Heir Born

9 | Summer

I'm not a fighter. I don't like to fight. I don't like to argue. I like peace. I'm a peaceful person. Most of the time.

But there is one person... one loser who just so happens to get me in the mood for a fight just with his existence. 

I've never felt so backed into a corner like I did when Nate decided it was a good idea to turn on me. Especially after I was literally trying to make him feel better after Reynolds stripped him of his party privileges. Because let's face it, the thing he's so bitter about in this whole situation is that he won't get to get wasted as much with Emily breathing down his neck. At her back and call. I wonder if he can even take instruction from anyone. 

Okay. To be fair, I was kind of antagonising. I won't lie. His face was asking for it. So I obliged. 

And I'm totally going to disregard the fact that my body decided to completely betray me while Nate was basically in my face. Him and his stupid spicy vanilla all floating around my senses. If he thinks he can get a rise out of me, he has another thing coming. Summer doesn't back down. Not for anyone. Even if I have to sit through Emily's meetings for the next couple of weeks.

I enter the meet room. And this time, with the right to be inside... unlike the last time I was here. Everyone seems to be here. Even Nate. 

Am I late? Shit. 

The only available seat is right next to Nate. 

Just fucking great. Throw him in my face, why don't you, Universe?

I speed walk over to him, and sit my butt down next to him. I don't acknowledge him. I don't make eye contact. 

As soon as I sit down, I realise I made a huge mistake. The cold, hard floor on the other side of the room would have been a better choice, because the heat that's taking over my body is the last thing I need right now. 

The second Fundraising Committee meeting for the semester — the last place I'd rather be. But small sacrifices for bigger rewards. Emily stands up front, everyone can see she has something to say. They all look between her, and the two of us.

"Hello, my beautiful people." 

Emily starts to talk, but everything she's saying is kind of just landing on deaf ears when it comes to me, because I'm too distracted by the presence of this rare human species next to me. Yes. Nate is the species. 

I need to focus. Shut him and his stupid little warnings out. Imagine him telling me to be careful. The nerve. I take a deep breath in, then I plaster a smile on face for Emily to see. I have to look like I give a shit, at the very least. 

Nate and I just awkwardly sit there next to each other, very silent up front. We're sitting way too close to each other. The distance between us is not enough to mask whatever this intense energy is that I'm feeling. Each and every one of his movements is like a shock to my system. What in the hell?

"We have some new committee members joining our team for the Masquerade. Order from the top." 

She looks at Nate and I like we're imposters. She doesn't seem very happy. That's the look of someone who's five seconds away from sulking because her favourite toys were taken away. She's being so dramatic. 

I roll my eyes. She doesn't notice. But Nate happens to look at me at that very moment my eyes decide they need to roll at Emily's implied dramatics. Of course he has to look at me when I'm being a total cow. He smirks, as he shakes his head. Then he looks back at Emily.  

"As captain of the Varsity Soccer team and chair of the Varsity Ensemble, Nathaniel and Summer will be part of our committee as we work on this event that is specifically in support of their teams' championships."