“Who did this to her?” He snarled as a cold killing intent flashed across his eyes.
Elva lost her voice in panic. Before she could weigh out her options, Nicky drew away from him and wiped her tears quickly.
“It’s nothing. It’s just… I was just… it came…. I thought…. No, I was just rehearsing a part in the play that’s all.”
“You don’t expect me to buy that crappy bullshit! Now, tell me what happened or if I should find out myself, Nicky I… ” He threatened.
“I said it’s nothing! I’m serious.” Nicky got scared that her greatest fear was about to happen.
Ricky ignored her and sharply turned to Elva.
“Was it some idiot in the drama club? Did she get bullied? Did someone say something nasty??”
Elva flinched in fear.
She had never before seen him so angry!
“I said it’s nothing, Rick! I was just going through the part in the script where Romeo and Juliet died, that’s all!” She stood up and picked a powder brush to gingerly dust her face.
Nicky slyly looked at her brother through the mirror. Ricky’s face was set in a dark, grim line as a thought flashed through his mind.
“Fine!” He snapped and walked out, slamming the door to show how mad he still was.
Nicky knew he was angry with her. Why wouldn’t he? After clearly lying to him.
The thought alone made more tears rush down her cheeks. No. She shook her head, ignoring the clear thoughts on Elva’s face.
Nicky couldn’t imagine the consequences of telling Ricky the truth. She couldn’t bear to be the cause of her brother eventually hating his best friend!
She decisively resolved in her heart and stared at her messy reflection…
****
Jeffrey Campbell was automatically admitted into the play being Nicky’s Romeo.
No questions.
Rehearsal time came and he went to his dressing room to change. He wasn’t a bit nervous about acting on live stage because as a football captain, he had live games almost every other season.
But Jeffrey Campbell got a fluttering feeling because of the girl he was in love with…. In the play.
He pulled off his shirt and shoes and had removed his belt when a timid knock sounded at the door. Thinking it was the make up crew, he breezed out a come in.
“Jeffrey?” A low voice whispered out after the door made some noise.
Jeffrey froze and turned to see Becky O’Neil smiling at him.
The young heir was initially stunned because after stating clearly how she felt about him, Becky had left the city for a while to get her emotional state in check. And since then, Jeffrey had lost contact with her.
“Becky?” He muttered slowly. She smiled and walked over.
“How’ve you been?” She asked and hugged him. Jeffrey was still in a daze but he returned it.
She’s back.
Becky was really back!
He smiled genuinely.
“I should be the one asking you that. How’ve you been?” He said as they pulled apart.
She shrugged. “Much better, I suppose.”
Jeffrey wanted to ask more but dropped it. There’ld be plenty of time for that.
“So I never knew you were a drama king?” She chuckled, folding her arms.
Jeffrey chuckled back and raked his hair. Things he’ld do for Nicky??
He was just starting a count.
“Hey, I was right all along!” Becky suddenly gushed. He sharply looked up at her.
“Everyone is saying it but I thought they were just bluffing!” Jeffrey looked confused.
“I still don’t get…”
“Of course you do! It’s ’cause of your Juliet, isn’t it?” She mischievously wriggled her eyebrows.
“Where’d you get that from?!” He denied and turned to face the mirror. But Becky poked her head from behind.
“I was a prisoner of love, remember? I know when I see another person trapped.”
Jeffrey’s ears unconsciously turned red.
“Aish, stop it already! Go away, I need to get dressed before the makeup team gets here.” He purposely avoided her eyes.
“Aha! You didn’t deny it so I was right! Besides, there’s no need for any makeup. Your cheeks are red enough.” She teased, circling him but Jeffrey kept dodging.
“Man, could you believe…” Ricky blurted from the door. But paused and zeroed his eyes on them.
The duo looked over to see his emotionless face staring back and forth between them.
“Am I interrupting something?” He asked tonelessly.
“No. Um… I… I was on my way out.” Becky quietly mouthed, rubbing her sweaty plans on her dress.
She’d noticed both the icy and acidic look Ricky directed her way at the same time.
“Jeffrey, we’ll talk later. Right?”
