Elva had been home all day from period cramps and couldn’t even go to school! Tommy’s hilarious visit was the only thing which made her day lively.
She ran downstairs into the kitchen to make a spicy soup because she craved for it. But the second she opened the fridge, she got lazy and decided to order instead.
Elva walked back to the living room and watched a ‘marathon’ of soaps to kill time. Just as she was getting impatient, the ‘ding’-ing of the doorbell sounded and she flew across the hallway to it with a bright smile.
But that smile dropped when she spotted Ricky Winterfield.
“Were you expecting someone?” His smug voice echoed. Elva disdainfully scoffed.
“What are you doing here? No wait, who gave you this address?” She scowled. Ricky leaned on the door frame in a lazy fashion.
“My father is a billionaire and also?… My twin sis is your friend.” He gave her a dry look. Elva was indignant.
“Well that doesn’t answer the ‘what are you doing here’ question!” She glared and folded her arms. Instead of a reply, Ricky’s lazy gaze suddenly lit up as he took in her profile.
Elva followed his gaze down to her outfit. Wearing shorts and a matching thin strapped shirt, she couldn’t notice what he found amusing. She was about to return her glare when she noticed she was braless!
Elva glared up at him, ready to kick his hot ass out! “If you don’t state your business and..”
“Okay! Nicky sent me over to give you this.” He raised a paper bag up. Elva took it from him and examined the content. It was a food warmer. She looked up at him again, confused.
Ricky raised himself to his full height and stalked inside the house uninvited! She slammed the door and walked after him.
“It’s chicken soup. She spent all afternoon making it. Said you loved eating spicy?” He said and tossed himself on a couch… like he owned the darn thing!
Elva was touched by the redhead’s thoughtfulness. Not the idiot on her couch, but her best friend.
“It’s so sweet of her. If your annoying ass had a little bit of her attitude, then my blood pressure, at this age, would’ve been normal! Now get out and shut the door behind you! You’re invading my privacy, television and soup!” She snapped and walked over to the kitchen to grab a spoon.
“Don’t count on it, sweetheart!” Ricky yelled after her. “I ditched drag racing for you and got tossed out of my own house by that same ‘sweet’ friend of yours because of you, so I’m staying right here!” He blankly informed and took over the television control…
Ricky watched in bewilderment as Elva consumed the whole soup under minutes!
“Do you know that ‘who’s gat the tummy?’ food competition??” He asked without blinking. She didn’t even spare him a glance as she hummed.
“You should sign up for it.” He breathed and she glared at him, without reducing her pace. The doorbell sounded and Ricky went over to get it.
Opening the door, he met the grinning face of the dweeb he was starting to hate, holding a rose flower and a fancy package from the famous ‘Luis soups and warmth’.
The young heir’s aura turned a shade darker as his fists voluntarily fisted…
***
“Nooo!” Arian De’ Argent screeched as Natalia screamed out her triumphant “Yesss!”
They’d been playing chess in his room for hours and the merciless Royal was kicking his lousy ass! Natalia stood up and did her 24th victory dance.
“Hey you!… Yes you!… Who won??… I did!” She sang merrily and hopped around his sitting room where they were.
“Aish, stop dreaming! You only won because I let you.” He sulked and tossed his A-game, his king piece away.
“Keep telling yourself that, sucker!” She stuck out her tongue and he scowled.
“Fine. We’ll play one more time and whoever loses will do the dare!” She challenged and sat back on the rug. They’d bet earlier that the loser would wear whatever the winner wanted them to throughout the coming school week.
The young master looked thoughtful. “Hell no! You always find a way to cheat!” He accused. Natalia chuckled at his cute face.
“Okay, let’s cancel.” She slyly purred and took a sip of her soda. “Since you’re that afraid of losing.”
Arian crumpled his face in shock. “Are you implying I’m chicken?! Fine!” He snarled and they played again. The young French’s ego was at stake too.
‘Boys!’ The princess thought and rolled her eyes. And as usual, she won again, baby!
“Why does kicking your ass feels familiar?” She mused, drawing his sour attention. “That’s because I did… for the 25th time!” The princess answered herself and merrily flew up again to continue her victory dance. This time, she annoyingly hopped around the defeated heir.
Arian scoffed and laid on a couch, bringing out his phone. But Natalia wasn’t moved, she went over and started hurling throw pillows at him! Arian gasped and returned the favour. The screaming princess ran away.
