6

Lana’s POV

Drake just called me his girlfriend. He called me his fucking girlfriend. In front of people! In public, knowing it could probably trend on all social platforms.

Was he crazy?!

“Girlfriend?!” Lin said out loud and rushed over to where we were.

Drake chuckled and looked down at me with softness in his eyes. He cupped my chin and tilted my head backward slightly. He began to run his thumb against my lip, and I shuddered in his arm. The look in his eyes made everything feel so real that it had me throbbing between my legs and gulping.

“Yes.” He dropped his hand and faced the crowd. “I apologize for arriving late. I had to do something.”

No one said anything for a few seconds before Cici came closer to us. She had the nastiest look on her face as she stared at me before offering Drake a smile. The smile smelt like pick-me, and I already knew that her words were from the dictionary for pick-mes.

“You don’t have to lie now, Drake. There is no way you can date a girl like her. I mean, did she tell you how she claims she’s friends with all of you and how she claims she is—”

“And who are you?” Drake asked and some people in the audience laughed.

“I…But…”

“I just said she is my girlfriend and we have been dating for a year now. You know the type of person I am. The only reason why our relationship is private is because of your type and gossip.”

I glanced at Cici to see what look she had on her face, and I knew that if she had a gun with her, she could have either shot herself or me.

“It can’t be,” Lin said and laughed. “You were dating that socialite girl from London just two months ago and now you claim that you two have been dating for a year now?”

“Rumors, rumors, rumors.”

I gasped at the voice and turned around with Drake. My eyes widened at the sight of Paul and his girlfriend. They were walking into the living room, hand in hand. People started to talk, filling the room with murmurs and oohs and ahhs. His girlfriend waved at us, and I smiled back in return. Paul and his girlfriend stopped in front of us. He winked at me then faced the crowd.

“Is this a party or not?!” Paul asked at the top of his voice and music started to play.

Soon enough, everyone started to dance and go back to what they were doing, only a few stayed back to watch. Out of the corner of my eyes, Cici, Lin and Rachel marched away, and I felt relieved that they were gone and glad that Paul and Drake were here. The night did not end with bad news.

“Are you okay?” Drake placed his hand on my lower back, pulling me flush against his side.

I looked up at him and smiled with a nod of my head. He cupped my cheek and rubbed the pad of his thumb on my cheek, making my stomach flutter with emotions. He was looking at me with softness in his eyes that made my body ignite with my feelings for him.

“So, you two are now dating?” Paul’s girlfriend– I didn’t know her name— asked and chuckled.

As if my face was on fire, Drake dropped his hand and cleared his throat then took a step away from me. My heart ached then I stared at the girl in annoyance. If she had not opened her stupid mouth, Drake would still be standing close to me. The more I stared at her, the more I saw how pretty and chick she was. She looked like a Barbie doll, pretty and pristine and it made me feel envious because she was the type of girl rich boys like Drake and Paul ended up with.

“I need a drink,” I said as my envy started to rise higher in me.

“Can you get me bottled water, please?” She asked in her soft voice.

I gritted my teeth and nodded then walked away to the kitchen. I got to the kitchen and went to the sink. I stood against the sink and clenched the edges of the sink. Drake liked her, I knew it. The way he had looked earlier made me realize that he liked her. I wondered if Paul knew but that was not important. As far as she was here, it would be difficult to get Drake’s attention.

I didn’t like her, and I didn’t care if I was being unreasonable, seeing that she did nothing to me or anyone. I just hated her because she had Drake’s attention. I hated that she was pretty, rich and perfect looking. It was enough to get anyone’s attention.

“Oh, Lana!”

I jerked at the pitch of the voice. I turned my head and saw Lin approaching me with a huge smile on her face. She has never smiled that way, not to me, at least.

“What’s up?” Lin asked the moment she got to where I was.

I had to look around to make sure it wasn’t me she was talking to. She was being unlike herself right now and it made me uncomfortable. I didn’t trust whatever she was trying to do.

“Can I help you?” I asked cautiously and she giggled, slapping my arm playfully.

Now she was freaking me out.

“Oh, relax, silly.” She leaned against the sink and grinned. “So, tell me, what is dating Drake like? I’m sure he takes you to so many places, buys you things and gives you money. I hear he gives the best orgasms”

I wanted to roll my eyes so badly at the way she was talking. I was not interested in whatever conversation she was trying to start. I ignored her and walked past her to the fridge. As I opened it and grabbed a bottle of water, I heard her walk up to me. I took a can of soda and closed the fridge then turned around.

“You think because you’re dating a catch, you’ve won in life?” She had a grimace on her face as she spoke. “You are still a nobody and I am sure that he cheats on you because why would somebody like him be with the likes of you. Don’t you know that the reason why he is keeping the relationship a secret is because he’s dating a better woman?”

