NORAI quickly covered my mouth with my palm, wondering why I was so concerned. Whereas, I shouldn’t be. One reason why Natalie’s now seated with crossed arms and squinted eyes, casting suspicious stare at me. I chuckled nervously, leaning back against the seat as I ignited the car’s engine once again. "Let's just go home," I told her, forcing a smile. She nodded and upon reaching home, I watched her as she got into a taxi. We said our goodbyes, and I watched her drive away, my stomach churning with anxiety. I knew what I had to do - I just had to face my parents.As I walked through the front door, I braced myself for what was to come. I took a deep breath and headed to my room, closing the door behind me. Luckily, I was able to escape the prying eyes of either one of my parents. The walls of my room felt like they were closing in on me, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I remembered the issue on ground. What would happen if I travel out of New York? I groaned inst
NORAI started to run after him, my feet pounding against the pavement. But he was already too far ahead, and I couldn't keep up. I felt a wave of despair wash over me. But then I heard a shrill whistle. I turned around and saw Cassidy standing there, my bag in her hand. She was flanked by her followers, all of them snickering and laughing.I felt a surge of anger course through me. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I stomped towards her, ignoring the fear that was trying to take hold of me. "How dare you," I snarled. "Give it back," I said, my voice shaking with rage. But Cassidy just smirked at me, her eyes mocking.Her followers were laughing hysterically, their faces red with mirth. It was clear they were enjoying this, and it just made my anger burn hotter.Cassidy put a hand on my bag, holding it just out of my reach. "Not without a condition," she said, her voice smug. I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to keep my composure. "What condition?" I asked, my vo
NORA “What’s going on here?”I took a deep breath, upon Lucan’s return, Then I got up from my seat, and Lucan followed me out of the cafeteria. I didn't want to look at Jordan, but I couldn't help it. As we walked past him, I caught his eye. For a moment, I saw something like regret in his expression, and then it was gone. I turned away, and we kept walking. Even though I was still upset with him, I couldn't help but feel a little grateful that he had stepped in.I excused myself and headed to the bathroom to clean up. As I ran the water over my hands, I looked at myself in the mirror. I was a mess - my hair was disheveled, and I had milk all over my shirt. I rolled up my sleeves and splashed water on my face, trying to calm myself. I took a few deep breaths, and then I started to wash the milk off of my shirt.As I scrubbed, I couldn't help but think about what had just happened. Angry at myself for not standing up for myself before Jordan could, but I also felt a little bit of sym
NORAI stormed into my room, slamming the door behind me in frustration. I was still fuming about my encounter with that woman - she was such a devil! I grumbled to myself as I yanked open my closet door and tossed my jacket inside. I couldn't believe the nerve of her, acting like she could go around controlling everyone here and there. I wished I had never even met her. As I paced around my room, I tried to calm myself down, but it was no use. The anger was boiling inside of me.I proceeded to take off my boots, its discomfort out of this world. I kicked off my boots, not even bothering to put them away properly. I was too worked up to care. I marched into the bathroom, my heart still racing from the encounter. I splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would calm me down. But it didn't help. There was a whole lot more I wanted to say to that woman but what was the point?I changed into my soft, cozy nightgown, grateful for the comfort it brought. As I walked down the stairs, I t
JORDANI stood there, my mind a million miles away. I couldn't focus on anything, my thoughts constantly drifting off. As a result, I made mistake after mistake, my performance in practice suffering as a result. I could see the coach's face getting redder and redder, his frustration growing with each mistake I made. Finally, he snapped, yelling at me and storming over to where I stood.I felt like a child being scolded, but I couldn't muster up any sort of defense. I knew I was in the wrong, my lack of focus costing me dearly. The coach's words were harsh, so harsh I knew I could have tried harder to not receive those outbursts. The coach finished his tirade, turning on his heel and storming off. I stood there, head hanging, feeling ashamed and embarrassed. I had let myself down, my teammates down, and my coach down. I knew I had to do better, but I didn't know how. I felt like I was in a fog, unable to think clearly or focus on anything. I was lost, unsure of how to get out of the
NORAI cursed under my breath, a string of profanities spilling from my lips. I couldn't believe who I was seeing in the ring. How could she do this? How could she just drop me off here and run? I felt my anger rising, my hands shaking. I couldn't believe that she had left me like this. Apparently, I was happy for the freedom my father had just given me so I decided I could use a walk only to come across Natalie stalking Jordan. Knowing I’d caught her, she bolted off. Like seriously, huh?I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I looked through the crowd of people in front of me, and there I sighted his friends. Even though I shouldn’t be doing this and should keep a far distance from both him and his group of friends, I couldn’t.“Hello.” Just a pat over their shoulders was all it took to grab their attention. I know they ain’t quite familiar with my face which is one reason why I stood on business and what exactly I came to them for. “Get him out of that ring.” I dem
