CHAPTER 5
ZANIAH POV
I DIDN'T SLEEP A WINK LAST NIGHT, I JUST GOT OUT OF BED WASHED UP AND WENT DOWNSTAIRS. "GOOD MORNING ZEE" BECKY'S CHEERFUL VOICE MADE ME CRINGE HARD SEEING HER IN A BABY PINK SHORT BODY CON DRESS AND WHITE BOOTS, "MORNING" HEARING THE DETACHMENT IN MY VOICE I WONDERED IF BECKY WOULD NOTICE IT, WHICH I DOUBT "LIKE MY OUTFIT?" BECKY TURNED THREE SIXTY SHOWING ME HOW THE DRESS HUGGED HER BODY THO MY BACKSIDE WAS FAR BIGGER THAN HERS THE DRESS MADE HERS LOOK A LITTLE BIT ROUNDER, I SWEAR I COULD SEE HER PANTY LINE "YEAH, IT'S PRETTY" I TRIED TO BE HAPPY FOR MY FRIEND BUT IT ISN'T WORKING OUT "I HAVE A DATE WITH NATE TODAY, I'LL FINALLY GET TO SEE HIM IN PERSON, I CAN ALREADY IMAGINE WHAT OUR BABIES ARE GONNA LOOK LIKE" HEARING BECKY SWOON MADE ME WANT TO CRY, IT IS CONFIRMED NOW THAT NATE HAS BEEN PLAYING WITH ME, WELL HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY SAY ANYTHING ABOUT US BEING TOGETHER OR ANYTHING, MAYBE HE JUST WANTED TO BE FRIENDS AND I WAS THE ONLY ONE OVERTHINKING THINGS, I FEEL LIKE A BIG FOOL "YEAH...UM I HAVE CLASS THIS MORNING SO I'LL JUST GO FIRST.. ENJOY YOUR DATE" I QUICKLY RAN OUT, I COULDN'T BARE TO HEAR BECKY SWOON OVER NATE ANYMORE. WHY AM I OVER REACTING, IT'S NOT LIKE WE WERE DATING OF ANYTHING, I JUST NEED TIME TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT HE'S WITH MY BEST FRIEND NOW. I GOT TO MY FIRST LECTURE AND TO ADD TO MY BAD MORNING, I HAD FORGOTTEN TO SUBMIT MY PROJECT WHICH WAS IN MY LAPTOP, I FELT LIKE RIPPING MY HAIR FROM MY SCALP, "I'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO SUBMIT IT TOMORROW, GO SIT DOWN NOW" I BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF "THANK YOU" I QUICKLY RAN AND SAT ON ONE OF THE SEATS IN THE BACK ROW, I TRIED TO FOCUS ON THE LECTURE AND AFTER A FEW MNUTES IN I WAS ABLE TO FOCUS UNTIL I GOT A NOTIFICATION ON MY PHONE FROM BECKY "WISH ME LUCK" ALONG WITH A PHOTO OF THE FRONT DOOR OF A HOUSE WHICH FROM THE LOOKS OF IT IS VERY HUGE, AND ONCE AGAIN I'VE LOST FOCUS. AFTER THE LECTURE I HAD ANOTHER ONE BEFORE MY LAST CLASS OF THE DAY, I TURNED OFF MY PHONE TO AVOID OTHER MESSAGES FROM BECKY THAT WILL RUIN MY FOCUS TODAY, I KNOW I WON'T HEAR THE END OF IT ONCE BECKY GETS BACK BUT I JUST WANT TO HAVE THESE FEW HOURS TO MYSELF. BY THE TIME I FINISHED FOR THE DAY IT WAS ALREADY FOUR, SOME STUDENTS WENT TO THEIR HOSTELS, SOME TO THEIR PARENTS HOUSE AND SOME LIKE ME TO THEIR OWN HOUSES LIKE ME. I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO THAT RESTAURANT WHERE I MET NATE, THAT WOULD RUIN MY DAY, I WENT TO A SMALL DINER WHERE I ORDERED SOME FOOD WHILE GOING THROUGH THE NEW PROJECT I WAS GIVEN THAT DAY "HEY" I LOOKED UP TO SEE A LADY WHO LOOKED TO BE IN HER EARLY TWENTY'S "UM..HI" I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY CAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN APPROACHED BY A STRANGER BEFORE "YOU'RE ZANIAH, RIGHT?" HOW DOES SHE KNOW MY NAME?, SHE DOESN'T LOOK DANGEROUS "YEAH" SHE SMILED AND SAT DOWN OPPOSITE ME "I'M LESLY" HER NAME SOUNDED FAMILIAR BUT I COULDN'T EXACTLY PINPOINT WHERE I HEARD IT "HOW MAY I HELP YOU?" I STILL HAD TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT HER "I'M NATE'S SISTER " NATE?, WHAT DOES HE WANT?.....NOW I REMEMBER, LESLY IS NATE'S YOUNGER SISTER, I READ ABOUT HER IN NATES AUTO-BIOGRAPHY "WHAT DOES HE WANT?" I COULD HEAR THE FORCED INDIFFERENCE IN MY VOICE "HE DOESN'T KNOW I'M HERE TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU" I'M SURE SHOCK WAS THE ONLY THING EVIDENT ON MY FACE "WHAT?" I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK ABOUT HER WORDS "I DIDN'T WANT TO BE AT HOME AND MEET THE GIRL MY DAD WANT'S HIM TO MARRY" THE SMILE ON HER FACE TOLD ME A LOT OF THINGS I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND "WHY?" I DON'T UNDERSTAND "WELL, HONESTLY I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE GIRL AND I KNOW THAT SHE ISN'T MY BROTHERS TYPE SO I KNOW HE WON'T AGREE TO THE ALLIANCE, NO NEED TO WASTE TME ON WHAT WON'T HAPPEN" I UNDERSTAND HER POINT BUT I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND ONE THING "WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ME?" I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND MY PART IN ALL THIS "WELL, I KNOW HE'S BEEN HANGING OUT WITH YOU SO I JUST WANTED TO HANG OUT WITH YOU TOO, NOTHING MUCH" SHE SEEMED NICE BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH NATE ANYMORE LET ALONE BE FRIENDS WITH HIS SISTER "I CAN'T, NATE AND I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER ANY MORE" A FROWN SETTLED ON HER FACE "I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY BE HURT HEARING ABOUT NATE'S ENGAGEMENT TO YOUR BEST FRIEND BUT HEAR ME OUT, THE ENGAGEMENT WON'T HAPPEN, NATE JUST NEEDS TIME TO CONVINCE FATHER" HER EXPLANATION MADE SENCE IN A WEIRD WAY "WHY DO YOU WANT TO HANG OUT WITH ME?" I STILL DON'T GET THAT PART "YOU SEEM FUN AND I WANT TO GET TO KNOW MY FUTURE SISTER-IN-LAW" I FELT HEAT RISE IN MY CHEEKS "W-WHAT D-DO YOU MEAN, I-I'M NOT YOUR FUTURE SISTER-IN-LAW" I SOUNDED VERY SHY, I IMAGINED ME AND NATE TOGETHER AND MY HEART LEAPT FOR JOY BUT THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT BECKY'S HAPPY FACE THIS MORNING AND MY FACE DROPPED "WHAT'S WRONG?" IT SEEMS JUST LIKE NATE SHE'S VERY OBSERVANT "I THINK YOU'RE MISTAKEN, BUT I DON'T MIND BEING YOUR FRIEND THO, YOU SEEM VERY NICE, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FRIEND'S, ONLY ONE TO BE EXACT" I JUST DIVERTED THE TOPIC, I THINK IT'S THE BEST CHOICE, I FEEL SO GUILTY ABOUT WANTING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCE "GOOD, I DON'T HAVE MUCH FRIENDS TOO AND THO MY BROTHER AND I ARGUE A LOT, HE'S MY BEST FRIEND" THE WAY SHE SPOKE ABOUT HER BROTHER WITH SO MUCH JOY MADE ME WISH I HAD A SIBLING WHICH I DON'T "ARE YOU FREE TODAY?" I LOOKED UP AT HER, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CLASSES AGAIN TODAY "YEAH, I AM" I SAW HER EYES SPARLE, SHE SEEMED LIKE A MISCHIEVOUS PERSON "FOLLOW ME TO THE PARK" SHE STOOD UP AND PULLED ME OUT OF THE DINER. AT THE PARK, I ACTUALLY HAD FUN, WE TALKED AND SHE WAS VERY FUNNY, WE GOT ON THE SWINGS, WE GOT ICE-CREAM, THEN SHE DROVE US TO THE AQUARIUM. THIS WASN'T MY FIRST TIME AT THE AQUARIUM BUT THE LAST TIME I