I wanted to bash her face with the can so hard she bled. This bitch had to be going crazy with jealousy over something that was not even real. Her behavior made me realize just how evil she was, as well as Cici and Rachel. I knew I had been purposely trying to overlook their behavior, but this was worse.

“You will never be his last choice, Lana and—”

“And you will be?”

I stiffened at the sound of Drake’s voice. I looked at the entrance to the kitchen and saw him standing there with a scowl on his face. Lin laughed softly then made her way to him. She stood beside him and tried to grab his arm, but he dodged her hand and came to me.

“I have been hearing about your group and what you have been doing to Lana and I am not pleased. All you girls have done is bully her because she is too fucking nice to say no to your group,” he said and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “From now on, I do not ever want to find out that you and your other friends are friends with my girlfriend.”

Lin frowned. “Fuck you!”

She left the kitchen and I felt relief dawn on me. I exhaled in relief and made a move to leave his hold, but he tightened his hold and spun us around, startling me. I collided against the fridge, my back flat against it and when I looked up, he closed the small space between us with his body. My heart rate picked up at our proximity and my eyes widened as he towered over me with his hands pinned on the fridge, caging me. I could see anger in his eyes and disgust masking his face. Drake was pissed.

“Now, you listen to me,” he said and seized my chin with his hand, then pulled my face close to his.

My body heated up when my front brushed his, making me feel every part of him. I was beginning to go crazy from what was happening. The tension I was feeling was so strong that I had to part my lips to breathe through my mouth.

“If I ever find out you are still friends with those girls, you wouldn’t like what I will do to you,” he said in a low, deep, raspy voice. “Today will be the last day you call them your friends. Do you understand?”

I nodded my head, and he clenched his jaw.

“I can’t hear you.”

I swallowed. “Y-yes.”

His eyes roamed my face then he smirked. “Good.”

He moved back, giving me sanity. I sighed and bowed my head so I could catch my breath. When I heard his footsteps, I looked up and saw him heading to the door.

“Come on, let’s leave. Paul and Nina are waiting outside.”

I dropped the things I was holding and met up with him. Together we left the house and boarded Paul’s car. Nina turned around and smiled at us. She waved at me, and I waved back.

“Paul says we aren’t going home,” Nina said.

“Where are we going?” Drake asked.

“Let’s camp for tonight,” Paul replied and started the car.

I was excited for it. We always used to camp, and, on those days, I would share a tent with Drake and as adults now, it would be even more fun. The idea of sleeping in the same tent with Drake made butterflies flutter in my stomach.

+++

We were at a beach which was closed for the night. Nina and I sat while the boys set up the tents, which I was glad was two when they were done. Which meant that Drake and I were sharing one and Paul with his girlfriend would stay in one. It made me feel jittery from excitement.

“Nina?!” Paul called out and his girlfriend rose from the bench beside me and went to him.

Drake walked up to me with a blanket then handed it to me when he stopped in front of me. I thanked him as he sat beside me. We sat in silence for a moment and when I went to break it, I saw him staring at his brother and his girlfriend with a blank look on his face. I heard the couple laugh, which made him look down with a clenched jaw.

“Can I say something?” Drake asked and I nodded.

“Sure,” I added.

“Don’t judge me,” he said and made eye contact with me.

We held eye contact for some seconds before he broke it and began to play with his fingers.

“What is it, Drake?”

“I have feelings for Nina.”

My heart exploded in my chest at the confession and when he raised his head, I saw the emotions in his eyes. The truth and honesty in his eyes made his words true. It hurt the more I realized it.

“I… It’s wrong but I like her. No…” He hesitated then sighed. “No woman has ever made me feel like this. I know I just met her, but she makes me feel some type of way and I hate that she’s with Paul. What should I do?”

I bit the inner part of my cheek so hard; it caused a small swelling. My heart was stinging so badly from his words and my eyes were stinging slightly from them too. I didn’t want to cry; crying would embarrass me, and I hated how stupidly in love I was with him.

“I…That is… I don’t know,” I said in a clear tone of voice. I was desperately trying to sound okay and not hurt with a shaky voice.

“I feel bad about this.”

“Don’t be. It’s normal to have feelings for people.” I forced a smile. “You should talk to Paul about this too.”

Drake said nothing afterward and I had enough. I rose to my feet and walked away without saying anything. Tears were threatening to fall, and my heart was aching so deeply, I feared I was going to pass out from bottling the influx of emotions. I ran away from the camp side and went over to the shores. I squatted and wrapped my arms around myself.

I let the tears fall, crying softly. Drake liked her, he had feelings for her. Drake never had feelings for any girl and here he was, falling for her. Nina probably liked him back from what I have noticed and if Paul knew about his, he would let them be with each other. I knew the type of guy he was, and I hated it.

I cried more, hot tears rolling down my cheeks and heart aching more.

“Why do you love her and not me?”

“Lana?”

I froze.

No.

He caught me.