Chapter 4

Xander's POV

"Dad called." Xavier announced on the dining. We've been sitting opposite each other for a while now, neither of us saying anything, and suddenly he announces this.

"Did he?" I asked.

"Yes. He said he wanted to check up on us. See how we were faring." He answered.

"What did you tell him?"

"We're fine." 

"Okay..." I muttered and continued eating. I have a feeling he's not done yet. " Xander, he's heard. People are telling him." he suddenly said, peering at me. I raised my brows as if I wasn't concerned.

"Heard what?" I asked.

"Your consistent partying. He made a long speech about that affecting his image...."

"It's all about his image, isn't it?"  suddenly snapped, cutting him off. " Everything is about his image to the press, isn't it? He doesn't come home, never calls and when he finally does it is to tell us it's affecting his image.... Seriously?"

"It's not about that, Xander. You should seriously watch it. Money doesn't go on trees, you know?" He protested. I laughed, it had no mirth.

"Don't I know that?.... Wait a minute, why are you so bent on getting me angry early in the morning? I thought we talked about this." I asked.

"I'm trying to make you see thing as a brother should....." In a swift move, the plate in front of me was crashing on the floor. I was fuming. Xavier gasped, his eyes widening.

"What brother! Tell me, what brother? You? Maybe not. Let me tell you something, a real brother doesn't betray his own people,, but you did, so you're definitely not my brother." I stated standing up. He stood up as well.

"Now you blame me!? Every time something goes wrong, you blame me! Every time!" 

"Because it's your fault, it's your fault were like this. Everything is your goddamm fault!" I said, the tears stinging my eyes. I blinked them back. After all these years, I was still very angry at him. " You betrayed me Xavier, you were my brother, but you treated me like I was an outcast, as if I wasn't important. You betrayed me!"

He closed his eyes, breathing in. Finally he said something 

"I didn't, Lucy did. She's the one you should be hating!"

"I don't care. I found out from you. And in the wrong way as well..... By the way, you think I believe you? Hell no. I'm sorry but I just lost my appetite." I said, leaving the dining table.

"Xander, wait...." Xavier called out to me.

"Don't call me!" I said and ran out of the house, to God knows where....

***

Natalie's POV

I eventually went out for my jog after sealing my school deal with my brothers. Feeling slightly exhausted because I jogged a bit longer today, I decided to play by the court. There was a basketball court there, and I wanted to flex a bit of my muscles. Some people would stop a bit, staring before walking away. I guess they don't see much of girls playing basketball around here. Anyway, I waved them off and concentrated on my lone game.

***

Xander's POV

I stopped, catching my breath. Straightening up, I looked behind me. I sure have run far away from home. The only way to go now is forward. Ambling along, I avoided gazes and stares as I made my way to the park, spotted a water fountain in a corner and decided to get some water into my system. I was still at the water fountain when I heard a ball bouncing. I looked up at the direction of the sound, and found a girl at the court, playing alone. From the looks of it, she played like a pro. A few stood by, watching her lone game. I wouldn't deny but I was a bit fascinated as well.

Curious, I decided to get a closer look at her. On a closer look she looked pretty although it was hard to figure her out due to the sports clothes she was wearing. Long hair, and a gorgeous face. Seems nice.

Suddenly she missed, and the ball slipped from her hands, coming in my direction. I picked it up and made it to give it to her. She peered at me but didn't seem too surprised or gob smacked as I would have expected or what girls seemed to normally do when they see me or my brother, like the one who happened to be at the court at that time. I passed it to her. She caught it and nodded her thanks.

"You play like a guy." I commented. She shrugged. 

"You look like you've been crying." she said back. Wait.... What!? How did she know?

***

Natalie's POV

Xander Anderson. I knew because a few girls and been screaming the second they set eyes on him. But I pretended to ignore, hoping he'd go away. But it looks like he was headed my direction. Time to see if he's anything like his brother.

"This isn't tears. It's water." He objected.

"Your eyes are red and if that isn't a sign of tears, I don't know what is." I answered, bouncing the ball and shooting it in the loop. He gazed at me for a while before shrugging.

"How did you even know, anyway?" He asked, amusement in his voice.

Don't know, maybe because I see boys cry a lot?? I thought if I should answer the question..... And did not. He saw that I wasn't ready to answer and moved on.

"You seem new around here. Haven't seen you before."

"That's because I just moved. Landed here yesterday." I answered.

"Oh....." He trailed off. "by the way, my name is...."

"Xander Anderson. I know that." I cut him off. He seemed surprised, but sobered up pretty quickly and nodded.

"Guess am pretty popular around here...." 

"Maybe you are. Name's Natalie, but don't call me that when you see me." I said, criss-crossing the ball in my hands.

"Natalie. Pretty."

"Shouldn't you be with your brother?" I asked, peering at him. They looked pretty close in the media. I watched him frown slightly before answering.

"He had things to do.... So I thought I'd go for a walk.' He answered. I shrugged and continued playing.

"You don't seem to like talking about him. I can relate though." I said, judging by the way I met him yesterday, anyone would be cross to talk about him. He stared at me quizzically.

"What do you mean you can relate?" He asked. I also did not answer that and stared at the road behind him.

"You keep staring at the road. Waiting for someone?" I glanced at him.

"Yeah... Kind of."

"Who's he? Your boyfriend?" He asked, peering at me. I chuckled and shot him the ball, signalling at him to pass it back. He did.

"Does it look like I have one?"

"You're too pretty to not have."  he answered, smiling. I stared at him, pressing my lips and continued playing.

"Where do you live? " He asked after a while. 

"Not answering that."

"Your name?"

"I already told you. It's Natalie. "

"Didn't get the last name." He answered, raising his brows. 

"I'm not telling you that either." 

He chuckled. I wonder what he's thinking. I glanced at the road again and saw who I was expecting. My brothers. They were coming in a car. I suddenly stopped and stared, waiting for them to come closer..

***

Xander's POV

I watched as she lost concentration and stared at the car that was already parked at the basketball court. She seemed ready to leave. 

"Who is that? Your man?" I asked, staring at her. She gave me a 'that's disgusting' look before answering.

"Which man? Those are my brothers. " she announced. I did a double take. I couldn't help but ask.  "Those are your brothers?" 

"Yeah. Two of 'em" she answered, making the signal of two with her fingers. Two of them! Woah!

"I have to go." she said, throwing the ball at me and walking towards them. I watched her until she entered the car and drove away. She didn't even enter like a girl. I stared at the ball in my hands, smiling for no reason.

Natalie, I don't know who you are, where you from or how you managed to get here... But I hope I haven't seen the last of you.