Chapter 106: Chapter 106
"Cindy, Charles it’s been a long time" The woman said greeting my parents. She was beautiful, even more beautiful than my mother, her blond hair framed her face and the light green dress she was wearing made her eyes sparkle. The man beside her was equally handsome, with light brown hair and brown eyes he looked dashing and something about him screamed power.
"Bryce, Victoria it’s great to see you again" My mom said kissing Victoria on the cheek while my dad shook Bryce’s hand "How have you been?"
"We’ve been good" Victoria said and then she looked at me "And who is this?"
"This is our daughter Nate" My mom said "Henry’s daughter requested her to come"
"I didn’t know you had children" Victoria said "Is she your only child?"
"Oh no!" mom said "We have three. Nate here is our eldest and then there’s Grace and finally Gabriel"
"Gabriel has a disability, he’s twelve. Grace is the beauty in the family she’s absolutely perfect and has been getting offers to model since she was a baby." My dad grinned, pride showing in his eyes, pride I never saw when he talked about me "As for our Nate here, she’s the brains. She takes after her great-grandmother" he reached his hand and ruffled my hair, messing it up but I smoothed it down and thanked god I decided not to tie it.
"How old are you Nate? You can’t be older than--"
"Fifteen" My dad announced "She and Grace are a year apart. We got it right the second time" he laughed
I looked at the floor, ignoring the sympathetic look Victoria gave me. That was dad’s favorite joke, he used it whenever he introduced me or met someone I know.
I never forgot how my dad viewed me and for a while I remember crying and praying my parents wouldn’t throw me away, of course I would think that. I was a kid back then.
"NATE" An excited voice sounded behind me. I turned around only to be tackled into a hug by Vanessa "You came"
"I did" I smiled at her, Vanessa was the most fun, annoying, crazy girl you could ever meet and me and Gabriel loved it when she came to visit with her parents "Hello Mr. and Miss Tatum" She didn’t wait for their response as she dragged me away from the party and up the stairs to her room.
"Peace and quiet" She said throwing herself on her bed "You look sexy" she winked at me and I laughed
"Thanks for the confidence boost but we both know it’s not true." I said sitting on the edge of her bed. She rolled her eyes but didn’t respond
"So how’s Gabriel?" She asked smiling, Vanessa loved Gabriel like a little brother and was never awkward around him. i guess that was one of the reasons I liked her.
"He’s good" I frowned "Although he had a mild fever when I left. My parents forced me to come." My fingers lingered on my purse where my pager was, if anything happened with Gabriel I’d immediately know.
"Oh! I’m sorry" Vanessa said "I just really wanted to see you and-"
"It’s okay" I smiled at her "Really" I saw her bite her lip and I frowned "What’s wrong"
"Luke and his parents are here"
"Luke?" I asked shocked "My ex-boyfriend? Here?"
"Yeah" she said "That’s why I brought you here I didn’t want you to run into him after what happened last month"
"God I’m sick of this" I said frustrated "I’m sick of Luke, my parents. The only things that make me happy are Gabriel and Grace"
"Well neither are here now" Vanessa said, her eyes twinkling in excitement "I have an idea"
I don’t know what made me go with her decision but I did. She brought a dye and dyed my hair black, I took my glasses out of my purse and removed my contacts, putting them on to feel more comfortable.
"You’re going to have a night of freedom" she said "Now you can go right outside without your parents noticing you and have fun"
"I don’t know about this"
"Come on" she said "One night of living. Have fun" I nodded, she was right. I walked down the stairs and out the door without anyone noticing me just like she said. But where to then? I had nowhere to go in an unknown town.
"NATE" I heard a voice say, a voice that sent shivers down my spine; Luke "Nate wait." No! I didn’t want to see him, talk to him or even be near him. I had to get away.
I saw a car approaching from around the corner and did the first spontaneous thing I had ever done, I jumped in front of it.
The car screeched and almost hit me but stopped in the nick of time. I let out the breath I was holding and opened the passenger door and got in "Drive" I told the driver without looking at him, my eyes on Luke who was coming after me
The stranger said nothing and kept driving and when the house was out of sight I straightened in my seat "Thanks I-" I stopped when I saw the driver. He was gorgeous, his hair was dirty blond, his eyes green. "Thanks"
"Who are you and why did you jump in front of my car?" He asked without looking at me "Well?"
"I..Um..I was running from my parents" I said "Boring party"
"Henry Gilliam’s party? My parents are there"
"Yeah" I said nervously. My parents would search for me and I didn’t want them to find me, one night of freedom. That’s all I wanted. The guy parked along the sidewalk and turned to me