Chapter Three
After that whole fiasco during Halloween, the tutoring stopped. The pranks however did not. It didn't even surprise me. It seemed like I was the new apple of Nathan's eye. Not in a good way.
I sigh, and rummage through my closet. Today was my dad's art gala and he wants both of his daughters to come and "support" him; more like he wants to flaunt us. Not like we looked anything that would be worth flaunting.
I spot a green vintage dress with a lace bodice that I remember buying from a thrift store on a whim. Thanking myself for impulse buying just for once, I grab it and put it on. I run a hand through my hair to untangle it and start braiding.
"Pammy! Someone's at the door for you." My sister runs in my room donning a pink dress, with a tutu skirt and sparkles all over. Her hair, which I've tied into a ballerina bun starts to come loose. I quickly fix it, pat her on the head and grab my black pumps.
"Go put some shoes on, Ella." I remind her before heading down the stairs. I grab on to the railing, taking a while to get use to the heels. Without even thinking of who could it be at the door, I was startled to see a very worried Nathan.
His face looks tired; his eyes still half glaze from sleep and his head topped with bed hair. He tries for a smile, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. My breath hitches, and sympathy and worry floods me. I put my hands on my hips, standing my ground. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Shuffling back and forth, he bows his head. "I-"
"Pam, who's at the door?" My dad comes down the stairs and stands beside me. He holds a tie in his hand and hands it to me. I quickly put around his neck and fix it perfectly.
"Why hello. And you are?" My dad turns to Nathan, and the next thing I knew, they were talking like old friends.
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"So Pamela, what do you think of this piece?" I tilt my head to the side, and try to appear thoughtful as I stare at one of my dad's paintings. This was was of a tree. It was uprooted from the ground. It's roots not the normal, murky brown but instead a vibrant mix of colours. It's leaves were falling, poised between the ground and the tree. The tree was half bent; it's long, thin branches almost touching the ground. It was supposed to be a dark piece, but the colours in the say otherwise.
I turn to the man beside me, and open my mouth, ready to bs my way through this very scintillating conversation.
"Babe, I'm sorry I took long." I see Nathan grab my hand and passes me a drink. He puts his arm around my shoulders and I try not to cringe. He smiles at the man. "I'm sorry. I don't believe we have met?"
They make small talk while I try not to focus too much on my proximity with Nathan and what it was doing to my senses and furthermore, my judgement. As the man leaves, Nathan leans in.
"You're welcome." I release a breath, that I wasn't aware I was holding and step away from his arm. "I could have handled it."
He looks at me in disbelief and shakes his head. "You didn't see the way he was looking at you. If it wasn't for me, you'd probably be in danger now." I roll my eyes. How absurd of a notion to make. "He's one of my dad's friends or a colleague. Either way, I would have been fine. We were just talking about the painting."
