The Elite: Maxon POV

Chapter 21

Natalie POV

*Flashback*

"Chloe?" I called out. I tentatively crept up the steps to my suite. "Chlo, seriously? I don't have time for this."

"Surprise!" Chloe popped out from behind the curtain of my hotel room holding a bottle of champagne in one hand and flowers in the other.

"You scared the heck out of me," I giggled.

"Duh, that was the point. I figured that it is my duty as your maid of honor to get you drunk the night before your wedding." She gently shook the champagne bottle. "And don't worry, I've got more in the fridge." I sat down next to her on the bed.

"It means a lot that you came for this," I said.

"Of course, Nat. Friends for life right? That's what we said in kindergarten."

"I know I just thought...because of how busy you are that you wouldn't come."

"I'm always here for you. Even if it is to marry douchebag Brad," she said rolling her eyes.

"Hey! He is not! You're just jealous someone else took my heart." I pretended to faint as I fell back onto the bed.

"As if! Also I am not going to be the one to tell your mother that you're not a virgin." I sat up straight and stopped laughing.

"Don't joke about that. It's against the law and I could be killed or worse, stripped of my caste. You know how hard my parents had to work for to be fours."

"Oh don't get so serious, I was only joking," she said. She grabbed two glasses from the cabinet and brought them to the bed. "Let's get wrecked," she said with a smirk.

Several drinks later, we were both lying on our backs on the floor, completely in hysterics.

"Oh, I can't believe you're really getting married," said Chloe turning to face me. Our faces were so close our noses were almost touching.

"Me neither. Honestly...I like Brad but I don't want to marry him. I'm only 18 and have barely lived my life. It's mostly because of my parents, you know financially. They think marrying a three is "good for the family"." I sighed. Chloe smiled and just gazed at me.

"You have no idea how much I've missed you," she breathed.

"Show me."

"What?"

"Show me how much." I held my breath in anticipation. I told myself it was the alcohol making me think these thoughts. I wasn't thinking clearly.

"I've missed those beautiful blue eyes."

"What else?" I asked.

"I've missed the shape of your lips," she said running her thumb across my bottom lip.

"And?"

"I only wish I knew how soft they would feel against mine," she said in a voice barely above a whisper. I nudged her nose with mine and leaned in. I stopped just short of her lips, waiting.