His name was Nathaniel

5

"Sir."

"Sir? It is time to get up."

Nathaniel's eyes flutter open as his butler Greg opened all the curtains in his bedroom.

Nathaniel groans and turns back around to hide under his blanket, "I don't want to get up now" Nathaniel says into his pillow.

"Sir, you have a schedule to follow and we both know very well your father will be upset if the rules are not followed" Greg explains as he placed Nathaniel's clothes for the day on a hanger

"5 more minutes please" Nathaniel said, his voice muffled by the heavy blanket

"It is very unusual for you to struggle waking up, should I inform the doctor?" Greg offered,

the moment Nathaniel heard the term doctor he pushed the blanket from his face and quickly stood up
"I'm up!" He says hurriedly

"Very well then, let's get you ready for the day"

•••

At the large dining table Nathaniel wasn't expecting to see his father already sitting there, reading his newspaper like usual.

Not fond of the idea of having breakfast with his father, Nathaniel decides to say nothing and quietly made his way to his designated place,

"You don't greet your father when you see him?" His fathers deep voice echoed through the dining room

"Pardon me. Good morning father" Nathaniel greets tight lipped and his father sighed

"That's it? That's all you have to offer?" His father nags
"What else do you expect to say!" Nathaniel snaps and instantly regrets it when he looked into his father's menacing eyes.

Nathaniel quickly looks down avoiding eye contact.

"Nathaniel?" His father calls for him in a soft tone, but Nathaniel knew that nothing soft would come next out of his mouth

"Do you know what happens to children that misbehave?" He adds

"I'm not a child anymore" Nathaniel shot back, and instantly regretted his decision to be rebellious towards his dad when he called the security over.

"Let's hope you regain some sort of clarity and respect when you're done." His father said wiping his mouth with a napkin "bring him into the room" he adds and Nathaniel could feel his heart drop.

"N-no No! Father! Father please!" Nathaniel started begging as he tried to free himself from the tight grip the security guards had on him,

They dragged him out of the dining room while Nathaniel used all his force to break free from their grasp "Father please!" He begged in vain "Don't do this to me!" Nathaniel roared through the hall as tears feared to drop from his eyes.

•••

Adaliya spent her whole day napping on her grandparents couch.

Her parents were slightly worried but nevertheless trusted Adaliya that she would come to them if something was bothering her.

By the time midnight arrived she made her way towards Nathaniel's Mansion,

They agreed on meeting around midnight to 1 in the morning.

1am and he still hasn't shown up.

At first Adaliya thought he might've fallen asleep or would arrive late, but 30 minutes later and still no sight of him.

Even though they just recently met, Adaliya knew that Nathaniel was not the kind of person to stand someone up.

So far he never talked about his life in the mansion besides not being allowed to leave, Adaliya regrets not asking more questions about his life in there than babbling him full of school drama he probably didn't even understand.