Elijah's P.O.V

Immediately I saw her answer on the paper, I couldn't help the big grin that formed on my face. I was actually surprised that she agreed expecially after acting weird to her because of how busy I've been with dad's company. I expected her to just squeeze the paper and throw it in the bin. There was only one thing I was thinking of and it was that I must not mess this up.

As soon as school was over, I sped home to prepare for the date with Alex on Friday. I parked my car at the garage and took my bag, entering the house. A maid collected the bag and took it upstairs while I made my way to the kitchen to greet Lily who was practically like my mother.

"Hm.. I'm famished" I groan playfully as I hugged Lily from behind who was stirring a pot of sauce.

"Go and freshen up so that I'll serve your food" she smiled as she continued stirring the sauce.

"Fine, I'll join you" I said and didn't wait for her reply before jogging up the stairs. I entered my room and collapsed on the bed tiredly. Since I was too excited, I changed the date to tonight and surprisingly, she agreed again. Checking the time, I realized it remained two hours before 7:00pm and I got up, took a shower and dressed up. I finished a bit early and was about to go downstairs for my meal when a certain old man entered my room, making my expression turn sour. And I meant my father.

"You're home" he said with no emotion lacing his voice with his hand tucked inside his front pockets. He was dressed in a corporate attire, as always. A black suit, white button-down shirt, black tie and black trousers.

"Thanks for noticing" I said sarcastically with a cold voice.

"I'll meet you downstairs in five minutes" he said blankly and started heading out. I already knew what that meant.

"What? Wait but I have a date. You can't just-"

"Then cancel it. If you are going to be the next CEO of Perkins and Co, I can't have you behaving so immature" he cut me off as he stopped walking with his back still facing me and left for downstairs when he finished talking.

I didn't bother stripping out of my clothing as I stormed down the stairs. How could he just command me to cancel the date? Is he that heartless?

I saw him sitting in the dinning room with his phone on one hand and his fork on the other which he was using to eat. I stormed over to him and noticed Lily giving me a pitiful look.

"I'm not cancelling the date" I said and his cold eyes snapped up to meet mine.

"You will" he said, daring me to say otherwise as I glared at him.

"Hey guys!" Kelly chirped as she entered the house with a maid carrying her bag behind her. She noticed the tension and silently walked up the stairs, following the maid carrying her bag to her room.

"What is going on here?" My mom said as she walked into our glaring contest.

"Elijah, you are not going anywhere tonight. You are wasting your time with some petty girl while you should be planning your life expecially when you're the next CEO of Perkins and Co. I will not let you disgrace me! Never!" My father said as he slammed his hand on the table.

"I've done everything you wanted me to do. I didn't even have time for my friends throughout last week because I was in the study room learning every fucking thing you asked me to and still you tell me I'm disgracing you? How heartless of you! When people of my age are having fun and enjoying themselves, I'm here learning things that I probably might never need. Are you even truly my father? Are you? Because words cannot express how much I hate you!" I spat out to him in anger and I felt a slap on my face which was delivered by my mom.

"Do not talk to your father like that!" She said and I clenched my fist trying my best not to yell at her.

"Say whatever you want but you are not going anywhere tonight. You will stay with me in my study room and I'll continue my explanation about the scope of the business. Got that?" He said as he stood up from his chair. I was already tired of all these, all he cares about is his business.

"Yes" I said quietly and he walked off to his study room.

"He just wants the best for you okay" my mom said placing he hand on my shoulder and I jerked away. She looked hurt as I left her there and stormed upstairs to give Alex a call.

"Hello?" Her tired voice said through the phone and I knew I had messed up. I gulped and thought of what I should to her.

"Hey! I'm really sorry, I can't make it. Something came up and I had to attend to it" I said and waited guiltily for her response.

"Okay" she said and hung up. I dropped my phone on my bedside table and changed into shorts and shirt. I walked down the stairs and into my dad's study room as I saw him behind the table typing on his laptop with various files scattered on his desk.

