CHAPTER 2

Nick's POV

My hold on her hand becomes firmer as she struggles to get out of my hold. She glares at me harshly with her mouth tightly close and I smile. I know how much she wants to complain about what I have just done but she can't.

As soon as we get to the stage, I watch her face and smirk. "Can we dance now?"

She looks angry but I place my right hand on her waist and the other above her shoulder. Her hands are down, she isn't making any attempt to do the same to me to ease our dancing. I grab her left hand and place it on my shoulder too.

"Don't be so stubborn, I just want to dance with you", I inform her, feeling angry that she is being stubborn. I can't believe everyone is going and the thought of not having an Arianna to bully is disturbing. 

The thought of not seeing her scrunched-up face again is disturbing and I don't know what to do about it. I really wish this can go on for as long as possible.

"I don't want to dance with you", she declares openly. 

I am surprised at her utterance. This is the first time Arianna will ever speak back at me. Instead of being angry, I am amused.

"You told me you want to dance, remember?" I remind her, peering down at her. She looks away tilting her head so we won't be looking at each other.

"Ari", I call her as we dance but she ignores me. "Arianna."

"What?!" She barks at me. 

The corner of my mouth curves up slightly in a smile. My baby has changed. Being a graduate is changing her already. I guess the thought of going to college soon is enough to give her the confidence and courage to talk back to me.

I watch her beautiful face, my eyes shift to her full lashes, long pointed nose, and beautiful lips. They are inviting and irresistible. When our eyes interlock, I look away immediately, feeling embarrassed for being caught staring.

We continue dancing in silence. All of a sudden, she steps on my foot and I suck in my breath. She looks innocent and uncaring when she steps on me. I grin widely before stepping on hers too and she let out a small gasp, making her mouth open slightly.

"One good turn deserves another", I say to her. "Stop glaring at me."

She sighs softly and looks down. I suddenly feel bad for stepping on her foot because of how helpless she looks. 

Arianna had looked more helpless than this but all it gave me was pleasure to know that I am behind it all. I derive pleasure from knowing that she is unhappy because of me and that is because I want her attention. I want her to know me as her only bully. I want all of her attention. I want all of her.

"I heard you will be going to England in two weeks", I say to her, wishing we can start afresh and talk things out. I know how bad I have behaved but I did all of this for a reason best known to me.

She ignores me. 

"Arianna, aren't you going to answer me?"

"We are not friends, Nick", she grits her teeth in annoyance, almost spitting in my face.

"But we can be", I give her one of my boyish grins. She studies my expression for a while before turning her face away from me.

The music stops but I don't want to let go of her arms so we continue dancing. I don't know if she is still here on the dance floor to please me or if she is doing it unconsciously.

I am trying to think of the best gift to give to her for all the patience all these years. I want to reward her with the best gift ever for being mine all through high school. 

I want her to know the reason for my actions and I want her to continue being mine, even if we are worlds apart.

I am still here in New York because of my parent's business. My father insisted that I go to college here because of the company and because of the Alpha Prince title.

I am going to be crowned the Alpha Prince in two months and that is enough to stop me from going to England just like Arianna.

I am 20 years already and father is going to hand over his first company to me to handle next year when I turn 21 years old. I want this too but I have other dreams. I would love to be a CEO of our telecommunication firm but I want more.

Arianna stops dancing when she realizes people are going down from the stage. She scans the entire hall and gazes at me. I am watching her face.

She gathers her dress and attempts to leave me on the stage when I block her way. She raises a brow in confusion.

"Aren't we done dancing?" She questions sharply.

"Yes, we are but we aren't done with what I brought you here for", I mutter softly. She scowls and looks away. I can hear whispers from downstage and it dawns on her that we are now the center of attraction. 

This is a plan. I have planned this day for a year. Most people will be wondering what the hell is happening or going to happen. 

Others would think I still want to bully her on a day like this as a farewell but they are all wrong. I want to claim her.

She belongs to me alone. This is why I scared the other bullies away so she can be mine alone to disturb, trouble and torment.

I dip my hand into the pocket of my blue tux and bring out a small red box. Her eyes fall on it in curiosity.

Without uttering any more words and with no hesitation, I go down on my knees, making the crowd gasp in surprise.

What is happening? The Almighty Greek god is on his knees for Arianna? Is he proposing? Is this one of his tricks to get her again? 

Is he trying to bully her again? How did Arianna manage to get him enchanted? Is this his farewell or a new beginning of a new round of bullying? Is he asking her for forgiveness?

All these questions booms into my ears. The questions from our classmates who knew how Arianna and I started. They knew our history together, how I came to this school to find out she has two stupid bullies and how I dealt with them, before becoming her only bully.

"Arianna, I know we didn't start right but I want to use this opportunity to show you the essence of what I have been doing to you for years. I like you, Arianna and I would love to have you as my girlfriend", I state, ignoring her slightly opened mouth.

She looks shocked and numb with emotions. I can read through her eyes. She feels this is a dream. It looks unreal but it is real. 

My feelings for her took time for me to realize but it is real. I have never felt this way for any girl, except of course my first-chance Luna.

Besides, becoming an Alpha Prince in my pack comes with a huge lot of responsibility. First, I need to find my soulmate before the crown is given to me and Arianna is that person.

I know it. I can feel it. 

I love her.

"Arianna", I call her name to jolt her out of her reverie after kneeling for several minutes. Her mouth is still agape and she isn't answering.

I stand up sharply and drag her body to mine before taking her inviting lips without permission.