#Rhys was lucky to be spit on by Lucien

[the-darkestminds]

For everyone who acts like Lucien is all soft and docile…need I remind you that in book one, when he thought Rhys was evil and might kill him with half a thought, he STILL talked back, called him a whore, SPAT at him, and threatened him with a sword. My man is so feisty.

[theladyofdeath]

10 Things I Hate About You {2}

An ACOTAR fanfiction.

Click here for previous chapters.

Nessian. Feysand. Elriel. Elucien.

Story inspired by the 1999 classic, 10 Things I Hate About You, and a prompt from anon.

Summary: Cassian gets dared to convince the university’s notorious bitch to attend the Greek winter formal with him. Elain is conflicted between her lifelong crush or the boy with the hazel eyes who makes her feel like more than just a pretty face. Feyre finds herself captivated by her school’s new janitor, but little does she knew that he’s not employed there by choice.

Warning: Rated M for mature.

Author’s Note: Good morning! I hope this chapter pleases you all, as the early chapters always remain fluffy.....for a little while. I’m excited to share what I have in mind for this fic. Enjoy. :)

P.S. Send an ask to be tagged, if you’d like to be. Also, I always love knowing what you all think!

“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” - William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

There was a party going on downstairs but Cassian was locked in his bedroom.

The music downstairs could be heard, felt, through the floorboards, as he sat at his desk, his biology book open, a red solo cup filled with a caramel colored liquid sitting atop his notebook.

Cassian hated being in a fraternity while loving it at the same time.

He had joined because his mother had been a part of the Greek system, loving and supporting the VU Greeks until her final day on this earth. Cassian had joined to be a part of her legacy.

And he had done his job well.

He was now president of Kappa Sigma, and although they were not the most well-respected group on campus, he made sure that, behind closed doors, they did what they could to help those who needed it in the city.

It was easier being known as the “party frat”, though. The expectations were lower. No one knew when Cassian did something good, but no one cared when he messed up, either.

So, a party thrived downstairs, welcoming in the new school year and whatever pledges would be walking through their door this semester.

And unless Cassian was needed, he’d be upstairs, getting drunk and studying, hoping one did not cancel out the other.

His phone vibrated on his bed, and when he crossed the room to retrieve it, he peeked out the window.

Members of every fraternity and sorority, and some who weren’t a part of either, were grinding against one another, cups raised, as the music poured from the speakers.

Cassian chuckled to himself.

He had been the same way freshman year.

He unlocked his screen and read, Where the hell are you?

After a quick reply, a moment later, a pounding came from the other side of his door.

Rhysand and Azriel stood there, the latter looking wildly uncomfortable.

They let themselves in without Cassian having to welcome them.

“You know, it’s easier to study at my place, where hundreds of people aren’t gathered,” Rhysand chuckled, nodding at Cassian’s textbook.

Cassian grinned, falling back onto his bed. “I have to stay here in case I’m needed. I’m important, you know.”

Azriel rolled his eyes, but said nothing.

“How’d it go today?” Cassian asked, leaning up on his elbows.

Rhysand tensed, but his shoulders soon relaxed. “Okay. I only had to see her a few times.”

Azriel watched him. “Did she try to come on to you?”

Rhysand shook his head. “No.”

It was a messed up situation, and Cassian hated watching his lifelong friend going through it. Rhysand’s father had gotten himself in some shitty situations that had eventually led to his death. With him gone, his issues passed on to his son. Rhysand was forced to pay his debt.

“I’ll find a way out of it,” Rhysand said. A dismissal.

Cassian took the hint before offering, “Want a drink?”

The light that sparked in Rhysand’s violet eyes said that he had been waiting for such an offer.

Cassian huffed a laugh, “Alright. I’ll be back.”

After pushing off his bed, he threw himself into the sea of people.

A couple was outside of his door, in the dark corners of the hallway, making out. Cassian had to slide by them to get to the stairs, which led straight to hell itself.

He couldn’t move an inch without bumping into someone, but no one seemed to mind the contact. Every time someone saw him, that knew of him, they raised their plastic cups and hollered praise.

Cassian returned their gestures with a grin and a wink before finally finding himself in the kitchen.

A beer pong tournament was taking place, and seemingly getting heated as a crowd had gathered to watch and cheer over the music.

