Natalia’s heart ached in pain seeing the poor little girl. She hated to see innocent little children living a hard life without option.
She was selling a bunch of flowers and held out a pretty rose to Jake.
The princess was more hurt because she had nothing on her except her phone. It was then she realized the reason for Elva’s fussing to always take some cash whenever she went out.
“Your flowers are really pretty. I’ll take the whole bunch, please.” Jake spared her a kind smile and paid. The girl brightened up like the sun and ran off screaming ‘thank you’ repeatedly at the top of her lungs!
“Funny enough, you were just trimming a whole garden of those.” Natalia chuckled.
“I know, right? But they looked more pretty in her hands.” He added and smiled. Gardening was his favourite hobby.
“You’re a romantic, aren’t you?” She teased and he shrugged, not bothering to argue with her knowing he’ld never win.
“Now what am I gonna do with these?” He scratched his hair.
“She said ‘buy a flower for another flower’ and so far, I’ve counted fifteen girls aiming that bouquet.” She wickedly smirked.
“If you tease me again, I’m gonna smack you with this not minding you’re my boss.” He stated flatly. Natalia laughed out.
“Correction. You’re off duty and chatting with a friend on a beautiful California afternoon.” She reminded. He smiled at her.
“Since you’re being a flower, you deserve the flowers.”’ He mused and gave a mock bow which Englishmen gave to their fair ladies, handing them over to her.
Natalia collected the bouquet and muttered a casual thanks. They continued strolling, talking about everything they passed by.
“Ooh! What are those?” She glowed, tugging at his sleeves and at the same time using the flowers to point at a stall across the road, where a man sold selling mouth watering snacks!
“They’re… hotdogs?” He mouthed, squinting closer.
“Really? I’ve never had one before! I really want one, pleaaase.” She bounced on her toes like a kid.
“Oh, okay.” She squealed and ran ahead of him.
The only picture in her head was that of her having a huge bite of those steaming meat rolls on soft bread and… ketchup?… that she was ignorant of the sport car zooming her way at high speed!
Suddenly, Jake pulled her away reflexively in the nick of time. Natalia drew in a shaky breath as the car sped past them without even stopping!
Did it even realize it was speeding on a residential street??
“Are you okay? Did you get hurt? This was a bad idea. And that driver was crazy! We should head back to the…” He breathed out at once.
“Don’t worry, Jake. I’m fine. Thanks for saving me.” She smiled at him, becoming uncomfortable with his hands on her waist.
Jake noticed it and pulled away quickly, muttering an apology under his breath.
“So?” She squeaked.
“Huh?”
“The hotdogs!” She grumbled.
“…” Who eats hotdog after almost experiencing death?!
Natalia tugged his stunned body across the road and impatiently waited in line for their turn to buy the snack.
“You eat a lot, don’t you?” He mused. She nodded strongly without inhibition making him grin.
“What?!” She yanked with a full mouth.
“You have some ketchup on your… here, let me help you.” He gently wiped her chin with a napkin.
“Thanks.”
“Does that permit me to have a bite?” He teased. She stuck out her tongue like a stingy little girl and hid her snack. Jake chuckled and turned to have his.
Natalia’s phone rang in her back pocket. She picked it with some difficulty.
“Mhn?” She mumbled taking another bite.
“Hey, Sugar.” Arian’s sexy voice breezed from the other end.
“Hey Arian.” She smiled and took a couple of steps away from Jake.
“Haven’t thought of that perfect sweetheart name yet?” He whined and she rolled her eyes, giggling at the same time.
“Are you home? I’m around the corner.” He asked.
“Um… No. I stepped out a bit.” She quietly said.
“Oh. Where are you? I could come pick you if you’re done?” He offered.
Natalia turned to see Jake talking with some little street kids and buying them lunch. The flower girl was with them.
She smiled when she noticed him grinning back at them with a friendly face.
“Natalia… You there?” Arian sounded worried. She turned around and hummed.
“Y.. yeah. I’m on a street not too far from home.”
“Street??… Alone?” He panicked.
“No, i’m with a friend.” She breathed and almost rolled her eyes at Elva jnr 3.
“Oh. Elva?”
Natalia’s heartbeat stopped.
If she told him she was out with Jake, or to start with, a boy he didn’t know and haven’t even met, she was certain he was surely gonna freak out! And that thought alone made her freak out as well!…
***
“Even though a month separates the three of us, i’m the oldest followed by Ricky and then Arian. He’s the youngest of us three.” Jeffrey chattered as he and Nicky stepped out of the amusement park to his car.
