Starving - Hailee Steinfeld

You know just what to say

Shit, that scares me, I should just walk away....But I can't move my feet

The more that I know you, the more I want to

Don't need no butterflies when you give me the whole damn zoo

"So you on for tomorrow." Phoenix murmured, his hot breath tickled on Aurora's neck when they were lying on Aurora's bed, spooning.

"I am not really fond of parties." Aurora murmured, turning on his hold.

"It's Halloween. They are all going." He pleaded with her.

"I get it, Phoenix. But it's really far, Ben won't let me drive and you won't enjoy without drinks and Olivia..... She will kill us." She said apologetically, feeling bad for saying no to him.

"Then I won't drink. I don't need alcohol to have fun." Batting his eyelashes at her, Phoenix gave her a puppy dog look and pouted his lips. Aurora kissed his pout and tried to convince him one last time.

"It's an hour's drive away and I don't have any costume." She cocked cocked an eyebrow.

"I can think of something," Phoenix said huskily, raking his finger over the sheer lacey black nightgown Aurora was wearing. She had bought just for him, among other sexy nightgowns.

"Not happening.." She swatted his hand playfully "I'll ask, Ben. I won't be comfortable wearing whatever you are imagining, in public." Phoenix groaned, grabbing her ass and kissing her fiercely.

"Your college doesn't celebrate Halloween, Lame." he rolled his eyes.

"Our college. And last year a group wrecked a lot of college property and security cameras couldn't grasp who was who." She snickered, remembering the scream killer facemask.

Phoenix held Aurora's hips to pull her on top of him. Aurora straddled him, she broke the kiss and removed her gown. Phoenix's eyes hooded looking at her up and down, his pupils dilated in lust. She is only wearing her black lacy lingerie and in place of the usual socks were black over the knee stockings, Phoenix has caught a liking of.

"You look like a goddess, love...." Phoenix breathed out, pulling her down for a kiss, his arms touched her all over, carefully, not removing the remaining three pieces of clothes.

"....Permission to worship my goddess all night," he whispered, peppering kisses over her neck and Aurora permitted, through a deep unleashed moan.

❄❄❄

"I have agreed for Phoenix's sake. But this is not how I am going. He will be hurt." Aurora crossed her arms in protest.

"I don't know about him but one person is definitely hurt and that's me, Livia let's go." Ben tugged on Olivia's hand to leave, it was a fake dramatic exit that would never happen even if Aurora didn't bother to stop them, this was something they had orchestrated beforehand. Aurora rolled her eyes as she saw them leaving at a snail's pace as she tried to stop them.

"Ben that's not what I meant. Phoenix made me agree to go with all of you guys. If I wear this blue jeans and white tank top he will think I did it on purpose." Aurora yelled. It was difficult to make them see the logic when one was dressed as Black Panther with pink eye shadow and the other as Supergirl.

"You are dressed as a sexy cowgirl and we are representing that Marvel and DC can be buddies." Ben left the room, the conversation was over for him.

"Cowgirl without 'Cowgirl boots'. I am wearing the regular pseudo boots, Ben...." Aurora shouted, snatching her keys from the table.

"It's in the car, follow me." Ben crooked his finger ordering her to follow him.

"Ricky is dressing as Joker and I am feeling like a-" She complained locking the door.

"Hey, love." Aurora's jaw dropped at the sight as her hands froze mid-air. Phoenix was in a pirate costume, with drop earrings on one ear and a hook on one hand. Just like... just like....

"Killian Jones...Oh my god...!!!" Aurora ran to him in excitement and hugged him.

"You look beautiful, Swan." Phoenix said kissing her lips.

"But I am-" Ben dropped a red leather jacket over her shoulder, politely shutting her whining. The jacket was just like the one Emma Swan wore in the show 'once upon a time'.

"I am hooked... Pun intended." Phoenix winked at her, giving a sexy smile.

"Is that a guy liner." Aurora asked looking in his eyes.

