI donât know why people care,â he said with a scowl on his face. Maybe he liked the attention but he still didnât understand why he got it. âPeople treat me like Iâm a fucking zoo animal sometimes, like they enjoy watching my fuck ups and my spirals. Why does anyone CARE that some rich boy is stumbling out of a club off his head at 6am for the fourth day in a row?âÂ
He watched as Cassius sipped at his drink, please that he was actually accepting the alcohol despite the fact that heâd insisted he wasnât going to be drinking. The more he stared at Cassius, the more he noticed how attractive he actually was, and that just made him even more inclined to take him home. Sure, he was somewhat nerdy looking and there nothing much to gain from his personality, but he was tall had a good jawline and cheekbones and nice eyes and he was sure his hair would be soft once he took that awful gel out. His mind suddenly snapped out of the daydream and he focused back on Cassius, pulling a confused expression. âThink you wouldnât notice what?â He frowned and then took a sip of his drink again before putting it down, keeping his eyes sharp on Cassius. âIâd like to think that I am pretty clever and good at hiding things,â he responded with a smirk on his face. âYou should see the shit I hide from my father.â As well as everyone else. Nobody thought he was innocent but they also didnât think he was capable of the things that he did. And he doubted Cassius would either. âWhat are you TALKING about? I donât make people jealous, Iâm James fucking Potter. I donât care enough about any stupid boy to make them jealous.âÂ
They both knew he was, especially right now. Cassius stared at Jamesâ grin for a moment, and he wondered why he even was here. Sure, James was somewhat attractive, but he was annoying, and he didnât care for rules or structure. Cassius cared deeply about both of those things, even if he also tended to take the rules into his own hands. The difference was, no one knew. âI donât think it, I know it. I wonder what youâre like sober, because something tells me even you donât know what thatâs like anymore.â At least they had something in common - wondering why people gave a single fuck about James did. âWhy people care is beyond me. I have never had anyone look at anything I did and analyze it the way they analyze you. It must be exhausting being a vessel for everyoneâs entertainment. But you also arenât really doing anything to counteract it. If you cared that much, I would think youâd try to disappear from the view of the world. Like I said before, you clearly enjoy the attention as much as you despise it.â In a way, Cassius was even treating James like an animal right now, watching him and trying to piece him together. Learning about him up close.
What was more frustrating about James than anything was that he now refused to admit that heâd been looking at the man at the bar. Cassius wanted to be REWARDED for noticing, not told he was wrong. He frowned, playing with his glass between his fingers, âI donât know how someone can think so highly of themselves but also hate themselves as much as you do.â If this were all a game, then interacting with the man that James had been looking at may have all been part of the plan. Though not doing so also meant that he would be admitting he was wrong. Cassiusâ frown deepened further as he figured that by calling James out heâd essentially already lost. âThen I donât understand why you care about him. Or why you keep looking.â Cassius gazed down at his glass again, then he lifted it to his lips and finished off the liquid. âI need another drink. Iâll put it on your tab.â He stood from his chair, then he went to the bar. Usually he would never be this forward, but it was part of the act. He went beside the man that he just KNEW James had been peering at, and he ran his hand through his hair. He could have immediately gotten ahold of the bartender, but instead he allowed himself to look like a lost puppy who needed help. The man was loud, obnoxious, Cassius couldnât see what the point of James paying attention to him was. He made a joke, one Cassius didnât really think was funny, but he let himself laugh enough that the man looked at him. They shared a glance, Cassius got his drink, and he knew now that at least he would be forced to keep gazing over at their table. Maybe heâd even wind up recognizing James if Cassius was lucky. âAfter this we can go to yours, if youâre really that sure about it.â
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đčđ°đŒđŽđ đżđŸđđđŽđ.