“That’s crazy! I would’ve sworn Arian was the oldest with the way he acts and you, the baby of the group!” She gasped. He chuckled.
“You’re seeing what he wants everyone to see. But if you get to know him closer, he’s like a little puppy. So fragile with a soft heart. Trust me, he’s the big baby!” She laughed as he entwined their fingers.
“At least, he isn’t tagged as a nerd.” She tried not to flush.
“Being a nerd isn’t a bad thing. To be like the smartest person is class is pure cool! Those bullies are just stupid and jelly o. Personally, I think they have some serious self-esteem issues to deal with.”
“And you haven’t been bullied being smart?”
“How did you know that?” He looked at her.
Heat rose up Nicky’s cheeks as she avoided his gaze. She knew every single, significant or not, detail about him which had filled up her diary at home.
Yeah, she was so in love!
(Right. Or was stalking a Winterfield’s thing?)
“I’ve been… was… um… keeping tabs?… Sorry.” She confessed. Jeffrey stopped walking and faced her. But Nicky refused to look up.
“For how long?” He was mildly stunned.
“For.. um.. a couple of years?” He must think she’s a stalking psycho!
The thought alone set her heart in panic. But instead, Jeffrey Campbell lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes softly.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry??” Nicky was stunned. “For what?” His vibrant ocean blue eyes sparked off guilt and a bit of self loathe.
“For being such an idiot and not figuring out how you felt about me. I’m sorry, Nicky.” Her eyes softened with so much mushy emotions.
“If it’s within my power, I promise to be here by your side till eternity.” He sealed it with a warm kiss which she easily melted into.
Jeffrey pulled away and she flashed him a smile. They continued on their journey to the parking lot in a more pleasant mood.
“Jeffrey?…. Jeffrey!” A voice suddenly called out.
Impulsively, the lovers turned and caught a girl with chocolate brown hair and hazel eyes sashaying over.
She was beautiful!
Wearing a tank top over skinny jeans and sneakers, she had the poise and confidence of a runway model.
“Ashley?” Jeffrey stuttered in disbelief as he went a bit pale. The “Ashley” sauntered over with a huge smile and threw her arms around him!
Nicky flinched.
“I’ve missed you so much! How’ve you been? Obviously you look so good. And how’s dad?? It’s been what?… Two years now?” She chortled nonstop, barely noticing the person next to him.
Nicky silently slipped her fingers from Jeffrey’s as he stared at the intruder with a stunned expression, and took an oppressed step back.
“I… I’ve been well. I didn’t know you were back in town. When did you get back?” He regained his composure. Ashley chuckled and flipped her glorious hair backwards.
“A couple of days now. Aunt passed away recently so I came back to dad. You knew why I moved, didn’t you?”
What suddenly upset Nicky wasn’t because she was equal to a ghost at that point…. but because of the perfectly polished fingernails, latching onto her boyfriend’s arm!
A reflex action she found too suspicious as she quietly looked between the both of them.
“I’m sorry.” He whispered and she nodded flippantly.
“What are you doing here?” She groaned dramatically at his question.
“My neighbour from across the street literally bundled me down here to kill this boring weekend! What about you? The old Jeffrey I knew would never come to a park without a crush tagging along.” She giggled and Nicky’s heart further fell.
What happened to the perfect ‘me-and-you’ date they were having three minutes ago?
She took another step back feeling like the third wheel ruining their little ‘get together’. Jeffrey rubbed his neck and smiled timidly.
“I actually came here with…. oh, there you are.” He beamed and pulled Nicky back to him.
“Nicky meet Ashley, a childhood friend.”
“Seriously? You don’t have to be so awkward about it!” She playfully rolled her eyes at him but cocked a calculating brow at Nicky, as if judging her worth.
Nicky felt her look was a bit demeaning as she unconsciously looked down at herself. Until some months ago, she’d never gone out of her way to look classy because her books and glasses were her best friends.
And unlike her friends, especially Natalia, who rocked anything she wore without trying, Nicky took specific cautions in choosing her clothes.
Her self consciousness felt safe in the feminine chord dress she was wearing that afternoon.
“I’m Ashley, Ashley Dan…” She stretched out her hand for a handshake after running her judgement. Nicky reluctantly took it.
”… Jeffrey’s ex-girlfriend.” She smirked.
Chapter 81