"Sit" he said without looking away from his laptop as he continued typing. I put on a blank expression and sit on the couch at the corner of the room.

"I'm hungry, can we do this later" I said, hoping he would just vanish with the way I was glaring at him.

"Eat later" he said as he selected some of the scattered files on the table and dropped them in front of me. "Let's continue from where we stopped" he said with a blank face.

Alexandrea's P.O.V

I stood at the roadside as I waited for a cab to pass by. My legs hurt from the heels and my face felt like paper. I didn't know I would be stood up so I didn't bring any face wipes. If I said I was hurt right now, it would be an understatement. Am I that pathetic that he had to stand me up? Even if he wanted to he should have told me from the beginning.

I felt something wet on my cheek and realized I was crying. My eyeliner was not water proof so I'm pretty sure I looked like a zombie right now plus my pathetic attempts to wipe the tears made the eyeliner spread even more. I removed my heels and decided on holding them instead. I finally saw a cab and he stopped as I stopped it.

"Thank God!" I muttered and walked closer to it and reached for the handle of the back door.

"Jesus!" The driver exclaimed after seeing my face and drove off and I was left standing there with my mouth hung open. Did the makeup mess up my face that bad?!

How rude!!, I thought as I brought out my phone and used the screen to check my face and honestly I would have ran from myself too. My eyeliner looked like it ran down my face then dried up and the foundation I used mixed up with the eyeliner giving it a weird color. My cheeks were flushed and my lipstick was smudged which was probably because of the water I drank at the restaurant. All in all, if I saw someone that looked like this in the middle of the night, I would faint.

I put my phone back in my bag and grumbled to myself about how stupid I was for forgetting the makeup remover. I walked to a bus stop and sat there as I brought out my phone thinking of who to call.

My stomach grumbled loudly and I quickly looked around in embarrassment to check if anyone heard it. I remembered the bag of chips inside my bag and I practically tore the bag of chips open after taking it out. I threw one in my mouth and chewed as I thought of calling Bex.

Nah... she's probably still on the date and I don't want to disturb her.

Zoey? Sadly, I do not have her phone number.

Eddy? I don't think he has a car to come and get me...

Nick? Ugh Nick. Maybe.....I guess

I quickly searched for his name and clicked on his number. It rang a couple of times but he didn't pick it. I called again, desperately praying for him to answer. He didn't.

I pulled my knees up to my chin and wrapped my arms around it while sitting on the bench. I looked around in fear hoping some kidnapper will not take me or a murderer. I wrapped my hands around my knees tighter and the cramps started again. Feeling so lost, hungry and in pain, I started to cry silently. I'm so hungry,angry and scared right now. My cramps are getting worse and I'm stranded.

My phone's loud ringtone interrupted my thoughts and I looked at the person who was calling.

Dicholas.

As angry as I am right now at him for not picking my calls, I've never been more happy to see his call in my current situation. I quickly picked it.

"Hello, Nico?" I said with a hoarse, rough voice from all the crying and surprised myself with the new nickname. I like it though.

"People sleep by this time in case you don't know" he said "And my name is Nick" he added.

"Idiot. I'm stuck here with no food, no car and I'm so tired-" I sniffed and he cut me off.

"You were crying again. I can tell by your voice...Why? What made you cry?" He said and I felt weird. He's worried?

"If you are worried about me, please come and pick me up! I'm at the bus stop before Exquisite Restaurant! Please, so scared and hungry and tired and-"

"I'm not worried, I don't care and I'm not coming to pick you. I'm busy right now" he cut me off.

"Nico please! I'm not in the mood for your acts, just please come and pick me up." I pleaded further.

"I'm not coming shorty, I have other important things to attend to" he said.

"But-" And he hung up. My jaw dropped as I stared at the phone on my hand. Did he just hang up on me?

"Fucking stupid idiot" I muttered angrily and shoved my phone in my bag then zipped it. I continued eating my chips angrily and cursing Nico- I meant Nick. Wait....I like Nico better so Nico.

