The Sweet Crazy Life

Chapter 9: Nick

CHAPTER 9: Nick

Ariana

I ran, past the fountain, past the buildings, past a few students who were on their way to their afternoon classes. I didn't stop until I found myself overlooking a small pond. It was well concealed by the clump of trees that grew healthy by the sunlight that shone on their leaves, making it glow emeralds. Just like Ro's eyes.

I sat on the grass and rested my head on a tree and gave a disappointing sigh. "Don't cry, Ari." I scolded myself as I wiped the tears off my eyes. "Stop it. Nothing will come out of this."

When I thought I was about to calm down, a call came from a distance. "Ari!"

I flicked my head and found someone heading my way. "Ro?" I thought. For a moment I was hopeful but when I remembered Bethany's words... "So, I think it's best if you stay away from him... one call and your scholarship will be stripped off."

My smile faltered and I decided not to make a sound. Ro seemed to have gone away until... "There you are."

I looked up and found Nick, his face worried but still smiling. For a moment there, I thought it was Ro. Or, did I really expect it to be Ro? I hid my face. It's embarassing enough to have been seen by almost the whole campus being framed, what more if it's Nick? He must think I'm a low person. He should be here to demand why I was being so mean to Bethany. But he didn't. Instead, he crouched and said, "Finally found you."

"You didn't have to go after me." I told him my face still hidden.

"I know you didn't do that." Nick tells me.

"How do you know?" I demand as I turned my face towards him. "Everyone seems to be convinced I dunk my glass on Bethany."

"Well, everyone doesn't know you." Nick states as he sat on the grass beside me, one leg outstretched. "I know Ariana as a sweet girl who'd never hurt a fly so how should I be convinced that you really did that to Bethany?"

I looked at Nick, his sapphire eyes emitting a sense of truth and when he turned to me, I almost lost my breath. The sunlight was like a halo that surrounded his golden hair. Then there was that smile that greeted me the first time we met when I accidentally bumped into him when Buzz was doing his scary face. Wait, wait... am I really liking Nick as much as Lannie likes Ro?

With just those words, my mood instantly lifted. What use it being all mopey if I know it wasn't my fault. Silly, Ari.

"Thanks, Nick." I said, gratefully. "It really means a lot."

"No problem." Nick says and this time, his face went serious. "So, are you going to tell me what happened? What does Bethany have against you?"

"And if you tell anyone about this... I'll personally hurt that petty little friend of yours."

"Sorry, I can't tell you." I apologized and shook my head. "But it's nothing for you to worry about."

"It is if it's bothering you so much." Nick states. "But you don't have to tell me. I won't force you."

"Thank you." I said, relieved. 

It was then I had my first real conversation with Nick. It was that talk that made me forget completley about Bethany, Lannie and Ro. It was just me and Nick in this little paradise I found.

"I have a little sister, she's about ten." Nick says and smirked. "Clings to me like a leech."

"Aww, that is so cute." I tell him and laughed when he shook his head.

"Cute but loud and spoiled." Nick describes and gave a sigh. "Just like the rest of my family. You should meet them someday, they'll be all over you knowing you were chosen by the president."

I shook my head. "Why does everyone think directly I'm a good cook?" I demand while Nick chuckled. "I'm not as good as they say. The president just gave me a scholarship, so what?"

"The president doesn't just give a scholarship to just anyone, Ari." Nick says as he threw a tiny stone into the pond. It gave a small splash and the water shimmered. "There are a few half-scholars in this school but full scholars like you are somehow like a rare sort of diamond. There are probably around 2 or 3 of you in the whole campus."

"That's..."

"Amazing right?" Nick finishes for me.

I looked back to when the president first met me. He was one of the  judges to a four-course meal competition that I attended. It was that contest that must have won my scholarship.

"I have an older brother who is really over-protective." I told Nick and he looked at me in surprise.

"You know, guys who date girls with older brothers is a challenge." Nick says nonchalantly. "It's hard to win the father's trust, what more if you add an older brother?"

"But David is really supportive on what I do." I say as I remembered those nights when my brother would just stay up just to get a taste of things I baked. "Ever since I was a kid, I've always wanted to have my own restaurant. Serving people, seeing their smiles, its... probably just my only dream."

"Being a chef wasn't my first choice you know." Nick leans back on the tree and crossed his legs this time. "I wanted to be an archeologist and travel the world to search for Atlantis but... unfortunatley, National Geographic claims they found it so, dream crushed."

I couldn't help but laugh. Nick... how does he do that? Making people laugh and smile everytime. LIke... he's some sort of sunshine that walks around this place.

"Oh, It's almost time for afternoon classes." I say as I checked my watch. Why did lunch time travel so fast? "I'm still not sure if I'm ready to go to classes."

"You should go back to the lodge and rest." Nick assures. "You had a rough day. I'll just explain to the teachers that you need to be excused for the afternoon."

That's really nice of him to go to do that for me. And I really did need a rest. Also, I want to check on Lannie's condition if her fever's gone down or not. I guess I could do self-practice too since I'll be skipping a whole afternoon of classes.

"Thanks, Nick." I say as I stood up. "You know, for the talk, for everything. I had fun."

"Me too." Nick says.

We said our goodbyes to each other and I watched as Nick jogged off back to Roth hall leaving me smiling for some reason.

When I arrived back at Cinnamon lodge, I felt really tired. I wasn't able to eat that much since Bethany decided to spill water on herself and blaming me for it. Oh, well, I guess I should cook up something but a shower is much needed.

I went upstairs and was surprised to find Ms. Harper by my door.

"Oh, Ms. Starr, there you are." Ms. Harper says in her British accent. "I was supposed to return back in Roth hall but now that your here, I guess you made my job easier."

"Why is it your looking for me?" I ask feeling slightly uncomfortable. Does she know about what happened during lunch time?

"Your room is number 657 right?" Whew, I guess she doesn't know.

"Yes, it is. You gave me the key to it yourself."

"Well, about that, there is a small misunderstanding." Ms. Harper says.

"What?"

"Your not allowed to change rooms, according to campus rules however there is a protocol. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience Ms. Starr but you have to change rooms. Since you are residing in the same room with Mr. Colave and he truly is a gentleman but the faculty has agreed that you'd have to move out of the room. It's just for your safety, Ms. Starr. I hope you understand."