Cassian opened the fridge, but it was empty. On the counter was a bowl of hunch-punch and a bunch of cups, already filled to the brim with beer.

He grabbed two before turning around and beginning his trek to the staircase.

It wasn’t until he rounded the corner that he stopped, his cups spilling onto the tee-shirt of Elain Archeron’s older sister.

“Fuck,” she snapped. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Her lips thinned as she looked down, observing the mess. “Great. Now I’m soaked.”

Cassian just grinned, neglecting to spit out an apology. “I get the honor of seeing you three times in one day? Lucky me.”

“Unfortunately,” she muttered.

“I see you came to my party.”

“I came to keep an eye on my sister,” she scowled. “She shouldn’t be here.”

“She’s always at my parties,” Cassian blinked.

“Not Elain,” she said. “My younger sister.”

She was scanning the crowd as if trying to find her, icy gray-blue eyes squinted and determined.

“Want me to help you find her?” Cassian asked.

Nesta barked a laugh. “No.”

With that, she strode off.

And Cassian watched her go.

~~~~

Azriel found a spot underneath a tree in the front yard, within the shadows, and lit a cigarette.

It was a bad habit, one his friend Mor claimed would be his downfall, which was why he did it alone.

It was quieter in the front yard, the echo of the music from the back yard still able to be heard with perfect clarity.

But he was alone, which is how he preferred it. He only came to these bullshit events for Cassian, so that he wouldn’t be alone in it all.

Cassian used to love the parties, but within the last four years, they just became repetitive.

So, Azriel and Rhysand would come to campus on the nights that the music blared and drinks were poured if only to give their friend, their brother, support.

Azriel took a slow, long drag and let it sooth him.

He closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the tree trunk, his black hood pulled over his head creating a soft, cotton pillow.

Cassian had left to get him and Rhys a drink, but he had never come back. Duty calls.

Rhysand wandered off, claiming he’d be going home soon. He needed good rest for his second day as Amarantha’s whore.

Or, janitor, as she claimed.

They all knew better.

And Azriel?

He would get up and go to work and go home and do it all again the next day.

“Excuse me.”

Azriel’s eyes shot open and he blinked a few times before gaining clarity in the dark night.

Elain Archeron stood in front of him, nearly half a foot shorter than himself, in her yellow sundress and wide, brown eyes.

“Sorry to bother you,” she chuckled. “I’ve been wandering around for twenty minutes looking for the guy I was with. Have you seen him out here? Dark, red hair, tan skin, blue shirt.”

Azriel blinked. He had remembered seeing her with Lucien Vanserra upon his arrival. “Lucien? No, I’m sorry. I’ve only been here for a minute, but I haven’t seen anyone.”

The light in her eyes dimmed, but she nodded. Nibbling on her lip, she said, “Okay. Thanks, anyways. Maybe I’ll just wait here a minute, away from everyone to see if he shows. Is that alright?”

Azriel nodded, once. “Sure. Want one?”

She looked at his cigarette, then back to his eyes. “No, thank you. I have never smoked and don’t want to become…” She cut her words off, her cheeks reddening.

A small smile pulled on Azriel’s mouth. “Addicted?”

She didn’t say anything, but nodded, slightly.

“It’s okay,” he laughed, quietly. “It’s a bad habit. I know.”

“Then why do you do it?” she asked. No judgment, only curiosity.

Azriel took a moment to think about it. “I was sixteen when I had my first cigarette. It’s just become a way of life, I guess. Helps me...calm down. Not an excuse, but…” he shrugged and put the cigarette between his lips.

Elain watched him out of the corner of her brown eyes. “I’m Elain.”

“I know,” he said, quietly. “I’m Azriel.”

“Cassian’s friend.”

He nodded.

She smiled, smugly. “You two are pretty opposite, it seems.”

Azriel raised a dark brow. “Why do you say that?”

“I know Cassian,” she laughed, “and you are not like him.”

“But you don’t know me,” Azriel suggested.

Elain smiled up at him. “Perhaps not, but I like to think I’m pretty good at reading people.”

The side of his mouth turned up as he fiddled the cigarette between his index and middle finger. “Well, I guess you’re-”

“Elain? Hey, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Azriel’s shoulders tensed as Lucien approached. He glanced at Azriel suspiciously as he reached for Elain’s hand in which she excitedly took.

“I was looking for you, too,” she smiled. “Azriel was keeping me company until you came along. I figured if I stayed in one spot instead of continuously moving around looking for you, you’d find me. Turns out I was right.”

Azriel stood by, casually ignoring their conversation without truly ignoring it at all.

“Well, it was nice to meet you, Azriel,” Elain smiled, giving him a little wave as they began to walk away. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”

Azriel waved back.

Then, he watched her go.

