The Shady Face

Lucas kept staring at Grace who had completely dozed off in exhaustion. His eyes weren't innocent. It was the gaze of a predator. His hands moved forward as his face was covered in an evil grin. 

All of a sudden someone grabbed his hand with a force suggesting no half-serious business. They pulled it above his head and turned him over so that he could be in the full view. 

It was Nate, with an annoyed and bitter look on his face. 

"I'm sorry, do you have any business with my girlfriend", he asked fiercely. 

'Ah, shit-', Lucas thought to himself. It seemed like the perfect chance for him was ruined. 

"Oh no!", he got his act together. Again behaving like the Lucas he always was around people. "I just saw her sleeping on the table. It was odd so thought of waking her up", he chuckled. 

"I see", Nate said in return not even giving a little smile. "Well don't worry, I can take it from here". 

Suddenly Grace woke up. "Hmm? What?", she rubbed her eyes. "I already submitted my work", she said idiotically like she was still dreaming. 

"Lucas", she looked at the guys standing in front of her. "Nate? What are you doing here?"

"Nothing", he pecked her cheek. "I thought of coming since you didn't look very well during the class".

"Yeah", Lucas chuckled. "I shook you so much but you won't wake up!"

"I was working the whole night so didn't really get any sleep", Grace chuckled nervously. 

"What's with that? Be a little careful about it", he said in a worried tone.

"Yeah yeah, I know", Grace frowned. 

"Anyways!", Nate interrupted as he put his arm around Grace's waist, "we should get going".

"Yea- Yeah", she said while being all flushed. 

"Okay!", Lucas put up a cheerful smile and waved them as he left too, "I'll see you around Grace".

Nate and Grace left too. While she was enjoying the comfortable feeling of being so close to him, Nate was constantly looking back to Lucas's actions. 

He might not be good news.

He was interrupted when Grace pulled his sleeve. He turned to her and found her looking up to him with the most innocent eyes. Ugh! It's too hard to control myself. Why the hell is she so darn cute!!!!!!

After screaming inside his mind he asked her politely, "what is it?"

"I want something", she pouted.

"What do you want?", he asked.

"Ummm", she started thinking. It seemed like she was busy in some deep thinking. After a minute she answered proudly, "I don't know!"

Nate almost smashed his head on the ground. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT! BUT DAMN SHE'S STIL CUTE!

"Then let's get you something I want", he kept walking to towards the club building.

"What do you want?", she tilted her head.

"To get you some rest", he spoke most earnestly.

"But I don't want to!!", she yelled and pouted. 

"It's matter of life and death! You need to get some sleep!", Nate spoke like a hero in the war. 

Grace was puzzled. She had no idea what Nate just muttered. But she kept following her.

The went to the club room from where Noah and Mika had already left. 

"I'll be back", Nate went out as he made Grace sit n the couch. 

He stepped inside the room with some people lying on the floor just chatting and eating snacks. He sighed and stepped in from of them. 

"I thought I told you all to practice", he yelled at them fiercely. Almost all of them just stepped away to their work at once. There hasn't been anyone around who have not seen him get angry for real. And they don't really wish to see that ever. 

"Geez! Just when I think that I can stop appointing secretary for discipline", he scoffed irritatedly. 

"Prez! Haven't seen you in a while. I heard you're busy with that festival thingy", one of them came to him. 

"Oh yeah", he replied. "I guess almost everyone knows about it then", he sighed.

 "Well, your fan-club is an expert in stalking you", he chuckled. 

"Yeah, by the way, I have heard some of your fan club members have really been upset lately", the guy restringing his guitar on the side said. "They were talking something about betrayal or girlfriend".

They were obviously referring to Grace. Nate chuckled. 

"Well prez did land himself a girlfriend", the guy said as he was beating his drumsticks on some magazine. 

"Wha- How do you know?", Nate exclaimed. 

"Half of the campus know", the junior gave him a 'seriously you don't know' look.

"Ugh, people should mind their own business", Nate frowned. 

"Exactly. Do you your lovey-dovey stuff at home. Especially when you're going out with one of the most popular first-year", he confronted him. 

Nate chuckled hesitantly. "Anyways! I've got my practice too! So go back to doing your own stuff", he quickly changed the topic. 

"But are you sure about performing your first time there?"

"Why? What's so special there?", Nate was confused. Was it not good?

"Woah! You really don't know?", another student came to him. 

"Know what?", Nate got irritated. 

"Afterall ACE's is performing there", they both exclaimed. 

"Ah I see", Nate got a little serious. 

ACE's was coming out to be one of the most popular bands around the country. Even Nate have found some of their songs really sticking to his playlist. They were same as him and others. University students who started performing in their first year of high school. 

"So what! It would be good to perform on their side", he smiled cheerfully. 

"Prez, I don't think you understand! It's ACE's! They are popular for standing alone! Not letting anyone else even come closer to where they are!"

"Yeah!!", the other guy freaked out. "It would be the end before you even begin. Plus we all know that this band thing is not something half-assed for you!"

"Now now!", Nate shook his head. "Enough trash-talking about them! Start your practice right now!"

As Nate came out he had a worried expression on. He knew about ACE's. He has even met them in person. Their tricks can go far beyond anything when it comes to getting themselves on top. If he and others aren't ready for it, they would be the pray of a filthy mind. 

He was busy in his overthinking and getting worried as he walked to the office. But as soon as he entered the room, all of it went away. There, he saw Grace sleeping on the couch carrying immense innocence on her face. Her long lashes weren't fluttering even a little bit. Everything was still but still so peaceful. Her deep breaths were not audible but still, it could reach his ears. 

He came closer to her and sat on the seater by her side. His eyes were fixed on her. The beauty of her's was shimmering in his eyes. There was some kind of weird light energy around her that his heart was beating fast and was calm at the very same time just like water in a lake. In his heart, he could be like that forever. It hasn't been long since I have met her. I never imagined falling for someone so much.

He leaned forward and looked at her face. Her face was the reflection of purity and innocence and yet there was a strong character in the same face. Someone so powerful and so wise, no matter what, she won't give up. 

Everything would be alright.

Even Nate was surprised how his worries went away even before he told her anything. How much has he changed? How much influence has she had on him? How many blessings have come together that she is with him?

He came closer to her ear and whispered in her ear, "thank you for coming".

Grace felt a little tickle in her ear and her eyes started opening a little. Nate quickly started patting her head gently to stop her from waking up. It would be too bad if she sees his uncool face. 

After half an hour Grace got up. She saw Nate working on his laptop on the side seater. 

Nate glanced towards her, "had a good sleep?"

"Yeah", she rubbed her eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Just getting some information about our opponents", he replied without looking up. 

"I didn't know it was a competition"

"It's not"

"then, opponents?"

"Ahh it's always good to have information about the ones who can turn out to be a problem"

"I see", she nodded and stood beside his side. "ACE's!? Don't tell me they are going to be there too?"

"Yeah", Nate sighed. "You know about them?"

"Yeah kinda. They are going to be a problem. I can already tell that they won't like up".

"You have met them too?"

"Some of them. They have their way of getting on my nerves", she frowned. 

"Well as long as we're on the same page", he smirked. 

Suddenly the doorknob turned. 

"Grace!!!", Mika jumped on her making both of them landing on the floor. 

"How many times have I told you not to do that!", Grace rubbed her head. 

"Sorry sorry", giggled. 

"Anyways", she got up and stood straight. Nate joined on her side. 

"We've got a problem", they sang in the same breathe.