Evidently Cassius didnât understand James at all â not that James really expected him to considering theyâd barely ever spoken and James had never given Cassius the time of day until this week. âBy the time that happens, Iâll have probably overdosed or found some stupid rich man to marry. So who fucking cares? I would rather focus on whatâs happening right now, rather than what could happen in however many years.â He wasnât stupid â he knew one day his parents werenât going to let him be a parasite for eternity but right now he was getting away with it and didnât care that he was essentially being paid to shut the fuck up and do whatever he wanted in the background, as long as it didnât disturb them. âIâm not trying to play ANYTHING. Iâm just trying to be me.â Though wasnât that a lie? He didnât even know who he was, let alone how to be himself. If anything, he was trying to play the character of what he should be, just to cover up the fact that he had no idea who he was outside of this empty shell full of alcohol and cocaine.Â
âYou think everyone here knows me?â James raised an eyebrow and looked around. That wasnât a thought that had come into his mind and now he had realised that he was going to have to be even more careful tonight if people would recognise him. âIâm pretty sure everyone around me either wants to fuck me or kill me. And either option, Iâm good with.â James shrugged, a wicked grin on his face. âTrust me, by the end of this night, youâll want to come home with me. Not drunk enough yet? Fine.â Without another word, James instantly stood up and turned, heading off to get more drinks. After a quick detour to the bathroom to give himself a bit of extra energy, he went the long way to the bar, noting his target and zoning in on the small details. Heâd been watching him out of the corner of his eyes enough to know what he was drinking, how quickly he was drinking, who he was with. His task tonight would be easy enough. Finally, with two more strong drinks each in his hands, he headed back to Cassius and pushed his drinks towards him before taking a large sip of his own. âHow high is your tolerance? Iâll keep buying you drinks until youâre ready to come with me.â
Jamesâ life sounded like a sad one to him. Why anyone wanted to live that way was beyond his understanding. Cassiusâ goals in life were to be at the top of it all, and that meant working hard. One day even his parents would be proud of him, enough so that they wouldnât think of him as a waste of space. âJust trying to be yourself? Do you even know what that is? I barely do and Iâm clearly not as fucked up as you are.â His words werenât supposed to come off as angry, just factual. Someone actually knowing themselves while they were in university filling their bodies up with drugs and alcohol, partying every day, that didnât seem like a person who knew who they were. Cassius looked at James dumbfounded as he gazed around them, clearly he thought himself far more aloof than he was. âPeople like you are hard to forget, I doubt you can really go anywhere more than a few times before others start recognising you. Maybe you think of that as a compliment, but I see it as a liability.â The idea was to be famous and rich, but have no one actually really know who he was.
If James was serious about taking him home, Cassius wasnât even sure drinking would be enough. Honestly, just to get it out of the way, Cassius was figuring he might pretend a bit and let James take him wherever he wanted to go. But at this point ... he had begun to catch on to the way that James kept scoping someone out. He was a lot of things, but he wasnât stupid. When James went away to the restroom, Cassius began to watch the individual himself. What exactly did James want with him? He hadnât even said hello, or smiled at the man, it was like he was trying to keep tags on him while still remaining a ghost. Jamesâ return to the bar only made him realize it further. He accepted the drink that was offered to him, but his eyes slowly narrowed. âI donât drink, so not very high.â He took a sip from his glass, then let his gaze very clearly flick to the person of Jamesâ attention. âDid you think I wouldnât notice? Do you think youâre that clever or good at hiding things?â He shook his head, forcing himself to look back at James. âWhat is all of this? He hasnât even looked over here once. I thought maybe you were trying to use me to make him jealous, but I donât even know if he knows who you are.â
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James didnât mind talking shit with Cassius for a few hours before he sent him on his merry way. It was easy for James to talk to people, despite how most of the people at this University he wouldnât trust as far as he could throw. âI donât really mind talking surface shit about them. Especially if I get to shit talk them. Maybe most people here donât know me that well but everyone knows I donât get along with my parents. They might try to paint us as the picture perfect family but everyone knows that isnât true. People arenât stupid and neither are they. Which is why they keep me in the picture to make sure I donât stray too far.â James didnât have high enough morals to care about his silence being bought. If it meant that he could do whatever he wanted, he would let his parents throw money at him to force him to behave when it actually mattered.Â
Though most people didnât realise, James just used people. Though he could be an asshole, he could also be charming and chatty and flirtatious because flicking a switch and becoming an entirely different person when he was bored and wanted the person to fuck off. âWhat makes you think that I like attention?â James asked with a wicked grin on his face, sitting back in his chair as he did. âA favour? The favour would be the honour of sharing my company. Iâm perfectly aware that you could go out to a bar whenever you fancied it. Though Iâm sure you wouldnât choose here and would choose some boring place instead.â He glanced around the bar and his eyes drifted over to the table the man was sitting at for a split second before he turned back to his drink. They needed to be here long enough so that it didnât look strange but not so long that he brought too much attention onto his presence here. Getting the balance right was all part of the game. âIf youâd rather be alone, we can go back to mine after this drink.âÂ
