เข้าสู่ระบบNatalie's pov “Natalie…Natalie…. Natalie!!”Kian's voice snapped me out of the reverie I was in. He was looking at me, his eyes widened in …concern? Worry?? I couldn't tell. The warmth on my shoulders made me aware that his arms were still on me.I felt my face get hotter, and I cleared my throat awkwardly, trying to regain the smallest shred of normalcy I could muster.“Are you okay, weirdo?” He said, his voice a little tight, even as it was tinged with amusement. I shoved his arm from my shoulders, letting it drop away from me.He barely moved.“You're annoying,” I said, feeling anger rise at the awkwardness of the situation.What were you thinking?!“So I've been told,” Kian said back, completely oblivious of whatever turmoil I was going through.He looked down at me for a second, then, unexpectedly, he smiled.It wasn't his usual arrogant smirk. It was small, almost genuine.I stared at him.“What?”“You are genuinely so odd,” he said to me, shaking his head.“You're the one s
Natalie's pov After a few days, everything felt normal again. At least, normal enough, our routines were back to how it used to be. This morning, as expected, Louis was waiting for me outside the library when I arrived on campus.He smiled as soon as he saw me.“There she is.” He said, leaving the wall he was leaning on and coming to me.I smiled back,“Why are you always waiting for me?”“Because I like seeing you,” he answered without missing a beat.“That is a very cheesy answer.” I mocked him.“And yet you smiled, so it's a win for me,” he shrugged with a smile.I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the small smile from staying on my face.He reached for my hand,“How's your head, genius?”“Fine. I just needed rest really,” I said, falling into step with him.“Really?”“Yes, doctor.” I teased againWe walked toward the main building, our hands loosely intertwined. Nothing felt wrong.Louis was still Louis - Sweet, affectionate, a little too attentive sometimes.But normal.He ask
Natalie's pov “...what do you think about Louis?” Allison paused, her face contorting in confusion.“What do I think… in what aspect?” She asked.“What do you think of both of us in a relationship, of him as a person… just tell me what you think in entirety,” I clarified, leaning closer to her.She leaned back in her chair and studied me.“You really want my honest opinion?” she asked.“Yes. Why would I ask if I do not?” I sighed, looking around the class.“All of it?” Allison asked again.“Yes, Allie.”She nodded slowly. “Okay.”That one word immediately made me nervous.“I like Louis,” she began.I relaxed a little, smiling widely.“I actually do,” she continued. “He’s sweet to you. He pays attention to you. He makes you smile. And, most importantly, you actually seem happy around him.”I looked down at my hands, feeling heat rush over my face. I knew by now I was already a bright red.“I am. He makes me so happy,” I agreed.“I know,” she smiled,“You’re different with him.”“Diff
Natalie's pov “You are not a Lawley." Louis' face fell almost immediately. The reaction was so visceral, almost like I just punched him in the gut. I immediately realized how that sounded. “That's not what I meant,” I said immediately, trying to make amends. “I know what you meant,” he responded, although his voice was sad, he gave out a forced smile as he nodded once. I sighed,“I just don't understand.” He looked down for a moment, then back at me. “My family isn't poor, Natalie. I may not have all the wealth, but we're not poor,” he said rather ruefully. “I never said they were,” my voice was quiet, I didn't want to say the wrong thing, not again. “But we're not like Kian's family,” he continued, glancing at the necklace, “I don't buy you things because I think money can fix everything.” “Then why?” I asked. He was quiet for a moment. “Its because I like seeing you happy.” That answer caught me off guard. I looked away, subtly trying to catch my breath. He continued
Natalie's pov After hours of tossing and turning on my bed, with barely 3 hours of sleep in between, I was genuinely glad when morning came. I barely slept, my thoughts were scattered all over the place. I barely thought about the equations I had on my study desk. I had thought about Louis, and his pleas, but then again, it didn't stay for too long in my head. It was Kian. More specifically, the realization that I was beginning to understand him. I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, replaying the look on his face when I'd told him I didn't want the flowers. He looked pleased. Not happy, no, he was pleased, like my answer had confirmed something he'd already suspected. I frowned. When did I start noticing things like that? Kian had always been difficult to read. He was sarcastic, unpredictable, irritating and somehow always seemed to know exactly what to say to get under my skin. But lately… I was starting to notice the things underneath. The little pauses, the chang
Natalie's pov By the time I got home, I was exhausted.Not physically, my mind just felt like it's been through a long session of gymnastics without breaks. I dropped my bag beside my desk and pulled out my laptop.My phone buzzed that instant. It was a message from Allison.Allison: I think we'll get our answer soon. I'm looking out for something different.I stared at the text for a while before texting her “bet” without even thinking too much. I looked back to the laptop, and sighed.I should have been studying for my classes.Instead, I found myself staring at the equations again, the same equations I'd been trying to understand for weeks.I opened the photographs I'd taken during our project session and enlarged the first one. Then the second, then the third.I frowned.There was something wrong.Not wrong with the calculations exactly, something was wrong with the pattern.I grabbed my notebook and began copying the equations down.One by one, slowly.I compared them, then I
Natalie's povFINAL YEARThe beginning of the end. As I stepped into the hallway of Bennington college, I grinded my jaw, the sharp pain that rose soothed me strangely.Students gathered in clusters, talking over each other. The chaos felt new, even when it was the same as always, at the start of
Natalie's pov The shelf at the Dean's office was filled with awards and plaques… all in shades of brown and grey.I looked at the door, sighing inwardly to myself. My mind was already made up as to what to ask the dean.Where might he-“Quit acting like a trapped squirrel.” A voice snapped beside
I scrunched up the letter, throwing it at the far end of my room.I was up and ready before 7am, not because I was heeding to the Kian's command. I was simply scared of offending Joey.Kian was bluffing anyways. I knew there was no way in hell that he'd be taking me in his car to school.When I st
Natalie's pov That was it.I knew I wasn't going to let it slide this time.“Excuse me?” I asked, unable to help myself. My mother kicked me lightly underneath the table.I ignored her, I could feel my ears get hot. I clenched the spoon in my hands, trying to keep the emotion at bay.“You are wel







