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5 YEARS BEFORE THE MURDERS
THE SUMMER SUN had been relentless that day, casting long, golden beams across the grounds of the Menendez house. Y/N hadn't expected much when her friend had dragged her along to a charity event hosted by some wealthy family she'd barely heard of. It was meant to be a casual, sunny afternoon—sipping lemonade, making small talk, and watching the elite of the town parade around in their finest attire.
But everything changed when she saw him.
Nicholas stood apart from the crowd, dressed in a simple, white button-down shirt, and dark slacks, his hands tucked casually into his pockets as he surveyed the gathering with a quiet intensity. He didn't have the polished smile of his parents or the snowy charm of his brothers; instead, there was something quietly magnetic about him.
Y/N noticed the way he leaned against the old oak tree at the edge of the garden, away from the noise and pretension of the event. She couldn't quite explain it, but something about him pulled her in. Before she knew it, her feet were moving toward him, as if guided by an unseen force.
As she approached, Nicholas's dark eyes lifted to meet hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to still. The sounds of laughter and conversation faded, leaving just the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hum of music. His gaze was intense, yet soft, and it was clear he wasn't like the others.
"Not much for these kinds of events?" Y/N asked, stopping just a few feet from him, a slight smile playing on her lips.
His lips curved into a small, knowing grin. "You could say that," he replied, his voice low and smooth. "They're all about appearances, don't you think?"
She nodded, feeling a strange sense of ease despite the fact they were strangers. "Definitely not my scene either. I'm only here because my friend dragged me along. I think she's trying to introduce me to the 'right people,'" she said, mimicking air quotes.
Nicholas chuckled softly, the sound warm and genuine. "The right people, huh? I don't think they're out here on the lawn. More like over here, hiding under trees."
She laughed, feeling the tension of the day slip away in his presence. There was something so natural about their conversation, as if they'd known each other for longer than the few moments they'd exchanged words.
"Who are you, tree girl?," He asked softly, leaning his back against the oak tree, hands in pockets.
"Y/N," she replied.
His head tilted to the side, eyes moving along her face, as if trying to remember her features and label them as Y/N's.
"Who are you, tree boy?," Y/N asked, smiling. He chuckled and stared off into the distance before meeting her eyes. "I'm Nicholas," he pulled his hand out of his pocket, ready to meet hers in a formal greeting.
She looked at his hand, reaching out with her gentle grip and shook it.
They weren't strangers anymore, but the tree people.
For the next hour, they stayed under that tree, talking about everything and nothing. Nicholas was curious about her—what she did, what she was passionate about, and what she thought of the world. Unlike most people she met at these events, he didn't talk about himself much. He listened, really listened, as if every word she said mattered.
But there was something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Beneath the easy charm and quiet confidence, there was a heaviness in his eyes, a weight that he carried, though he hid it well. She caught glimpses of it in their conversation paused and his gaze wandered, as if he was thinking of something far away.
At one point, he glanced toward the mansion, his expression hardening for just a moment before he looked back at her. "My family... they like to keep up appearances. But not everything is as perfect as it seems."
Y/N tilted her head, curious but cautious. "I get that. I mean everyone has their secrets, right?"
Nicholas's jaw tightened, just for a moment, before he nodded. "Yeah. Secrets." His voice was quieter then, and she sensed that whatever lay beneath the surface was something darker, something he wasn't ready to share.
But before the conversation could turn, the sound of footsteps approached. It was one of his brothers, Lyle, striding up with a grin that seemed a little too perfect. "There you are, Nicholas. They're asking for us inside. Mom's orders"
Nicholas's face closed off, his guard going up. "I'll be there in a minute."
Lyle gave Y/N a once-over, his smile not quite reaching his eyes, before turning back to his brother. "Don't be long."
As Lyle walked away, Y/N could sense the shift in Nicholas's demeanor. He stood a little straighter, his playful smile gone, replaced by the guarded look he had worn before she'd approached.
"I should go," he said, his voice softer now, regretful.
Y/N nodded, not wanting to intrude on whatever was happening between him and his family. "It was nice talking to you," she said, offering him a smile. "Maybe i'll see you around?"
Nicholas hesitated, his dark eyes flickering with something unspoken before he finally nodded. "Yeah. I'd like that."
And just like that, he was gone, disappearing into the world of wealth and secrets that she wasn't a part of. But as she watched him walk away, Y/N couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the last time their paths would cross. There was something about Nicholas Menendez—something that drew her in, even though she knew it might lead her down a dangerous path.
That day under the oak tree would be the beginning of something neither of them could have predicted.