HAD BEEN HERE WAS WITH MY FATHER SO IT WAS VERY LONG AGO. BY THE TIME SHE DROPPED ME OFF AT HOME IT WAS ALREADY EIGHT O CLOCK "THANK YOU" I SMILED AT HER AS I GOT OUT OF THE CAR "YOUR WELCOME, LETS EXCHANGE NUMBERS" SHE GAVE ME HER PHONE AND I PUT MY NUMBER DOWN IN IT "GOODNIGHT" I RETURNED HER PHONE AND WAKED INTO MY HOUSE SHUTTING THE DOOR BEHIND ME "YOU'RE BACK" I SAW BECKY ON THE COUCH, ALREADY IN HER NIGHT GOWN WATCHING A MOVIE "YEAH" ONCE AGAIN I HAVE BEEN REMINDED ABOUT NATES ENGAGEMENT, MY MOOD DAMPENED "COME SIT" SHE CREATED SPACE FOR ME ON THE COUCH, I NOTICED SHE WASN'T SMILING AND I BECAME WORRIED "WHAT'S WRONG?" I SAT DOWN BESIDE HER, SHE RESTED HER HEAD ON MY SHOULDERS, DIDN'T THE MEETING GO WELL? I HOPED IT DIDN'T BUT STILL "NATE BARELY SPOKE TO ME THROUGHOUT AND THE TIMES HE DID HE WAS SO COLD TO ME, HE DIDN'T EVEN LET ME TOUCH HIM, HE KEPT REJECTING EVERY OFFER MY DAD AND HIS MADE, HE EVEN WALKED OUT WHEN HE WAS TOLD TO WALK AROUND THE GARDEN WITH ME" OUCH, I DIDN'T KNOW NATE WAS THAT HARSH "HEY, HEY, I DON'T THINK THIS GUY IS IT FOR YOU" I PATTED HER CHEEKS WITH MY PALM "I TOLD DAD THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO BE WITH NATE AND THAT HE SHOULD JUST END THE ALLIANCE BUT HE SAID THAT I SHOULD GIVE NATE TIME TO WARM UP TO ME, I SHOULD TRY TO MAKE HIM LIKE ME BUT I KNOW THAT HE DOESN'T AND MAY NEVER LIKE ME. GUYS LIKE NATE ONCE THEY DON'T LIKE YOU, THEY DON'T LIKE YOU" I FELT BAD BECAUSE BOTH NATE AND BECKY ARE BEING FORCED INTO A MARRIAGE THEY DON'T WANT "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU BUT I THOUGHT YOU LIKED NATE?" I NEED TO BE SURE OF BECKY'S FEELINGS FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING "I LIKED THE THOUGHT OF HIM BUT IF HE DOESN'T LIKE ME IT'S OKAY" I BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF, SHE DOESN'T LIKE HIM, THAT'S GOOD "OKAY" I NODDED "ANOTHER THING, I HEARD THAT NATE AND HIS SISTER ARE VERY CLOSE SO I EXPECTED HER TO BE THERE TODAY BUT SHE WASN'T, I'M SURE SHE ALSO DOESN'T LIKE ME, HIS MOM WAS NICE THO BUT I DON'T THINK SHE SAW ME DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WORTHY" I COULD THE HURT IN HER WORDS AND I FELT BAD, I KNOW HOW MUCH BECKY HATES BEING TREATED INDIFFERENTLY, I GREW UP BEING TREATED INDIFFERENTLY SO I WAS USED TO IT, BECKY GREW UP WITH ALL ATTENTION ON HER SO I SURE THIS IS NEW TO HER "IT'S OKAY, I DON'T WANT YOU TO SPEND YOUR LIFE WITH SOMEONE WHO WON'T KEEP YOU HAPPY, YOU AND NATE CAN TALK THINGS OUT AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING" I WANT BECKY TO BE HAPPY, I WANT THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE FOR HER SO I WANT HER TO END THIS FORCED ALLIANCE SHIT "I CAN TRY TO TALK TO NATE ABOUT IT SO WE CAN FIND A WAY TO CONVINCE OUR FATHERS TO END ALL THIS NONSENSE" BECKY EYES SPARKLED WITH NEW FOUND HOPE AND I WAS HAPPY MY ADVICE HELPED "THANK YOU ZEE, I LOVE YOU" SHE GAVE ME A PECK ON THE CHEEK AND RAN UP TO HER ROOM, I FEEL SO GUILTY FOR HAVING MY OWN SELFISH REASON BEHIND THIS, I HATE HURTING BECKY FOR ANY REASON, I HATE IT BUT I WAS STILL ABLE TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY.
