Unexpected

23 | How To Get Away... from Winter

Dedicated to myself because I'm such a slow updater. HAHA! Love you all!

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After hours of debating on the pros and cons of my deal, my Father decided to show up.

"You both should listen to Isabella," he said. "It's hers and Nate's life and we can't interfere too much. I mean, we've already interfered but let's not make it to the point where they're not comfortable anymore."

My mother and Aunt Sandra looked at him and started processing everything he said. After what seems like a decade, my mother spoke.

"Alright, I'll let you do what you want," she said, looking defeated.

"Thank you," I said with a small smile on my face.

My mother looked sad and I felt a little guilty but it has to be done. She's always had her way and now it's time that I decide. She was whispering something to Nate's mother and they were both nodding. After a few minutes, Aunt Sandra stood up, leaving me and my parents in the study room.

"It really is sad," she admitted. "I think that you two are made for each other but it seems as if that's not going to happen for a long time."

I looked at her sadly, remembering the thing that Nate said earlier.

"It's okay Mom," I said and hesitantly hugged her. "I have nothing to do today, I could still go to the tailor with you."

"But why would we still go there if...?" she asked.

"We could have our gowns made for the Christmas ball," I suggested and that seemed to brighten up her spirits.

"Alright, I'll just grab a few things and inform my secretary so that she could call the Daniela Adams," she said.

"Have fun, you two," my Dad said as he smiled at us.

Before heading to the car, I decided to go to Nate's room and tell him about my talk with his mom and my mom. I placed my hand on the cool metal doorknob and opened it with shaky hands to see Nate walking around the room, gathering his things.

"Hey," I said, quite confused. "What are you doing?"

I still stood at the doorway, watching him fold his clothes.

"I have a plane flight tomorrow morning," he said.

My heart clenched when I realized that he'll be leaving.

"Oh," I said. "We had a talk earlier and I managed to make them agree with my deal."

"I know," he said passively. It was like I was talking to a different person. Normally, he would be sarcastic or laugh the whole thing off but now he's just so cold.

I fought back my tears as I smiled at him.

"So... I guess we should put the whole boyfriend-girlfriend thing huh?" I asked, inwardly hoping that he would disagree with me. Inwardly hoping that everything will go back to normal again, but I was wrong.

"I think so," he admitted, looking at his feet. "Look, I'll be leaving tomorrow."

My heart beat so fast as I heard what he just said. "What?"

"I'll be leaving tomorrow to go find an apartment in Australia," he answered, poker faced.

"Australia?" I said, my voice breaking.

"I've enrolled in a school there. I... I just need to get away from all this. I can't imagine myself being tied down too quickly and being with you, I know that people will talk whether we get engaged now or in the next few years. They'll see you and me together and tie things up and I just can't live like that--constantly knowing that people will be looking and I don't want that to limit me," he explained, every word smashing my heart repeatedly.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

"Alright, if that's what you want," I said. A princess must know how to hold herself together. A princess must know how to hold herself together. Hold yourself together, Winter. Don't cry.

"I'll be leaving first flight tomorrow morning," he informed me. "Goodbye, Winter."

"Goodbye, Nate," I said.

And just then and there, everything I cared for for the past few days walked away. Just like my sister left me before but this time--and I didn't really know why--it seemed to hurt much more. My sister... she left me without a choice. I did it to her. But now, Nate had a choice and he chose to leave me. He chose to leave me because I would just be a burden to him. It hurt so much. So very much.

I walked toward my room and tried to calm myself down. When I entered the room, I sat on the floor, not having the strength to walk any further. I cried there and wept as I dialed my best friend's phone number.

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Eyoooo! Your lovely little unicorn is here agaaaain! Finally done with my exams and all that shiz. :)))

Does anyone here have Instagram? Cause I really wanna see your beautiful faces coz... idk i just want to. :)

-Alex