~~~~

Rhysand was ready to go home.

He had an early morning and was already exhausted. After searching for twenty minutes to tell Cassian goodbye, he was giving up and heading toward his car.

It wasn’t until he reached the driver’s side door that he stopped, glancing at the sight that was taking place beside the car next to his.

Tamlin was hovering over a girl, pressed up against the side of his car door.

Rhysand lifted a brow as she caught his eye.

There was worry there, in her gray-blue eyes.

She looked familiar, but it was that worry that made Rhysand say, “Oh, Tamlin. When will you learn that not every girl at this university wants your dick?”

Tamlin looked over his shoulder, eyes narrowed and lit with fury. “What do you want, Rhys.”

His words were flat and slurred. Rhysand noted the plastic cup that sat on the roof of his car.

“I was told to bring her home,” Rhysand replied, nodding his head at the girl.

Tamlin opened his mouth, no doubt to call out his lie, but the girl said, “He’s right. I have school tomorrow, so…”

Tamlin’s jaw set as he took a step back. “Fine. Come see me tomorrow, then.”

The girl lifted her chin, not balking, as she slowly walked toward Rhysand. She did not look nervous but Rhysand noted how the rise and fall of her chest quickened.

Without so much as a goodbye toward Tamlin, she opened the passenger side door to Rhysand’s car and slid inside.

“Don’t try anything,” Tamlin snapped, and it took Rhysand a moment to realize he was talking to him. “She’s mine.”

Rhysand chuckled and rolled his eyes before getting into his car and starting the engine.

Tamlin watched them both, as they sat in silence, while Rhysand pulled away from the curb.

The girl next to him let out a breath. “Thank you. You can drop me off right up here.”

Rhysand lifted a brow, glancing at her. “I can bring you home. I don’t mind. What dorm?”

She laughed, quietly. “I don’t live on campus. I don’t go here.”

Realization hit him as he turned the corner off Greek row. “You go to the high school.”

She looked at him, blinking. “Wait, aren’t you the new janitor?”

Rhysand hesitated before saying, “Yes. Rhys.”

She tilted her head to the side. “I’m Feyre.”

“Nice to meet you, Feyre. May I ask what brought you to a college campus tonight? At a frat party, nonetheless.”

“My sisters go here,” she said. “They were at the party but I lost them in the chaos.” Rhysand nodded as Feyre asked, “What were you doing here?”

“My friend is president of Kappa Sigma,” he answered, simply. “I went here until last year.”

She watched him. “You graduated?”

He shook his head. “No. Dropped out and decided to be a janitor instead.”

Maybe it was his tone, but she didn’t push. “You can really just drop me off here. I’ll take the bus.”

“I promise I’m not a crazy person,” Rhys laughed. “I can take you home, still. I don’t mind.”

Feyre’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know me. If you’re not crazy, why are you being so nice?”

Rhysand took a moment to carefully choose his words. “Me and Tamlin go way back. He doesn’t….take ‘no’ very well. You looked uncomfortable.”

As if that was answer enough, they fell into a comfortable silence, but then Feyre said, “Thank you.”

Rhysand nodded. “Anytime.” Another moment of silence passed before he said, “I’m surprised your parents let you out so late on a school night.”

Feyre barked a laugh. “I’m not a child. I’m eighteen, I can do as I wish. Besides, my father probably hasn’t even noticed I’m gone.”

“His loss,” was all Rhysand said, just before Feyre mentioned, “turn here!”

He did.

He followed all of her directions until he headed to the outskirts of the city, where a small, red house sat on a hill.

“This is me,” she said, quietly. “Thank you. Really, you didn’t have to drive me.”

“Anytime,” he repeated. Then, “I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”

She rolled her eyes, quietly humored, before jumping out of Rhysand’s car and hurrying into the house with so much as a goodbye.

Rhysand watched her go, the door closing behind her before he pulled out of her driveway and back into the city.

Chapter 3 coming soon.

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