Colliding with Fate (Published under Pop Fiction)

Fangirl

“Your secret is safe with me.”

“Thank you,” I say gratefully.

“I like you.”

“You can’t.”

Nate looks at me like I said something stupid. “Why?”

“Because I’m the band manager,” I say obviously.

“You are not the band manager,” he says, shaking his head.

“The guys know that I am the band manager,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“But I like you,” he says, putting his hands on my shoulders.

“Yeah, right,” I say amusedly. Ever since Nate found out my secret, I couldn’t sleep and have a peace of mind. After we talked, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

“You think I’m kidding?” he asks.

“You’re always kidding.” I grin. “If I tell the guys, do you think they’ll be angry?”

Nate thinks for a moment.

We’re here in the backstage room of the concert ground. Zeke, Lance, and KY are setting up their instruments on the stage.

“At first,” Nate finally says, “they will feel betrayed.” When he sees my expression, he quickly adds, “They will move on though, and they will accept you wholeheartedly.”

“You think so?”

“I know,” he says, smiling at me.

He’s just trying to make me feel better, I think to myself.

“You said you understand why I have to lie,” I say. “Do you, really?”

He nods.

“Why?”

“Because you want to be with us.”

The expression on his face and the confidence in his voice makes me laugh.

“What?” he asks, watching me, “Isn’t that the reason?”

He’s so adorable, looking innocent and all.

“It’s one of the reasons,” I admit. “But it’s not the only one.”

“What are the other reasons?”

“I need money for my tuition fee.”

And then I tell him the story how I lost my scholarship. He looks like he wants to know something, but I beat him before he can ask more personal questions.

“Nate, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“How did you find out that I’m just pretending?”

“Secret,” he says slyly.

I hit his arm. “You said that lying isn’t aloud!”

“I’m not lying,” he says amusedly. “I’m just prolonging telling you my secret.”

“When will you tell me then?”

He slings his arm on my shoulder. “Maybe someday.”

“When is someday?”

“You ask a lot of questions,” he says wryly, poking my forehead. “One more question; I’ll kiss you.”

My eyes widen at what he said. I quickly push him away. He chuckles as he moves closer to me.