Hollow Hearts (The Harkwright Trilogy)

that I clean up after myself.

“Fancy seeing you here Zero,” his voice washes over me, as my hands stop moving and the sponge is squeezed tightly in my grip.

“I didn’t t-t-think a-an-anyone would be here,” I hate that my stammering has come back now.

“Our wing is getting a little loud,” Aeron says as I feel a weight press up against my back and a finger trail down my neck. Running up and down but not quite entering the valley between my breasts, and I’ve forgotten how to think or move.

“H-How come?”

“First day, horny guys plus girls desperate to prove themselves, means a lot of fucking noise,” he groans, as he moves away from me and starts lifting the covers over my baked goods.

“You bake Little Zero, how interesting,” he says and I turn around to see a smirk on his face.

“It keeps me calm,” I mumble before rolling my shoulders and returning to the task at hand. The sooner I get this cleaned up, the sooner I can get to bed.

He claps his hands together before his hands fall on my shoulders and he spins me around to face him, dirty sponge and all. “I’ve had the best idea,” he says with his eyes sparkling with life and he brings his head closer to mine.

“W-what’s that?” I ask hesitantly, my nerves stacking up inside me, threatening to tumble down.

“You bake to relax and I get high, how about we combine the two,” he replies with a huge grin as he pulls out a baggy with an immense amount of weed threatening to spill out of it.

I jerk back, holding my hands out in front of me. “I can’t touch that,” I choke out and a laugh falls free from him as he cuts the space between us and reclaims my shoulders.

“Nothing is illegal in this place Little Zero, we make our own rules. So I’ll give you a choice, I can order you to make me some hash brownies or you can decide to do it yourself. Things are so much better when we just say fuck it and do something because we decided to. What’s it going to be?” His nose brushes mine and I feel my head drop into a nod as I take the bag of weed and hold it in my hand.

“Don’t be so greedy, I’ll keep it for now and we’ll meet back here tomorrow. Ten pm, don’t be late,” his head drops to my collarbone and I feel his tongue run along it, up my neck and just below the lobe of my ear. He smirks at me as he pulls away and leaves the kitchen and all I can do is stand here, still trying to remember how to breathe.

My second day here passes in the same way, we go to breakfast, lunch and dinner in the mess hall and watch as Carly performs for most of the guys. By dinner she doesn’t even hesitate when Scott calls her to the table. He recounts to everyone in detail, the blowjob he got from her in the library.

“You know, I’m starting to worry that the only way we can ensure our fate here is to act like Carly,” Caitlyn says as her shoulders roll forward and her arms hug her stomach.

I want to offer her comfort but that’s not the sort of person I am, I mean I could offer her a pat on the back but I don’t think that will help either of us.

“I don’t think that’s the way to get it or at least it can’t be the only way. Find what makes you different and get them to see it,” I say, paraphrasing Liam and trying not to smile as the thought of him flits through my mind.

“I saw that, you like someone,” Millie whispers as she bops my shoulder and my cheeks heat instantly.

“Don’t be ridiculous, we’ve only been here two days and I don’t intend on liking any of the guys. I just need to be able to stay till the end and get the money I need to get the life I’m wishing for,” a few girls dotted around other tables are looking at us and I don’t think I said that as quietly as I hoped.

I could have sworn I was barely above a whisper, my thoughts are running rampant as I worry over just who may have heard us when a hand falls onto my shoulder and I flinch but I have to remind myself not to pull away.

“You don’t need to like us Zero, as long as you follow orders you’ll do fine,” I don’t know this voice and I don’t dare look over my shoulder to see who it is.

“I’ll do whatever’s necessary,” I force the words out through my clenched teeth and his hands on my shoulders tighten, bringing a wince out of me.

“Good, now get the fuck out of my sight. I don’t need no pitiful stand in right now,” he pushes me forward until my cheek is pressed against the table and tears are pricking my eyes. I feel his chin as it sits on my cheek and his lips press up against my ear. “You want the money so bad, maybe you should have chosen a street corner instead. I’m sure the overweight balding men would have paid well for an hour of your time. Don’t worry though, I’ll make sure you get the experience you crave. I may even leave a few dollars behind for you if you do a good enough job,” he pushes off me and I listen to his footsteps as they move away from me before I get to my feet and walk out.

I keep my head held high until the weight of the stares in this room grows too heavy and then I tuck my chin, step out of the mess hall and run back to my room. The tears are streaming down my face as I run and my hair is sticking to my face and I can’t bring myself to care. I get to my room in half the time it usually takes and I fall through the door as it's pulled open from the inside and a pair of strong arms catch me before I can hit the ground.

“Luna, what's the matter?” Liam asks as he closes the door but refuses to release me from his arms.

“Please, just let me go,” I beg as I push at his chest but he only tightens his hold as he pushes my head to his chest and runs his hand through my hair.

I can’t deny the soothing effect it has over me, even though I shouldn’t be held by anyone while I’m in here. The Harkwrights could evict me for this.

“Please Liam, I can’t a-a-afford t-t-to be k-kicked out.”

“Fuck that, I won’t tell anyone Luna. Please, tell me what happened, it might help. Everyone needs a friend, why can’t I be yours?”