He stood there as though he hadn't vanished without telling anyone. His existence next to me sent an electricity through my body so powerful I found myself at a loss for words.

His gray eyes pooled with so much pent up emotion, he was a walking piece of art from his dark hair that sat a mess on his head, however it managed to look amazing anyway, to his carved jawline.

I tore my eyes away from him, questions filing into my brain one after another. "Where did you go," I fired, not making an effort to move an inch forward, he stood examining me across the balcony, his face shaded by the night sky.

I leaned against the railing gathering my breath as the wind wrestled my hair, sweating it's dusty paws against my face.

Nathens jaw clenched, he seemed uneasy, darting his gaze around the balcony for any sign of anyone else.

"I was away," he bit out, his eyes trained on me, I couldn't bring myself to look away from him, as I stood, infatuated with all things Nathen.

He blew out a breath, and faster then I could comprehend he briskly took off toward me, his movements so precise I hadn't realized my back was hard against the wall, Nathen towering over me.

His breathing was ragged, his smell entoxicating, my mind was spinning into overdrive, thoughts coming up as blank with his presence so near.

How was he having this affect on me?

"You can't just leave like that," i could barely speak, my breathing mixing in with his, everything was still around us, the wind blowing the trees, mixed in with the chirping of crickets, it was almost like a calming melody.

"And tell me why not," Nathens voice was so low," it sent a shiver down my back, my mind screamed for him never to back away, every inch of my skin was on fire as it begged for him to come even closer, just an inch, a centimeter.

I heaved a breath, hoping he couldn't hear the rate my heart pounded, counting every second that was spent with him, reminding me that soon I would have to leave, and face my reality, that Nathen was a distraction, and he would never be mine.

"Because, well, you are the presidents son," I mumbled out, it was a fact, he was indeed the son of a very important man, and he couldn't go around doing what he pleases much longer, he would have to choose a Wife at the assembly, and I knew I couldn't watch another girl emerge into the arms of the guy I had grown so fond of over the past week.

"Is that the reason why," he tilted his head down, so it rested on top of mine, his hands gripping the railing on either side of me. I didn't move an inch, afraid he might stop, I let my eyes flutter shut as I nodded, just savering in the feeling of this moment, that I never hoped would come to an end.

I don't know how long we were standing outside before the door burst open, and a flurry of giggles sounded from in front of me.

Nathen and I jumped apart, as I caught a shadowed sight of Allison with Mason. I wasn't to shocked to see them together, but I had thought she did not like him.

"Conrad is half the man you are," Allice exclaimed, her breath winded, as she slid a hand down his arm, he chuckled heartily, leaning down to connect his lips with hers.

I glanced over to catch Nathens reaction, however he was gone as fast as he had come. I leaned back against the railing, studying them from afar.

"Nathen is missing, I think it has something to do with Drew," Allice, mumbled, I sunk more into the Shadows, praying with every will that they wouldn't see me.

Mason let out an airy breath, simultaneously glancing around, as though he knew I was here. I didn't move a toenail, restraining my breaths as he whipped his eyes back to the blonde that stood in front of him.

"You know about them don't you," Mason retorted back, pushing an arm against the wall. Allice paused for a second, in confirmation, before I heard her annoyingly high pitched voice break the midnight air.

"Who doesn't, I mean it is obvious she is throwing herself at him, aren't we all?" Mason snorted in response, sliding to perch himself on the chilled ground. Allice didn't follow, choosing to remain standing as she edged him to continue.

"He, well, Conrad said that their first encounter was not this year." I refrained myself from jumping up and giving him a piece of my mind at that lie, but I decided against it, I wanted to hear the rest of the story.

Allice practicly Sat up, waiting for more, she was a gossip magnet, even if she had been nice to me today, I didn't trust her.

"It is very secret, but I can tell you this, and you didn't hear it from me, they were planing something two years ago, and got busted for it."

"What was it?" Allice squeaked, I was wondering the same thing, this was the most far fetched story I had ever heard, how had the rumors gone so far out of line?"

"I don't know," Mason announced, just as the doors opened again. I remained in my place, etching to see Nathen, had he heard all of this nonsense, where had he gone off to?

They all left a few minutes later, and I swam in my own thoughts, striving to put all the new information together.

There was one thing I knew, if everyone knew the thoughts I was having, I would be sure to find myself in prison.

Conrad had said he would see me at the lake, and I knew he wasn't backing down, if that was what it took to keep him quiet, then so be it.

I pulled myself up, a knot forming in the pit of my stomach as I began my trek to the lake, nothing but a streetlight to illuminate my path.

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Ahhhhhh guys, the plot is getting so so good.

What do you think of Nathan making another appearance

What do you think will happen at the lake?

Love you all, and your support means the world to me