“Natalia, I’m hungry.” Tommy pouted, leaning on the door frame.
With lightening speed, Natalia’s eyes flew open and they broke apart in a flash! She stared, with a flushed face, at everything but at the boy before her.
“O.. Oh. L.. let’s go?” She stuttered and rushed Tommy outside.
Arian stood still, staring after her.
That was…. He was one second from kissing her?
No, he wanted to kiss her.
Badly!
The young French had never met a girl who’d made him lose control over his emotion in a heartbeat and that realization freaked him out!
Slowly, he started to recall all those strange moments he’d caught himself smiling at her memories, looking forward to seeing her and now, losing his rationality being so close to her?
Was mom right?
Was he really in love??
Or was he just attracted???
Gosh! Rick was right. Figuring it out will leave you close to insanity!
He shook his head and walked out.
In the adjoining living room, Arian spotted them sitting near some covered dishes and went over. He purposely sat close to Natalia on same the couch.
Natalia tried to scoot away but she was already at the extreme end while Tommy had dominated the other single couch, expectantly swinging his legs.
Natalia uncomfortably twitched her lips, wondering if he was toying with her or something.
How could he sit so close?! There was only an inch of space between them that could barely allow a strand of hair through!
She kept her flushed gaze on the floor, trying to ignore his scent which was making her giddy.
“So what are we having?” Arian’s interested eyes shifted to the layout, a taunting smirk tugging at the corner of his lips at his effect on her.
“Natalia cooked for you so we’re gonna share it together!” Tommy happily declared.
The Princess cringed inwardly, expecting his unbridled arrogance.
But surprisingly, it never came. Instead, Arian De’ Argent was touched.
“Really? Seems like I’ve been on my best behavior recently. Thanks sugar.” He smiled.
“Huh?” Natalia looked up to see him throw her a wink and she almost collapsed!
How could a person be so enchanting without even trying?? She passed a plate to an eagerly waiting Tom to stop herself from drooling.
“Finally, some real food.” Arian muttered, reaching for the plate she passed him and the princess almost jerked away!
What was wrong with her?!
Afterwards, Tommy joined them on the couch and they sat together, watching a beautiful view of sunset. To Natalia’s relief, Arian moved so Tommy laid between them with his head on her thigh and his legs on Arian’s.
A nurse had come earlier to reattach Arian’s drip and redo his bandage much to his annoyance.
Ha!
They talked and laughed all evening. It was fun.
Natalia had fun with the Argent brothers.
“It’s so beautiful.” She whispered quietly after a while. The sun was almost beyond the horizon.
“Yeah, it is.” Arian and Tommy breathed out together. And they chuckled again.
“Natalia!” Tommy suddenly exclaimed, sitting up.
“What’s it, Tom?” She looked him over. The little fox giggled, revealing his cute chin dimple.
“The chocolate box.” He whispered in her ears leaving Arian confused.
Natalia chuckled and fondly ruffled his hair before going over to fish out the box, barefooted. She walked back and passed it to Arian.
He cocked a brow. “What’s this?”
Natalia smiled timidly and tucked her hair behind her ears.
“An apology gift.” She muttered. He looked amused.
“For?”
Natalia nervously bit her lips.
“For putting you in here… and for kinda using your family’s name to… to… shut some sales guy up?” She said and immediately looked away.
“What did he do?” The young French’s face turned a shade colder.
Natalia knew better than to tell him the story because he’ld taunt her with it forever. And that thought was scary!
She unconsciously cringed and shook her head repeatedly. Arian noticed her hesitance. He caught her chin and made her face him. Natalia stared at the impatient frown on his face.
“It’s nothing, I promise.” She fluttered her lashes.
Arian’s eyes softened and his hand lingered. They stayed that way staring at each other with Tommy looking back and forth between them.
“This is weird.” He mouthed with a pout and they broke contact. Arian mentally scolded himself before facing the box.
“Woah! How did you know my favourite?” He smiled.
“I didn’t. Your mom helped. She seemed so familiar with the store?”