“Yeah, sure thing. See you around.” He smiled at her.
Becky turned and walked out the door which Ricky had kept more than enough space for.
Jeffrey mentally rolled his eyes, almost forgetting his best friend’s dislike for the middle class.
Drama prince!
What?? Two people can’t wear the same crown ?.
After the door closed, Ricky kept up the stare-glare at Jeffrey.
“If you plan on acting like a dummy, you might as well leave.” The drama king drawled and started dressing up in the funky costume.
“What was she doing here?” Ricky’s tone was still flat as he shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Becky, recently came back from the short vacation she took and stopped to say hi.”
“Just that?”
Jeffrey gave him a look.
“Of course not. Since she’s an ex-lover, we had a full make out session right before you walked in, dad!” His voice was sarcastic but Ricky didn’t seem to notice.
“Was the door the way I met it?” His voice turned a shade darker, maintaining his stoic expression.
“Whatever way you met it, Rick was how it was!” Jeffrey was starting to get pissed at the ridiculous questions.
The drama hadn’t yet started. Wasn’t it too early for an interview?
For a moment, Ricky looked deadly. The tension in the room built up immeasurably and Jeffrey seemed to feel it.
“So?…” He curiously asked. “What was it you wanted to say?”
It took a couple of minutes before Ricky finally reacted.
“Nothing!” He growled before slamming the door behind him!
Jeffrey was gobsmacked!!
What the heck’s wrong with him?!
***
Arian decided to take a walk around the hospital since he was bored. Being confined to a hospital bed for days made him ache all over.
Against the young French’s wish, four guards followed behind him while the rest hung around not too far away. The gardens were lovely but Arian felt like a prisoner.
He walked back to his room after an hour. A nurse came in to remove the bandage around his head before leaving. Walking into the bathroom, he stripped off his robe followed by his pajamas before going under the warm shower.
You didn’t expect him to wear the boring hospital uniform, did you?
After spending minutes in there, he got out and wore a bathrobe before using a dryer on his hair.
That done, Arian slipped on some shorts and changed his slippers. The nurse who was assigned to attach his drip and bandage would soon be back.
He was about to choose a shirt to match when the door opened and Natalia came into view. His heart unknowingly lit up which showed in the smile he wore.
“It’s not the first time you’ll be invading my privacy, so you can as well end the shocked expression.” He said flippantly, wearing a shirt.
But Natalia continued staring, battling her lashes slowly.
Arian pushed his long hair away and faced the mirror. Surprisingly, rather than squirm away, Natalia slowly walked over and reached for his… hair?
****
Natalia leaned over and hesitantly raised her hand to Arian’s face, ignoring his soul trapping eyes. She gently moved his luscious hair which revealed the little scar underneath.
Tears clouded her eyes seeing the stitches and against her will, images of the accident resurfaced. His warnings, his risk, his protection, his unconsciousness and now…. his scar?
She teared up more.
“Hey, you don’t have to cry.” Arian hushed and framed her soft cheeks. “There’s a surgery scheduled for it and it’ll be gone before you know it.” He whispered.
Natalia stared at him doubtfully but he gave her a reassuring smile. Then all of a sudden, she stood on her tiptoes and placed a heartfelt kiss on his head, leaving him stunned in return.
“For everything.” She genuinely smiled.
And he returned it.
Suddenly, the room felt hot and the awkwardness returned. The Princess nervously took a quick step back but slipped!
Arian’s fast reflexes caught her in time. Her arms flew to the back of his neck for support and a gasp escaped her lips feeling his warm arms snake around her little waist.
Even with her eyes closed, Natalia could feel his beautiful face inches from hers, filling her senses with his familiar, sexy smell.
She slowly opened her eyes and met his graceful ones. Arian’s grip on her waist tightened as his eyes sensuously slid down to her moist, pouty lips. A hot look flashed across them and Natalia shivered at his intense gaze. Her eyes hypnotically closed as their lips deliciously grazed each other.
The Princess greedily leaned in more, expecting the whole thing when;
“Natalia, I’m hungry.” Tommy pouted, leaning on the door frame…
Chapter 45