"Aye..." Phoenix said blushing crimson.

❄❄❄

"Can I drive?" Olivia asked, hopefully.

"Noooo..." They all said in unison.

"You can't take selfies while driving, Olivia." Aurora tried to reason with her.

"But I can." Olivia pouted. All of them looked at Ben in horror, shaking their heads hoping, that what they were assuming was wrong.

"I can't say no to her every single day," Ben muttered hiding his face.

"Not today. Ricky will be driving." Aurora held her shoulder to take her back.

"I'm fine with Rick driving, If Aurora drove we would reach by Thanksgiving." Olivia laughed. Phoenix sneered but sobered up pretty quickly when Aurora gave him a scathing look.

❄❄❄

"So where is this party exactly..." Ricky had lost the way when they were a few minutes away from the destination.

"Let me call him he will direct us exactly," Phoenix called Luca Romano, a fellow football player in Phoenix and Ricky's team. Luca has invited a lot of people and everyone who can manage a ride to his cabin, is coming.

"He is sending his cousin," Phoenix told them.

As promised, 5 minutes later, Luca's cousin came. They were led to a beautiful ranch-style mansion, Luca had called cabin. Several cars with different number plates from others states were parked indicating that people from distant places have also joined.

"Thanks, man." Phoenix and Ricky thanked Luca's cousin.

"It was nothing. I am Franceso Romano, by the way." Everyone introduced themselves, except for Aurora.

"Have we met before?" Franceso asked Aurora. She was dumbfounded. He had asked a simple question even an introvert wouldn't be that jolted over it.

Phoenix can't tell the guy to back off, he seemed genuinely curious as if seeing a resemblance in her. Since she was dressed as a regular person, There is no point in misunderstanding her for someone else, but Phoenix has to say something to save her.

"You must be mistaken, she hates parties. We had to drag her here." Phoenix chuckled, flinging an arm over her shoulder.

"On one condition, I reckon. If you agreed to dress as Hook and Swan." Francesco smiled. Aurora's head jerked in surprise. "What... My fiance made me watch it." Franceso's eyes softened mentioning her.

"Fiance...???" Olivia asked shock and hurt evident in her voice. Franceso's mouth opened to say something but he couldn't form anything.

"Okay kids, Party time...!!!" Ben shouted taking Olivia's hand. Her sad eyes quickly became delighted. Franceso shook his head in disbelief. They left him there and brushed past him, letting him wrap up his head over what just happened. It took Francesco a few more moments to sober up but the feeling that he knew her from somewhere was still there and he knew that until he jogs his memory to remember where he has seen her before it will keep bothering him.

Aurora and Phoenix went inside, the moment the doors opened 'One Dance by Drake' reached their ears.

"One Dance..." Phoenix asked holding his arm out for Aurora. She smiled, placing her hand in his. Aurora and Phoenix swayed to the rhythm, making them the few of those who were dancing to the music, not grinding and groping each other.

Aurora opened her mouth to say something but Phoenix gave her a wet kiss on the mouth.

"No way..." he whispered against her lips.

"But I didn't say anything," Aurora said innocently.

"You're going to ask me to put this guyliner more often."

"What... Can you blame me? It's suits you."

"That's my natural charm, Love." Phoenix whirled her around, Aurora's back was now glued to his front as they moved with the beat.

"I meant to say that you look really.... really....sexy, with the liner," Aurora said craning her neck to face him biting her lips, suggestively. Phoenix turned her around so they were now face to face.

"Just tell me when and where love. I'll be ready."

"mmmhhh..." Aurora kissed him, and a different song was playing when they broke the kiss.

"We should go see what others are doing." she said.

"Okay. I'll find Ricky and go meet Luca. You stay with Ben and Olivia and-"

"I won't take drinks from anyone." Aurora pecked him and joined Ben and Olivia.

Phoenix found Ricky and they went to meet Luca, who was standing with a group, wearing a Doctor Strange costume.

"Great party, Romano..."