“Mhn. She owns Delux Creme. Mom was, and still is, a chocolatier before she met my father.”
“Oh.” Natalia softly breathed while Tommy déArgent, the chubby foodie, gleefully focused on uninvitedly stuffing his face with chocolates.
Natalia helplessly giggled.
“Here, try this. You’re gonna love this one.” Arian raised a little white chocolate in the shape of a heart. Natalia opened her mouth to disagree but gave in when he persisted.
Immediately, a satisfied moan bubbled out of her lips. It was so good!
The best she ever had!!
The Princess opened her eyes, ready to go on her royal knees to beg for more when she caught Arian staring. She naively locked eyes with him, getting lost in his hot gaze again.
Tommy stretched out another flavour to her and Natalia happily took her gaze away, ignoring his weird stare.
“Oh. Before it skips my mind… Why were you around during the time of the accident?” The Princess softly licked her lips making Arian’s gaze switch directions.
“Huh?” He murmured distractedly.
Natalia innocently sighed and repeated the question.
“After the party, Tommy spent the whole Sunday with mom making the vanilla chocolate. He’d asked me to give you the box and I was on my way over when the accident occurred and it got ruined.” He returned his focus to his almost empty box.
“Aww, my baby made those for me?” She fawned and cuddled Tommy.
The little fox turned to her and grinned, melted chocolates all over his mouth. Natalia giggled and pecked him all over making him giggle back.
Arian silently snorted and looked away, feeling the green monster rearing its ugly head…
******
Nicky breathed tiredly as she walked into the house. Her day was tiring and probably the worst in her life and she needed a cold bath.
After the thing with Jeffrey and Becky, she’d tried to concentrate on practice but performed terribly in the end! The DM noticed and cautioned but nothing changed.
Much.
And because Ricky was still mad at her, she’d avoided coming home till around eleven at night. Nicky paused when she spotted her brother’s bedroom door and stealthily tiptoed past it.
Of course she knew he wasn’t asleep yet!
When she got into her room, she tossed her bag somewhere and kicked off her shoes. Then her jacket went off next.
She was about to pack her hair into a messy bun when a voice suddenly snarled.
“Where the hell have you been?”
Nicky screamed and flipped to see a shadow sitting in the darkness.
“W… who are y.. you??” She stuttered fearfully, ready to make a dash for the door.
Something moved and the next second, bright lights from the table lamp washed upon it.
.
.
RICKY!
“You don’t sneak up on people that way! I could’ve had a heart attack or twisted my neck from a fall! Didn’t you learn manners?!” She yelled while he kept up an unreadable expression the whole time.
“So, your definition of manners is sneaking home by this time of the night? Alone and unguarded?” His voice slowly rose.
“What are you doing here?” She scowled but softened inwardly.
It was one of the reasons Nicky loved her older brother. He’ld always worry about her before scolding her.
“We need to talk.” He gravely stated.
“We’ll ‘talk’ later.” She waved her hand tiredly and crashed face flat on her bed.
Nicky heard a snort in the background and movements before getting yanked back up!
“Ricky?!” She indignantly screamed.
“No one’s going to bed until I’m done!” He ground straight to her face.
“You sound like a grumpy dad!”
“If that’s how you want it, then so be it!” She scoffed and sat back on the bed, folding her arms.
“You’re getting transferred to a new school.” Ricky exposed.
“What?”
“Since the thing with Jeff still affects you so much, you’ll be transferring.” He concluded.
Nicky felt her heartbeat getting heavier by the minute and her tear glands producing monster tears.
“B.. but you.. You can’t! W.. what about my friends and… and everything I’m working on right now?!”
Ricky’s countenance softened as he sat next to her.
“Nicky, trust me. It’ll be best for you. You’ll forget about him in no time and…” Nicky turned away and stood up.
“I can’t! Ricky, I don’t want to and I won’t!” She turned decisive.
Ricky stood up too.
“Fine! Then I’ll give you options. It’s either you get rid of those feelings overnight or you switch schools tomorrow. Period!” He stated with a tone of finality…
Chapter 46