CHAPTER 4
ZANIAH POV
WHAT BECKY HAD TOLD ME LAST NIGHT WAS STILL STUCK IN MY HEAD, I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT I HAD THE FEELING THAT I WON'T BE HAPPY TO FIND OUT ABOUT WHO HER SOON TO BE FIANCE IS. I WENT DOWNSTAIRS FOR BREAKFAST TO FIND BECKY STILL IN HER PJAMAS SITTING ON THE COUCH EATING A BOWL OF CEREAL WATCHING A ROM-COM "WHY AREN'T YOU IN CLASS?" I SAT DOWN BESIDE HER "I DON'T WANT TO GO, MAYBE I'LL GO FOR THE AFTERNOON CLASSES" SHE DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT ME, I WANTED TO ASK HER MORE QUESTIONS BUT DECIDED AGAINST IT "OK" I JUST NODDED UNSURE OF WHAT TO SAY, "MY DAD CALLED THIS MORNING" SHE FINALLY LOOKED AT ME WITH SADNESS EVIDENT IN HER FACE "WHAT DID HE SAY?" I THOUGHT IT IS WHAT MADE HER SAD "HE SAID THE MEETING DATE HAS BEEN POSTPONED TILL TOMORROW, SO I'LL HAVE TO MEET HIM AND HIS FAMILY TOMORROW" I GUESS THAT'S WHAT MADE HER SAD THIS MORNING "IT'S NOT THAT BAD YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE HIM, THEN YOU BOTH CAN GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, MAYBE THEN YOU BOTH WILL BE HAPPY TO GET MARRIED TO EACH OTHER, YOU DON'T KNOW MAYBE YOU MAY END UP LIKING HIM" I HOPED MY ADVICE WOULD HELP HER SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY "I'LL GIVE WHAT YOU SAY A THOUGHT, MAYBE TOMORROW I CAN SEE THINGS FOR MYSELF" I SMILED AT HER WORDS, AT LEAST SHE'D STOPPED FROWNING SADLY. I WENT BACK UP TO MY ROOM, FEW HOURS LATER "ZEE, I'M GOING TO CLASS, BE BACK LATER" I HEARD THE DOOR SHUT WHICH MEANT THAT SHE'D GONE OUT, I SIGHED, I HAVE A DATE WITH NATE....... DID I JUST SAY DATE?, NO IT'S A-A-A HANGOUT, I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING IN OVER MY HEAD, I DON'T WANT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH NATE AND THEN HE'D END UP BREAKING MY HEART, EVERY TIME I'M AROUND HIM IT SEEMS LIKE THE GUARD I BUILT AROUND MY HEART CRUMBLES DOWN IN AN INSTANT. I WENT DOWN TO THE KITCHEN TO COOK SOMETHING TO EAT, THE ONLY THING IN THE KITCHEN WERE THE INGREDIENTS TO MAKE SPAGHETTI, I MADE SPAGHETTI, GOT A DRINK FROM THE FRIDGE, SAT DOWN ON THE COUCH IN THE PARLOR AND PUT ON THE TELEVISION. I WAS BORED AS FUCK, I CAN'T SPEND MY DAY LIKE THIS, I HAD TO DO SOMETHING, NATE FRANCIS.........I COULD SEARCH UP ON HIM. I WASHED UP THE DISHES AFTER EATING, I SAT ON MY BED, OPENED MY LAPTOP, "IS THIS RIGHT?, WHY AM I SEARCHING ON HIM, I SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS", WELL I BET HE'D DO THE SAME THING ABOUT ME, IF HE WAS THAT INTERESTED IN ME,WHICH I DOUBT HE IS BUT HEY I SHOULDN'T BE HANGING OUT WITH A STRANGER, I OPENED MY LAPTOP, I SEARCHED UP NATE FRANCIS, WOW, HE'S A BIG SHOT, HIS PICTURE POPPED UP, HE'S SO