《Not If I Date You First》Chapter 4
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LIAM
It should take a guy by surprise when his girlfriend chucks a cup of green juice at his head. But after six months of dating Mia—two years of dodging anything from cell phones to entire plates of food—I've developed a sort of sixth sense. I probably realize Mia's going to throw that drink before she does.
I duck just as it leaves her hand. Drops of juice rain across my back as it sails overhead, leaving a trail of cold, tacky spots soaking through my worn t-shirt.
There's a splash, and someone behind me gasps. I jump to my feet, whirling around.
Oh, shit.
A girl stands a few feet behind me, blinking. Her mouth drawn in an almost comical "O." She's soaked head-to-toe in Mia's juice. It runs in rivulets down her skin, puddling on the concrete. Her ponytail is congealing in a green, gooey clump. She'd be attractive if she didn't look like something that just crawled out of the Black Lagoon.
My stomach sinks. I'm not the one who threw the drink, and I feel like a complete ass. I turn back to see if Mia's going to bother apologizing only to watch her vanish into the waiting SUV.
It pulls away from the curb and into the stream of traffic, abandoning me to the wolves. I try to swallow, but my mouth has gone dry. Panic crackles through me as people begin to swarm, pressing closer, phones raised. Proof that I ditched out on the press conference is probably plastered all over their InstaStories already.
I'm so screwed.
Burying my face in my hands, I groan. This day couldn't be a bigger train wreck if one of the show's writers scripted it. Briggs fights to keep the mob at bay, yelling at anyone who gets too close. When I left the apartment, I didn't plan on needing a full goddamn security detail.
I catch his eye to ask him to call for a car, but he's already pulling his phone out of his pocket. The eyes of the crowd sear my skin as I turn back to the girl who just got juice bombed. She's crouched next to a potted tree, frantically examining her camera as though checking for damage.
I zero in on it, and the blood rushes to my head in an agonizing throb. That's no tourist's camera. Not with a lens like that. If I didn't know better, I'd say it belonged to a pap. But there's no way. A girl that young couldn't possibly...
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She shoves the camera into her bag, slinging it across her shoulder and grabbing a to-go cup from the sidewalk. As she turns, I see the words written across the side in big, black letters.
Paparazzi Queen
My jaw clenches so hard my teeth ache. My personal life was just obliterated in public, and this girl—no, this soul-sucking photog—was standing behind me taking pictures?
It's one thing for fans and randoms to take their shots. Running into a celebrity is probably the highlight of their year. But it's another for someone to exploit the worst, most painful moments of my life to make a buck.
Anger flares inside me like a lit fuse. I should go back inside the juice shop, find a table in a corner, and put my head down until the car arrives. But I can't think clearly through the white-hot fury clouding my mind.
"I was going to apologize," I snap when she finally notices me watching her. "But it looks like I should be congratulating you. I'm sure those shots are going to make one hell of a payday for you. That's what you bottom feeders care about, right?"
There's an intake of breath from the crowd like they're a well-trained audience at a play.
The girl stares at me for a beat, and I watch as the stars in her eyes wink out. She wipes a hand over her face, flicks the juice from her fingers, and glares at me like I'm the bad guy here.
"If you hate having your picture taken so much, maybe you shouldn't get into screaming contests with your girlfriend in the middle of the freaking sidewalk."
Right. Because breaking up with Mia in public was totally how I wanted to kick off my Monday.
"Seriously? Are you even old enough to be a dirtbag stalkerazzi?"
I sound like a condescending jerk, especially since she's got to be about the same age I am, but I don't care.
"Are you even old enough to be such a cliché? I mean, a celebrity who hates photographers? How original." She rolls her eyes. "And it's paparazzo."
"What?"
"Paparazzo is singular. Paparazzi is plural." She runs her fingers through her slimy ponytail, making the strands poke straight out.
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"Are you really giving me a grammar lesson right now?"
"You know, you wouldn't even be famous without us." She says 'us' with so much pride it makes me want to smash something. "You're welcome by the way."
"Listen to the baby photog." I give her a slow clap. "You actually think you're doing me some kind of favor, don't you, Ace?"
