The next day at school.
Nicky, Natalia and Elva were at the cafeteria during lunch break, ordering their meals when an ecstatic group of girls rushed over.
While Natalia and Elva looked confused, Nicky groaned silently.
Who didn’t know the ‘Gossip trio’ as they popularly called themselves??
They were part of the school’s journalism team and it probably wasn’t their shift today else It’ld have been their voices over the speakers announcing the school news.
The euphoric girls rushed over to the group’s table, knocking over a waiteress in the process. Nicky scoffed inwardly.
They obviously knew how to create a scene!
“Have you guys heard?” They screamed simultaneously.
“What the hell’s wrong with your vocal cords?! Pipe it down!” Elva snapped.
A lot of heads turned their way which was typical. Anytime Ria, Sia and Zia made an entrance, juicy gossip was about to overflow.
“What?” Nicky raised a brow cautiously.
“You’ve gotta be kidding!” They gasped loudly.
The ‘triplet thing’ was starting to annoy the occupants of the table. They frowned in displeasure.
“Were you just released from a zoo?” Ria blinked in disbelief.
“How about a prison??” Sia wondered.
” No, no, try a cave!” Zia scoffed.
And Elva finally blew up!.
“Yo! If you don’t quickly state your businesses and vanish, then your corpses might just end up in those places y’all mentioned!”
“Duh! ” They indignantly rolled their eyes and continued.
“The DM just announced who’s gonna be taking the role as your handsome Romeo!” They squeaked excitedly.
Nicky’s heartbeat accelerated a little, wondering who she was gonna be spending the next few weeks and eventually sharing her first kiss with.
The triplets kept bouncing frantically on their feet like rabbits, squealing like they were the ones in her place!
“Just spill it already.” Nicky tried to sound neutral but the shiver in her words exposed just how anxious she was to know.
They squealed again. “It’s Jeffrey!”
“Huh?”
“My one and only Jeffrey Campbell!” Sia squeaked dreamily.
“Hey!” Ria shoved her nastily. “He ain’t yours alone!”
“What are y’all bitches harping about?! Jeffrey spoke to me first after our admission, so you better back off!” Zia threatened and they maliciously glared at themselves.
While the three sisters readied themselves to yank their hairs off, Elva and Natalia’s stunned faces was all Nicky could remember before going into shock herself…
*****
After the sequence of shocks at the cafeteria, the Princess decided to go home early. She wanted to give Arian a surprise visit at the hospital with a makeup meal since his veggie diet had ended.
After making terrible fun of him yesterday, she felt bad afterwards because she was the one who got him into a hospital in the first place.
So it was kinda like an apology. She said to herself.
Natalia briefed Elva before leaving. Thank God they were on casuals today. The black designer jeans, white tank top and white sneakers made her look like a television star instead of a student.
The chauffeur pulled up at a medium scale minimart in the city following her orders. He parked the white Ferrari at the parking lot and professionally opened the door for her.
Yup!
Elva had ordered two more cars and employed an extra chaffeur to drive them around.
Natalia got the young newbie who was a bit too formal for his age. He was at the early side of twenty but still had the fresh-off-high-school look.
Back to the present, the Princess picked up her black shades and channel bag before stepping out. The afternoon sun was mildly hot and thankfully, the minimart was not too rowdy.
“Okay, Jake. Once we’re in, no starting from now, you’re not gonna act like my driver. Understood?”
He nodded and smiled.
“Okay ma’a… Natalia.” He corrected when she raised a brow.
Natalia let all the house workers call her by name. After all the formalities she was used to since birth, she preferred it that way. Jake was on a formal, white buttoned up shirt and jeans.
To Natalia, he was dressed the way she wanted. But to an observer, they looked like couples!
He subserviently walked behind his boss as they went in. From her mental list, Natalia picked out the groceries she needed and put them into the trolley Jake rolled behind. She planned on making burgers and hot potato chips coupled with double coated chicken drumsticks and a homemade smoothie.
The Princess had learnt how to cook back at the palace. Whenever she was less busy or extremely bored, the kitchen was her next favourite place…. even though Chef Nico fussed and panicked and took high blood pressure relieving teas whenever she came around!