I was so deep in my thoughts of different ways to kill Nico that I didn't notice a silver car pull up in front of me.

"Daydreaming about me, shorty?" Nick's teasing voice startled me as I saw him leaning on the hood of his car.

"You came!!" I said as my eyes lit up and I ran over to hug him out of instinct. He went stiff at the sudden gesture which made me realize what I was doing and I pulled away immediately. He coughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck as I went back to the bench to pick my bag, my phone and my heels then walked back to him to start hitting him with my bag.

"You" hit! "are" hit! "a" hit! " dick" hit! " Why would just" hit! "Hang up on me like that?" I yelled at him as he yelped with every hit.

"You were talking too much!" he defended as he rubbed his arm where I kept hitting him." And what the hell is on your face?" He laughed.

"Shut up!" I glared at him as he started laughing and I felt kind of happy for making him laugh because he hardly does. I folded my arms and glared at him as he continued laughing. It was one of the those rare moments so I stared at him as he continued laughing and when he noticed, I looked away and faked a frown on my face.

"It was not meant to look this messed up, I was just so stressed with being stood up after dressing up so hard. I had to wear this fucking heels and even fell on them" I said as I raised the heels up to show him and continued " Even if they made my legs hurt, I still wore them so that he would notice me. Then I wasted money on taking a cab to the restaurant. The waiter gave me pitiful looks as if they knew my date wasn't coming and I waited for more than two hours. Then the cramps ugh the cramps are so bad and I-"

"You talk too much. Just get in the car first" he cut me off and got in the car. I rolled my eyes and walked around the car to enter the passenger seat as we both used our seatbelts. He started driving and it was probably my mood swings again but I continued.

"So the strawberry week cramps are so bad expecially when I took ice cream in the afternoon. I shouldn't have, I should have listened to Bex but I was craving ice cream so much. I took only water in the restaurant then I had to walk in these torturous heels to the junction so I could wait for a cab. It was hell-"

"Am I dropping you home?" He asked cutting me off and he didn't seem like he was paying attention to me.

"You aren't even listening to me!" I pouted and I felt tears pricked the corner of my eyes. I was feeling really emotional and the cramps had reduced a bit.

"Correct!" he said still facing the road. "so I'm dropping you home right?" He asked. I started to cry when he confirmed that he wasn't listening to me making the makeup even more messed up.

"No, I don't want to go home" I cried and that's when he actually noticed as he snapped his eyes to mine then the car swerved to a stop.

"You are crying?" He arches an eyebrow. "Shit! Erm... Fine, I was listening okay?" He said looking disturbed.

"You're just saying it so I'll stop crying, you don't actually want me to continue" I cried harder and more tears fell from my eyes. He reached for a make up remover at the back seat and gave them to me.

"No, I actually want to listen" he defended as I collected the makeup remover and started to wipe the makeup also ignoring the fact that he has a makeup remover in his car.

"Really?" I chirped and he nodded. I finished cleaning the makeup and threw it out the window.

"Yes really"he chuckles and his face formed a frown when he saw me throw the used make-up remover outside. "Pick it" he said and I rolled my eyes at him.

"It doesn't-"

"Just pick it! Why are people so dirty, oh God! " He exclaimed as he got of his car and picked it up. Then he walked to the bin on the side of the road and dumped it there as I watched him walk back to the car.

"Gosh! I didn't know litering the road affects you" I said as be entered and sat down.

"It doesn't! I just can't bear to see a place dirty" he said and I nodded.

"Don't drop me home, I'll just end up crying again." I muttered as he nodded and started driving towards a U-turn. "Anyways, where was I?" I said about to continue my sad tale.

"You said it was hell" he said as he focused on the road and I was surprised that he was actually listening.

"Erm... yeah. So it was hell to feel hunger, cramps and stress together. Even-"

"You mentioned something about strawberries?" He asked and my face heated up. Shit! I wasn't supposed to mention that!