Cassius regarded James for a moment while he spoke, his brows creasing slightly. âI donât ... know how you are so nonchalant about it. They want you to be a poster child and you just keep fucking them over but what will you do once they DO cut you off? Once you reach a certain age they might give up on you for good. Then youâll have to get someone else to give you all the money you need.â The drink in his hand was empty now, ice rattling against the glass. âYou have an interesting image anyway. I canât tell what youâre trying to play as. Wild bad boy maybe, but you donât really seem that bad to me. Just annoying, which is far worse than doing things people may not agree with.â Â
The question made Cassius snort at him, âAre you joking? You wouldnât do all the shit you do if you didnât want attention. Nor would we be in a bar where people will definitely know you. I am sure that you like it that everyone knows of you, plus you just assume everyone wants something to do with you too.â If Cassius were going to a bar it would be somewhere quiet that was exclusive, hard to get into. That was the sort of thing he was into, but he just pressed his lips down into a line, shrugging off Jamesâ comment. Despite not having a drink to sip on, he nearly choked on something. âBack ... to yours ... you must actually have a screw loose. Or three. Iâm not here for you, Iâm here for me, and I am definitely not drunk enough to even imagine going to your place.â
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JAMES POTTER.
âHow else would you describe this if you wouldnât call it a date?â James asked with a raised eyebrow, lifting his drink to his lips so he could take another sip. âA meeting? Two people who vaguely dislike each other attending a soirĂ©e together?â He grinned, the same grin he often used when his smile didnât quite reach his eyes. Though he thought Cassius was a bit dull, he wasnât sure if he could say that he HATED him. More like tolerated him, which was how he felt around most people. Used them when he needed them and then discarded them whenever he was bored or no longer needed them. At least Cassius was voluntarily discarding himself. âThey know itâll shut me up if they let me use their money. Theyâre so worried about their image that theyâd rather just allowed me to be a leech instead of putting shame and negative attention on the family by disowning me.â He shrugged as though it didnât bother him, which he told himself it didnât because as long as he had access to their unnecessarily large amount of riches, he didnât give a fuck and would happily carry on doing whatever he felt like.Â
James didnât actually know the answer himself to Cassiusâ question because why did he invite him? Mostly because he was just THERE and heâd been forced into his life anyway through their stupid project but he could have asked anyone yet he asked somebody he decided he disliked. âFill myself up with alcohol and coke, obviously. What else were you expecting? Iâm not exactly a mystery, even if people want me to be this mysterious rich boy who walks around in his leather jacket, smelling like money and bitterness.â He just wanted people to leave him alone most of the time and the attitude served its purpose well. âI also just invited you here because you were just there and weâd been forced together by fate. Also figured youâd come along if you got something out of it.â His fingers wrapped around his glass again and he tapped his rings on the glass, focusing on the sound it made. âYes, I guess it is. I like loud and noisy places, they feel like the type of place I can fit in well.â
A date implied that they were seeking some sort of relationship, Cassius was seeking the opposite. He frowned at the other options, though, because they didnât really sound correct either. âFor now I will describe it as a case study,â he muttered, reaching for his drink and finishing the last bit of it. âAnd then they wonder why you do not want to do what they say. Parents are ... never what they are supposed to be.â Cassius was sure that James minded very much that they treated him the way they did, but there was little prying he could do without much information to go off of. âI would figure you to be the sort to shut down conversation about your parents. Why are you speaking about them so freely with me?â Maybe because it was easier to tell someone who didnât really care or want to fix it. Cassius figured that if James told several people they would want to help him, but Cassius had little desire to try to help him out of his situation.
Mystery had nothing to do with it, but Cassius assumed that was what James saw himself as. Mysterious, untouchable, whatever else made him feel better. âI donât know, I think you like that people see you as that. Because then you can get attention that you usually canât. It also makes it easier for you to get whatever you want when people are more inclined to want to be around you.â Cassius had already clocked James as being manipulative. After all, he assumed he could make Cassius do whatever he wanted just with a few words. âDo you feel like youâre doing me a favor or something by taking me out to some bar? Showing me the ways of the world? I could experience it if I wanted to, I just donât really care for it. I would much rather be alone than be around this many people.âÂ
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JAMES POTTER.
