CHAPTER XVI

ALLIE’S P.O.V

“Wake up, Allie, it’s nearly 11.”

Brooke’s voice woke me up from my dream. I just buried my head in pillow, not really wanting to get up.

“Come on, Al, we’ll be late.” She said.

“Late for what?” I asked groggily.

“Ash asked me to come to his house for lunch. Janet wanted to meet us.”

That made me widen my eyes.

“Why would she want to meet us? Didn’t she meet us yesterday in school?”

“Al, don’t worry. I was scared too but Ash said that she just wanted to ask us for lunch nothing else.”

“Are you sure? What if she asks me about Nathan?”

Brooke just stared at me with blank look on her face. I pouted but she just ignored me and went to bathroom. I searched for my phone and looked for any message. Nathan had left me two messages

Good morning beautiful. –NB

I guess, Asher has told Brooke about today. See you soon. Can’t wait to see you. –NB

Soon we finished with our morning chores and came downstairs for some cornflakes.
“Hey morning ladies.” Ryan said and we gave him full blown smile.

“So Max told me that you are going out.”

“Yup! To Janet’s house.”

“Aren’t you spending too much time with her sons?” Ryan inquired and we both gulped a little. There was no way I wanted Max to go all hulk on Nathan.

“It’s just fun.” Brooke smiled uneasily and thanks to the god, Ryan bought it. After an hour we reached Bolton mansion. I walked inside as door was open to see Hailey sitting beside Nathan, smiling seductively. Her hand was on his bicep but Nathan looked uncomfortable. A small tug was formed in my chest but I knew Nathan would never hurt me.

“Oh! The bitch is here.” Brooke mumbled. I bit my lip.

“What is going on here?”

unfamiliar voice of a lady came and Hailey jumped away from Nathan. Nathan’s gaze fell on us and a big smile spread on his lips which as usual made my heart go crazy. He came towards us and hugged me tightly.

“Hey!” he smiled and kissed my temple. I just gave him a shy smile. It didn’t matter how much time we were spending together but every time he touched me, blush always followed.   

“Hey Brooke.” He pulled Brooke closer too and hugged both of us with his large hands. We giggled when someone cleared throat.
He pulled back and we came in front of an old lady who looked in her sixties or so.

“Hey Gram, this is Allison and Brooke.” He introduced us. I looked at Brooke and she swallowed hard too.

“Hello girls.” She smiled at us but it looked formal.

“You are late.” She said bluntly and my heart started beating loudly. She definitely didn’t like us.

“Sorry!” Brooke whispered. It was unsettling to see Brooke unnerved.

“Lunch is ready. Let’s go.” She said and walked inside. I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“It’s okay. She is not bad.”

Nathan tried to comfort us which was really unsuccessful.

“We shouldn’t have come. She hates us.” Brooke mumbled and I nodded. When we went to dining room, everyone was already there.

“Nate, I saved you a seat.” Hailey took his hand and made him sit beside her. I was hurt but covered it with a small smile.

“Hey Babes.” Ash came from behind us and hugged us both. His gaze fell on Nathan and Hailey and he glared at them. Nathan looked guilty as he was avoiding eye contact.

“Hello girls.” Janet came and gave us small hugs.

“Come one join us.” Troy said and we nodded and took a seat. I sat across Nathan not daring to look at him.

Maybe I was stupid. I wasn’t enough, right?

My chest constricted with a hurtful tug and I fisted my hand.
“Let’s get started.” Janet clapped her hands and we served ourselves. All time I could feel two gazes on me. One was Nathan and other was his gram. I just wanted this lunch to get over. I wanted to go home and lay my head in Max’s lap. Did I tell you, he became my mother and father? It’s just happened.
Suddenly someone entered the room and all eyes went there.

“Oh! I’m so sorry. We are late. We were held back in a meeting.” A woman in her forties said. She looked like she just came out of some fashion show. Behind her was a man who looked like her husband.