"Yeah.... Erm...I hate strawberries" I said which was not a lie. I actually hate them.

"I'm aware but you said strawberry week? Is it a week for celebrating strawberries or what? Because if it's that, I love strawberries" he explained and I thought of how I should explain to him without it being awkward.

"Erm...it's not that...it's a code for..erm...girls...erm..monthly flow" I explained.

"Oh! I...erm.. you.. I... erm... didn't realize...so....erm... sorry...I guess" he said as he cheeks turned pink.

"Yeah, no worries" I said and there was an awkward silence. I noticed he was passing another route which definitely does not seem familiar.

"I'm taking you somewhere" he said as he noticed my confused face.

"Where exactly?" I asked.

"A place" he said.

"Thanks, that was really helpful" I rolled my eyes and he chuckled. Soon we pulled into a place that was surrounded by trees. Other cars too were parked in front of and at the back fo his car. I wore my heels even if they hurt my legs because, I didn't bring any other shoe and got out of the car.

"Where is this? You're not planning to kidnap me are you?" I asked.

"Yes, I want to kidnap you so I can have you all to myself" he said with sarcasm and rolled his eyes. "Just calm down and follow me"

"Okay, Nico" I smirked and he rolled his eyes and started walking as I followed closely behind him. The trees started to clear up to reveal one of those big buses or trucks that have an opening behind them where they sell food and snacks. There were tables and chairs arranged every where and the place was almost filled with people. A group of people were playing some instruments at a side where a beautiful tall lady in a red gown was singing. Workers from the bus served amazing meals from table to table and the customers all looked like that we're enjoying themselves. The view itself was breathtaking and the I could feel myself salivating from the aroma of the foods.

My grin was so big, I was afraid it would split up my face as I looked at Nico "I can't believe this. This place is beautiful, wow" I said and he chuckled taking my hand and taking me towards the bus.

"Hello there!" He said as a man who looked in his fifties turned around and his face brightened as he saw Nico.

"Nick!" He said and he got down from truck and they gave each other a hug.

"Paul! It's been a long time. How are the kids and the wife?" Nico grinned amd I stood there awkwardly feeling like a third wheel.

"They are all doing great! Who is this beautiful lady? Is she the girlfriend?" He asked as he looked at me.

"No! I'm not his girlfriend" I said immediately as Nico rolled his eyes. "I'm Alex" I smiled.

"Oh! Alex! What a lovely name for a lovely lady" he winked amd I blushed. "What would you kiddos like to have?" He asked and I looked at Nico silently asking him what we were having.

"The usual" Nico said and pulled me over to one of the tables. We sat down and I removed my heels immediately then set them to the side feeling the cold sand beneath my feet.

"So what's the usual?" I asked excitedly.

"You'll see" he smirked " so do you like this place?"

"Are you kidding? I love it. The view is amazing and the music is lovely. That lady is talented and beautiful. And also-"

"Okay,okay, I get it. You like this place" he cut me off, rolling his eyes playfully. The tables each have two chairs which were on the opposite side of the table.

I reached for his hand on the table and squeezed it a little "Thanks a lot Nico" I smiled and he froze from my touch. Not literally freezing but he went stiff.

"Yeah, whatever" he looked away and removed his hand from mine making me frown. What was that about?

"I want to cook somewhere big one day. The great Chef Alex" I suddenly blurted smiling "doesn't that sound good?" I said looking at him.

"It doesn't" he shrugged and I frowned, picked up one of my heels and threw it at him. "Fine, fine, it does"

"What about you?" I asked and his expression softened as looked at a distance.

"I-" he started.

"Here's your food" a waiter cut him off as he dropped two plates of heaven in our fronts and went back to the bus. My stomach growled loudly and my hunger increased at the sight in front of me making Nico smirk proudly. It was a double layered beef sandwich, a box of chips and ketchup with baked chicken and apple pie each for both of us. I got lemon juice and he got strawberry juice for stepping down.