Of course Cassius was going to whine about his lateness even with a pre-warning, James had expected that the second he set up the date. He rolled his eyes at the predictability but didnât bother to comment any further because frankly, he just didnât care. It wasnât as though Cassius would have to deal with it ever again. He was only there so James had an alibi tonight and also a reason to be here, he didnât actually care much for his presence. Like heâd expected, Cassius did end up taking a sip of the drink and James grinned because it really was so easy. Maybe he could get him drunk too and drag him back to his apartment for a bit of fun. James often brought people back but they never got to stay until the morning. James preferred to kick them out or get rid of them by other means, depending on who they were. Though he knew that Cassius would be lucky tonight because his real victim was right in front of him. Cocky, rich, arrogant â in fact, he was probably similar to James, not that heâd ever admit that â but he represented everything James hated and he wanted him to go.Â
âI do have an errand to run,â he responded, his lips turning up into a smirk. âIâll do it later, I want to at least give my date some attention. It would be rude of me not to.â As he spoke, he leaned forward and brushed his fingers over Cassiusâ arm. âDo you think I give a shit about whatâs cheaper when my parents have millions for me to spend on whatever disgustingly expensive shit I want?â He rolled his eyes. Most of the time he just threw his parentsâ money away just because he could. All the things he did only made a scratch into what they owned, so it wasnât as though they noticed whenever he wasted away their money on booze and drugs and whatever else. âWhy are you REALLY here, Cassius? Surely it canât just be for my promise.âÂ
How this had turned into a date, Cassius wasnât sure. He had never phrased it as such and even then he had never told James if he was into men at all. Slowly, he took another sip of the whiskey that had been supplied, it gave him something to do when he wasnât talking. Deep down, he knew that James had probably planned that. âI do not remember this being a date. When did you decide that was what this was?â His gaze fell back onto James after surveying the room again. Just in time, of course, for him to see Jamesâ fingers gliding over his arm. His lips thinned slightly as he recoiled, his arm sliding back to his side. âI am surprised they allow you to spend their money at all. Though if you were cut off, something tells me you would still just spend other peopleâs money rather than finding a way to earn your own.â James was lazy and arrogant, the sort of person that Cassius hated.
As far as Cassius was concerned, the only reason he was here was indeed because of the promise. But if he had to try to piece things together, he was also interested just to see what James did with his time. âI was curious about why you invited me. It is mostly because of our deal, but I canât help but wonder what it is you do with your life. You act like you donât care about anything, I want to see what you fill yourself up with to keep pretending.â His eyes scan the room again, not fully focused on James in a place where there was so much happening. He could hear broken bits of conversation, notes of songs he didnât know, laughter, crying, heels on the floor, it was enough to over stimulate anyone. âI can barely concentrate on my own thoughts, I figure thatâs what you like about it.â
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JAMES POTTER.
A bored sigh left his lips and he rolled his eyes at Cassius. âParents are a dull conversation topic, what can I say?â He had much better things to talk about, though he wasnât really sure what to talk about around Cassius. Coffee? Maybe he just needed to spike his drinks too to get him drunk and hope he was less boring with some alcohol inside of him. âUnhealthy addictions? If having fun means having unhealthy addictions, then the entire fucking university are addicts. Minus you.â Already he was becoming irritated by Cassius and was wondering if heâd regret the decision, but he just wanted to see what he was like when he loosened up and pulled that stick out of his ass. âIâm sure I can get you to do more than that. Iâm told Iâm very persuasive.â He leaned even closer to Cassius as he said that, his lips twisting into another grin. Manipulative was the word people tended to use but James liked to translate it differently. âJust be there and Iâll find you. Comprende?âÂ
✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. ✠. âœ
James wasnât actually as late as heâd been expecting to be. Fourteen minutes late wasnât bad for him, though he knew that Cassius would probably be irritated with his tardiness. Without asking Cassius, he ordered them both a glass of whiskey on ice, figuring that the other seemed like a whiskey enjoyer. And if he wasnât? Then that meant more for James. He could see tonightâs target from their table â he was loud and cocky and always stood at the bar which meant Jamesâ task would be a lot easier, so long as the barman wasnât paying any attention. It was busy tonight â the bar was crowded with already tipsy people, so he very much doubted that anyone would be paying attention to James or his drinks. âI got you a drink. Itâs good shit, you should try it.â It was hot in here, so he shrugged off his leather jacket and ran his fingers through his mop of curls to get them out of his face. âIâm surprised you came, though I know Iâm pretty irresistible.â He smirked. âThere are plenty of men â and women â whoâd kill to be where you are right now.â
When he received the text with information, Cassius almost ignored it. Heâd started a particularly interesting mystery novel and he was starting to get clues to the puzzle. Luckily for James, the idea of getting to no longer associate with him after this was more alluring than his book. Cassius had taken his time to pick out well pressed clothing, not a full suit, but nice trousers and a button up with a tie. On his wrist he wore an expensive watch that his parents had given him as a sign of their pride, which he only wore on special ocassions and he supposed this was one. The bar wasnât one he would ever go to even if he decided to go to one. He tended to like places that were more historical and lowkey than a place people went to actually party. Cassius had calculated for Jamesâ lateness and arrived ten minutes after the time he was told. Even then he had to stand around and wait. âI was even late for you and you still had the gull to be later?â He asked the other when he finally appeared. The loudness of the bar was already making him uneasy, he could never concentrate in places like this.