HANDSOME IN A SUIT, I SCROLLED UP AND SAW MORE PHOTOS OF HIM, I SAW HIS BIOGRAPHY, SO HE'S VERY FAMOUS. "NATE FRANCIS, TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD, THE UPCOMING CEO OF FRANCIS INDUSTRIES. STARTED HIS VERY OWN BUSINESS AT THE YOUNG AGE OF TWENTY-TWO, HE'S THE ELDEST SON OF MARK AND ELIZABETH FRANCIS, THE ELDER BROTHER OF LESLY FRANCIS, HE IS THE TOP ONE ON THE LIST OF ELIGIBLE BACHELORS. AS I READ THROUGH HIS BIOGRAPHY I FELT A WHORL OF EMOTIONS WITHIN ME, I SAW HIS INSTAGRAM HANDLE AT THE DOWN OF THE SCREEN UNDER ANOTHER ONE OF HIS PHOTOS, IT SEEMS THAT HE RARELY SMILES IN HIS PHOTOS, THE NUMBER OF TIMES HE HAS SMILED WHENEVER WE ARE TOGETHER I'M SURE ANY OTHER GIRL WOULD KILL TO SEE IT AT LEAST ONCE BUT I GET TO SEE IT SO OFTEN, SHOULD I FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THAT, WHAT IF FAN GIRLS COME FOR ME, TO ATTACK ME. LATER THAT EVENING I HAD TO PLAN MY OUTFIT FOR MY HANGOUT WITH NATE, I CHOSE TO PUT ON A BLUE JEAN SHORT WITH A STRING BAND OVER MY SHOULDER, A WHITE CROP TOP,A BLACK BOOT, I STYLED MY HAIR INTO A PONY TAIL, I DID SOME LIGHT MAKE UP, I TOOK A SMALL BAG WHICH I COULD ONLY FIT MY PHONE AND CARD WITH SOME OTHER STUFF. I FEEL SO STUPID, WAITING FOR A GUY I BARELY KNOW TO COME PICK ME UP. BECKY HASN'T RETURNED SINCE SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS LEAVING THIS MORNING AND IT'S ALREADY SEVEN, I HEARD A KNOCK ON THE DOOR, I SIGHED IN RELIEF RUSHING TO OPEN THE DOOR, I EXPECTED TO SEE BECKY AT THE DOOR BUT TO MY SHOCK IT WAS NATE "HOW DID YOU GET MY ADDRESS?"I GUESS IT WAS DUMB FOR ME TO HAVE REALIZED IT NOW THAT I WAS WAITING FOR A GUY WHO I DIDN'T EVEN TELL MY ADDRESS "I HAVE MY WAYS" HE JUST SMILED AND THAT ERASED EVERY CONFUSION FROM MY MIND, HE MUST HAVE DONE HIS RESEARCH ABOUT ME "SHALL WE?"I JUST NODDED LOCKING THE DOOR BEHIND ME AS I WALKED OUT OF THE HOUSE, I SAW A DARK BLUE SPORTS CAR PARKED OUTSIDE, NATE OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR FOR ME "THANK YOU" I SHYLY MUTTERED BEFORE GETTING INTO THE CAR, HE GOT INTO THE DRIVER SEAT, STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE OFF. WHEN HE DROVE I SAT IN SILENCE STARING OUTSIDE THE WINDOW "YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL" I LOOKED OVER AT HIM TO SEE HIM ALREADY STARING AT ME WITH A WARM SMILE WHICH ONCE AGAIN MELTED THE WALLS AROUND MY HEART "T-THANK YOU" I BLUSHED LIKE A FOOL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A GUY HAS CALLED ME BEAUTIFUL, I LOOKED AT HIM AGAIN TO FIND THAT HE WAS NOW STARING BACK AT THE ROAD "YOU'RE REALLY HANDSOME BUT I'M SURE YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT" WHY DID I SAY THAT, I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THE