“Mom, dad!” Hailey’s cheery voice came and Brooke groaned lowly.

“We shouldn’t have come here.” She whispered to me but before I could reply I saw Nathan’s Grandmother was glaring at us. I shut my mouth feeling uncomfortable again.

“It’s all right. You’re not that late.” His Grandmother said and Brooke’s fists clenched. I looked ahead at Nathan who looked little surprised too. His eyes met mine but I averted his gaze. They settled in their chairs.

“Who are you?” her mother asked us. Hailey’s face turned sour.

“They are our friends and Allie is Nathan’s girlfriend.” Ash said and my eyes widened.

“Oh! Is she?” his grandmother didn’t look pleased, “You have a habit of getting wrong girls, don’t you, Nate?” she completed and my breath hitched. Brooke’s hand found mine as she glared at her.

“I heard, you paid $6000 for her, is it true?” she asked again.

Nathan looked uneasy but he nodded. She suddenly turned towards me,
“What do your parents do?”

But I couldn’t reply. Words were stuck in my throat.

“They are dead.” Brooke answered in cold voice.

“Oh! So you need a lot of time to pay back those 6000 dollars.” She said and tears stung in back of eyes.

“Gram, please, that was my money.” Nathan said but I couldn’t look at him. My hands were shivering but Brooke tried to comfort us.

“Money? That’s all you rich people think about, don’t you?” Brooke glared at them.

“Brooke, she doesn’t mean that.” Janet tried to say.

“Yes! Money matters and I don’t think you have that much money for your college funds also.” Hailey’s mother said. She was trying to be in Nathan’s grandmother’s good side.

“Yeah! We don’t have money but it doesn’t matter. It was Asher and Nathan’s decision to spend their money. We didn’t even know that so don’t blame us.”

She stood up and I followed.

“I’m sorry, Janet.” I mumbled and walked out.

“And if it helps ask your grandsons to stay away from us. We are definitely not gold diggers.” With that Brooke followed me.

I came out and a small tear rolled down my cheek.

“Don’t cry. They don’t deserve it.” Brooke said but she was equally upset.

“Let’s get out of here.” She took my hand. Before we could walk out, Asher’s desperate voice came,
“Wait!”

But Brooke turned to glare at him, “Don’t! Just leave us alone for fuck’s sake.”

And so we walked away from them.

“Let’s go somewhere else.” I said and she nodded. I knew she was upset too. we came in an abandoned park and sat down on a bench. Nobody said anything for a long time.
I was hurt. We shouldn’t have gone there in first place. I shouldn’t have fallen for Nathan. For the time when I was with him, I forgot who I was and where I belonged. He was so different and I was just plain me. I was stupid for even thinking that we could be together.   

“We are nothing, right?”

Brooke’s voice suddenly broke the chain of thoughts and I turned towards her.

“I don’t know.”

“They broke us, Allie. They fucking broke us.” A stray tear fell from her eye and I hugged her. We didn’t say anything just stayed there.

“I want to cry so bad.” She chuckled and I joined her.

“Me too. But we shouldn’t, right? We have got each other.” I pulled away.

“Yeah. We do.” She hugged me again, “Allie, I’m scared right now. Is it bad that we are alone in this world? I don’t want to cry or be emotional but I can’t help It.” she sniffled and a lump formed in my throat. I had never seen Brooke like this. She was always the stronger one but seeing her like that made me weaker.

“I know.” I hugged her tighter.

I was lost. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to tell her that it would be okay. I wanted to tell her all my feelings for Nathan. I wanted her to know how much she means to me. I wanted to tell her everything. But I couldn’t. How was I supposed to tell her that everything would be okay when I wasn’t sure myself? How was I supposed to tell her that I hid some things from her? How was I supposed to tell her that I met my father at the carnival? How was I supposed to tell her that we weren’t safe once again?

So I just kept quiet as always. I kept mum.