Jess's Point of View

We walked out of Tanner's room to see Jared leaning against the wall with a smug expression on his face. His curly, burgundy hair was beginning to fall out of the gel he slicked it back with. "So, did you put the bitch in her place? Or did you bring her out here for my input?" He said, cracking his knuckles and glaring down at me.

Please don't let him hurt me, Tanner, I promised I'd do better. I sunk down behind Tanner as he stepped between his best friend and his girl. "No. She's fine, Jare. She won't be disobeying anyone anytime soon," he looked down at me with piercing red eyes, "right Jess?"

I quickly nodded, "yes, Sir."

Jared smirked and started to walk down the grand staircase. "Words are nice and all, but I'm still going to keep an eye on her for you. That way you can drink the night away. After all, you only turn 121 once."

Oh, yeah. I haven't told Tanner happy birthday yet. I guess that would be the humble, good girl thing to do. "H-happy Birthday, your highness," I mumbled.

Tanner smiled down at me, "why thank you. That was surprisingly nice of you."

As we descended the staircase of the left wing, I couldn't help but gasp. This place was breathtaking. Below us was the grand ballroom, which had been professionally decorated to epic proportions.

Honey-colored lights had been strung all throughout the ceiling in big looping motions. There were tables spread out everywhere. Each one with its own unique centerpiece. To fully set the scene, a twelve-man orchestra played softly as people danced on the dance floor. I swear it was like we had traveled back in time.

Tanner snaked his hand around my back and yanked me against him. "Smile and be polite. We will say hi to a few people and then you can go off and find some food. I'm sure you're starving."

"Yes, your highness," I said with a fake smile. Do it for the food Jess. You haven't eaten in days and I smell chicken, my favorite.

Tanner proceeded to parade me around. Everyone seemed impressed with our appearance as a couple and my personality. It took about an hour, but we finally had gone around to every person at the party. Jared then proceeded to lead us into a more private area that had been roped off. This room seemed a lot more modern than the ballroom was. There were fog machines, strobe lights, and girls dancing with almost no clothes. Leave it to Tanner and Jared to host a slutty yet elegant birthday party. Tanner sat down on a couch next to two younger-looking vampires and pulled me onto his lap. "You did lovely around my dad's friends. I knew you could behave," he said in my ear over the loud club music booming in the background.

"Thank you, Sir," I tried not to let my anxiety leak through my words. I wanted to ask to go get food, but there were so many eyes on me. Just hold your tongue, Jess. Tanner will remember soon. I hope. My mind couldn't help but drift to thoughts of protein and it made my stomach growl.

That made Tanner chuckle. He leaned back in his seat, freeing me and placing them behind his head. "You may go get food now, but remember: be polite and come right back here when you are finished. Got it?"

I glanced up at him. His tone was calm but his eyes were stern. "I understand, Sir. Thank you." Before he could change his mind and make Jared come with me, I shot up and began walking to glorious sustenance.

This food is heaven. The boarding house rarely fed its inhabitants. When they did, it was always bread and mystery meat, never anything nearly as wonderful as this! The table itself stretched at least half of the ballroom and all the main food groups were there. Everything looked divine. I didn't want to gorge myself and risk throwing up, so I chose to take a single chicken tender and some fruit with a bottle of water. Finally, actual food.

As I started to walk back to Tanner I felt a hand slap the back of my shoulder. "What in your microscopic brain told you it was okay for you to be out here alone?" Jared yelled. Several people stopped their conversations to look over at us now.

I turned toward him and took a deep breath. Don't yell back, don't yell back. Best behavior, remember? Even if Tanner's best friend is the biggest jackass on the planet, I needed to stay calm. "The Prince told me to come and get food, sir. I'm only doing what I was told." I responded.

"Are you back talking me, you little bitch?!" Jared's voice seemed to raise higher with each passing word.

Before I had time to respond, he had thrown the plate to the floor and grabbed me by the hair. He pulled me back into the lounge and threw me at Tanner's feet.

What the fuck?! Nothing that I said was in any way disrespectful! This was classic Jared. He clearly hasn't changed his attitude towards me. He was still out to get me. "I knew tracking her down was a bad idea. I told you that soooo many times, and look where I am. She's still the disrespectful, dumb whore she was when you were dating her. She still doesn't know how belong in our world. We're lucky it was me she was talking to and not one of your dad's dignitary friends. She needs a permanent muzzle."

I looked up at Tanner, whose nostrils were now flaring. "What happened," he asked through gritted teeth.

"I didn't do anything wrong. Tanner, please you've gotta believe m-" Tanner leaned down and slapped his hand over my mouth.

Alright. I'll admit it. That time, I fucked up. Reacting to their stupidity and irrationality was only proving Jared right.

"Everyone out." He said firmly to the boys sitting on the couch.

Wide-eyed, everyone scattered. All that remained were the hired dancers, Tanner, Jared, and I. No one looked happy anymore, except for Jared. He wore a sinister smirk on his face. "First of all," Tanner said standing up, "I didn't tell you that you could talk. In fact, I wasn't even asking you." He walked to the doors of the lounge and closed them both in one swooping motion.

"Secondly, you should know to never, ever, ever..." his voice crept to a whisper as he knelt inches from my nose, "ever, call me by my name when we are in public."

He used his index finger to tilt my head up, making our eyes meet. There was nothing I could that would help the situation now. I didn't even do anything wrong, but I was as good as dead for the night. I could tell by the tone in his voice, that he'd never believe me after my misstep in manners.

."I'm sorr-" my voice quivered thanks to my adrenaline.

"Ah, ah. You don't get to use that anymore." Tanner put his finger to my lips.

It had worked. Fucking Jared won this round, as he did most rounds. I was screwed ."What did she do, Jare?" He asked but kept his eyes locked on mine.

"I questioned why she was away from you and she decided to disrespect me and make a scene," Jared said simply as if it was obvious that was some heinous act.

"Did everyone see?"

"Not everyone, but some did. One or two. Luckily she didn't completely ruin the party, but she could have. If you ask me, I say we make sure there's not a possibility of it happening ever again. She clearly isn't in control of that mouth of hers."

My heart sank, I knew Jared is the one person who talks that way and means it. No, no no. Tanner, please. Don't let him do this, please. I wanted to argue with them. I wanted to scream at Tanner to trust me, that Jared was a lying bastard, but I knew it would only make them angrier.

Tanner sighed, still looking into my eyes. "Go get me something that matches her dress. It needs to look as elegant as possible."

I expected it, so I don't know why, but I suddenly wanted to cry my eyes out. This wasn't fair. I wanted to be anywhere but here with these two fucks. 

 "Aye, aye captain," Jared said happily.