She straight-up sneers at me. "I'm surprised you were able to get that t-shirt on over that giant chip on your shoulder, Superstar."
I open my mouth to tell her where she can stick that camera of hers, but I'm cut off by a deep voice, booming from behind me.
"Liam! Liam, over here!"
Fuck. My. Life.
I turn. A dozen paps are descending on us, lenses trained on me.
"This way, Liam! Look this way!"
"Liammmm!"
"Great. Your friends are here." I practically spit the words at her.
"Yeah, watch out for those cameras. They might do something awful like—I don't know—make sure you stay relevant."
"Go back to paparazzi preschool."
If what Faye said is true, I'm on the verge of losing my job because of the paps. Sure, they keep my face on magazine covers, but there wouldn't be any bullshit rumors about me if it weren't for them.
Everyone laps up the stories about me smashing cameras or punching photogs. They all want to see me snap, to witness what they think is my perfect life going up in flames. That's the kind of trash that sells magazines. No one ever bothers to ask what the paps did to push me to the breaking point—not that I could tell them anyway.
"I'm pretty sure I got this week's cover shots for every tabloid in the country." The girl pats her camera bag. "So I think I'm good on the paparazzi preschool."
The sarcasm is strong with this one. She's right about one thing though; those pictures are going to be everywhere. I give it an hour, two at the most, before the rags start snapping them up.
The door to the coffee shop bangs open, and a girl with her hair piled in a crazy knot on top of her head comes barreling out, shoving her way through the swarm of bystanders. She sees me watching her and stops running so suddenly, her shoes skid on the concrete. It would be funny if I weren't so pissed off.
She looks from me to the photog girl. "Okay, I don't know what is even happening here, but Ada, you're gonna be late!"
The photog looks down at her watch and gasps. "No! No! No! No! No!"
Without another glance in my direction, she takes off running, leaving a path of green splatters across the sidewalk as she disappears into the throng.
"Liam! Who was that girl?" one of the paps shouts.
I turn away, reaching to cover my face on instinct, but that doesn't stop them. The incessant flickers of light flashing behind me reflect in the juice shop window as the paps hurl questions at me. They call my name again and again until the word becomes meaningless. The syllables are nothing but an echo of the pounding in my head.
"Anders, the car's here." Briggs's voice cuts through the clamor.
I school my expression into practiced indifference before turning and shoving my way through the crowd to the town car idling at the curb.
Cameras fire inches from my face, flashbulbs erupting, making spots dance in my vision.
"Yo! Let's get some space in here!" Briggs hollers, gesturing for them to back off.
A few fans have managed to worm their way to the front of the pack. They hold out pens for autographs or ask for selfies. I ignore them, keeping my eyes glued to the ground.
Briggs holds the mob back as I swing the car door open and dive inside. He follows after me, slamming it shut and muffling the tumult of voices outside.
"Where to?" asks the driver.
"Just get me the hell away from here." I collapse back on the cool, leather seat, rubbing my temples.
It's barely nine in the morning. If this is how my day is starting, I can only imagine the dumpster fire it's going to become when those pictures hit the internet.
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Medusa and the blind woman
Update: * Volume 1 & 2 of the novelization of Medusa and the blind woman are available on Amazon Kindle under the name Bryn D. Estelle. * All chapters from Volume 1 & 2 on RoyalRoad have been cleaned up and tweaked. New Interlude was added to Volume 3. * Three new chapters have been added to RoyalRoad that are marked 21.1, 21.2 and 21.3 which are original content from Volume 2 of the novelisation. Volume summaries: Volume 1: The legendary Gorgon, Medusa, spends a solitary life on her island Sarpedon. The only interruptions to her monotonous life are the occasional expeditions of foolish humans that try to slay her for fame and riches. This story begins on the day that just another of these expeditions brings along an unusual woman. A priestess of Athena that was born blind and is not afraid of the Gorgon. Soon those two are forced into an unexpected coexistence on the small island. Will those two unlikely life partners learn to get along? Volume 2: The great goddess of wisdom and war, Athena, realizes that her priestess is prisoner to the Gorgon and makes a bet with the monster. The human expedition returns to slay the Gorgon and Eugenia is caught between the front lines. Typhos reveals his true goal and his machinations corner Medusa. What choices will the dissimilar duo make? Who will come out victorious? Volume 3: After Eugenia awakens in the city of rowers, Eretria, she finds herself separated from Medusa who is receiving punishment for leaving her exile. Still recovering from her injuries and desperate, the priestess sets off on a journey to make a return to Sarpedon. On her way she meets many strange new people as well as some familiar faces. On top of that the messenger of the gods, Hermes, tells her of a trial that awaits her on this uncertain path. Where will her trial take her? Volume 4: Reunion. After Eugenia's long trial comes to an end, she returns to the side of Medusa who had suffered her punishment at the hands of Athena. As they try to find a new balance in their shared company on Sarpedon they are faced with many tumultuous emotions that wind down to the very cores of their souls. Secrets are uncovered, pasts revealed and Eugenia's feelings are put to the ultimate test. And amidst all this, a new intruder chooses to trespass onto the secluded isle to cause even more trouble. Aphrodite has set her sights on the Gorgon now.
