Entwined: Stuck in Her Grip

There was no time left.

Two weeks sped by faster than normal, like it was waiting to mock her luck. They had concluded their exams and at least, everyone was happy the exams were finally over. All except Arlene - Greg was caring enough to share in her sadness.

Rare Gem College would close tomorrow and Arlene was yet to figure out a way out of the den she was getting herself into. Not like her aunt would care if she returned or not, but working coercively for her phone? This was most definitely a nightmare.

Currently, both sat on some patches of grass near the Tennis Court, looking downcasted. Greg was overly worried and Arlene...well, she had that lost look on her face.

She broke the silence between them. "The past weeks spun by so fast, and now I'm stuck; for the second time, for yet the same darned person! He doesn't look familiar to me in any way, so I really haven't met him, even in my past life. Why then is he so bent on ruining my life like we bore grudges in our past lives?!" She cussed between gritted teeth, tugging on the grass while venting her frustration.

"You sure you don't want to report this time?" Greg asked worriedly. Arlene spoke, her gaze turning distant, "How did the last time work out? I was thought to be insane." She gave a sad smile.

Greg released a breath. "So you'll work for him?"

"Like I have a choice. If I happen to stumble upon any slightest chance, so help me God, I'll..."

"Don't!" Greg quickly interjected. "Don't try anything that'll end up getting you hurt. You can do it. Three months only and you'll be back with no further entanglements. Remember he's not always around -that's an advantage- and now you've known him, it'll be safer not to do anything stupid." Greg comforted, his softened gaze on her. She looked worn out. "I'm only anxious about your Mom; won't she be mad at you?"

"I've told them already. I had to make a believable lie." 'Just like I am doing now', she completed the sentence in her mind. She wasn't going to bore him with her life story. It was better he knew nothing.

Greg nodded in understanding. "And your friend? Uh...help me with her name.." "Delaney, and we aren't friends any longer." Arlene said with a frown, feeling a painful tug in her chest.

She had been friends with Delaney for as long as she could remember, but the sudden turn of events caught her off guard. Even when Arlene still tried to get in touch with her, the latter had given her the cold shoulders and that was after the whole Zayde's saga. She went as far as telling her about Jove being friends with her, and Zayde demanding she worked for him to retrieve her phone, little did she know that it only fueled Delaney's hatred towards her.

And just yesterday, Delaney had called at night to officially cut ties with her. The clueless Arlene had thought she was only being angry, but realization dawned on her when she tried the number and couldn't get through -she was blocked.

Now that she thought of it, Arlene could feel the hate that emanated from her voice last night. 'Just stay out of my life, okay?! I've never known you and will never. Go bask in your cheap glory!' 'Del, I'm sorry, please.' Arlene apologized, even when it was unclear what she was apologizing for. 'Fu***k your apology and make damned babies with it!" The other spat, and there was a beep from her end.

That had hurt Arlene, a lot.

"Sorry for that." Greg mumbled. "Yeah." Came her curt response. This school was a complete curse to her, ruining her life bit by bit.

"Well, since we'll part ways tomorrow, we might as well try having some fun, right?" Greg said, trying to liven the mood. Arlene stood up, clearly disinterested. "You carry on. I'll go back to my room...and sleep."

"Great! Never thought sleeping could be fun. We're both sleeping then." Greg got to his feet too, dusting grasses off his butt.

"I'll kick your ass if you follow me." Arlene threatened. He shared too much in her grief and it was beginning to worry her. She didn't want to drag him into her world of misery. Greg was too kind. "I'm ready to have a sore butt then." Came his defiant response. "Seriously?!" "Yeah, Arlene." And off he went, with Arlene running after him with diminishing words of protest.

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Greg had left immediately after the last roll call for the semester. He had gotten a call and with the look of things, Arlene could guess it was an emergency. He did do a bad job at hiding it though.

Now Arlene simply sat on the bench near the school's parking lot with few of her belongings, with the never ending thoughts of escape. Zayde had contacted her last night through Greg's mobile and had told her he would be sending someone to pick her up. If she tried to make a run for it now, was she likely to get caught? "Arlene?" A voice called, and Arlene whipped her head towards its direction.

"Oh. Keith." She called with a nervous smile, getting to her feet. "You're not leaving yet?" He asked. "No, not yet. I'm waiting for someone." "Who? Your mom? You're not a kid anymore, you know." He added with a chuckle. Arlene gave a smile. He could believe whatever he wanted. "How about I drop you off? My car's just over there." He said, nudging his head towards a car parked on their left, taking her silence for embarrassment.

Arlene was quick to refuse. "Thank you, Keith, but my mom would be here any minute from now and I wouldn't want her worrying over nothing." She spoke, her polite smile not faltering even for the slightest second. Keith shrugged. "Okay then. If you say so. See you next semester, Arlene." He waved and turned, heading for his car.

Arlene watched him get in and drive off before she slumped back on the bench. There goes her chance to escape.

But she didn't want to get him involved. Yet again, it's not like Zayde would bother to find her or something. She palmed her face upon sudden realization. Zayde was a Mafia, and a powerful one at that. And even though the stories Greg told her last night were a bit exaggerated, she knew he wasn't someone to toy with. She couldn't run back home either. Her aunt might be home and she wasn't going to risk anything at all. Now she wondered if her aunt has noticed her absence. Why wasn't she trying to find her yet? Was she expecting her to come home at the end of the semester and face her wrath?

A tired sigh escaped her lips. While Arlene was still immersed in thoughts, she didn't notice a sleek black glossy Lamborghini pull into the parking lot. It wasn't until the person walked up to her and stood, obstructing her view, did she barely look at him before taking her gaze back to nothing in particular.

The man cleared his throat. "Um...Ms. Harris." He called, drawing Arlene's attention back to him. Arlene lifted her irritated gaze at the unwelcomed man, only for her brows to crease.

Borris? At least that was whom she was told was coming to pick her.

Borris gave a cheeky smile and Arlene frowned. This man surely does have a lot of sides. "I apologize for coming this late. Something came up. You don't mind if I help you with your luggage, do you?"

Arlene simply got to her feet, carrying her bags wordlessly and heading to the car. When he made to help, she threw him a stern glare. She walked through the opposite door when she saw him hold open the car's door for her. 'That's how they treat you,' she thought, 'fattening the meat before it is butchered.'

Borris shut the door with a shrug and got into the driver's seat. He brought the engine to life and drove off the almost empty school. Halfway through, while waiting for the light to turn green, Borris said while glancing at the rearview mirror, "You don't seem like the convo type."

Arlene had her eyes shut, with both hands tucked into her hoodie pockets, as she quietly listened to the sounds of the buzzing streets. "Would you be elated if it were you?" Her voice came, colder than she'd intended. Borris laughed. But he didn't say anything else before taking the wheels again.

She had already decided she was going to accept everything with good faith. Just put up with the work, what's the worse that could happen?