NORAI knew I had to get out of there. I had to get away from this scene, from this place. I tried to move, but my feet felt like they were stuck to the floor. Finally, with a massive effort, I managed to take a step back. Then another. I slowly backed out of the closet, my eyes still fixed on the door across from me. When I reached the hallway, I turned and ran. I didn't know where I was going, I just knew I had to get away.I turned a corner and found myself in an empty classroom. I sank down onto the floor, my legs having lost balance. My heart was beating so fast, I thought it might burst out of my chest. My head was pounding, a pressure building behind my eyes. I felt dizzy, as if I might faint. I tried to calm myself down, to take deep breaths. But it was no use. I was trapped in a spiral of fear and confusion. I didn't know what to do.Suddenly, I heard a voice. It was calm and steady, cutting through the chaos in my mind. "Focus on the present," it said. "Breathe in, breath
NORA I was expecting him to lure me in like I’d imagined but I should have known it could only be in my daydream. As he shifted away from me, a knot of disappointment twisted in my stomach. His smirk only made it worse, as if he was enjoying my discomfort. I felt like a fool, putting herself out there and being rejected so gruesomely. I wanted to sink into the floor and disappear. Was it all a joke to him? Had he just been leading me on? As he walked away, I felt like I’d been stabbed in the heart.I yanked the door open and ran out after him, my anger giving me energy. "Hey, you!" I shouted, my voice shaking. I stood in front of him, arms crossed, blocking his way. "What was that about?" I demanded. "Why did you lead me on like that?" I glared at him, trying to make him understand how much he'd hurt me. "You're an asshole," I spat upon receiving a response from him. He just stood there watching me like I was some pathetic psycho. With a shake of head, I walked away, and clutch
Third Person’s Pov{Seven Years Later}“Do you know who my mother is?” Sky blue-eyed golden curls, Caily leapt on her feet, screeching.“No, you! Do you know who my father is?!” Aged five deep brown-eyed Nico with a mass of tousled dark curls boomed across the field, running unscathed to shelter the door. “Do you know who my daughter is?” Spencer challenged the two kids, stepping out of his car to squint his eyes at them, taking their sights in. Their resemblance was what alarmed him first. Nora had informed him at the jail five years ago she gave birth to a baby boy and four years ago too, that she’s already pregnant with a baby girl just a month after giving birth. It was risky but he remembered giving her his blessings. These can’t be his daughters bearing. They look too handsome and pretty for a child— the girl taking after her mother and the eldest, the boy taking after the father. “Who’s your daughter here, sir?” Caily’s pouty face turned serious. “We happen to know our pa
NORA {College, Three Years Later} Stony Brook University. Just the asignsment alone drives me crazy. I don’t have a choice. I became pretty much popular after my father’s scandal three years ago and luckily, people didn’t treat me bad because of that. Instead, they placed burdens on my shoulders. No events comes without me been among its planners, and you don’t speak of the teachers’ favorite without including me. I never thought I was going to experience such privilege in my life, even though it was so exhausting. Somehow, I have managed through three of my years here, left with just one year and I will be free. The fact that mostly half of the school would miss me not enough to encourage me to fail my last exam, and lag behind just to continue staying with them. “How are you able to read and write in such a noisy atmosphere as this?” When my roommate, Alice, came in, that was the first thing she asked me. “The fear of failure kept me going. Then again…” I hit my pe
JORDANAfter the night spent with Nora two days ago, I told her we should schedule our next meeting for when I have spoken with my mother. I want to introduce them to each other. I want my mother to see the girl that captured my heart. My mother and her boyfriend are somewhere around New York, and ever since she told me of their address, I never had the chance to visit them. Until now. The taste of calling him my mother’s boyfriend remained bitter on my lips. They better get married, being her husband would make far more better meaning. “You didn’t tell me beforehand you’re coming.” Was the first thing my mother said when she saw me at her doorstep. It’s a rented apartment meanwhile she gave me an owned bigger one, bought in my name. Where would I have been by now? At my friends’. Embarrassing. “You want me to go back?” I carefully asked before stepping insude. She shook her head and let me in. She walked me around the house and the only impressive thing about it was the big