"Thanks, man." Luca stopped the server to get them drinks. Ricky took it and Phoenix declined.

"I am the designated driver today."

"Take it man lots of us will be staying here over the weekend. We have small cottages." Luca motioned to the tiny makeshift cottages. Phoenix saw Aurora through the window, she was dancing, she didn't miss one beat and Ben and Olivia were equally skilled.

"Nah... I'll pass." Luca nodded and went to see the others.

Phoenix walked around the place looking at the property thinking of buying something like this. He thought of showing Aurora his place if she agreed to join him for Thanksgiving with his family in the Hamptons. She still hasn't admitted that she has been to the Hamptons and always makes fun of him every time he mentions his hometown. And sometimes, he does it on purpose.

"...Ravenscroft...???" On the mention of her surname, Phoenix's attention turned to the voice.

"Yes... yes... That's the name." Francesco Romano said looking at her, She was sitting at the patio with Ben and Olivia eating something.

"I knew she looked familiar. I would have gone totally crazy trying to remember." Phoenix understood that Francesco didn't mean to interrogate Aurora earlier, he just generally wanted to know, otherwise, he would have kept recalling who she was.

A beautiful blonde was standing with Francesco, who had his arm rested protectively around her waist. Must be the fiance he mentioned earlier, she was still looking at Aurora.

"Sweetheart, she is at least six years younger than me. Her parents ran the Sherbrooke Charitable Hospital and were great philanthropists. They were one of the most respectable people in our town."

"Were...???" The girl asked. They couldn't see Phoenix, since he was standing behind a tree, who knew he shouldn't eavesdrop but the need to know more about Aurora was strong. he convinced himself that it was involuntary which made it okay.

"Yep, they were in a terrible car crash, the other car's driver was drunk. We were in the middle of our Europe trip at that time." The blonde girl gave Aurora a pitied look.

Phoenix was ashamed of making fun of Aurora's driving skills just because she drives slow and even today when she wanted to make sure he didn't drink. Ricky has told Phoenix that Aurora always reminded him not to drink and drive during his night out on Fridays.

"Hey Man, how long has it been...." A guy greeted Franceso. "What are you guys looking at.... Is that...???"

"Aurora Ravenscroft." Francesco pursed his lips in pity for starting her topic, When others will realize who she is, they will give her the same look.

"Don't pity her. She is a junkie... Cocaine, meth... I don't know. You might think from her cute looks that she is some goody two shoes. Well, we all did. But when her..."

Phoenix didn't realize that he had stepped forward from where he was standing making his presence known. Francesco immediately put his arm over the guy's shoulder to stop him. Francesco's eyes held more regret when he realized that Phoenix may not have been aware of the latest information. He wanted to go after him but thought better what his friend had rudely spoken of was the story everyone in Sherbrooke believed to be true.

Phoenix walked further down the woods, all those rang in his ears, til he realized that he had come too far from the cabin. He stopped his strides, putting his hands on his knees trying to calm himself as he couldn't breathe. It was too much to digest. Phoenix remembered her love for the sunrise, giving her a reason to breathe. How she always stays home and does all her yoga routines, Could it be a meditation technique to stop herself from relapsing? It all makes sense now, her nag for the healthy food and making others eat it. The green tea, that's her method for detoxing.

That's why she stays away from the parties. It all made sense now. Phoenix himself never had or wanted to do drugs but he understood the struggles. he was attracted to alcohol during his high school days when he wasn't legally allowed to drink and when he could the charm wasn't there. He can't and won't hold this against her. Phoenix didn't know how long has he been standing there when he decided to go back to her. Phoenix sensed something was wrong when he reached closer to the mansion.

He!!o, my darling readers. If you liked this chapter, Please do 'VOTE' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for them and share your precious comments ❤️.

I will be delighted if you check out my other stories, 'Billion Dollar Wedding', 'Mafia & Miss Honey' 'My Enemy, My Stalker', & 'his captive.

You can find the link in my profile.🥰