“Sheesh, don’t scream!” The voice hushed. Nicky broke free and flipped around to glare at Jeffrey.
“Are you crazy? What’s wrong with you!”
“Do you really wanna know, huh? Do you?!” He snapped back. Nicky looked around and was glad that no one was around.
“You’re insane Jeff, and you need help!” She spat and tried to leave but he held her back possessively.
“Yes! I’m insane and crazy and whatever else you call it. And do you know why? It’s because of you, Nicky.”
Nicky held in a breath, slowly getting scared. Jeffrey looked stressed and his hair was shaggy. He hadn’t slept well since the start of camp and it showed. He looked out of control!
“And what did I do, Jeff!” She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away…. tried to push him away.
“Because for some reason you keep appearing in my head and I can’t get you out!” He said breathlessly.
***
Natalia hugged her knees closer as they watched the ocean together. She was much calmer and her tears had stopped. She inched her neck to glance at Arian who was silent, staring at the gentle waves with a peaceful countenance. They were lost in their own thoughts moon bathing, but his features under the full moon was divinely beautiful.
Arian was in love with her?
It’d took the princess a few minutes to soak in his confession. She had been stupid all along! Natalia thought to herself. In so many ways… he’d shown her in so many ways how much he loved her but she was too dumb to actually notice.
And she’d went ahead to distrust him again.
It was starting to become her favourite hobby. Natalia concluded as a tinge of self hate and disappointed pricked her heart.
“The moon’s beautiful.” Arian finally whispered. Natalia took her secret gaze from him and looked up at the sky too.
“Yeah, it is.” She mouthed and blushed badly as a memory flashed across her mind.
“What?” He looked at her amused but she hastily shook her head.
” It’s nothing. I just remembered something, that’s all.” His curious face urged her to continue.
“Arian, it’s nothing!” She blurted and buried her face in her knees as the heat around her cheeks began to burn hotter.
She heard him sigh and mutter something under his breath. “I think Mr Tickles has been away too long. Don’t you think?”
Natalia raised her head to scowl at him. But it only made him threateningly lean in.
“Okay!” She squeaked and he moved away with a chuckle.
“Someone once told me that those who have their first kiss under a full moon, eventually end up together forever.” She shrugged. “He said it was just a myth though.”
Arian looked back at the moon while she played on the sand with her toes.
“I didn’t know that.” He said in a gruff voice. It certainly had to be the meddling jerk!
“Me too.” She took her lips in and they lapsed into a comfortable silence.
“Let’s go into the water.” Arian suddenly said. Natalia looked up in confusion because he knew she was hydrophobic.
But Arian De’ Argent stood up and kicked off his slippers before unbuttoning his white shirt. Natalia choked on a gasp not only because of the gorgeous view, but also because he was DARN serious!
“Come on.” He looked down at her like it was nothing. Natalia tucked her hair away and tore her sinful gaze from him.
“You know I… I can’t s.. sw..”
“I know.” He said and pulled her up. “Take off your clothes…. please?”
Natalia looked reluctant, feeling heat rise up her neck again. The young French helplessly rolled his eyes.
“We won’t go deep into the ocean. Trust me, okay?” He said thinking she was ashamed of her weakness. But the thoughts of the flushing princess was inverse to those of his.
Natalia was simply uncomfortable at the thought of taking her clothes off in front of a boy for the first time in her life!
“Okay, okay! Turn your back at me and close your eyes.” She demanded.
“Why?” He tried not to whine. “It’s not like I haven’t seen you without clothes on be…” She dared him to finish the sentence with her glare.
“Okay!” He held up his hands and turned around, muttering something about a dramatic female under his breath.
Natalia hastily removed her long white dress which left her in a little white armless top and matching shorts. The shorts stopped just underneath her hips. They had the same design and came with the dress. She rolled her brown hair into a bun.
“Okay, I’m done.” She called out and Arian turned around with a snort.
“Fina…”
“What?” She looked alarmed and hugged herself, feeling more self conscious as his enchanting eyes travelled across the curves of her body.
“No… nothing. You look…” He paused again and held her eyes. Natalia’s face heated up seeing the dept of reverence in them. She heatedly looked away.
“Hey, it’s just me. You’ll be fine.” Arian nodded his head back to reality and slid his arms around her waist. Natalia blush-nodded.
“Close your eyes.” He whispered and she slowly closed them.
“Place your arms around my neck.” His lips brushed her ears and she unconsciously flinched. Her hands gently slid up his body and rested behind his neck.
“… and your legs around my waist.” His accent turned hoarse.
“Huh?”
“Trust me.” He whispered, placing flurry kisses down the sides of her cheek. He lifted her with ease and she did.