Natalia chuckled at the memory.
She was royalty. And royals being in a kitchen wasn’t considered noble in Kingdom Astheria. Fortunately, the Queen never found out else the Princess would’ve been in grave trouble despite being her lovely granddaughter.
So, Natalia knew how to cook pretty well.
As they walked through the aisles, Natalia noticed the looks other shoppers threw their way but she waved it off. The Princess had long concluded in her heart that the stares was never going to end!
When they were done, Jake wheeled the trolley over to the cashier who scaled them.
“Hey beautiful.” The youth in the mall’s uniform smirked at her. Natalia shoved her glasses away and forced a polite smile.
Something about the dude irritated her. She didn’t know if it was the way he smiled or the way he flipped his hair or whatever. But he was an ungraceful sight! Arian was way too gorgeous to forcefully try to impress a g…
Natalia suddenly froze.
When did Arian déArgent get into the conversation?? She mentally face palmed herself.
Stupid, stupid crush!
“I’m Sam! And you are?” He flirtatiously looked at her. Natalia looked back at him.
Was he still trying??
“Natalia.” She tried not to sound rude and focused on Jake who was busy unpacking the groceries.
“A lovely name for a goddess like you.” He persisted. The princess innocently wondered if it was supposed to make her blush or something, because it only increased her rising irritation.
“Your boyfriend?” He casually nodded towards Jake.
“No.” Was her blank reply.
“See that’s a good thing ’cause I’m planning on trying my luck with an enchantress like you.” He winked.
Keep planning.
Natalia paid with her black card when the bags were all ready and for some reason, it shook his confident smile.
She faced him back and leaned closer.
“I said he wasn’t, but didn’t say I was searching. And trust me when I say that whether or not you remain efficient at this table in an hour depends on my absolute silence.” She paused and wore her fancy shades back.
“I’m sure the name De’ Argent rings a bell.”
And they were gone the next minute, leaving behind a panic-stricken cashier boy with whatever his name was, gaping after her…
***
Elva was still shocked to know Jeffrey and Nicky were gonna act lovers indirectly through a play.
Lucky her!
At least her heart’s desire was handed to her on a platter of gold!
She thought and giggled.
Elva would’ve followed Natalia home but Nicky desperately begged her to stay and support her on the first rehearsals going on today. She was so darn nervous about acting alongside Jeffrey.
As Elva walked through the double swing doors of the theatre, she expected to see a few students belonging to the drama club but nah!
ALL OF JEFFREY CAMPBELL’S GIRL FANS occupied every available space!
Jeez!
Couldn’t they be less conspicuous??
The theatre was slightly dark and the only lights available were centred on the large stage. All the drama crew and casts were walking about, completely busy. But Elva couldn’t spot her nervous friend, Nicky Winterfield.
“Elva?” A familiar voice called. Elva flipped over and took an awkward step back to put a distance to their closeness.
“Ricky.” She nodded back. The darkness in the theatre helped a bit or the hazel eyed assistant would’ve been caught drooling at the fine piece of art before her!
Clad in matching denim jeans and a black inner sweatshirt, Ricky looked really good. His handsome profile shone with a tingle of joy which was exposed in the smile he wore.
“Are you here for Nicky? Or you’re one of ’em.” He nodded towards a group of ecstatic girls raising a banner with the words;
.
WE LOVE YOU 4 ETERNITY, OUR ROMEO!!!
.
Elva chuckled seeing how the girls looked so desperate, climbing their chairs and screaming so loudly to impress someone who didn’t even know they existed!
Sighs.
It was such a pirry .
“No, I’m not.” She turned back to him. “Nicky’s kinda nervous about her first rehearsal with Jeff and practically made me swear an oath to be by her side, else she’ld say something stupid because of the monster crush she has on Jeffrey and…” Elva yelped and guiltily clamped her mouth!
Trust me, she’s the one who needed companionship being around this guy!
Ricky caught her expression and let out a beautiful laughter…
Chapter 43