Heir Born

16 | Nate

Memories of the debauchery at Zach's on Friday still flood my mind. I try hard to push my mother's threats out of my mind, but fail. Just thinking about her awful words... what she said about Summer and the Lennoxes... I didn't know I could feel that much pain or anger at just the mere mention of Summer or her family.

I press the button to go upstairs, and then suddenly — flashbacks to when Summer and I were in the elevator the last time.

The lift doors open. As I look up, Summer's scribbling in her notebook. She's so stuck into it she doesn't see me. That magnolia scent of hers hits me.

Still just as hot as the last time I saw her.

I walk into the lift, and then turn and stand right next to Summer.

"Maybe we should just set up camp in here." I don't look at her. But I know immediately that my words startle her. Oops. Must be my voice. She looks at me.

"Nate." She slams her notebook shut, holding it close to chest. Now, I turn and smile at her.

"Summer." I squint at the notebook. "Anything interesting about me in there or what?"

Summer's defences come up like a soldier waiting to enter the trenches. "Just school stuff, you know—"

"All work and no play makes Summer a very boring girl." And there it is. She blushes. She's so obvious sometimes. I watch her straighten up, and then put on a serious face. Oh, boy. Here we go.

"You know I have a life, Nate. You actually saw me have one on Thursday night. Wait. I think you were part of it."

Someone's annoyed — I can tell because sarcastic mode is dialed all the way to 100 when I annoy her. So much she doesn't even make eye contact with me.

I look at her, not saying a word. But I am dead sure my amusement is clear across my face. Can't help it — she's the one who brought about Thursday.

"How could I forget?" I smile, very innocently.

Relax. Don't piss her off anymore than she already is.

"I just like to be on top of things." Her voice breaks a little as she tries to explain her notebook. I've never seen Summer so unsettled — except when she's around me.

I nod then turn back around to face the lift doors. I need to rein in my thoughts... I don't want to think about Thursday. Because that means thinking about that night, and how much I loved spending time with her; how much I loved having my lips on hers.

"Look, about Saturday—"

I start, but don't really know how to explain myself. My absence. My "no show". Do I even have a good explanation? I mean 'I passed out after a good session of commiserating with my friends' doesn't seem like it will go down well with her.

She shakes her head. "You mean when you stood me up?" Ouch.

Shit. Now I have to do serious damage control.

"Don't bother, Vanderbilt." Summer turns back to the front as well to face the doors.

Damn. She's 'last name level' pissed.

"I couldn't—"

Summer raises her hand in my face — my attempt at an excuse probably makes her even more pissed.

"You don't owe me any explanation. I can interview your vice captain. Reynolds wants this story published. So it has to be done." She takes a breath. "Whether you like me or not."

Ouch.

I hate that I hurt her like this.

I can't help but feel torn. "You know I like you." I more than like her. "It has nothing to do with that."