8 121DDLG Academy: Double Life
Forced upon her to attend Ravenwood Academy, a special school for Ddlg/Mdlb, Carmen Aguilar is more than unhappy when she finds out that she has to attend there and be a little for someone else. Coming from a background where her parents married over a Ddlg relationship, both her parents thought it was a good idea to enroll her so she can find the "one". She's mad but still goes to attends so she can make both her parents happy and proud.Zane Black the son of the headmistress of the school and soon to be the heir of the Black fortune. His parents too got together through a DDLG academy and got together. Zane is known to be serious but with his little, he's always a bundle of joy. But now there's something no one knows about Carmen, she's living a double life. In the daytime, she's a little, but when nighttime hits she's one of the most popular faceless gaming streamers there is. What happens when Zane chooses Carmen to be his little? Will he be able to tame her and make her enjoy being his little? Or will she dismiss him and just play this whole thing off as if it was another game to her.
8 196The Alpha's House ✔️
Penelope Lewis' life was changed when she found her parents murdered. Her brother quickly took her to "safety." While hiding away in a cottage her brother became abusive, locking her in the basement. With only the voices in her head keeping her company Penelope was losing hope. When she awakes to a war waging outside, she makes her escape. As she runs she finds a house. Quickly she takes shelter inside.James Mason has spent the last four years of his life looking for his mate. Without his mate this Alpha has become cold and fierce. After an attack on a group of rouges, James returns home only to finds his mate. What will happen when Penelope realizes she is a werewolf? Will her brother come after her? How will James react when he learns the truth about his mate?Read The Alpha's House to find out.
8 438Lord of the Night Realm: Book II - Reunion
[Spoilers for Book I] With Isadore Renard's scheme put into motion, Ellie finds herself back in the Prime Realm with no recollection of her time away from home. But just as she begins assimilating back into normal life, Solarists execute a plan that involves her in an insidious way. What fate lies in store for Ellie and those she loves at the hand of her forgotten lover's nemesis?
8 221Little Rich Boy
His dad is the CEO of the largest firm in New York. He's the king of the school, girls fall at his feet. He dries his hands with broken hearts and hundred dollar bills.Her dad works as a store manager. She's the scholarship kid at the school, unnoticed by almost everyone . She treasures the pennies she has.He's Dustin Fox the little rich boy that needs to learn how to love She's Hadley Penderson the uptight girl that needs to learn how to live{NOT EDITED}
8 81Only His ✔
WARNING__________This story is a dark romance. It will contain dark subjects, some of which may be triggering to certain readers. Subjects that may be featured are self-harm, violence and abuse and rape. It may also mention or reference sexual themes and isn't limited to other dark topics. THIS BOOK IS NOT SMUT!There is also swearing and bad language.I AM NOT GLORIFYING THESE TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS!!READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!See introduction chapter for more information.DESCRIPTION ______________Life is hard enough without the twists and turns that many of us face along our way. Alice Green was a victim of abuse, a relationship ending in disaster. Yet despite this Alice has still come out the other side strong, or so she says. Working as a criminal psychologist had always been a dream for her, however it soon turned into a nightmare when Alice is kidnapped by a ruthless mafia Don who will not rest until she truly belongs to him.
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