Willow and Nathaniel

*Willow*

I was born with an arch nemesis. 

Most people go through life and then they meet someone who infuriates them beyond anything else they’ve ever known and they become their arch nemesis. But mine was chosen for me before I came into this world. He was born in the same hospital, the same exact day, and at the same exact time as I was. 

Nathaniel Watson. 

He was always trying to one up me. But I would never let him win. I couldn’t. 

My mom might turn to dust if I did.

It was strange because I enjoyed everyone else in Nathaniel’s family. His mom Sophia was nice, despite what my mother told me. His older brother Gerald was totally hot, and told funny jokes to make me smile. His dad Scott was incredibly kind to me and always praised me. 

But Nathaniel…he was literally the bane of my existence. The fly in my soup, the splinter in my eye, the reason I knew the feeling of wanting to annihilate someone at the ripe age of twenty-one. 

Taking down someone as smug and annoying as Nathaniel was wildly inspiring. 

“There’s no way you’re awake right now,” Joy Watson-Wrenford muttered, turning over in bed. “It’s the last day of school and we have no classes, what could you possibly be doing?”

“Preparing for summer and next semester,” I stated. 

“You’re insane.”

“Do you think Nathaniel is asleep right now? I guarantee you that he’s not. If he’s awake I should be awake.”

“Why does everyone in my family have to be so damn weird?” Joy groaned. 

Joy was my niece. Kinda weird considering she’s a few months older than me, but apparently pregnancy was in the water at that time. Joy even has a twin, my nephew Julian Watson-Windsor. They have different dads though. 

Yeah, it’s possible. 

Joy also happened to be Nathaniel’s niece. By God's cruel fate Nathaniel and I shared a sister. It was weird that we had family in common and yet no blood relation at all. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy about that. To share DNA with that cocky, narcissistic loser would be horrible. 

He didn’t have the range to be a Monroe. 

Still it seemed we were both smart enough to get into Wrenford Business School. Maybe we got in because our sister was a Wrenford, but who cares? We were here. 

“Please tell me you’re not going to be like this all summer,” Joy sat up, pushing her pink hair out of her face. “We’re staying in the summer mansion, it’s supposed to be fun.”

“Crushing Nathaniel will be fun. No way he’s better at this internship than me.”

“Have you ever thought maybe Julian or me could be better than you?”

“Don’t be silly, Joy,” I snorted. “Don’t get me wrong, you and Julian are brilliant, but you don’t have the drive that Nathaniel and I do. You’re the children of billionaires.”

“You’re upper class!”

“And you’re the one percent. Anyways, time to get ready. The last day of school is just as important as the first day, you know?”

“You’re a lunatic!”

“I don’t care. As long as I’m a bigger lunatic than Nathaniel Watson is.”

--

“Profesor Long!” I smiled as I entered the classroom. 

“Hello Willow,” He sounded kind of annoyed. 

Maybe I had asked him one too many questions over the years.

“I just wanted to express how grateful I am for being in your class this year. I know usually only seniors take your class, but I felt a true honor being the only junior who-”

“I think you mean one of the only juniors,” The deep, horrid voice of Nathaniel Watson filled my ears. 

I turned around and glared at him. 

He stood tall as he took his sunglasses off and ran his fingers through his dark curly hair. His warm light brown skin seemed to glow like he was in front of the flames of hell.  His demonic green eyes were filled with pure hatred looking at me, even though there was a smile on his unfortunately handsome face. 

I forced a smile to my own face. “Nathaniel, what are you doing here?”

“Coming to thank Professor Long for such a wonderful year of course,” He bumped me slightly as he walked past me. “Professor, my mom, a skilled baker, made you brownies.”

That little brown nosing weasel.

“Well my father asked that I give you this very old and rare bottle of whiskey,” I smiled. “He’s very thankful for all that you’ve taught me this year. He owns his own business and respects this school and its teachers very much.” I smiled. 

Nathaniel’s face hardened and his perfect jaw clenched. 

“Thank you both,” Professor Long smiled wearily. “Have a great summer.”

“Thank you Professor.” We chorused before exiting the classroom. 

“Do your lips hurt from being such a kiss ass?” Nathaniel asked. 

“Does your brain hurt from coming up with that insult?” I questioned. 

“No but it might hurt from getting a higher GPA than you.”

“Final grades aren’t released until five this evening.”

“I don’t need to see them to know that I’m smarter than you, Willow,” Nathaniel smirked. “And what was all of that? Your dad owns his own business? Robbie owns a gym.”

“Which counts as a business, you cretin. Last I checked your parents own nothing but you and I'm sure that’s wildly disappointing for them.” I said haughtily. 

“You know what-”

“Get out of the way!” 

A golf cart flew by us, containing Joy and Julian, who were laughing wildly. They narrowly missed the tree their mother had once crashed into before coming to a halt.

“What is wrong with you two?” Nathaniel asked. “You’re gonna get in trouble.”

“My family created the school, trouble can’t touch me!” Joy giggled as she hopped out of the cart. 

“Yeah, Grayson would never let anything happen to me.” Julian tossed his hair out of his face before exiting the cart like this sister.

It was still so strange that they were twins and yet didn’t exactly look alike. I guess having different dads of different races really changes your genes, even if you were in the womb together.