“You’re light.” He cocked his head back and stared at her. Judging by the number of times he’d witnessed her proudly-healthy appetite, Arian was quite surprised. Natalia giggled.
“I don’t feel light! I’m still planning on a strict diet next week.” She grinned with her eyes still closed and curled her arms around his neck tighter. Arian smiled.
“Don’t open your eyes.” He resumed the tickling kisses.
“Aren’t I heavy?” She asked after a while. He chuckled and held her well.
“Stop pouting or I’ll kiss you.” Natalia clamped her lips shut, even though a cheeky part of her wished for it. Suddenly, Arian stopped at the crook of her neck.
“Open your eyes.” His accent was smooth and soft but different at the same time. Natalia fluttered her lashes and found herself gazing into his mint green eyes with confusion, wondering what he wanted her to see.
“Look down.” He smiled. She did as he said and gasped, hugging him tighter. They were in the ocean and the water was up at his knees!
“Don’t you dare drop me.” She shakily threatened making him chuckle.
“You love to dare me, don’t you?” He teased and pretended to drop her. Natalia shrieked but he held her closer.
“Stop playing around!” She temporarily forgot about her predicament and swatted him.
“Natalia there’s nothing to be afraid of. Water is calm when you’re in a safe spot. You just need to be in control of your fear and learn to swim. And besides… I’m right here. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” He said but her heartbeat continued to accelerate.
Natalia didn’t know why, but ever since that stormy night her parents passed away, she’d been that way. Horribly afraid of storms and a large body of water.
“Okay.” She shakily whispered and gently released her tight grip on him. “I… I’m com… coming down now.”
She stuttered and continued holding him as he let her slowly glide down his body into the water. Natalia trembled slightly at the feel of his warm body against hers and also at the cool water as it touched her skin.
They were now waist deep into the ocean.
“See? There’s nothing to fear.” He smiled. She briefly let go of him.
Briefly.
“What about sharks? Aren’t we gonna be eaten alive??” She clutched him again, fearfully looking around. Arian bubbled out a laughter and held her back.
“The beach has shark barriers and we’re not even close to it yet. Well, this side of the island though.” He casually shrugged. Natalia’s fear reduced a bit.
“Shouldn’t you have said that earlier?” She accused and splashed water on him.
“Have I ever told you how cute you look when curious?” He smirked, pushing his delicious wet hair away.
She scowled at him. “All you’re ever good at is making me look like a fool, dweeb!”
Arian smiled and inched closer. Natalia almost moved away, and risk drowning?? Hell no! She blinked rapidly as he raised his hand to loosen her messy bun. Her hair fell down her back into the water.
“You look beautiful this way.” He muttered inches from her face. The princess flushed but hid it with a frown.
“So I wasn’t beautiful before?”
His eyes bulged. “No, no… I didn’t..”
“Gotcha!” She yelled and gave him a double splash on his face! Arian gagged and tried to dodge but it was useless. He lunged at her but she ran away screaming…
***
“You can’t get me out?” Nicky scoffed acidly. “That’s funny because last time anyone checked, Becky’s the one sharing that space!”
Jeffrey looked surprised at her outburst and confused at her statement. “Becky? What are you…”
“Everyone’s… No, i’ve always known you have feelings for her. I thought it died when she left but it obviously didn’t. I notice the way you still look at her especially at the infirmary last night.”
“You’re right.” Jeffrey muttered and her heart broke all over again.
“I used to like Becky, a lot. But I moved on when she rejected me. Yesterday, I was simply hurt because I wasn’t the one who made her smile again since Daniel transferred.” Nicky’s heart reached out to him but her head kept control of her emotions.
“But believe me, I’m over her already.”
“I’m tired. I need to go to bed.” She whispered and turned to leave. He forced her back.
“No! We’ve not talked about Stan yet.”
“Look Jeff, I’m too tired to argue with you. We’ll talk some other time.”
“Do you like him?” He blurted and her eyes bulged.
“What are you talking about? Of course I like him.”
“S.. so, you’re both together?” His voice cracked with sudden hurt even though he’d been expecting it.
“What’s it to you? You’ve been acting weird, nosy and annoying lately and frankly, it sucks!” She snapped and walked away.
“I like you Nicky!” He yelled. ” I like you a lot.”
Nicky froze.
“At first I didn’t notice because I was too occupied chasing an impossible love. But after getting hurt repeatedly whenever you shunned me out, I knew I had feeling for you. I really, really like you Ni…” He couldn’t finish because her lips connected with his before he realized it.
Jeffrey initially paused but the next second, they were both pouring out their emotions in a single passionate kiss…
Chapter 67