The plan had been not to even have a sip of alcohol while here. Plenty of people were already getting drunk, but that didnât mean Cassius had to as well. He stared at the whiskey offered to him, it was something he had tried before, and heâd enjoyed the taste when he did but that didnât mean anything. He pressed his lips together before finally succumbing to the temptation, taking the glass in his hand and taking the smallest sip before placing it back down. âI did not come for you. I came so that you would leave me alone as you said you would.â He gazed out over the people for a moment, âYou said that you had an errand to run, this doesnât feel like an errand. Or like a party either. No one has a party at a bar, itâs cheaper to buy everything and just get drunk at a house.â
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JAMES POTTER.
Though James actually liked half the things Cassius mentioned, he wasnât about to agree with him, as petty as that was. Maybe he did also like exploring the city and going to various coffee shops and other places, Cassius didnât need to know that too. âYou know this just makes you sound like a recently retired old man?â he commented with an arched eyebrow. Cassius was right and after this class ended they probably never would see each other again, so James had to make the most of the time he had right now. He wasnât really sure why heâd twisted the conversation to land on the topic of PARENTS considering he did anything he could to not think about his, yet no matter what, they always ended back at the forefront of his thoughts. âFrightening?â he scoffed, âI canât fucking wait for the day they give up on me and finally realise that Iâm never going to be what they want me to be. Sending me here is probably my final chance.â What was worse, was that he knew that even if he DID do well here, they would still find something to nitpick at. Heâd quickly learned that as a child, and now as a young adult, he no longer saw the point in trying to impress people who never wanted to be proud of him.Â
âAlright, fine.â A grin stretched over Jamesâ face, though it wasnât a friendly one. âIf you come with me tonight, I will leave you alone. Other than for the project, we have to at least look like we worked on it together.â He rolled his eyes because the entire school probably knew that Cassius would be the one who did all the work. Nobody wanted to be lumped with James in a group project. In fact, most people didnât want to be associated with him at all. Maybe once upon a time heâd been friendly but now heâd turned cold and cruel and untrusting towards everyone around him. âI have an errand to run tonight and need some company.â He reached over and grabbed Cassiusâ phone, holding it up to his face to unlock it before flicking to his contacts and adding in his own number, picking the demonic emoji to sit beside his name. âIâll text you the time and location later. Donât bother being early because I wonât be.âÂ
Jamesâ comments fell onto ears that had heard it all before. Cassius didnât really care what James thought of him, so he just shrugged. âBetter than being whatever you are.â How sending their child to a place with little to no rules or supervision sounded like a good idea to Jamesâ parents Cassius wasnât sure, but it also was not his place to try to gauge their intelligence. âIt seems as though parents are a sore subject for you. I am not surprised. Usually it takes some sort of trauma to facilitate the growth of unhealthy addictions. I assume for you that means your parents have been the source of that trauma.â For Cassius, it was easier to pretend that everyone else had things worse than him. Whatever issues he had, at least he wasnât completely miserable or searching for vices that could fuel him just a few more days.