LAST PART BUT HE JUST CHUCKLED AND WINKED AT ME "THANKS. YOUR CUTE WHEN YOU'RE SHY" HIS WORDS MADE ME BLUSH MORE, I TURNED AWAY FROM HIM TO HIDE MY BLUSH, HE'S JUST TEASING ME. WHEN TH CAR CAME TO A HALT, I SAW THAT WE HAD STOPPED AT AN AMUSEMENT PARK, I SAW STILL IN SHOCK TO NOT REALIZE THAT NATE HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR WALKED AROUND THE CAR AND OPENED THE DOOR FOR ME "COME ON" HE STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND TO ME, I SLOWLY PLACED MY HAND IN HIS AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR, HE SHUT THE DOOR THE BEHIND ME, WE WALKED IN HAND IN HAND INTO THE AMUSEMENT PARK. "DO YOU LIKE IT?" I HEARD HIM ASK, I TURNED TO HIM WITH A WIDE SMILE ON MY FACE, I NODDED MY HEAD VIGOROUSLY, HE SMILED, "I WANT TO GO ON THE FERRUS WHEEL" I POINTED LIKE A KID, ASKING FOR CANDY, WE WALKED STRAIGHT INTO A LONG LINE OF PEOPLE, THE LONGER I STAYED IN THE LINE THE MORE I LOST INTEREST IN THE RIDE "STAY HERE" NATE WALKED OFF RELEASING MY HAND, I FELT THE LOSS OF WARMTH, I JUST STOOD IN THE LINE UNTIL NATE CAME BACK AND PULLED ME OUT OF THE LINE, WE CUT THE LINE AND WENT STRAIGHT UP TO THE RIDE, I WAS SURPRISED BUT I WAS TOO HAPPY TO ASK ANYTHING ABOUT IT, WE GOT ON THE RIDE AND IT WAS SO FUN, WE WENT ON UP TO FOUR OTHER RIDES BEFORE I GOT TIRED, I SAT ON A BENCH WATING FOR NATE, HE WALKED BACK TOWARDS ME WITH AN ICE CREAM CONE IN HAND, "THANK YOU" HE HANDED ME ONE AND SAT DOWN BESIDE ME "WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT TO DO?" I SCOOPED A SPOONFUL OF ICE CREAM INTO MY MOUTH, MOANING IN PLEASURE AT THE FEELING OF THE ICE CREAM MELTING IN MY MOUTH, "I JUST WANT TO SIT HERE FOR A WHILE, THEN I'LL GO AND WIN MYSELF A TEDDY BEAR" I PLACED ANOTHER SCOOP IN MY MOUTH "I CAN GET YOU A TEDDY BEAR, ANYTHING YOU WANT" I STARED AT HIM IN SHOCK, MY EYES MET HIS HONEST ONES AND MY HEART BEGAN TO RACE "DO YOU REALLY MEAN THAT?" I PUT DOWN MY ICE CREAM,STOOD UP, GRABBED NATE'S WRIST AND PULLED HIM TOWARDS THE GAME HOUSE, I QUICKLY PUT IN A COIN I TRIED TO GET A BIG BLUE TEDDY BEAR BUT I COULDN'T GET IT "LET ME SHOW YOU HOW MUCH I MEAN IT" HE STEPPED IN FRONT OF ME, PUT IN A COIN AND AFTER TWO TRIES HE HANDED ME THE BIG BLUE TEDDY BEAR "THANK YOU" I SMILED SHYLY HUGGING THE TEDDY IN MY ARMS "YOU'RE WELCOME, WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT?" HE SMILED CARESSING THE HEAD OF THE BEAR WHICH I WISHED WAS MY HEAD RIGHT NOW. WE GOT ON MORE RIDES THEN LATER ON WE GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND HE DROVE OFF AFTER GETTING ME COTTON CANDY "THANK YOU FOR TODAY, I HAD A LOT OF FUN. