Page 73 of The Fate Of Us

The screen went black.

I traced the lines of my reflection on the screen before I could register what had happened.

My eyes sprung to the bedside cabinet again, in search of wire that could work as acharger. But then I remembered that this was Nate’s place and that if he’d keep his charger anywhere, it wouldn’t be the floor. A part of me hated the clean-freak side of him for a moment before I pulled open one of the draws and saw a white wire neatly tucked away in the corner.

I plugged the damned thing in and let it rest back where it had been all night, beforestanding up, my icy feet sinking into the thick carpet and shimmying my way to the dresser. I quickly slip off the gown, peeling off the strapless bra that I’m sure could pass as a mediaeval torture device from how it impaled me all night, before easing into the grey sweatpants that had been left.

I was about to throw on the t-shirt he’d given me, but with how cold the room was andthe no-bra situation, I thought it best to raid the wardrobe for a sweatshirt.

Slowly, I padded my way over to the walk-in closet. I bypass the rows of woollysweaters, my skin itching just looking at them, and instead eye the folded pile of sweatshirts on the side. I grabbed the first one my eyes locked on to and threw it on without a second thought… that was until I saw myself in the mirror I’d seen as I woke up.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”I sigh to myself.

Of course, the one I’d grab would be his college sweatshirt, the name of the school he’ddecided to stay at instead of meeting me written in faded green letters. I didn’t hang onto the letters for too long, as I checked myself over in the mirror. My hair still held some curls, my face now free and bare thanks to the wipes, giving me a slight glow that did my complexion the world of good.

Then I had to do what I was putting off: leaving the room.

I hoped he wasn’t awake, but at the same time, I’d love to know what exactly happenedto me for me to end up here. For me to go to Nate of all people.

After grabbing my phone I hastily made my way over to the door, turning the nob withouta sound and emerging into the hallway.

The sun wasn’t as bright out here, but still, the windows that made up the hallwayshowcased the day in a way that made me want to slide to the floor and watch over the citythisway. But I carried on, down the hall and into the living room, creeping around the corner like an intruder.

I suppose I was, in a way.

A sigh of relief inflates my body. I couldn’t spot Nate. Not even as I explored deeper,making my way into the living room and planting my feet in the centre of the room.

I’d never truly toured this place, not on my own. The only time I’d been here was the wrap party last year.

The memory of that night transforms the space, with Flo dancing in the corner withJacob, him picking her up and twirling her, falling in love right before our eyes. Nate and I somehow found each other, the cocktails we’d downed ruling our senses and urging us to dance with one another.

It was the only time I’d considered that maybe I didn’t hate him, as he spun me, dippedme, and pulled me inches away from him. The only time that I’d wanted to forget what happened. The only time I’d been close to admitting that the hate I felt for him was just the love I kept hidden…

But what happened next changed everything.

Last Year

“What do you think they’re doing?”Nate asked as he fell back onto the couch, his hazyeyes glued to me. The way they have been all night, to be honest.

But thanks to Flo and her not knowing how to measure alcohol correctly, I didn’t mindthe staring, didn’t mind him being only inches away from me.

For once.

I sigh, letting the couch swallow me.“She’s probably telling him why she’s been avoidinghim, and then she’ll probably confess how she feels about him. She likes him, a lot. He’s been in love with her since he first saw her, apparently, so he’ll confess that. Then they’ll kiss, come back in here and not tell us anything so we don’t ask questions.”

I turn to Nate, a smile erupting on my face when I clock his gaped mouth and wide eyes.“And how exactly do you know all that?”He asks, his deep voice even deeper, if that was possible.

I shrug.“Lucky guess.”

He throws me a ‘fair enough’ look before his gaze bore straight ahead.

But my eyes were glued to him…

Normally, I wouldn’t voluntarily go within ten feet of him, but Aperol, it turns out, is atricky thing. It makes you find those you hate the most, the most desirable, adorable, and every other opposite adjective.

Something about his eyes, the green in them, it’s like a siren call only meant for me. Ittakes me back to when I last properly looked into them.

He only turns when he notices my stare, and like he’s been doing all night, he doesn’t stopstaring back.“How are you?”

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