The promise seemed too good to be true, but what did Cassius really have to lose? âI wonât be drinking anything, and I certainly wonât be partaking in anything you hope to have me do. I will simply watch. Donât expect too much.â At least he could use this as an experiment of sorts just to see the people who enjoyed going to these things. âVery well, I can manage the charade of being partners if it means I no longer have to deal with you afterward.â A sound of protest left his lips once his phone was taken, but he was forced to watch as James held his privacy in his hand. âYou seem like the type to be late to everything, so should I expect whatever time you give me to actually just be a suggestion?â
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JAMES POTTER.
The thing was, James didnât even know WHAT actually entertained him. The drinking didnât entertain him and the people especially didnât entertain him as everyone he spoke to was as empty as he was. He just prefered the feeling of drunkenness than sobriety and always had done, ever since he broke into his fatherâs fancy alcohol cupboard as a teenager. âWhat entertains you then, Wilkes?â he asked as he rested his chin in his hand and leaned uncomfortably closer to the other. Breaking otherâs personal space was always one way to fuck with them that generally worked and he had a sneakily feeling that it would be particularly easy to get under this manâs skin. Not that he even knew why Cassius was such a particular target but there was just something about him that made James want to make him squirm. âWhy not? Are you too scared to put yourself out there and go? Scared of rejection? Or that people are only inviting you as a joke? Or maybe youâll arrive there and everyone will look at you like you donât belong?â As he spoke, his voice got lower and his smirk got darker.
Cassius preferred red. Like the colour of blood, the colour of pain and pleasure. That was something James could understand, not that he would ever give Cassius the satisfaction of admitting that. âWhy would I ever work for anything when my parents give me everything I want just to make me shut the fuck up and stop embarrassing them?â Maybe they were the assholes but James could pull some strings too, especially at their ridiculous parties where James needed to be well-behaved and stop putting them to shame. The hell he experienced afterwards was always worth it. âIf itâs factually incorrect, then why are humans SHRINKING, smartass? If weâre shrinking then our heads are shrinking, therefore our brains are too. Whoâs the dumb one now?â It was already so fun fucking with Cassius. âBut now I WANT to help. Iâll give you a proposition. You come out with me tonight and Iâll give you whatever you want. Iâm good at giving people what they want.âÂ
Whatever Cassius said was going to bore James, obviously he knew this. Even as the other got close to him, he simply stayed put. He straightened, looking down his nose, eyes narrowed slightly. âI tend to read, or go and explore the city when I donât have work to do. If I ever get the kitchen to myself I like to cook and try out new recipes. I recently went to a new coffee shop and tried a blend of espresso that Iâd never heard of before. These are the sorts of things that entertain me.â Everyone was scared of rejection, and maybe to some degree Cassius had been afraid of all of those things. As soon as he stepped into a room, everyone would look at him, and he wouldnât know what to do because he hadnât ever been the center of attention. At the same time, he wasnât sure they would even notice. He could look the part and blend in just like he had before. âSo you are only inviting me as a joke?â He asked, raising a brow. â Iâm not afraid to go, I just donât see the fun in it, personally.â
Parents were something they were clearly going to have extremely stark differences with. Cassiusâ parents didnât like him either, but he at least planned to make them proud somehow. It was why he was here. âYou pretend like you enjoy that they do that, but I doubt you do. Isnât it frightening, knowing that the two people who are meant to love you unconditionally would do anything to get rid of you, pay any price? At some point ... theyâll give up on you completely.â If they were trying to get under each otherâs skin, then Cassius could play ball. âI am making sure that doesnât ever happen to me.â Cassius did not have the time to teach someone about evolution. âHumans ... are not shrinking. In fact we have begun to grow - listen I donât have the ability to sit here and reteach you evolution since you didnât pay attention.â Whatever he wanted. Now that was a proposition he could be interested in. âAnd what if what I want is for you to leave me alone afterward?â
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JAMES POTTER.