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE SO GOOD AT THAT GAME" I SMILED AND STARED AT HIS SIDE VIEW, HE LOOKS SO HOT WHEN HE'S SERIOUS "THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME AND I'D LOVE TO HELP YOU DISCOVER THEM, BIT BY BIT" HE FLASHED ME A SMIRK AND A WINK, I COULDN'T HELP BUT BLUSH. HE PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, HE OPENED THE DOOR FOR ME, I GOT DOWN FROM THE CAR WITH THE TEDDY IN MY ARMS " BYE" I SMILED SHYLY, I DIDN'T WANT TO GO, I WANTED TO STAY WITH HIM BUT I HAD TO PUSH THOSE THOUGHTS INTO THE TRASH "BYE" HE SMILED AT ME, I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF, I GOT ON MY TIPPY TOES, KISSED HIM ON THE CHEEK AND RAN INTO THE HOUSE SHUTTING THE DOOR BEHIND ME "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR BECKY'S VOICE, I STARED AT HER AS SHE SAT LEGS CROSSED ON THE COUCH WITH A BOWL OF POP CORN IN HAND, SHE WASN'T EVEN STARING AT ME "I WENT TO THE AMUSEMENT PARK TO HAVE FUN" I WASN'T TECHNICALLY LYING BECAUSE I DID GO TO THE AMUSEMENT PARK, JUST THAT I DIDN'T GO ALONE "OK, WELL MY DAD CALLED TODAY AND TOLD ME TO RESEARCH ABOUT MY FIANCE" SHE TURNED TO FACE ME, I SLOWLY WALKED TOWARDS HER "SO HE MUST HAVE TOLD YOU HIS NAME, THAT'S GOOD" SHE SMILED LEAVING ME SHOCKED "I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS, MY FIANCE IS NATE FRANCIS" MY TEDDY AND BAG FELL OUT OF MY HANDS AS I STOOD IN SHOCK "NATE FRANCIS IS MY FIANCE" BECKY JUMPED OFF THE COUCH, SHE RAN TOWARDS ME HUGGING ME WHILE LAUGHING "MY DREAM COME TRUE" WHEN SHE RELEASED ME FROM THE HUG, I SLOWLY BENT DOWN TO PICK UP MY THINGS AND WALKED UP THE STAIRS "CONGRATS, I'M TIRED, I'VE HAD A LONG DAY, I WANT TO RELAX" I ENTERED MY ROOM LOCKING THE DOOR BEHIND ME, I RESTED MY BACK ON THE DOOR FEELING THE URGE TO CRY, BUT I WON'T LET MYSELF CRY OVER A GUY I BARELY KNEW, I SUCKED IT UP, WASHED UP,DRESSED UP, LAYED IN BED COVERED MYSELF WITH THE BLANKET AND CRIED MYSELF TO SLEEP 'TO THE FIRST GUY WHO EVER TOOK INTEREST IN ME, I KNEW IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, I SHOULD JUST STICK TO BEING BECKY'S SHADOW'.
NATE POV
THIS MORNING I WENT TO THE OFFICE FEELING HAPPY ABOUT MY HANGOUT WITH ZANIAH. WHEN I ARRIVED AT HER HOUSE THAT EVENING, I GOT HER ADDRESS ALONG WITH ALL HER INFORMATION, I SPENT A FEW MINUTES AT HER DOOR MAKING SURE I LOOKED OKAY IN MY BLACK PANTS, WHITE T-SHIRT AND BLACK SNEAKERS, WHEN I KNOCKED AND SHE OPENED THE DOOR, SHE LOOKED SHOCKED TO SEE ME, I GUESS IT WAS EITHER ABOUT ME KNOWING HER ADDRESS OR SHE WAS EXPECTING SOMEONE ELSE AND I GOT MY ANSWER SOON ENOUGH, I COULDN'T TELL HER ABOUT ME RESEARCHING ABOUT HER SO I JUST GAVE THE SIMPLEST REPLY "I HAVE MY WAYS" SHE LOOKED SO BEAUTIFUL THAT I COULDN'T HELP BUT COMPLIMENT HER, I PREFERRED HER WITHOUT