An Amazing Day.

(KAIRA'S POV)

"I'm not a Horton." I said to myself, my teeth gnashed against each other.

But the person who stared back at me in the mirror looked very much like a Horton.

A beauty team had just finished with me. Light makeup, perfect hair pinned up, a beautiful beige crop top over the classiest pair of high-waisted denim jeans I had ever seen.

Slade was right, we didn't go home. We went to a hotel and I got ready in a beautiful suite that looked like it belonged to a princess.

I couldn't deny that I looked pretty but everything wasn't sitting right with me.

"I'm not a Horton." I repeated to my reflection in the mirror.

I kept my eyes shut trying to suppress the emotions that were building inside. Then I grabbed the little pink purse and stepped out of the door. But Slade was standing right there so I doubled back and missed my steps because of the heeled glass slippers I was wearing.

I was reaching for the doorknob, to grasp it for a little stability but I missed it and would have crashed into the hard door if not for the strong arms that wrapped around me suddenly.

I couldn't help but inhale that invigorating musky scent but thankfully I was pressed against his leather jacket so I made no sound.

In that moment, in those arms, everything felt so blissful, so serene.

"Alright?" Slade's deep voice brought me out of that cloud and I quickly pulled myself out of his embrace, stepping back.

"Yes. I'm alright, thank you." I said, clutching my purse and biting my lower lip.

It had suddenly become too quiet, the air around us, tense and insufficient. I couldn't stop myself from raising my gaze upwards and then, my throat became dry instantly.

It was not because of how good-looking Slade looked, it was because of the way he was looking at me. His eyes, going over every inch of me like he was memorizing every detail of me.

I could also see his chest rising and falling as well as I could hear his breathing.

Was that because of me? Why was he looking at me like that?

Then, like a dream, he seemed to snap out of whatever mood he was in and the expression on his face which I found very confusing, suddenly disappeared. His mask was back on now.

"Can we go now?" He asked.

I replied with a stiff nod and let him lead me out of the hotel. People smiled at us, nodded their heads and even bowed.

My grip on my purse tightened, I was tired of the attention I was receiving today. When would it end?

I was silent, dealing with everything on my mind to the extent that I may have forgotten Slade's presence for once. Not until we were standing in front of a pricey dark Range Rover and a man dressed like a chauffeur greeted us.

I replied back politely.

I wanted to ask Slade where his car was but then I decided against it and got into the backseat with Slade following in just after.

"What are you upset about?" Slade surprised me by breaking the silence.

The car had just climbed the highway and I was leaning against the window, trying to stay as far away from Slade as I could.

"I'm not upset."

"I know when you're upset." He said and I turned to him in question. It was one of the rare times that he looked like he had been caught off guard.

"I— I mean … You're not very complicated." He explained.

I turned back to the window.

"You don't seem to be enjoying being a Horton."

"I am not a Horton." I snapped at him with a glare.

He sat up and leaned closer to me. In turn, I moved back, feeling the rush of heat in my face.

"So that's what's getting you upset." He muttered, nodding to himself.

I suppressed a groan. "Actually, you're the one getting me upset."

It wasn't entirely a lie. His presence was messing with my mind and I hated it.

"Why?" He asked, then he leaned even closer to me leaving very little space between us.

My heart was racing so hard like it wanted to leap out of my chest.

"Are you upset with me or upset at the fact that I make you… nervous?" His voice had dropped to almost a murmur that made chills run down my spine.

I wanted to speak, to tell him to shut up and sit back but my tongue was tied. To make matters worse, Slade came even closer, so much that my back pressed against the leather seats.

I glanced at the rearview mirror and was relieved to see that the driver had his eyes on the road.

"Start being honest with me." He continued speaking, his minty breath now fanning over my face with each word. "Tell me what you want, what you don't want, what you like, what you don't like."

I could see my own chest rising and falling.

Our faces were now inches apart and I tried to maintain my gaze, to keep it strictly locked on his own eyes. But then his dropped, to my lips and an audible gasp escaped from me. It was followed by the shrill sound of a phone ringing and we both jumped apart.

I quickly reached for my purse to take out my phone, looking for an excuse to push him away. But he was already back in his seat and holding his own phone in his hand.

My phone wasn't ringing. It was his.

I bit my lip.

"Hello." He greeted into the phone. "Okay. Okay."

He sounded so formal, like he was on a business call.

"Yes of course. Right here."

Then he handed me the phone and my eyes widened in response. He didn't even answer me, he just placed it on my ear and let me hold on to it.

"Hello?" I greeted uncertainly.

"Hey my love! What happened? I've been trying to reach you for the longest time."

It was Mum.

"Hi Mum. I'm so sorry, I had an accident with my phone." I said, pushing the phone back into my purse.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes I'm fine. It was just a minor accident at school." Because I knew she was not going to let it go so easily, I changed the topic. "How are you? Are you there yet?"

"Oh yes we are!" Mum said and I smiled at how excited she sounded. "I haven't even gone out yet but it's so beautiful, Kay. And the journey was seamless, we went with a private plane. Oh Kaira I wish you could experience this but Tom says we'll have time for that soon."

"That's fine, Mum." I said. "I'm really glad you're having fun."

"Thanks, baby." Pause. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm great." I added as much enthusiasm as I could.

"Tom says there's an event you and Slade are attending."

"Yes we are on our way now."

"Oooh I can't wait to see pictures." She said giddily not knowing that sentence sent me into slight panic mode.

Pictures at the event meant more viral pictures which in turn meant I would possibly have another horrible day in school.

"I have to go now, Kaira, but please reach out to me whenever, okay? You can use Slade's phone until we get you a new one."

"Thanks, Mum."

"Bye now, okay? And I miss you so much, my baby."

My heart sank because as much as I wanted to believe it, I didn't. There's no way she misses me.

"I miss you too, Mum."

The call ended and I handed the phone back to Slade, avoiding his gaze.

The car became silent, my eyes were glued to the window until Slade spoke.

"You're going to have an amazing day, Makaira." His eyes dug into me. "An amazing day with me."