Chapter 7
2066 Words
-Athena Vanderbilt POV-
He went to Bliss Stanford’s place a while ago. Why did I feel so bothered? I mean, Bliss is Alexander Burlington’s girlfriend. Nothing to worry about.
And b****y hell! The mixer will be so soon! Everyone will know I am Nate’s girlfriend! And how on earth am I supposed to tame him?! What would I do?! Mr. Charles said to me that I just need to be myself around him and I don’t even get what’s the connection.
Besides, Chloe still doesn’t know! I just hope she won’t be mad at me. Her phone’s off so I couldn’t reach her.
Gee. I feel like backing out from this deal. It’s not too late, isn’t it? I could call Mr. Charles right now and return the five hundred thousand dollars. I could go back to my old carefree life. I bit my lip. Should I do that?
Then out of the blue, a hand hit my forehead.
I realized I am in the car with Nate.
“Warden, why the hell are you frowning on the window and tell me too why are you trying to rip my car’s seatbelt apart.” He asked me in his casual voice.
I realized I was really trying to rip my seatbelt apart. Oh my. I must’ve looked like a mental to him.
“None of your business, rich boy.” I muttered as I released the seat belt.
He laughed and I was comforted by the sound.
“Hey, Nate. Will you assure me you’ll do no trouble?” I asked, hoping, though I know he’ll never agree since he’s a mighty prideful guy.
“Sure, warden.” He murmured.
Oh. I was actually wrong.
Nate went out of the car and held the car door open for me.
I never even realized we’re here already. I went out and took a deep breath.
Let the game begin.
-Nate Van Warner POV-
What exactly is wrong with her? She went out of the car and inhaled quite a big amount of air. Oh. She’s probably nervous, which is probably normal.
There are a lot of people in the lobby. And I must say, a lot of people are looking at us. I mean, literally staring in different reactions. Well, I’m practically used to it. Some were shocked. Others were amused. But they all display the same tone of surprise.
Okay. Rule of a gentleman.
I held out my arm to her and she looked at me with a what-the-hell-is-that expression.
I chuckled. She’s too naïve for this.
“Gee, Athena. Take it. It’s called courtesy. Aren’t you supposed to teach me that?” I murmured to her as I leaned closer.
She reluctantly took my arm.
“You must do better than that, warden.” I whispered to her ear and she seemed to shudder from our closeness.
“What?” she whispered back in a wary tone as we started walking to the party area. It’s the big round gazebo between the two schools.
“Don’t be too stiff and remember you’re my girlfriend now. You don’t want to arouse rumors.” I told her in a low voice.
“Okay, okay.” She muttered as she straightened her shoulder and stood high.
We entered the school boundaries and the teachers from both schools greeted us and murmured in approval.
“You’re beautiful tonight, Miss Vanderbilt.” Said one teacher from Catalina’s. Athena thanked her.
“Hey, Nate! Nice date you have there!” Will Anderson called to me. He’s one of my classmates and a good buddy.
“Nate, how’s it going?”
“Hello, Nate! So is she your new girlfriend?”
“Man! I never knew you like girls like her!”
“Cool date, Nate!”
“Nate!”
A lot were calling out to me while we walked the halls. Seriously. And I smiled back to them.
Athena just kept quiet the whole time and probably pretending she isn’t hearing anything.
We reached the huge gazebo finally and I quickly spotted Alex and Bliss in a table in the center part.
Athena withdraw her arm from mine and took a seat across Bliss.
“Hello there, Alex, Bliss. Looking good.” I greeted as I took a dutiful between Athena and Alex.
Alex and Bliss returned my greetings but they were both looking at Athena.
“Hey, she’s Athena Vanderbilt. You know her already.” I muttered as Athena gave a small wave.
“Hi there, Athena. I’m Bliss.” Bliss greeted and Athena greeted back.
“Hey, Athena. I’m Alex Burlington.” Alex said cheerfully, handing out a hand.
“I know.” Athena simply answered as she shook his hand in front of me and gave him a huge smile.
-Athena Vanderbilt POV-
Oh my gosh! I’m shaking hands with Alexander Burlington! It’s Alex!
I tried my hardest to keep a cool and calm façade when his bestfriend and girlfriend are both looking at us.
Okay. You might be wondering why I’m freaking out, right? You see, when I was still a freshman here at Catalina’s, I had a big crush on Alex Burlington. I know Nate and him are BFFs but I’ve always known Alex was a good guy, unlike the other. But I let that infatuation go. I’ve always known I’ll never have a chance, let alone meeting him.
I never even told Chloe about it. It was a deep secret.
And speaking of Chloe, where the hell is she?