MAKE UP BUT SHE LOOKED BEAUTIFUL NON THE LESS, SHE LOOKED SO CUTE WHEN SHE BLUSHED, WHEN SHE COMPLIMENTED ME I COULDN'T HELP BUT CHUCKLE, I HAD THE URGE TO KISS HER PLUMP PINK LIPS BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO SCARE HER AWAY, EVEN THO I KNOW I'M HANDSOME HEARING HER SAY IT MADE ME FEEL VERY HAPPY. WHEN WE GOT TO THE AMUSEMENT PARK I NOTICED HOW A SMILE CREEPED UP HER FACE, I LOVED HOLDING HER HAND, WHEN SHE WANTED TO RIDE THE FERRUS WHEEL, THE WAY SHE SMILED MADE ME REALIZE THAT I'D DO ANYTHING SEE A SMILE ON HER FACE,WHEN THE LINE FOR THE FERRUS WHEEL GOT TOO LONG AND I NOTICED SHE'D STOPPED SMILING, I LEFT TO TALK TO THE GUY HANDLING HE RIDE, GAVE HIM A WAD OF CASH AND GOT MY GIRL THE RIDE SHE WANTED, SHE SMILED ALL THROUGH THE THREE RIDES AFTER THAT. WHEN SHE SAT TO RELAX I WENT TO GET HER ICE CREAM, SHE LOOKED SO CUTE EATING HER ICE CREAM THAT I FELT A LITTLE JEALOUS THAT THE ICE CREAM GOT TO GET FREE ACCESS TO HER LIPS WHILE I HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS BUT I DON'T MIND, I'M A VERY PATIENT GUY, SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO GET HERSELF A TEDDY BEAR, MY GIRL SHOULDN'T NEED TO STRESS WHEN I'M HERE, WHEN SHE PULLED ME, I LET MYSELF GO SO SHE COULD DRAG ME AROUND FREELY, I LET HER HAVE A TRY AT THE CLAW MACHINE, THEN I SHOWED HER ONE OF THE THINGS HER MAN CAN DO FOR ME, SHE HUGGED THE TEDDY BEAR, I WANTED TO PAT HER HEAD BUT I REFRAINED FROM SCARING HER AND JUST PATTED THE TEDDY'S HEAD INSTEAD, I NOTICED HOW SHE LOOKED AT ME, WANTING ME TO PAT HER HAIR. AFTER I PARKED MY CAR IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE, I DIDN'T WANT HER TO GO BUT I COULDN'T STOP HER, THEN SHE DID SOMETHING UNEXPECTED, MY LITTLE DOVE KISSED ME ON THE CHEEK AND RAN OFF, I FELT MY HEART EXPLODE WITH JOY, MY LITTLE DOVE WAS BEGINNING TO TRUST ME. I GOT HOME FEELING GREAT UNTIL I SAW BOTH MY PARENTS SEATED ON THE COUCH, KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, "WHERE'S LESLY?" I KNOW THAT MY SISTER NEVER LIKED BEING OUT AT NIGHT "SHE'S ASLEEP" MY MOM ANSWERED, I JUST NODDED GLAD THAT SHE'S SAFE "SIT DOWN NATE" I SAT DOWN BESIDE MY MOM "I WANT YOU TO MEET THE GIRL AND HER FAMILY TOMORROW" MY DAD SAID IN A CALM VOICE "DAD, NO I TOLD YOU I DON'T WANT THIS" I TRIED TO SAY IN A CALM VOICE "PLEASE NATE, JUST DO THIS FOR ME AT LEAST JUST GET TO KNOW HER FOR A WHILE, IF YOU DON'T LIKE HER YOU CAN TELL US, WE WON'T FORCE YOU ANYMORE" MY MOM HELD MY ARM AND SAID IN A PLEADING TONE "FINE, MOM I'LL GIVE IT A CHANCE, FOR YOU" I GOT UP AND WALKED UP TO MY ROOM, I SHUT THE DOOR, SHOWERED, AND LAY DOWN ON MY BED 'I'M DOING THIS FOR MY PARENT'S, JUST A MEETING AND A DATE, PLEASE WAIT FOR ME LITTLE DOVE'.