If his parents ACTUALLY thought that throwing him into some shitty university would mean that heâd actually become the perfectly pruned child they wanted him to become, then they were more deluded than James realised. He knew this was also just a way of getting him out of sight so they didnât have to think about their little problem child until he caused enough trouble for them to have to step in again. âWhy would you go to anything with me? Perhaps because I know how to have fun and you look like you donât even know the DEFINITION of that word?â Though a part of him was curious about what Cassius would be like at a party. He was probably a lightweight and would vomit after just a SNIFF of alcohol, though he was so stoic that he could tolerate heaps of it before even showing signs of inebriation. âHave you ever even been to a party since arriving here? Itâs an integral part of student life, Wilkes. Work hard, party harder.â Not that James had any involvement in the working part â all of his energy went straight into the booze and the drugs and the sex, the way it always had done. Being shipped off to university didnât change that, much to his parentsâ dismay.Â
As the highlighter was shoved back in front of him, James smirked and picked it up before twiddling it between his fingers. âOh darling, you shouldnât have. For future reference, I prefer pink.â He shoved the pen behind his ear, allowing his messy curls to flop over it, before his focus went back on Cassius. âI donât think the professors care when they get paid to shut the fuck up and allow me to pass every class.â It wasnât exactly a SECRET that Jamesâ parents paid big money for him to stay here, no matter what shit he pulled, but James didnât care. âActually having a big brain isnât even important. We used to have bigger brains when we were cavemen, but human brains are like iPhones and just get smaller and better.â He gave Cassius a shiteating grin before pulling the highlighter back out again and tapping the other on the nose. âWant to know a secret? You can pull whatever shit you like and Iâll still be here. Mummy and Daddy dearest will pay anything they can to make sure that Iâm anywhere but at home. You canât get rid of me, Wilkes.âÂ
The idea of attending an event with James made him want to keel over and vomit. âI have plenty of fun in my own ways. Just because I donât enjoy drinking until I black out like you do doesnât mean I donât have my own forms of entertainment.â They also both knew that Cassius looked like someone who knew the definition to every word, which was part of the problem so he didnât mention it. âNo, I have not been to a party. And before you ask as some sort of dig, Iâve been invited plenty, I just have chosen to not go.â In fact, some of the more talented individuals here seemed to take on drinking as a vice. Now that they were free they used their freedom to dull their senses. Cassius just was not the same.Â
It seemed a frown would just permanently be on his face around James, not that heâd ever had any hope otherwise. âAnd I prefer red,â he muttered, clearly thinking of what it would be like to just slice open the other manâs throat and leave him for dead. âOf course they do, you wouldnât know hard work if it hit you in the back of the head. When was the last time you even had to work for something you wanted?â A rhetorical question, but he felt it would get an answer anyway. âWhere did you even get that information? Itâs factually incorrect. Evolution caused human brains to triple in size. The modern human brain is the largest and most complex.â His jaw clenched as soon as the highlighterâs ink smudged over his nose and he reeled backward, attempting to put space between them. âFine, I donât need to get rid of you. I doubt after this class ends Iâll ever see you again anyhow. Iâll do the project alone, I donât need your help.â
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JAMES POTTER.
âListen, I know we have that god awful project we have to do but I have other priorities to take care of tonight.â A cocky grin appeared on Jamesâ face as he leaned over to Cassiusâ side of the desk and stole a highlighter, flicking off the lid with his thumb and using it to colour in his nails as he spoke. âYouâre more than welcome to come with me, but I donât think itâs your âŠâ He paused and then looked Cassius up and down before smirking, â⊠kind of scene. If you know what I mean.âÂ
James didnât actually know MUCH about Cassius Wilkes from the few weeks theyâd spent in this classroom together but he could just tell that he was not his kind of person. Maybe Cassius was attractive, if he tried, but other than that, James had zero interest in the man. He just seemed like the type of person who did all his assignments weeks before the deadline and had a precise bedtime of 9pm on the dot and probably enjoyed shit like early morning walks or sudoku. All the things that made James want to vomit.Â
Once heâd finished colouring in his nails with the highlighter, he blew at them as though he was drying nail polish and then plonked the pen back down on Cassiusâ notebook without the lid on it. âHow about you get started on it and I just fill in the gaps? You seem like a control freak, so Iâm sure youâd rather finish it all by yourself anyway.âÂ
When the other man leaned over toward him, he already could feel the distaste boiling inside of him. Quietly, he watched people like James Potter make an absolute fool of themselves. Cassius very much doubted that James was here for actual learning, though he had hoped that by coming to a university he would find more likeminded people. Instead he was stuck still with those who preferred going out to parties and wrecking their minds and organs just for a few moments of bliss that would eventually be forgotten with time. âOf course you are not going to work on the project, colour me surprised,â he rolled his eyes, making a disgusted face as his highlighter was used for coloring a nail. He had to keep note to throw it out later. âWhy would I ever go to anything with you?â
When the highlighter ticked his notebook, Cassius balled up a fist then grabbed it before putting the lid back on and slamming it in front of James. âIt is yours now, it wonât work the same now that youâve destroyed it.â He frowned further at Jamesâ statement, âI will tell the professor that you didnât work on it at all. Donât worry, though, Iâm sure another zero on your record will only maybe get you kicked out.â He scoffed then began to shove things back into his bag. âWhatever you would contribute would probably only lend itself to be useless anyhow. I wonder, often, if you only got into this school on wealth alone considering your brain must be the size of a pea.â
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LUKAS VARGA.
