Stole My Heart 💕

21 - Happy times

Later that day, Candice found herself unexpectedly summoned to Mr. Potts's office. As she walked through the quiet hallways, a sense of unease settled in her chest. She had no idea what the Cultural Committee Head wanted from her. When she entered, Mr. Potts greeted her warmly and handed her a sheet detailing tasks for the upcoming cultural event.

Scanning the list, Candice's eyes landed on her name next to "Stage Decoration," paired with Mark as her partner. However, what truly caught her attention was another name—Nick's. He had been assigned as the overall in-charge of the event. Mr. Potts advised her to coordinate with Nick before beginning her work. With a nod of acknowledgment, she thanked him and left the office, her emotions a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Working on such a major event thrilled her, but the idea of coordinating with Nick left her flustered. His commanding presence always had a way of unsettling her.

Back in class, Candice shared the news of her assignment with her classmates, who quickly immersed themselves in their respective tasks. As the initial buzz died down, she took a moment to gather her thoughts before setting out to find Nick. Locating him wasn't difficult—he was in the auditorium, deep in discussion with a group of students. She hesitated by the door, waiting for the right moment to approach him. When he finally noticed her, he waved her over with a casual smile.

Upon hearing about her role in the event, Nick reviewed the list and offered a few suggestions. He emphasized the importance of aligning the stage decoration with the event's performances and jotted down a few shop names where she could find supplies. Just as she was about to thank him and leave, his demeanor shifted when she mentioned Mark as her partner. His easygoing expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he muttered something under his breath and walked away. Candice stood there, puzzled by his sudden change in mood but ultimately brushed it off.

Later that evening, Candice waited in the parking lot for Mark to join her for the shopping trip. As the minutes stretched on with no sign of him, frustration built inside her. Finally, she called him, only to be met with a nonchalant apology. Something had come up, and he couldn't make it.

Just as she ended the call, a warm hand gently took hers. Startled, she turned to find Nick standing before her, his eyes filled with concern.

"Why so down, baby doll?" he asked, his voice carrying an unexpected softness.

Candice felt a wave of warmth and embarrassment wash over her at his pet name. With a sigh, she admitted, "Mark stood me up."

Nick's frown deepened, his gaze darkening. "He's an idiot," he muttered.

Candice murmured that"Hmm. I still have only two days left. I dont know what I am going to do".

Nick replied "Candice... Do you want to come with me... Because I am also have something things to buy...You can join with me..."

An idea suddenly struck Candice, and she looked up at him, her eyes pleading. "Nick, really?" she asked, mustering her best puppy-dog expression.

He hesitated for a brief moment before sighing. "Yes, my baby doll."

Her lips curled into a hopeful smile. "Can you goshopping with me?"

Nick rubbed the back of his neck, feigning reluctance. "Shopping? Seriously?"

She nodded eagerly. "Please?"

Shaking his head in mock exasperation, he relented. "Alright, baby doll. Let's go."

The drive to the shops was filled with easy laughter as Nick cracked jokes to lighten the mood. Candice found herself enjoying his company more than she expected. Once they arrived, they wandered through aisles of decorations and craft materials, Nick surprising her with his attention to detail.