CHAPTER 14 (WHISKED AWAY)
Nate walked inside, his face expressionless. I hid under the sheets and felt my cheeks heat up. What's he doing here????
"Go away!!" I yelled at him.
I can't talk to him now and I don't think that I could talk to him ever! After what he did? It's not easy to forgive what he made me go through. It was like waking up in Vegas and the place used to be a funhouse, but now it's full of evil clowns and I keep telling myself that I'll be okay, when I'm really not.
Wow. I really am a music fan. Now, to get to the point.
"Norah, I'm sorry," Nate said as he sat beside me. I scurried backwards and…
"Ouch!" I yelped.
I rubbed the back of my head. Jeez. I hit the wall when I panicked.
Nate stifled a laugh.
I rolled my eyes. "Oh haha. Funny Nate. What do you want? Don't you think I've been through a lot lately?"
He grew quiet. "I came to say that I was sorry. I heard that you really didn't do it, and Kelley eventually said that she set you up. I got mad, and I realized how hurtful I must've sounded. I'm really sorry Norah."
I crossed my arms. "It's okay. I'm fine now. But I was hurt, don't forget that. I really was hurt."
He nodded, understanding me.
Darn it. Why does he have to look so cute? I feel my heart softening.
Aargh! Norah. Control. Control.
But could I possibly still like him?
"I am. She was my best friend during childhood. I never knew that she could do something…" he started to say when he stopped. He seemed to ponder over the word.
"You mean grotesquely evil?" I supplied.
"Not really, but something like that. Look, I'm really sorry Norah. I shouldn't have sided with here just because she was my friend. Please forgive me?" he said, his eyes pleading.
I looked away.
Don't look Norah… Don't look… Don't you dare look!
Arrgh. But this is so hard.
I sighed. "Fine. I forgive you, but on one condition."
He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"You have to beg for my forgiveness."
His eyes widened. "What??"
Hah. Gotcha.
"Beg or be forever seeking my forgiveness," I smirked.
He sighed and smiled. "Would you rather get a kiss instead?"
I turned red. "Naate!! How dare you???"
How could he say that?? He's absolutely insane!
But then… maybe a kiss would be lovely… Even just a peck on the cheek.
OH shut the peanut butter up Norah.
He shrugged. "What? I thought you loved that."
"No! No way would I kiss you!!"
He looked blank for a while when he let out a laugh. "No silly! I meant Hershey's Kisses chocolate. I call a singular one a kiss. Here, I got you some chocolate. Have one."
He pulled out the chocolate from his pocket and dropped it on my hand.
A kiss… It's chocolate…
You are stupid Norah. Seriously.
"Oh… Thanks. This is my favourite, how'd you know?" I asked him, still feeling embarrassed. Jeez. Why do I always end up in situations like this??
"You told me once, I just remembered. I hope it makes you feel better, unless you want a real kiss," he said and chuckled. He pinched my cheek and I only grew red.
Oh gosh this is so embarrassing.
"No… This is fine… Thanks…" I said and began chewing the chocolate.
Jeez. Nate still is sweet. Maybe I should forgive him.
"I'm sorry. Really. If I can do anything to make it up to you, tell me Norah. I don't like seeing you get hurt. I've grown kind of fond of you," he said.
I smiled. "Sure. Thanks."
My cheeks burned once more, probably at the same temperature as the sun.
I did miss Nate. Ah well, it's not really his fault. I still want to be friends with him.
Wait a second…
SHANE!!!
What did he do to me???
"Nate! What did Shane do to me???" I asked him, feeling my breath coming short.
Oh my gosh. No… No… No… I can't lose 'that' now!!!!
He's stripped me of all of my microscopic dignity!
"Um… He took you home after the trip to the museum. Then he placed you here in his room," Nate explained.
I turned pale. "Where are my clothes??"
"In the laundry. He had to take those off of course. You wouldn't be able to relax."
Relax??? Why would I feel relaxed doing that???
The jerk!!!
I was panicking inside. Calm down Norah… Calm down… Calm…
"Hey Norah. You're up?" I heard Shane say as he appeared inside the room.
THE JERK!!!
I leapt from the bed and poked a finger at his chest. "Look! Why'd you take me here??? What did you do to me???"
He looked shocked. "Huh? I took you here because you fainted. Then it rained so I had to take your clothes off. Well, not me, mom did that. Then I left you here to go to sleep. Simple as that."
I blinked back.
So I still have 'it'…
"Oh… Okay… I guess so… Erm… Thanks anyway," I said and sighed in relief.
Whew. He didn't do it after all… I'm safe! Yes!
Nate smiled, apparently knowing what I had meant. I turned pink. Shane, on the other hand, didn't seem to have any sort of suspicion.
Suddenly, Nate's phone rang. "Hello?"
While he was talking on the phone, I looked at Shane.
"Did you mean what you said?" I whispered to him.
He smiled. "Of course I did. Do you feel the same way?"
I sighed. "Shane… I don't know what to say…"
"I need an answer soon, preferably now…"
I frowned. "I can't give you one now. I can't answer you, I'm sorry."
He smiled once more. "I'll get my answer, you'll see."
I could only sigh once more.
I guess it would be nice to be back with Shane. He's funny, sweet and really handsome and all.
But I think that I really like Nate now. I'm really over Shane. Jeez. I'm torn between two brothers.
"Norah, the original script for the Princess and the Bard has been approved, and you're the princess," Nate said after the call ended.
My jaw dropped.
WHAT?????
I sighed as I was backstage. My hair was in curls and my knees were shaking a bit. The audience never looked so massive before.
Okay, I can do this. The only hard part was the falling from the tower scene. It shouldn't be a problem, and that's the last scene.
Okay. So the audience were just family members and a few kids. We were staging an original play written by our classmate Van Wilder and it's pretty short. It was supposed to be our class project.
But still… I feel nervous.
Oh. And guess what? Nate's the bard who gets the princess.
I sighed. My day couldn't get any weirder.
Suddenly, someone placed their hand on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Nate. He looked absolutely ravishing in his outfit and his brown hair was neatly fixed.
My heart began to go thump.
"Ready?" he grinned at me.
I nodded. "Yup."
"Good luck," he said and unexpectedly pecked me on the cheek.
I could only smile back at him and turn a deep shade of scarlet.
"Thanks," I whispered as he was gone.
Well, nothing could go wrong, could it?
"Fair Nathaniel, I shall come down now, and please do catch me. Then we can get married," I recited and looked at Nate.
Well, we've practiced this already, so here goes nothing.
Oh my gosh!!! I'm literally falling into Nate's arms!!
And I pick now to feel all hyper. I took in a deep breath.
I hope he catches me.
I jumped from the tower, which wasn't too high but it was a considerable height. I closed my eyes, and after a few seconds, he caught me.
Whew. Thank God Nate caught me.
I opened my eyes and gasped.
Nate didn't catch me!! Shane did!!! What the heck is he doing here???
He was holding me in his arms and grinning. "I need to talk to you now."
"But-!" I started to say when he began to speak to the crowd.
"I'm sorry, but I need the princess now. Goodbye," he said and ran off.
I looked at Nate, who looked flabbergasted.
"Shane! What are you doing??" I hissed at him as we got outside.
"I'm getting an answer no matter what," he whispered back.
Great. Simply great. I was so wrong when I said that my day could not get any weirder.