feeling when you wake up from sleeping, and you can't quite differentiate between dream-world and that of reality. Well, that was exactly the position I was in as I sat beside Miles as he rabbited on and on about an upcoming art gallery opening, in which he could enter to be featured in. I didn't mind his insistent chatter, likely more from nerves than excitement, as without this willingness, we'd likely be sat in silence.

I just could resist mulling over the events of the previous day. Tempted as I was to divulge in spilling everything to Miles, I thought it better to just contain it until I could get my mind in order. I mean, it was only a drive back, right? Surely there's nothing of particular significance in that? Only, it was Archer-fucking-Redwood, renowned 'it' boy of the school, in spite of his cold demeanour and proud attitude, or perhaps it was because of it. That wasn't even to mention the proposition he'd made: to be his girlfriend. A fake one, of course. But people would need to think it was real, so really, it wasn't a far leap to really being in a relationship— in public, at least.

My plate was untouched and I didn't feel all that hungry. The already scarce appetite I had fled completely when the Elites walked in, excluding the prince. I imagined him sitting in his room, eating alone as his guard stood by his door. Being alone didn't seem like such a bad thing, though, especially surrounded by diamonds and jewels weighing more than me.

"You're not hungry?" Miles said, his eyes flickering down to my full plate. I shook my head. "... Can I?" I nodded, lamely. With a shrug at my strange manner, he swiped a piece of toast from in front of me and began shoving far more than his mouth could possibly hold in it.

I sighed and slapped his hand away as it reached for more. "You're going to end up choking if you stuff your face with any more."

He rolled his eyes, but retracted his hand, nonetheless, holding it to his chest. "You know you really didn't need to hit me. Besides, I haven't been choked in a while. I'm getting desperate." I rolled my eyes.

"Go out to one of the club's in town, then. I'm sure there'll be plenty of takers there," I said, waving my hand flippantly and letting him pick out more food once again.

He was the one slapping me then, but his were very excitable and repetitive. "That reminds me! There's one that's just opened— some wealthy business man or something— but it's meant to be proper class. They've got at least three floors, a bar, and it's clean, not like some of the other places round here."

"Like I have time for that, Miles," I said. "And I don't really feel the need to be going to a stuffy, probably over-priced nightclub."

"I'll convince you, eventually," he said, far too confident in his own abilities. 'Yeah, good luck with that,' I thought internally, but didn't say anything else.

As a blonde figure approached, passing us so closely that I could smell the distinct whiff of mint as he went, I was tempted to bring up Harry. That is, until I thought better of it, and restrained myself. Every time I'd even gone to say his name, the subject had been changed so quickly it was enough to give anyone whiplash or he'd had urgent 'business' to attend to.

"I'll catch you later," I said, picking up my bag as I caught sight of the clock. "I've got a lecture."

"Have fun," he said, sarcastically. With a discreet flipping off, I went on my way.

***

My phone began buzzing in my pocket as I was making my way back to my room, key already in hand. At the sight of Mum's name, I raised it to my ear.

"You alright, Mum?"

"Yeah, yeah, not bad," so... bad. Honestly, her incapability to lie was becoming a little embarrassing. "Well, actually I just wanted to call to ask if you'd found a job, darling."

"I'm working on it," I sighed, now having opened the door and tossed my bag onto my bed. "Why? What's happened? Is it urgent?"

I heard her laugh lightly. "Oh, sweetheart, it really isn't worth worrying about, it's just— no, everything's fine. How are things?"

Much like Miles, she resorted to changing the subject whenever questions got a tad too intrusive or things were a little too near to being revealed.

We chatted for a little while longer, but even before we'd said our good byes, I knew what I needed to do.

As much as it made me want to rip my hair out for demeaning myself, I had no other options.

I needed to find Archer.

***

"Archer!" I called as I spotted his tall figure walking away towards the doors, where he'd soon be lost against the night. "Archer!" I called for the second time. This time, him and the two figures walking either side of him heard me. He turned in my direction and the others followed suit.

I knew this could wait until the morning, but I feared that if I had the time to really think about it properly, I'd change my mind or worse (and very likely)... chicken out.

"Yes?" He said as I reached him, a little out of breath.

I was very aware of his company listening in and so chose my words carefully. With a pointed look, I said, "I need a word with you, privately."

He waved to them in his blasé way, one being Noah and the other a boy I didn't recognise. He seemed a similar height to the pair of them, possibly taller, which was daunting considering Archer had to be at least 6'2". His eyes were dark, almost as dark as Miles's but his seemed to have a certain edge, like a sharpness rippled through them. I averted my gaze.

"I'll meet you out there, boys," Archer said, letting me lead him around a corner into a slightly narrower corridor. I realised how close we were and took a reproachful step back, not knowing whether I needed the space to not feel intimidated or whether it was some other reason. Disregarding my pride, I begged it to be the former.

"This agreement," I started. "What would it involve?"

His eyes seemed to sparkle then, a slight disbelief but also a knowing that I wouldn't be able to turn down his offer. Had it not been for the thought of Mum sitting all alone in a freezing house, I'd have done just that. Walked away then and there, just to wipe that smirk off his face.

He leant back against the wall, in between gold-incased frames of a horse and of a Manor House, overseeing acres of land. "It'd be purely for those in my circle," he said. "So there'd be little need for displaying the 'relationship' outside of banquets and charity events and so forth. It's just business."

"What about the extent of the... 'relationship,'" I knew he had spotted my cringing at the word; the difficulty it had been to get the word past my lips.

"In terms of...?"

I had a sneaky suspicion he knew exactly what I meant, that devilish twinkle to his azure eyes. He just wanted to see me squirm and get all flustered.

"You know, intimacy-wise."

"That depends on how far you'd like to go, darling." His lips tipped upwards at one side as I rolled my eyes, exaggeratedly. "Handholding, at most. My family and business associates are quite a conservative bunch." I released a sigh of relief.

"Okay fine, and payment?"

"Whatever you need, whenever." I nodded in confirmation. "So, are we agreed?"

"I'd like to set a few rules first, boundaries, if you like." He motioned with his head to go on. "I don't want media coverage, for one—"

"— I can't promise that."

I went on, "Two, this agreement doesn't exist at school. We go on as normal: you and I don't exist to one another, agreed?" He nodded, simply, eyes though light, appearing dark and brooding, as they bore into my own. "I don't want either of us delving into each other's lives. We only need to know the basics, like favourite food or whatever, no more."

At this, he voiced his opinion. "How are we supposed to have people believe that we are in love if we know nothing about each other?"

"Woah, woah, woah," I said on impulse. "Let's not go throwing around the 'L' word."

"You realise this is all fictional, surely?" He said with a raised brow. "We don't really love each other."

I scoffed at him thinking me to be that stupid. "Obviously. This is a business arrangement, nothing more. Besides, I wouldn't let myself fall in love with you if you were the last guy on earth."

"I don't believe falling in love to be a particularly conscious thing."

"Oh," I said with a jutted hip." And you have experience?"

"Enough," he answered. By means of dispersing the uncomfortable silence, he pushed himself from the wall. "We'll talk tomorrow."

With that, he was on his way again.

I gave myself a moment to regain my breath and sanity. Fruitless. I couldn't help the encroaching fear that I'd just made a huge mistake.

I'd just made a deal with the devil.