Warning: Mean Princess

Chapter 16: Nicole

Glancing at the clock at Travis kitchen countertop, I shriek in disbelief, "I overslept, it's 8;30! You didnt wake me up!"

When no reaction from Travis, I look at his direction with a frown. Sitting on one of the island's high chairs, head bowing, he's busy typing on his phone with a visible small smile on his face. My frown deepen.

Is he texting Emily? Again, a stabbing ache on my chest. I immediately shake it off my head. I should not care.

"I already reheat the pasta, you snore so noisily, Princess, I was so afraid to enter the room and wake you up," he suddenly says that I thought he is not actually talking to me, still eyes on the screen of his mobile phone.

"Excuse me! I don't snore!" I glare at him in complete distaste and trudge towards the oven to pull out the bowl of pasta. I am so hungry, "You're such a wimp if that scares you," I scoff.

He chuckles, "Someone's in denial,"

I roll my eyes, "Don't talk to me, I'm gonna eat in silence, and again, I don't snore. Period."

Travis just shakes his head in amusement as his reply.

Then, the whole kitchen becomes quiet except the sound of tapping on his phone and the clanking of my fork on the ceramic as I eat my fill.

"I already called your father," he informs me after a while.

I nod. My father isn't really monitoring my schedule. Travis doesnt need to do that.

"Did you cook this?" I try to start a conversation.

"Ah, yeah...sorry, that's the best I can do for now," he replies.

"Well, it's delicious," I say absentmindedly.

"Well, well, well, Princess Mia is complimenting me?" A laugh escapes from Travis throat, "Am I dreaming?"

"Such an overdramatic," I snap, blush is now creeping towards my cheeks, "Well, it's a bit bland though, it needs salt." I try to salvage my situation.

He chuckles and shakes his head, "You're blushing, babe, you're such a bad liar," he teases.

I almost choke on my water, "Stop calling me that!", I yell at him.

His eyes wide at my reaction, "What??"

"Babe!"

"Yes, babe?"

"Shut up!" I snap, "Isn't that the name of that famous pig?!"

He guffaws at my question. I glare at him as he continues his fit of laughter at my dilemma. I fall silent, am I too insecure? I just don't like that word as an endearment! I feel like being called Babe the Pig. Wait, Travis is using an endearment? Aside from Princess, this is the first time he called me another name. I almost smile but his voice cuts my thought.

"Hey," he says trying to get my attention.

"Y-yes?" I lift my head and our eyes meet, and just like that, my heart beats so fast. What am I expecting?

"I have to go somewhere now, maybe you can go home on your own after you eat?" His right eyebrow raises as he awkwardly waits for my reply.

"Uh-uh, yeah,hmm... no problem," I struggle with my response. I did not expect him to leave me now. Not after he called me babe! This guy is really something!

His phone rings, our eyes both dart on the small machine.

"Hey Ems, yes, sorry.. I'm coming," he says audibly.

My ears catch every word he said. I drop my fork on the ceramic accidentally that it makes a sudden clinking sound which startles me but not Travis. He just looks at my way, "Gotta go, Mia, see you on Monday, our last practice," he says and just like that he's out of my sight not even bothering to wait for my reply.