I could hear nothing, but the sound of our breathing. I stared deep into the eyes of my only foe, Nicholas.
His luscious lashes complemented his eyes perfectly, as a girl I was jealous that I didn't have any of those.
I watched as he licked his slightly plump pink lips, perhaps out of dehydration, or whatever. But, oh my goodness, what a sight!
So, he wasn't going to push me off himself? A playboy indeed, I thought to myself.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to cause you to fall", I said, apologizing as I lifted myself off him.
I offered him my hand, so he could get up easily. But he looked at my hand, then at my face, and rolled his eyes.
"I can get off the floor, in my own room, myself", he said, sarcastically, as he jumped back on his feet.
As if to ignore him, I simply shrugged him off.
"Well, Nicholas. Back to why I came here, please don't make things harder for me. All I need is your reviews on my project, that's all. Please", I begged.
"Well, Serena... I won't work with you. I believe I said that earlier", He said, with a hint of finality in his words.
I had tried my best to stay calm, and play cool. But at that point, I lost it.
"First off, it's Selena Williams, not Serena. Secondly, I don't blame you for having no regard for any academic related work, because you are simply a lazy-ass jerk, who gets everyone to do his biddings.
I wouldn't be surprised if you even had your wealthy ass parents, pay in return for your 'good grades'.
Thirdly, yes, you may be good looking... but that's not all there is to life. It is completely ridiculous to let your physical appearance get so much into your head, fogging your mind.
Like I said the first day I had unfortunately crossed paths with you, even if the world was bereft of men, I would NEVER settle for a jerk like you! Have a good day", I said finally, before storming out his room.
I was so upset, for so many reasons and at so many persons. I was angry at Professor Seth for pairing me with Nicholas, and at Kylie for encouraging it, and at myself, for delusionally thinking I could make him cooperate.
When I had walked down the stairs completely, the maidservant from earlier, walked up to me. I angrily brushed past her, I wasn't in the mood for those freaking cookies or unnecessary long talks.
After exiting the magnificent "palace" of the Carsons, I angrily got into my car and drove off.
"Selena, what's going on? What's with the long face?", My mother asked, the moment I walked through the doors of our house.
If she were another person, I'd have completely ignored her. But she was my Mother, so I couldn't bring myself to do anything of such.
Slowly, I dragged my feet towards the sofa, and sat down. I began to narrate my ordeals to her, and she stared at me, so keenly. It made me wonder if she was really interested in what I was saying; or if she was simply pretending, to be paying the utmost attention to whatever I said, so as to please me.
"Selena, this is your project. You have to get Nicholas to cooperate with you, at least for the sake of your grades", my Mother said to me.
Oh, tell me something I don't already know! I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her, I knew if I did that, I'd be done for, at least figuratively.
So I said to her, "Mom, that's what I tried doing today! He is reluctant, adamant, and completely unwilling to listen!"
"Well, Selena I do have an idea. What if, you went back to his house and asked him again to be your partner for your project ?" My mom said, which made me wonder if she hadn't heard all I had just narrated to her.
"Mommy, are you being serious right now? I remember telling you that he clearly rejected working with me, he detests me, in fact, he HATES my existence! How in the world do I get to convince him to work with me, by going back to his house, when clearly that didn't work earlier ?" I asked, I felt frustrated talking about Nicholas Carson.
"Listen to me, Selena. I heard you earlier when you said that.
You'd go back to his house, and ask him to be your partner again; just that this time, you'd surreptitiously take a recording of him, rejecting working with you. At least, that way you can have evidence to tender to your Professor, that your 'supposedly partner' was unwilling to work with you, it's that simple!", my Mother said finally, while beaming smiles at me. My mother was a genius, I swear!
"That's a brilliant idea, mother. Although I feel fed up about the entire situation, I'd go back to his house, I pray earnestly that he refuses again!", I said to my mother, and I watched as she threw her head back in laughter.
Again, I dashed out of my house, and drove off to Nicholas' house.
After arriving at his 'mansion' AGAIN, I honked my car, in order to draw the attention of the security personnel. I watched as the huge black gates were opened, again. Without batting an eye at the man, I drove right into the parking lot.
Turning off the engine of my car, I alighted. Before taking a step, I quickly dipped my hands in my tote bag, searching frantically for my phone.
I smiled to myself when I found it, Nicholas Carson would regret speaking to me, in the manner that he did today.
As if the entire mansion belonged to me, I walked briskly, opening the large parlour doors, closing them behind me, before walking up the stairs. I heard the maidservant from earlier, murmuring, and speaking in gibberish. I really couldn't care less, Nicholas could be their god, but not mine!
I stood in front of Nicholas' room, nervously. Suddenly, as if a voice had spoken to me, I looked at my phone..The recording! I had to have him reject me again, so I could tender it as an evidence to Professor Seth that, Nicholas had intentionally refused working with me. I clicked on 'record', while taking a breath.
Before I could reach for the door knob, the doors were violently opened..
"Samantha, where's my lunch ?!", I heard him say, scratch that, heard him scream!
His eyes traveled from my toes, to my face. I kept mute, watching him, I didn't know if it was fury, confusion, or disgust I saw written all over his face.
Clearing his throat, he crossed his arms around his chest, while leaning on the side of the door.
"You, again?", He asked.
I would try my best, to speak cordially with him, that way, I could prove that he was the jerk here. I smiled to myself, my eyes still stayed on him.
"Um, Nicholas..I believe you and I are adults, there's absolutely no reason why either of us should hold on to the grudges of the past. I mean, it was just yesterday, or the day before yesterday, that you apologized to me in the hallway. This is my project, we are talking about here, not just some random work. Please, this means a lot to me as a student, particularly as a freshman. I'd really appreciate it if you could let go of whatever hatred it seems that you have of me, and just worked with me", I said to him, with a soothing voice.
I looked at him, my eyes searching his face for a response. I smiled to myself, when I saw him shake his head in the negative..
"Already told you, Miss Serena or Selena... I won't work with you. Now, get lost", he said, while brushing past me.
I should persist for a longer time, so Professor Seth would know for sure that I did try persuading this jerk.
"Samantha??!", he said, calling out to his maidservant, as he went down the stairs.
"Nicholas, please listen to me..", I said, walking behind him. He had his back turned to my face, showing his unwillingness to pay attention to me. So, I took a brave step! I placed my hands on his shoulders, making him turn around.
His eyes were filled with hate, and contempt, but I didn't care at all!
"Get your hands off me, would you?", he said, as he snapped my hands off his shoulders.
"Nicholas!", I screamed, I was frustrated and fed up with his nonsense. Regardless of my screams, he kept walking down the stairs. In an attempt to reach for his arms, I missed a step, causing me to almost fall.
He swirled swiftly, breaking my fall, and catching me in his arms. I lifted my eyes to look at him, again, my eyes caught the view of one of the finest man I had ever met!
Well, could that be referred to as a fall, if I fell into his arms?