“Don’t tell me you’re as weak in targeting as you are at chess?!” She taunted. His face turned grimmer.
“I’ll show you weak!” Arian climbed over the bed and Natalia lept the other way, her laughter taunting him more! Finally, he caught up and they both tumbled into a mess of white sheets and dark blue duvets.
“Why are you laughing?” Arian chuckled at her laughing figure.
“I… I don’t k.. know! What… what did you p… put in my d.. drink? And h.. why do y.. you have bunny ears?!” She giggled under him and pulled his ears.
“You need help.” Arian chuckled and tried to move away. “And Mr. Tickles is the right doctor!”
Natalia gasped and tried to escape but Arian flawlessly caught her again. “No, no… please… n..” She giggled uncontrollably but he didn’t stop. So she did what came to her mind.
She pecked him on his left cheek.
Arian froze and blinked rapidly at her. Natalia smiled. When he resumed the torture, she pecked him on the right cheek.
Arian paused again and gave her a sly look. He tickled her again and she kissed his forehead. Stupidly enjoying it, the poor French didn’t realize the trick the Princess had up her sleeves.
Arian tried again and Natalia aimed for the bridge of his nose, planting a lingering kiss there. She dreamily smiled up at him and he fell for it. He tickled her for the last time, his enchanting green eyes glowing in anticipation for an actual kiss.
Natalia smiled and leaned forward and he did the same. Just as his grip on her wavered, the princess used all her might and pushed him off before hopping off the danger zone of an aroused demigod.
Turning around, she giggled uncontrollably seeing the pitiful ‘dumped midway’ look he had on his face…
“I play a guitar fairly well. Don’t fall when you hear me sing one day.” Arian threw her a wink and Natalia chuckled, pulling her knees closed to her chin.
They were seated at the young French’s balcony, staring at the glorious view of Beverly Hills at night. Mom Rose had come in earlier and brought them some cookies and warm milk… after gazing the mess they made.
Natalia still blushed at the memory. “The other night, I saw a guy playing the guitar and singing in the streets. He was really good! But unfortunately poor.” She whispered sadly and fumbled with her milk glass.
“Yesterday night?” Arian raised a confused brow. The princess nodded.
“I went to the movies with Leonardo yesterday.” She said and blushed at the kiss they almost had that evening. Natalia liked Leonardo a lot, but not enough to grant him a kiss. It felt wrong. Her feelings for Arian De’ Argent made it feel wrong.
Call it silly, but that was it. She felt like a cheat and had moved away at the last second.
Meanwhile, Arian De’ Argent’s face turned gloomy gazing at her blushing profile. How dare that jerk take his woman out?! And how dare she blush!
“The movies, huh?” His usually magnetic voice was stone cold. But Natalia didn’t notice. She innocently nodded and went on to explain.
“We went to the movies then we took a nice stroll around the streets. And then we went to a magical garden where we talked and he almost kiss…” Natalia smiled dreamily but paused when she almost mentioned the kiss!
Arian’s head exploded! He hastily stood up knocking over his glass in the process. How dare that pest?! That low-living opportunist?! That disregardful asshole?! That.. that.. that jerk! He mentally yelled and almost kicked a flower pot.
The young French paced around, thinking of a million and one excuses to transfer that opportunistic psycho away from the school and away from his woman!
Suddenly, a timid hand tugged at the sleeve of his sweatshirt. Arian flipped over to see Natalia’s Bambi’s eyes staring up at him.
“A… are you mad at me?” She whispered silently, her lips slightly quavering. Arian noticed the unnatural brightness slowly clouding her eyes.
“I… I promise I won’t go out with him again.” She stuttered and tugged him again.
“Huh? You will??” Unconsciously jumped out of his mouth. Natalia nodded. Arian shook his head.
“Hey, I can’t make you promise that. Unlike a certain bastard, I can’t take advantage of you.” He sounded righteous. “He’s your friend so you can hang out with him. But anytime he gets too forward or make you uncomfortable in any way or even make you blush!… Then you tell me, okay?” He gently touched her cheek and she nodded.
“Where’s your phone?” He asked and she passed it.
“Here.” Arian handed it back. “Whenever you feel lonely, call that number. It’s mine and I’ll be over as soon as I can.”
Long story short, don’t ever call that arse again! He silently snarled…
Chapter 56