“Nate told us you’re his girlfriend, under his father’s orders.” Alex said and I immediately glared at Nate who shrugged his shoulders.
So he told someone before the mixer. That bastard.
“Right, I am.” was all I could say.
“Alex and I are hoping you’ll be the right one, Athena. Nate’s got already more than a hundred girlfriends.” Bliss said in a casual tone.
Hmm. She’s kind enough to talk to me in a friendly manner. But what the hell-more than a hundred?!
“ You’re keeping count?” Nate asked her in a disbelieving tone.
“Yep. One hundred and twenty seven. ” Bliss told us and Alex and her laughed.
“Excuse me for that, Athena.” Bliss added kindly.
“No prob. So I’m his one hundred and twenty eight?” I asked, trying to go along.
Bliss and Alex laughed, “Yep.”
Nate rolled his eyes and I can’t help but laugh quietly.
Then I suddenly saw Chloe at the entrance of the gazebo. Her pretty face in shock and eyes widened in disbelief. She’s staring right at me. I felt a pang of guilt.
“Um, excuse me for a second.” I told the three as I stood up.
“Go on.” Alex said and laughed some more on Nate’s joke I didn’t catch.
“Rich boy, don’t do anything crappy or else you’ll be dead, got it?” I whispered to Nate as I leaned closer to him so the two won’t hear.
“Copy, warden.” He breathed as he gave me a quick peck on my cheek.
Gee. Don’t blush, Athena. You can’t.
“And stop doing that.” I whispered back.
“That’s sweet, Nate.” Bliss giggled at us.
“Well, let me do it for you, sweetie.” Alex said as he kissed Bliss on the cheek. She giggled.
I smiled half-heartedly at her and walked away from them.
“Chloe!” I called her as I pushed my way through the packed crowd.
She was still looking at me. But she ran away and I tried my hardest to run faster. Well, if you’re wearing my shoes, you might find out it might be a little impossible.
We were now outside the gazebo.
“Chloe.” I said, panting.
“Athena. What the hell was that?! You ditched me for that bunch of people?” she bellowed, her pretty blue eyes accusing me.
She’s angry at me. Chloe is angry at me. My one and only bestfriend is angry at me.
“I didn’t ditch you, Chloe.” I said honestly. I didn’t say more because I was absolutely shocked by the fact I’m quarrelling with Chloe right now.
“Then what do you call what you’re doing? If Tellulah didn’t mention you came with Nate tonight, I might probably be the last one to know! Did you purposely do this to make me look like a helpless and clueless friend?! You’re unbelievable! I thought we are friends! Perhaps I’m wrong. Is the rumor even true? Are you his new girlfriend?” She yelled, all the time glaring at me and I felt my heart break.
“Uh. Yes. That’s true but Chloe, it’s not that. I tried to tell you…” I was cut short when she interrupted me.
“See? You even didn’t tell me! You’ve got all the time in the world to tell me but you didn’t!”
She was practically crying now, messing her make-up a bit. But I was the one who is really crying.
“Chloe, listen to me…”
She interrupted again, “Listen to you?! Why should I? Stay away from me.”
Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, trying to choke back her tears, as she walked away from me.
I cried and cried and cried to the point I almost hyperventilated.
I ran to the nearest secluded hedge by the toilet and hid myself.
Chloe…My bestfriend is mad at me and told me I stay away from her. Tears are now really flowing to my face, totally ruining my make-up. Why? She didn’t even let me explain. But I was wrong. I did not even tell her a thing wherein I should have trusted her with this. But the mistake’s done and we broke apart. My first and only friend walked out of my life.
-Nate Van Warner POV-
An hour and a half passed already since Athena left the table and I haven’t seen her anywhere. And nobody’s got a clue where did she go.
Where is she? I might sound impossible but I’m really starting to worry.
Her phone is off and I have no means of contacting her.
All throughout, I kept my promise. I did not create any trouble. And it’s so surreal I’m not causing trouble. Bliss and Alex had gone out to get some drinks so I took the chance to leave the table and hunt Athena.
She was unpopular and so she was really difficult to find. Gee. She isn’t in trouble, right?
I got out of the gazebo and settled for the calming night air outside.
Athena, where are you? You aren’t hiding from me, right?
I checked my phone and tried to call her again but I can’t reach through.
That was when I heard low voices by the hedge.
I walked closer. It was Athena who was speaking.
“I’m really sorry for troubling you.”
I smiled. Thank God she’s safe. I walked and almost opened my mouth to say her name when I heard another voice.
“It’s okay. You’re my bestfriend’s girlfriend so treat me like a friend.”
It was Alex. What the hell are they talking about in a hidden place?!
- Writer