Joy looked like her mother for the most part. Light brown skin, curly hair, an air of deviousness. But she had her father’s intense grey eyes, nose and incredible smile. She was the perfect mix of them both. It’s no wonder, just like her mother, a string of hot guys followed her.

Julian on the other hand looked like his father, just darker. He got the cheekbones, the smile, and that signature Windsor jaw. And then his mother’s beautiful hazel eyes. He too had no problem getting a date.

Looks weren’t the only thing Julian got from his father. He was a complete and total player. He had a new girl every week. He was truly Lee Windsor’s son. 

“Do you two ever take anything seriously?” I asked. 

“No.” They chorused. 

“Julian! Julian!” A girl ran up to us. 

A charming smile came across Julian’s face. “Wendy, hey what’s up?”

“Well, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out this summer? I’m super available.”

“Ooh yikes. Yeah, I’m not sure, Wen. See, we have a super busy summer ahead of us. We’re going to stay at the mansion and we have the internship, right Joy?”

“Oh yeah, super busy summer, Wendy. I fear Julian just wouldn’t have the time.”

Wendy’s face fell. “Oh…well I guess I’ll see you next semester then?”

“Well of course, babe.” Julian grinned. “Have a great summer.”

She slumped away.

“Thanks sis. She was a stage five clinger, I had to get rid of her.”

“No problem.”

“Why do you help him with his womanizing?” I asked. 

“He’s my brother!” Joy exclaimed. “Besides, girls hear that double last name of Watson-Windsor and they smell money. I will not allow my brother to be taken advantage of.”

“Best half twin sister ever,” Julian smiled. “Besides, there will be a new set of girls that I can bring back to the mansion. Nathaniel knows what I’m talking about.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Oh you didn’t know Willow?” Nathaniel grinned. “I’m coming to the summer mansion too.”

*Nathaniel*

Seeing Willow Monroe angry gave me the biggest jolt of happiness.

Here she was thinking she’d only see me at the internship, but nope, we’d be living together. That meant ample time to get on her nerves and throw her off her game. 

If she thought I would ever let her have a moment of peace, she was wrong. My mother would be so proud of me for this. Every time I mentioned how much I bothered Willow, I swear Mom started floating. 

As much as I hated Willow, I was also kind of grateful for her. She gave me a sense of purpose. I would spend the rest of my life trying to ruin hers. I never felt lost or confused about my future. I knew her demise would bring me the utmost happiness. 

“No way!” Willow exclaimed. “Y-you can’t come!”

“And why not Monroe?” I asked. “It’s my sister’s mansion too.”

“Because-ugh! You know what, I have to get ready for the graduation ceremony where I will be handing out diplomas.”

“I’ll see you there.” I grinned. “You’re not the only diploma giver.”

“You are such a-ugh!” Willow stomped away. 

“Great vocabulary you got there!” I called after her. “No wonder I won the spelling bee in third grade!”

“You two are gonna be the downfall of one another,” Joy shook her head. 

I laughed. “As long as her downfall comes first, I don’t care.”

--

“Yo, Nathaniel!” I turned and saw Orlando Ruiz running up to me. 

“Hey man, what’s up?”

“Is your sister doing the internship too?”

“Scarlett?” I asked. “She’s a forty year old CFO, definitely not.”

“No, I mean Willow.”

“She’s not my sister,” I groaned. “We are literally not related by blood at all! We just share a sibling.”

“Whatever, is she doing it or not?”

“Yeah, unfortunately.”

“Dude, you gotta put in a good word for me. Willow is next level hot and I need to get her attention.” Orlando looked her up and down.

I looked over at Willow as she practiced her smile and handshakes. 

Next level hot?

I mean sure she wasn’t ugly. She had flawless brown skin and straight dark hair that was never out of place, shockingly pretty hazel eyes, and a smile and body that she loved to use to get ahead of me. 

But next level hot? No way! She was a demon!

“Dude you can do better.” I stated. 

“I don’t wanna do better, I want to do her.” Orlando grinned. 

“Um, we don’t get along like that, so sorry can’t help you.”

“I’ll ask Julian.”

“Ask me what?” Julian approached us. 

“Willow. How do I get her in my bed?”

“Dude, that's my aunt, don’t be gross!”

“Ugh, you two are useless!” Orlando walked away. 

“What on earth does he want with Willow?” I sneered. “She’s the most annoying woman I’ve ever met.”

“Aren’t you two tired of this crazy rivalry?” Julian asked. 

“Not at all. From what I hear Bianca started it, so I’m going to finish it.”

“You two are letting your mothers live vicariously through you, it’s sick!”

“Like you don’t live for your parents?” I questioned. “Have you even told them about-”

“Not here please! I haven’t even told Joy yet.” Julian whispered. 

“You should tell her soon. And tell Scarlett and Lee.”

“I can’t. They expect too much out of me. I can’t let them down.”

I sighed. “I know the feeling.”

The ceremony started and I hated that I had to sit next to Willow for all the speeches. She was a leg shaker and it bothered me. 

“Will you stop that?” I hissed.

“No.”

“You’re so annoying.”

“Good.” Willow smiled.

God she was so infuriating. She wasn’t going to get away with this. 

It was time for us to stand up and get ready to hand out diplomas. As we walked to the edge of the stage, an idea hit me. I was going to humiliate Willow in front of everyone. 

I stuck my foot out and she tripped over it, flying forward. At first I laughed as she tried to catch herself until she sailed off of the stage.

That didn’t go as planned.