EIGHTEEN || SEVENTEEN spin off ||

Chapter Three || Nat?

"Are you both coming to the party tonight?" Lottie asks, grabbing her bag from the locker and glancing at Nat and me.

Nat and I exchange a quick look before she turns her attention back to Lottie. "Yeah," Nat replies with a smile.

"Awesome, I'll see you there!" Lottie exclaims before heading off.

~

I gently knock on the door of Nat's trailer, anticipation fluttering in my chest, and it's her mother who greets me, an air of skepticism in her eyes. "May I see Natalie?" I manage a hopeful smile. She studies me for a moment, then lets out a sigh, retreating with an exasperated call, "NATALIE." The sound of footsteps approaches from an unexpected direction, and there she is – Nat. A smile lights up her face as she steps out, the door closing behind her.

In that instant, time seems to slow as I take in her presence, struck by her beauty. "You look so beautiful." the words escape my lips before I can even think. A fleeting smile plays on her lips, quickly giving way to her playful retort, "Oh come on, quit being an idiot," to which I can't help but grin.

Suddenly, the blare of a car horn disrupts the moment, and I turn to find Tai's car waiting impatiently. "Hurry up or we'll be late," Van's voice floats from inside the car. I chuckle softly, calling back, "Technically, you can't be late to a party." As we scramble into the backseat, securing our seatbelts.

~

We step into the party, and as my gaze sweeps the room, I catch sight of Jackie and Shauna. With Nat following closely, I make my way towards them, noticing a few curious glances but no spoken words yet.

"Hey," I greet with a warm smile, and Jackie playfully pulls me into a dance. Amidst the music's beat, she shouts, "Hey Y/N!" Nat chuckles from the background and leans in to murmur in my ear, "I'll grab a drink, I'll be right back." She leaves a gentle kiss on my cheek, and I watch her stroll away.

Jackie, Shauna, and I share the dance floor for a while until Jeff approaches. Jackie instantly embraces him, their affection evident as they begin to make out. Observing Shauna looking a bit downcast, I place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Shauna. You'll find someone special soon; you're irresistible."

A glimmer of a smile graces her lips as she turns her attention back to Jackie and Jeff.

Shauna hesitates before confiding in me, "Can I share something, but it's strictly between us? Not even Jackie?" After glancing at Jackie, she waits for my nod before continuing, "I got accepted to Browns." I can't help but yelp with excitement, jumping and hugging her while whispering in her ear, "You want to keep it from Jackie since she thinks you applied to the same school, right?" She nods. "When you eventually tell her, she'll be happy for you, maybe a bit annoyed at first, but that'll pass." Another hug envelops us.

"Thank you, Y/N," Shauna expresses her gratitude.

I step back, concern entering my voice, "But wait, where's Nat? Grabbing a drink doesn't take over ten minutes." Shauna scans the surroundings and offers, "Want me to help you find her?" With a grateful smile, I nod. "Please."

~

We scoured every nook of the ground floor and even ventured outside, yet there's no sign of her. The sense of worry grows within me; where could Nat be?

"Should we check upstairs?" Shauna suggests, prompting a hesitant agreement from me. We weave our way through couples entangled on the staircase, a sinking feeling gnawing at me without any clear reason.

"Nat?" I call out as my feet touch the top step. There, at the far end of the hallway, I find her with someone else's lips pressed against hers. A rush of shock and confusion courses through me as she pulls away, her eyes locking onto mine. "Y/N? It's not what it looks like," she stammers, stepping towards me in a panic. But I can't let her come closer; without a word, I turn and flee back downstairs.

I dash to where Van and Tai are, desperation and tears clouding my vision. "Can we leave?" I plead, my voice trembling. They exchange concerned glances. "Sure, but where's Nat?" The floor becomes my focal point as I fight back sobs, my emotions overwhelming me. Without uttering a word, I break down, seeking comfort in Van's embrace.

"Alright, let's go," Van says softly, wrapping her arms around me in a reassuring hug.

~~~
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