"How did you know I liked lemon juice?" I asked and he shrugged. I dug into my meal by taking a big bite out of the sandwich and it tasted better than imagined.

"Good gracious! How the hell was this made?! It's so good" I said with a mouth full of food as I took another bite.

"Slow down there or you'll choke" Nico chuckled as he threw a chip into mouth after dipping it in the ketchup.

"I don't mind dying due to this piece of heaven" I said as I conutinued eat my sandwich. When I was done, I started at the baked chicken which looked too beautiful to be eaten. "Sorry, but I'm hungry" I muttered to the chicken and took a bite.

"Did you just talk to your food?" Nico asked as he finished his sandwich.

"Erm..No" I said and he shook his head as we continued eating. By the time I was done, I couldn't stand up. Nick and I leaned back in our chairs and stared at our juices which we were yet to finish. If I ate any thing right now, I'm certain that I would burst.

"Are you taking that?" Nico asked gesturing to my lemon juice and I shook my head. He finished his strawberry juice and took my lemon juice as well, gulping it down in seconds. Well....now who's the pig?

"I can't stand" I groaned out and Nico groaned in response. We just sat there groaning until Paul came over.

"I see, you are satisfied" he grinned at us and we groaned in response.

"Anyways, Nico, you don't have to pay. This is for free" he grinned at Nico.

"What do you mean? Of course I'll pay!" Nico sat up on his chair.

"No! This is my way of saying thanks for the other day" he smiled and left.

"He's a nice man" I observed and decided not to ask why Paul was telling him thanks because I know he won't tell me.

"Yeah" Nico agreed as the singer started singing 'Despacito' by Louis Fonsi and I grinned widely while standing up. "What are you doing?"

"Dancing" I said as I started to do the salsa, and shook his head with a small smile on his lips. I took his arm and tried to pull him up. "Don't be boring, stand up" I whined and pouted.

"I'm anything but boring, trust me" he winked and I rolled my eyes. He eventually stood up and started doing the salsa, at least that's what we think we are doing. Some people around noticed us and started dancing as well while some just shook their heads at us in a disapproving manner.

"Nico!" I called after noticing I'm the only barefooted person there "I'm the only one dancing barefooted" I complained

"Well, what do you want me to do?" He rolled his eyes as he stopped dancing.

"Remove your shoes too" I said. Honestly, I have no idea what's going on with me anymore. One minute, I'm crying then now I'm whiny.

"What! No!" He said and continued dancing. I pouted exaggeratedly and gave him the best puppy face I could form. He rolled his eyes at me then sighed and I knew I had already won. He bent to remove his shoes and kept them to the side after removing them.

"Better?" He looked me and I nodded.

"Perfect!" I grinned and we continued dancing till the place started to close which was by 12:00am. My phone was dead and it was really late. I must have had several missed calls from my mom by now.

Nico and I packed our stuff and he wore his shoes back while I held mine in my bag. We started to walk back to his car and I waited for him to walk in front of me, as soon as he did, I hopped on his back and he stumbled but he didn't fall.

"What if I fell and died?" He groaned as I clung to him like a koala bear.

"I would take your keys and run to another country with your car" I shrugged as I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my chin on his right shoulder.

"Fine, then I will haunt you" he said and I laughed.

"Ghosts do not exist. It's just imaginations" I said as I remember my dad used to tell me that anytime I was scared of the dark.

"How would you know? It might be real" he said.

"I just do" I said quietly shoving the thought of my father at the back of my mind. We got to where his car was parked and I hopped down as I walked to the passenger seat knowing Nico would never open the door for me and sat on the seat after dropping my stuffs.

"Erm...Are..I mean...erm.. will you still cry when you get home?" Nico asked as he got in the driver's seat and scratched the back of his neck nervously.

"Nope. I don't think so expecially not when I've eaten that piece of heaven" I grinned. "Thank you" I smiled at him and he nodded. I looked out the window noticing how bright the stars are and how full the moon is throughout the car ride.