Lukas had never cared about anything but the music. The music had always been his safe haven, someplace he could lock himself into when everything else around him was too loud and overwhelming. When he was a kid, heâd close his eyes and write and practice music in his head until he could get to an actual piano and now as an adult he did the same thing, except now he could get up at three in the morning and let his brain release everything it needed to on paper. âI just care about the music. It is why I am picky about who I work with because I do not want to work with people who do not appreciate the music as much as I do.â Lukas shrugged. Even the money didnât matter because heâd inherited enough from his parents. He did this all because it was the only joy he had and the only thing he truly cared about. âYou are a legend. Or at least you will be one day.â Anyone could see that Alexander would be up there one day with the infamous legends, forever ingrained into the music industry as an unforgettable icon. People would be listening to his music for decades, the way kids these days listened to music from the 70s and wished they were living in the prime of it all.Â
Heâd enjoyed the time he had alone with Alexander, showing him the pieces of unfinished music heâd written even though he was somewhat shy about showing anyone his unfinished and imperfect work. But with Alexander, it felt different, like he could be open and honest without being judged. When he got home that evening, he spent the entire night just laying in his bed and staring at the ceiling, thinking about nothing but Alexander. He was the type to obsess over things but never over people. How had this man gotten under his skin so quickly? All he wanted was for tomorrow to come so heâd see him again in their next writing session and the morning couldnât come sooner. Even though he was exhausted from the lack of sleep heâd had, he still had some sort of feverish energy around him which was only heightened by the several cups of coffee heâd drunk until he was practically shaking. The night before, heâd dug out another book filled with songs heâd never finished and once they were finally alone for a moment, Lukas pulled it out of his bag and placed it into Alexanderâs hands. âYou can have anything in there that you like. I was never going to do anything with any of the pieces I had written in that book.â
When he left that night and returned to his empty house with his cat, he found that he actually had a mission. He sat on the floor of his living room with a bottle of wine and opened up his phone. Not long after, he was searching for any sort of statement about Lukas Varga. He wanted to know everything about him. Where he was from, how long he had been in the industry, the artists he had worked with, anything that the internet could provide. Yet it was all so scarce, as if people barely knew he existed. And quite frankly, Alexander did not understand that at all. How could someone who looked like Lukas and possessed his talent not have a massive following online? Alexander eventually found his private Instagram, which he immediately requested a follow to, but outside of that it was almost as if Lukas were not a producer or writer at all. Which honestly infuriated him, because he just wanted to look at pictures of him and figure out his life. He began to write down his frustrations as lyrics and wound up at the piano, most of his wine bottle drained. He kept playing one of the melodies from Lukasâ notebook to the words, and before he knew it, he already had a sample idea. Part of him was angry with himself that it was about Lukas, after all they had just met, but he couldnât pretend that he hadnât been attracted to him no matter how brief their meeting had been.
The next day when he arrived, he was ever so slightly hungover, but ready to work. He came in with his music prepared, and yet as everyone worked together, he found that he didnât want to show anyone other than Lukas. Everyone had finally left the room after a while, leaving the two of them alone again, and before Alexander could get his words out, the book was in his hands. âReally, youâll let me?â He asked this, looking up at Lukas with shining eyes. âI actually ... I have something for you too. That I wrote last night. Itâs a really rough draft so I didnât want to show anyone.â And for the moment, the song wasnât for anyone else anyway. âBut - I wanted to show you.â Then he opens up his phone and plays the sample for the other man. Once it is over he tries to hide the blush on his cheeks. Heâd written songs for people before, but never this quickly.Â
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