Heir Born

3 | Nate

As I walk across the lawn, and into the courtyard, I come around the oak tree again, passing underneath it. The memory hits me like a thunderbolt, as I come to the exact same spot where, just a few minutes ago, I was with Summer.

It's those deep green eyes and her thick brown curls obediently falling off her shoulders. The light from the sun reflecting off her caramel skin in the most intoxicating way. Basically, I'm fucked because the memory of her when I looked into her eyes is etched in my subconscious for life.

The hairs at the back of my neck are instantaneously jolted up again just at the thought of her. I feel some sort of dip in my gut. Must be that liquor I just consumed. It has to be it. I loosen my tie a little, as I continue walking.

Finally, I get to the Administrative Building on the other side of campus. Once inside, I head straight for the lift, and press the button going up. It eventually opens, I get inside, and then press 'R', for our principal, Reynolds' office.

Before the doors shut completely though, someone comes running and shouting, "Hold the lift, please!" So I nonchalantly press the 'H' button. The girl practically throws herself into the lift. She's a senior so probably in one of my classes. I can tell from the colour of her cream white blazer which matches mine. Those are reserved for a select few in the final year class.

"You're a godsend."

She says to me as she catches her breath, not even looking at me. As soon as she speaks though, I know it's her. That now all too familiar fruity magnolia hits me like yet another lightening bolt.

I feel my jaw tighten for a split second before it relaxes and drops just slightly as soon I look at her.

She's actually really beautiful.

My brain reminds me that I haven't responded. I bring myself back down to earth.

"Anytime." I swallow hard, as I release the 'H' button, and the doors shut in front of us.

I spy Summer flinch midway through straightening out her uniform, and fixing her hair. Okay. So maybe she's also feeling out of sorts around me.

She catches me smiling at her when she glances up. The green in those eyes pull me in like a deep forest green as they sparkle like when the sunlight filters through the leaves. I can't stop staring. And then her lips part as though she's trying to breathe through her mouth.

"Nate."

Well, damn.

Even the way she says my name sounds criminal. My stomach does those things girls call somersaults, or butterflies or whatever the fuck they are. Evidently, my insides are caught totally off guard. I love the way she says my name. She's not calling me Vanderbilt like she always does when she's annoyed with me. Actually, Vanderbilt was a welcome upgrade from loser, prick and, my personal favourite, Vanderwhore.

My eyes drift back to her lips, which showcase the dark pink tint of her berry scented lipgloss.

"Summer." I can't help but say her name in return.

I manage to pull myself together to avert my eyes, looking straight ahead at the closed doors, not even wincing. I won't last very long if I keep glaring at her like she's breakfast, lunch and dinner. So I keep my eyes focused in front of me. Doesn't really help though, because I feel her breathing as she stands those mere centimetres away from me.

For a split second, my eyes dart to the side, and I notice her chest is moving... up, down, up, down. She's breathing really hard and really heavily. I catch myself, then look back to the doors. But the breathing continues, pulling my eyes back to her. And this time, with my whole face.