"We're here!" Nico said as he pulled up in front of my house.

"Yeah...erm thanks again for tonight" I smiled and thought of hugging him but based on his reaction the first time, I decided against it.

"No problem! goodnight
shorty" He chuckled and I smiled. I got out of his car and waved at him but Nico being Nico, he didn't wave back, he just did a peace sign with his fingers and drove off. I walked to my door and opened it to find my mom sleeping on the couch.

"Mom" I shook her after closing the door so she could go to her room. She woke up and looked lost before her gaze settled on me.

"Young lady, why are you just coming home by this time?" She scolded with a tired voice as I sat beside her on the couch after the sat up.

"I'm sorry" I looked down guiltily biting my lip.

"It's okay, just don't do it again. I was starting to get worried" she said and placed her right palm on my cheek while I smiled. "How was the date?" She asked.

"Not that bad, I just got stood up by my date, had to wear heels-"

"Wow, you wore heels?" My mom cut me off surprised and I glared at her while smiling. "He must be special, who is he?" she wiggled her eyebrows at me and I blushed.

"His name is Eli and he's new but he stood me up! I'm sure it was for a good reason but still...." I trailed off and my mom smiled at me.

"Don't jump to conclusions, find out the reason why he had to cancel his date, okay?" She advised and I nodded "If he stood you up, why did you come home this late?" She asked, confused.

"I called another friend of mine to pick me up. He's Nick and he's also new...He dropped me home the other day" I said trying to see if she remembers.

"The one that gave you his hoodie?" She asked.

"Yeah, that one. So, I told him not to take me home yet because I'll end up crying and blaming myself for being stood up. Then he took me to this place um..."I trailed off trying to remember the name of the street and I gave up when I didn't " It was firstly just trees and a path, then we walked through the path and ended up in a place with an amazing view and food. It was beautiful! And the place was almost filled with people because of the music and food! Then we ate and danced! I had so much fun that I even forgot about being stood up! And the cramps, they are not that bad anymore!" I rambled excitedly.

"So you went on a date with him?" My mom asked and I gave her a confused look.

"Of course not! It wasn't a date, it was...." I trailed off. It wasn't a date, right? No it wasn't. "A friendly gesture!" I completed.

"It seems like a date to me but if you say so" she yawned and stood up to start walking to her room.

"What about you? How's your outing with the 'colleague'?" I asked teasingly and she stopped.

"He's fine!" She said and rushed to her room. I chuckled, certain that she was blushing and skipped to my room as well. I put the heels on the shoe rack and wore comfortable blue sweats and an orange coloured hoodie to bed.

I did my homework and completed it by 2:33am. I decided to check out the moon and opened my window when I saw a Pet similar to the one I saw in the pocket of Luke's jacket. I felt my body go cold and my heart beat faster as I took the Pet, knowing the only person that would leave a pet outside my window with a paper sticking to it back. I kept the last Pet and the paper in a small chest which was hidden deep in my wardrobe. The words written on the paper made me go pale with fear.

Fear for myself and the people around me.

%%Knock knock! Who's there? Your daddy! My daddy who? The one that's coming back to get his princess%%

××××××××××××××××××××××××××
Writer: Hello sweethearts!

I'm so so so sorry for the late update! To make up for it, I made this chapter two in one meaning two chapters in one!!! ;)

Anyways, what do you think Alex should do?

What do you think of Eli and his family?

Eli: *butts in and winks at the audience* Don't forget to-

Nick: *is doing push-ups, shirtless* -vote, comment-

Eddy: *is taking ice cream* I'm kind of busy right now.....

Luke: *flexes arms* -and follow. Enjoy!

Writer: Luke! You joined them??

Luke: *shrugs*

Writer: *glares at the boys and eyes the ice cream in Eddy's hands* Anyways today is kind has f a special day so I'll let you get away with it. *Takes the ice cream from Eddy's hands and runs away*

Eddy: Hey! Give me back my ice cream!*Runs after the writer*

14/7/2020