The Elite

Fallen

I stared at Willow's front door. I felt strange. It was one thing to find out she was dating Brandon Charles, a struggling artist from high school. It was another to hear that he had been using her to propose to another chick.

Brandon Charles had always been bad news. In high school he was just like me: a player. He must have slept with every girl in our grade. Normally I would applaud him but he didn't just stop there. He pulled strings and purposely caused girls to fight each other or make them think he loved them just to drop them.

Just like he did to Willow.

Did she think she could have changed him? I shook my head, backing out. If there was one thing I knew about guys like me, it's that you can't change us.

It wasn't until I got home that I remembered where I fell in all this mess. I turned my car off and looked over. She left her purse.... I got my phone out to call her only to remember she had just demolished her phone.

When I walked in, I slammed my house door behind me. Polly was standing in the kitchen, looking petrified. I glared at her and opened my fridge.

"Nathan-"

"Way to go," I snapped. "Tell me something, how much was Brandon paying you?"

She frowned at me. "What?"

I leaned against the counter, popping open the tab of my beer.

"She was dating Brandon Charles," I told her. Her jaw dropped. "Yep. I think she'd thank you, though," I added, studying her face. "Turns out he's been cheating on her for the last six months. He was using her to propose some other skirt."

"I-I tried to call her but-"

"She destroyed her phone when she found out." I chugged the rest of my beer. "You better fix this, Polly. You've ruined our lives."

"I'm sorry," she said in a small voice. "I didn't know she was dating anyone. I didn't know Mom and Dad-"

"Just go home, Polly," I said wearily and walked upstairs to my bedroom.

Why was I feeling bad for Willow? I didn't even like her. Maybe it was because she got caught up in my sister's damn plot. She didn't have to take the money, though.

"You said the only thing left to buy was the ring."

So she had loved the asshole. I ran my hand through my hair, tossing my clothes into my hamper. Is that why I felt bad for her? Because she had fallen in love? Or was it because Brandon pulled something way below the belt?

I flopped on my bed and shook my head. I closed my eyes. Tomorrow everything would be fixed. Somehow.... It's not like it could get any worse.

I was wrong.

-

My phone woke me up at 7 this time. I had a text from my friend, Jimmy.

JR: Turn the TV on, dude. You're fucked.

My stomach dropped as I snatched up my remote. I turned it on and went to Channel 4. There were three pictures: One of my head, Willow's head, and Brandon's. Oh shit. I turned the volume up.

"Last night the public were given a huge shock. Millionaire playboy, Nathaniel Banker, went to his family's new museum opening with Willow Turner. Mr. and Mrs. Banker confirmed to several news reporters that the two of them had entered an exclusive relationship." The picture of Brandon expanded. "Then, later that evening, Brandon Charles, upcoming abstract artist, called the station. He had been in a relationship with Willow Turner before she entered this relationship with Nathaniel Banker. According to Mr. Charles, Mr. Banker was aware of their relationship before starting a relationship with Miss Turner."

A photo popped up of Willow and I running to my car after the party and I gripped the remote tighter. I felt like a black hole was opening and I was clinging to a pole, desperately trying not to get sucked in.

"After the dinner, Mr. Banker and Miss Turner fled the party. We can only assume it was to run before anyone could confront them of the cheating." A big red X covered my face. "There are many questions but one glares more than any others: Why would the son of such a wonderful couple stoop so low as to ruin a relationship between Miss Turner and Mr. Charles? We may not find out but we know one thing: As of last night, the elite Nathaniel Banker has fallen."

The news report changed to the weather and I tried to turn the TV off. When it didn't work, I looked down. I had gripped the remote so hard it broke. Shit.

My phone rang and I sighed as my mother's name popped up on the caller ID.

"Hey Mom," I said wearily.

"Oh, Nathan, how could you?"

"It's a lie, Mom! Willow and I aren't dating! I didn't even know about Brandon until-"

"Do you realize what you've done?" she whispered and I could tell she was crying. I squeezed my eyes shut. "Do you know how bad this makes us look?"

"Just let me come to the office. I-I'll fix this. I swear. I don't know why Brandon pulled that shit but-"

"Your father and I have talked about it and.... Don't come in for a while, Nathaniel." My heart stopped. "I'm so ashamed of you."

"What are you saying, Mom?" I whispered.

She sobbed. "I'm so ashamed of you," she repeated. "This is the last straw. Your father and I are coming by later today."

She hung up and I stared at my phone, my world falling around my ears. Did she just-?

Polly called me and I glared at the phone.

"Leave me alone," I snarled and hung up before she could answer.

I knew I had Aaron Turner's phone number in here. If anyone could help me, he could.

To my relief, he answered.

"Nathaniel," he acknowledged in a low voice.

"I need to talk to Willow. We can fix this! I know we can! I just-"

"She's made it clear she doesn't want to talk to you, Nathaniel," he interrupted and I shut my eyes. "She.... Well, perhaps you should just keep your distance for a few days. You've caused a lot of damage. This whole thing has."

He hung up on me and I stared open mouthed at it.

"No shit!" I yelled. "And it's not even my damn fault!"

I threw my phone on the nightstand and got dressed, determined to go to the office and make my parents see reason. I'd make them see that this was all a lie. Someone knocked on my door just as I was walking down the stairs.

"Please let me in," Polly said from the other side and my blood boiled.

I threw the door open and she jumped at the look on my face.

"Fix it!" I bellowed, pointing at her angrily and she whimpered.

"I don't know what else to do," she said in a shaking voice.

"I don't give a shit! Mom and Dad are cutting me off! This is your fault, Polly! Fix it!"

Her face went pale. "Th-They're cutting you off?"

"You better fix it," I snarled and slammed the door in her face.