NATE POV
MY DAD IS BEING VERY SELFISH RIGHT NOW, HE MADE ME STAY AT HOME TO WAIT FOR BECKY AND HER PARENTS, I SO BADLY WANT TO SEE MY LITTLE DOVE, SHE MUST HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT SINCE BECKY IS HER BEST FRIEND AND ROOM MATE, I WAS SO PISSED AND THE FACT THAT LESLY JUST LEFT THE HOUSE WITHOUT AS MUCH AS A WORD JUST MADE ME MORE ANGRY "YOUNG MASTER THE GUESTS HAVE ARRIVED" THE MAID SPOKE FROM OUTSIDE MY DOOR, I JUST WENT DOWNSTAIRS IN THE WORST MOOD EVER, "NATE SIT BESIDE BECKY" I DIDN'T WANT TO EMBARRASS MY DAD BY SITTING SOMEWHERE ELSE SO I JUST SAT ON THE SAME COUCH BUT FAR AWAY FROM HER, HER SMILE JUST PISSED ME OFF, THE GOOD THING WAS THAT DAD DIDN'T TELL ME TO MOVE CLOSER TO HER CAUSE I WOULD HAVE LEFT THEM THERE AND GONE TO MEET MY GIRL. THEY KEPT BRINGING UP DIFFERENT VENUES FOR THE ENGAGEMENT, THEY KEPT ASKING FOR MY OPINION "WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS ONE NATE?" MY DAD WAS SHOWING ME A PHOTO OF SOMETHING I DIDN'T EVEN GLANCE AT "NO" I REJECTED EVERY SINGLE IDEA "MAYBE HE'S JUST SHY" BECKY'S DAD KEPT MAKING UP STUPID EXCUSES WHICH I JUST ROLLED MY EYES AT, SHY? ME? FOR WHO? BECKY? HELL NO "WHY DON'T YOU BOTH TAKE A STROLL AROUND AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER" THAT'S THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO BUT I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE, I STOOD UP AS BECKY WAS ABOUT TO TOUCH ME AND WALKED TO THE GARDEN MYSELF, "HOLD ON" I HEARD BECKY TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH ME BUT THERES NO WAY I'M IN THE MOOD TO TALK TO HER "MY DAD SAID YOU HAD YOUR OWN COMPANY, THAT'S COOL" SHE TRIED MAKING CONVERSATION WHICH I WASN'T IN THE MOOD FOR "YEAH" MY VOICE AS COLD AS ICE, SHE TRIED TO GRAB MY ARM AGAIN BUT I AVOIDED HER TOUCH "YOU DON'T WANT THIS DO YOU?" HER VOICE SOUNDED HURT "NO" AT THE END OF IT ALL I HAD ONLY SPOKEN LESS THAN FIVE WORDS TO HER. A THE END OF THE DAY BECKY LEFT SAD, MY DAD DIDN'T SPEAK TO ME AND WENT UP TO HIS ROOM, MY MOM SMILED AND KISSED ME ON THE CHEEK BEFORE GOING UP TO HER ROOM, I JUST WENT TO MY ROOM THINKING ABOUT MY LITTLE DOVE. "NATE" IT WAS ALREADY NINE O CLOCK, LESLY WALKED INTO MY ROOM WITHOUT KNOCKING, SHE LAY DOWN ON MY BED BESIDE ME "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" I WAS ANGRY AT HER FOR LEAVING ME TO HANDLE THIS SHIT ALONE "I WENT TO MAKE A NEW FRIEND, NO BIGGIE" I KNOW LESLY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS SO I WAS SHOCKED "WHO?" I WANT TO KNOW IF THE PERSON IS DANGEROUS OR SAFE "HER NAME IS ZANIAH" I WAS SHOCKED, LESLY WENT TO MEET MY LITTLE DOVE "WHY DID YOU GO TO MEET HER?" I NEVER SPOKE TO LESLY ABOUT HER "NOTHING REALLY, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW MY FUTURE SISTER-IN-LAW" HOW DID LESLY FIND OUT? "HOW DID YOU FIND OUT?" I LESLY JUST WRAPPED HERSELF IN THE BLANKET "I KNOW YOU MORE THAN YOU THINK BROTHER, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE ZANIAH DOESN'T HATE YOU, THAT'S ALL" SHE WANTED TO HELP ME,THAT MADE ME LESS ANGRY AT HER FOR LEAVING ME "DOES SHE?" I HOPE MY LITTLE DOVE DOESN'T HATE ME "NO, SHE WAS JUST UPSET, SHE DIDN'T REALLY HATE YOU, SHE WAS ONLY UPSET WITH YOU" I BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF,WHEN ALL THIS IS OVER I'LL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE IT UP TO HER "THANKS" MY BAD DAY BECAME GOOD JUST HEARING MY LITTLE DOVE DIDN'T HATE ME "YOU SHOULD END THIS ALLIANCE QUICKLY SO YOU CAN GO BACK TO CHASING HER, SHE'S REALLY CUTE I'M SURE MOM WILL LIKE HER VERY MUCH" MOM WILL BE VERY HAPPY WHEN I BRING HER HOME TO HER "YEAH" LESLY STANDS UP "GOODNIGHT" LESLY WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM TO HER OWN ROOM. I MUST STOP THIS ALLIANCE FROM HAPPENING.