Chapter 9
1104 Words
Lucy’s POV
I waited at a location and pinged on the shared app. There, I found Nathan alone, in his usual spot, sketchbook open on his lap, and his headphones blasting music loud enough for me to hear.
Nathan was not only attractive but intriguing, and I wanted to have him to myself.
A smile spread through my face.
A few weeks back, things had been perfect; Nathan didn’t look at any girl until after my party.
Tiara was my competition, and I was determined to get her out of my way.
“Hey, stranger,” I said in my sweetest voice.
Nathan looked up with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, but I didn’t react.
I pushed my luck. “Sketching again? You are mysterious, and it’s honestly rude.”
Nathan didn’t reply, and I took the chance to sit beside him.
I cleared my throat and decided to bring up my concerns.
“I saw you talking with Tiara”, I began lightly. “Tiara seems like a nice person, I guess, but I have my reservations. I noticed she’s always sad, you know, trauma-core.”
Nathan’s brow twitched, and I paused for a while.
I didn’t want to get him upset.
“I’m just worried about her; I think she’s unstable. You should be careful,” I added quickly.
Nathan stopped sketching and looked at me.
Then it struck me—the way he stared.
Nathan wasn’t curious but saw through me.
I became uncomfortable.
“Nathan, you don’t like me”, I blurted out before I could stop myself.
Nathan replied bluntly, “I don’t know you enough to like you.”
“At least try to get to know me,” I yelled out of frustration, clapping my hands in the air.
It hurt me.
The statement hit me hard like an arrow to the heart.
How dare he?
Then it came to me. “You think I’m fake.”
Silence.
I scoffed.
Tiara was the cause of everything, and I hated her for it.
“Nathan, I’m trying”, I whispered, tears threatening to fall.
No response.
“You think I always have it together, but I get lonely. I guess it sucks being the girl you only want when it’s convenient.”
Still nothing.
“I threw that party for you”, I continued. “You should know that everybody came because you were coming.”
“I never asked you to do that”, Nathan said, looking away.
That’s when I saw it.
A shift.
A flicker of discomfort, and I leaned into it.
“A woman like Tiara wouldn’t know how to handle someone like you. She’s fragile. Damaged. You would break her.”
Nathan stood up calmly. “Maybe, but it’s not your decision to make.”
I watched in shock as he walked away.
My fingers curled into a fist, and I wanted to hit Tiara as hard as possible.
I stared at Nathan until he disappeared.
“f**k you!” I yelled, tears falling down my eyes.
Tiara had just made an enemy she could not handle.
I needed to get rid of her immediately.
Later that night, I lay in bed thinking of ways to make Tiara disappear.
I scrolled through social media and came across her picture. Sofia had posted it, and it was basic.
No makeup. No filter.
How could she keep a man’s attention?
How did she get Nathan’s attention?
I needed to act fast.
Give a little push.
I had ways. Secrets.
Things no one knew I knew.
A thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Jeff. The perfect weapon.
I could use him.
People like Jeff had an anger inside them that I could use.
I brought out my phone and texted Jeff.
“We need to see; meet at the bar in 30 mins.”
I sighed and changed into something comfortable.
Jeff was waiting at the bar, and it wasn’t hard to find him.
Ladies flocked around like flies attracted to body.
“Thank you for meeting me,” I said with a smile.
“I would never refuse a damsel like you”, Jeff replied with a grin.
He was right.
It was hard to say no to me, but Nathan did it effortlessly.
“I need to talk to you about Tiara” I began
Jeff’s expression changed, and I could tell he gave me his rapt attention.
“What about her?”
“I noticed that your girlfriend has been flocking around another man”, I continued.
Jeff frowned, and I could see that it angered him.
“My girlfriend? Tiara? She wouldn’t dare.”
“I see”, I replied nonchalantly and signalled to the bartender. “Two glasses of whiskey”
Silence.
“Lucy”, Jeff called restlessly, making me smile.
Jeff was giving me the reaction I wanted.
“Here,” I said, passing the glass of whiskey. “You’ll need it”
Jeff gulped down the glass with a frown.
I took a sip slowly, enjoying the moment.
“I have a feeling you know what I’m talking about, but you are choosing to be ignorant,” I said.
“Tiara knows better than to have anything to do with another man. She’s mine,” he replied
I scoffed.
“How’s that going for you?” I mocked.
Jeff glared at me, but I wasn’t moved.
“I know why you are here”, Jeff replied, shifting his gaze.
“You do?” I responded sarcastically.
Jeff didn’t need to play dumb with me.
Jeff bragged, “I already warned Nathan and asked him to stay away from my girlfriend.”
I couldn’t hold in my laughter and burst out.
Jeff warned Nathan.
It sounded hilarious to me.
Jeff couldn’t handle Nathan, and even I knew that.
“Why, then, do you look worried?” I asked, taking another sip from my glass.
Jeff stared at me in shock, and I shrugged.
“You can’t handle Nathan, and we both know” I added.
I waited for the fear to show in his eyes.
“Tiara doesn’t know that”, Jeff defended.
“Okay,” I replied and watched as he battled with his thoughts.
“What should I do?” Jeff asked, accepting defeat.
That was what I wanted.
“Exactly what I tell you to do.”
Jeff was possessive, and it was exactly what I needed to separate Nathan and Tiara.
I wasn’t going to sit back and wait till it became something serious.
- Writer
