CHAPTER 8

Searching is half the fun: life is much

more manageable when thought of

as a scavenger hunt as opposed to a

surprise party.

--- Jimmy Buffett

Kat's POV:

I walk towards my locker and find my friends talking with each other in hushed voices.

"Hey, girls," I greet them with a smile.

"Kat, have you heard about the new hottie?" Emma asks.

"No, but is it time for a newcomer?" I asked, raising one eyebrow.

"I don't know, maybe he got transferred here, but gosh, he is such a sight to behold." Bella shrugs.

The first bell rings, and we started walking towards our respective classes.

I sat in my usual seat with Noah as Mrs. Robbert, our math teacher, entered the classroom as the last and final bell rang.

"Good morning, students," she greets us.

"Good morning, Ms. Robbert" we mumbled together.

"So, class, although is unusual but this time our class got a new transferred student on a special request. And I'm honored to introduce you all to our new student," she announces.

Special request?

It's really unusual, Mr. Roose never accepts anyone like that then what happened now?

What so special about him?

"You can come in now," she motions him to come inside.

He entered the classroom, and all eyes are now on him.

"Class Welcome Mr. Anderson: he is the top student in his college, and we are happy to have him. He got transferred here due to some family reasons. I'm requesting you all to welcome him with your open arms and help him to catch up on the syllabus that we have already completed."

She turns towards him and ask, "Mr. Anderson, would you like to introduce yourself?"

"Hi everyone, my name is Nick Anderson, and I got transferred from London University to here for some my family reasons. I hope you all will take care of me in future. Thanks" With each word his eyes were searching for someone. But while speaking the world family he turned towards me and watched with unreadable expression.

Okay Thanks Mr. Anderson. Now, you can take your empty seat next to Miss River." She points toward me.

What the heck? Nick?

In my college?

What, when and why he got transferred here?

And he did not mention this to me? But why?

We have never kept secrets with each other before, but why now?

I'm truly mad, shocked, confused, and happy with him at the same time.

He pulls a chair next to mine and makes himself comfortable.

"Hey," he smiles nervously.

I'm going to ignore him.

"I know you are mad; it's obvious, but let me explain this after class," he whispered in my ear. I nod at him without looking at him not wanting to draw any more attention on me.

All girls are drooling at him like they are going to eat him alive, and some are glaring at me like they are going to murder me.

Soon the bell rings, and I exit the classroom as fast as I can.

But my plan failed, and somebody grabbed my waist, and he put his hands on my mouth and dragged me inside of an empty classroom.

It's him.

"What do you want now, Mr. Anderson?" I ask if I'm still mad.

He was debating with himself inside how to answer my question, which showed on his face clearly.

"Baby girl... I know you are mad at me, but I have my reasons," he says.

I laugh at him sarcastically. "Reasons really. It's a stupid excuse."

"Mom, Dad decided to transfer me here to NYCU. I have no choice, so I agree with them."

"Oh really...because last time I checked, they wanted me to come back, and Kyle also wants this. So now they send you here to keep an eye on me, really, like babysit me. They thought I'm that stupid; I will not figure this out," I madly shout at him.

"Calm down, baby girl." He rubs my arm to calm me down.

Taking a long breath, I looked at him.

"Now I feel really stupid to trust you. There is more," he smiled sadly at my question.

"I missed you so much... I can't live without you; it's like my small part is here," he said.

I was staring at him in shock, though we have spent so much time together, but still I can't believe that he transferred here to be with me.

"Remember how we share all things with each other, like our toys, bedroom, and bed, and even go to the same school?"

Old memories of our childhood flooded into my mind, and my eyes became teary.

"Right... I don't know; it was so hard for you too," I said.

"Now you believe me, baby girl, how much I love you," he hugs me.

I hug him back. "Love you, Nicky." I break it first.

"As you are here, I'm not going to talk with you in college. We are going to pretend like strangers because I'm a nerd here, and I don't like to associate with popular ones. Got it?" I inform him.

"Whoa whoa... I don't know why Kattie doesn't like to get involved with us because back home you were a different girl." He says playfully by putting his finger on his chin.

I roll my eyes at him. "You want me to forgive you or not?" I ask seriously.

"Okay, fine, no more knowing... just have to pretend strangers... got it." He repeats like a child who got scolded by his parents.

"So where are you staying?" He scratches his neck nervously.

"In your building, next to your door," my jaw drops.

"No way! How did you get that place?" I ask, shocked.

"I have my ways." I roll my eyes at that comment, show-off, really. "Your big brother owns that building" again, a shock.

"Great, now I have to search for a new place," I mumbled to myself.

"No, you can't do that because you have signed that 4-year contract with him. That states that if you tried to leave your place before then, you have to pay $100,000."

Well played, brother.

"What? How? When did this happen?"

"I don't know, but he tells me to inform you that"

Yeah, he is really a true businessman.

I'm not going to live here.

I will talk to him later.

I take mental notes in my head.

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A/N

So, what do you guys think? What's the real reason for sending Nick here?Is Kyle planning something big?Are they all keeping secrets with each other?