NORA‘He’s leaving the country.’ Early in the next morning after I barely managed to sleep, the text woke me up. I don’t step out of the house without taking my bath but it was so tempting to do it for the first time. What stopped me was the bad smell drifting from me that would discourage Jordan even if he eventually decide to take me back. I took my bath but it was snappy, the shortest I have ever spent inside the bathroom. I didn’t get to make choices from my closet. I opted for the first one my hand reached. I knew first impression was everything but this wasn’t the first time Jordan would see me and then, I still remember him telling me how beautiful I look even without trying. “Where to?” It caught me by surprise that Liam was at home then it dawned on me it's Saturday. I wanted to turn around and just go back to my room but it's more scary not trying.“Jordan’s.” I responded. I waited for him to stop me from moving or even go as far as locking the door. I won't put it p
NORAA Month LaterI haven’t even applied to any college. It’s been a month of me constantly locking myself in my room, each time I go out only happening because I need to take my meals. My life has been upside down. A month of heavy changes in our family— my father no longer being the prime minister, my mother still forming enmity with us and her children. And above all, Jordan still not wanting to see me. Or should I say I don’t even know his whereabouts? Theodore kept checking up on me, not understanding I don’t want him here, not anywhere close to me. I don’t want to see anybody. I have tried chasing him off but he won’t leave. I know it’s Liam’s handiwork, thinking Theodore can get me to leave the walls of my room. He's a good guy though. He's not considering my behavior though I am trying to change towards him. If I don't want to remain a loner.Over the month, I went to the jail to check on my father and unlike what I expected of him, he didn’t chase me away. I told him o
LUCAN“No, you’re staying here with us.”I’m instantly on edge, tensed beneath my parents probing gaze. My decision to corner them before leaving for work, failing woefully. “I have nothing doing here.” I again try to persuade. “No, you have school here. Your resumption is barely two weeks away.” My father interjected this time, again turning the dice on me. Cassidy’s burial was just yesterday, and I am already fed up staying at New York. Everything reminds me of her, her memories too disturbing for me to live with.I don’t even get myself. If I ever want to, I need to vacate to another country. The problem now been my unyielding parents. If I ever want anything from them, what I know so far was how I have to work my way for it, by persuading then like there's no tomorrow.“You are capable of transferring schools for me. I’m tired of NY, I just want to change location. Nothing else, I promise.” I’m being wise. Staying here, I won’t even be able to mind my studies, everywhere I g
Third Person’s Pov{Feelings At The Burial}Mere looking at the casket being lowered to the ground almost had Jordan tearing up. The fact that ought to be him and not Cassidy, has his brain on a pause, discarding every other thoughts. If only he was in the right sense to chase after Jasper that day. With his own very hands, they would have killed him away, accepting to live the rest of his lives in jail. Then he saw his mother. The person who has been long murdered by the two devilish husband and wife. He wanted to go to her, to check if he was seeing the reality but the dead body in his arms was much more worthy than running after the woman who abandoned him. If she wasn’t dead, she should have came for him but that was a now. She left him with her heartless ex husband to witness nemesis. And when he saw Nora at the Ford’s, the fear of rejection once again appeared before his face. He’s still dealing with a loss, having her come to tell him they can’t work would be another bruis
A Week LaterNORAThere’s going to be a burial, for Cassidy. The burial is going to take place at the Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn.Together with Natalie, we are going to be visiting her family first to offer our condolences before we all head to the Cemetery. The school announced her death about five days ago through the school news portal, since the school has been on break. A few were saddened, most were gladdened receiving their freedom. I almost felt like punching holes in their faces whenever one or two of their disheartening comments popped up but I’d just injure myself by punching my phone. It would have been better face-to-face. How can people be so cruel? A little sympathy even if they don’t mean it most definitely won’t hurt a fly.The Ford’s family are rich, even if it looks average. The security guard must be having a tough time opening and shutting the door, for the numerous visitors. “They’re inside.” He directed us and I gave him a nod. A little more and I’d for
NORAYou want to know that one time I feel like jumping over a cliff? The moment I ran to the scene, and got there only when the deed was done. Fate didn’t even give me the chance to be in her stead. You think I wouldn’t in a blink? I would. What use was life to me before? Nothing. The guy I want, I can never get. I got him, I must not stay. Now what? If anybody doesn’t, I’m going to make sure Jasper regrets the ruin he caused. I’m angry, I feel annoyed, I want to drag my nails over my face. Cassidy fucking died! She was murdered. I saw her being rushed into the ambulance in cold blood and my body lost all blood. How can a father be so insane to go as far as killing his own son? If not to get out of prison, then I wonder what his motive was. And my father? I don’t know how else to say he’s in trouble.To be frank, Jordan didn’t even want to speak with me. I remembered running towards him, where he was on the floor wailing, and it was unexpected when he totally ignored me befo