Chapter 9

Author's POV

It was already time for them to depart, but they just didn't know how to. They stood close to Nate's car trying to figure out how they would fit.

"Seriously... none of you even have a car? "Pearl raised a brow as she glared at them. Jacob's cheeks reddened in shame, the same as Luke's and Mark's as they looked away from her.

"I-it's not easy getting a car you know," Mark said as he scratched his head in shame.

" Ya right sherlock" Pearl replied sarcastically.

" If only dad had let me bring mine" Pearl sighed frustrated.

" How about this, you all can lap. See...problem solved. Now pair up and let's roll" Nate didn't stand to hear their grumbles and refusal. He jumped into the front sit and waited for them to enter.

"I call shotgun! "Jacob yelled as he quickly ran to sit in the front.

The rest grumbled in frustration, annoyed that they couldn't think about it fast enough.

Lan's eyes connected with Pearl "Pearl and---"

"Lan's with me! "Mark yelled out as he cut him off.

They all stared at him in surprise.

"What?" he asked flushed.

"Well...I guess Pearl's with me then"Luke shrugged already entering the car. He pulled the reluctant pearl on top of him as his hand wrapped around her waist.

Pearl turned and glared at him"Try anything and I will chop off your dick"

Luke scoffed" As if. You are not even my type"He rolled his eyes.

Pearl gasped offended. She raised her body from him making him raise a brow before, within a blink of an eye, she jumped back down hard on his lap.

"F*ck!you bitch!"Luke gasped in pain.

"Serves you right" she smirked.

"Lan, Mark, you both can walk!"Nate yelled as he started the engine about to drive off.

"What? Wait!"Mark yelled as he quickly jumped in and pulled the stunned man onto his lap.

He wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled him closer.

Lan froze at the contact. He watched his hand waiting for him to pull it away but he didn't, still holding his waist loosely.

He sat stiffly not able to relax.

"Now y'all are in, let's go"Nate turned on the radio jamming to the beat as he drove off.

"This song is too hard for my ears Nate"Lan yelled trying to keep his voice above the loud music.

Nate turned to him "Then close 'em" he snickered facing the road back.

Feeling insulted man crossed his arms and shut his mouth.

Even pearl was already nodding to the music as she used Luke's body as her bouncing castle. Luke looked like he was in pain the way he sat, letting her do her thing.

Lan felt like his head was buzzing. He rubbed his forehead in pain.

Jacob who saw the action through the front mirror, felt sorry for him so he turned off the music.

"Hey!" Pearl exclaimed as she stopped bouncing.

Luke sighed in relief. At least he still gets to keep his lap and something else.

"What did you do that for!"Nate frowned at him.

Jacob didn't reply as he kept his face out of the window.

Nate sighed feeling offended.

"Better?"Mark whispered in Lan's ears.

"Yeah. Much better"lan sighed in relief.

"So...Nate, gonna tell us where we are going or what?"Pearl asked as the others also listened curiously as well.

"You'll see when we get there" Nate smirked mischievously.

"Sure you ain't planning on selling us?"She asked.

Nate raised a brow and stared at her through the mirror "you won't fetch me anything. I rather give you out for free" he scoffed.

Pearl's face was already red as a volcano about to erupt" you asshole!" She slapped him on his head offended.

Lan giggled finding their interaction funny.

"Ya so lucky I'm driving, "Nate said glaring at her through the mirror.

Pearl made silly faces at him, not in the least bothered by his threat.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket as she pulled it out. Every color and amusement in her face drained off as she read the message. She looked around hoping no one was watching her when she caught Lan's eyes on her.

"Are you okay?" he asked her softly.

"Yeah..just a message from mom" she replied smiling at him.

Lan felt sorry for her. Ever since her dad and mom separated because her mom cheated, she hasn't been speaking to her at all even though most times Mrs. Heather would try to communicate with her but pearl always brushed her off.

They drove for five minutes on the highway. The road got more deserted and lonely the longer they drove.

"Um... Nate, where are we going?"Jacob asked scared.

Nate didn't reply. He drove off the road and into a small track leading deep into the forest.

"Nate! Remember you promised mom she won't come back to find me dead."Lan said as he gulped.

Nate rolled his eyes and kept driving.

The track was rough making them bump every time.

He kept driving till they arrived at their destination.

"We are here," Nate said as he got out of the car.

The rest followed as they all stared amazed.

"Wow...what is this place?"Pearl asked as she stared at the house.

"So beautiful!"

"Whose is this?"

"How did you know about this place, Nate?"

They all kept bombarding Nate with questions. Nate leaned on the boot of his car, glad that he surprised them.

"This my dears is our paradise for 3 days."He replied smugly.

The small mini house stood in front of them in all its beauty. Its roof is made of dead branches and wood. It's varenda long enough to have all of them standing in at the same time.

The whole scene of a beautiful mini mansion standing in the middle of a forest was thrilling for them.

They all felt excited and ready to explore.

"Whose house is this?"Lan asked still staring at the beauty of the house.

"Let's just say it's a friend's friend's house"Nate shrugged still smiling.

" And he let you use it, why?" Lan the questioner asked again.

Nate rolled his eyes already fed up "just shut up and try to enjoy yourself will ya" he replied walking off into the house.

Everyone was excited about this new adventure.

Pearl was already giggling as she jumped the steps leading to the front door.

Jacob had already entered inside with Nate leaving Lan, Mark, and Luke still pulling their stuff from the truck of the car.

Once they were done, they all ran inside the house excited.

The view inside the house was even more amazing than it was outside.

Everything looked so ancient and of the olden time but still, the house felt warm and not creepy at all. It was so clean without a speck of dust like someone was already living in it.

Pearl was already lodged as she lay on the couch close to the fireplace munching down on some cheese she saw in the fridge.

"Twis place ish awesome..." she yelled as she tried speaking with food in her mouth.

"Eww...close your mouth girl.."Mark commented disgustedly.

Pearl gave him a silly face as she kept eating.

Lan stared around the place amazed. The entire house reeked of money.

"Where's Jacob and Nate?"Lan asked as he noticed their absence.

Pearl pointed down the hallway still focused on her cheese.

"I'm sure she was a mouse in her previous life" Luke mumbled to himself as he stared at her devouring the cheese aif s it would disappear in the next minute.

"Arrghh...."Mark yelled as he immediately ran through the hallway with his load.

"They are going to get the better rooms!" he yelled alerting the others.

Lan and Luke immediately ran after him once they realized how accurate he was.

Pearl who was still munching on her cheese threw it as she immediately picked up her bag and ran after them hoping to at least get a good room.

Mark, Luke, and lan arrived at the open door as they walked in, taking in the room in awe.

"Amazing right?"Jacob asked watching their reactions.

They nodded their heads like a robot moving around the room.

The room walls were made of wood. It had a red couch in a corner close to a small burning fireplace. The furniture here was scarce but the room was big.

It seemed to be the Master's bedroom.

"Come check this out"Nate who was on the balcony called them over.

They all walked briskly towards him. The sight made their breath seize. The view from here was so beautiful. They could see the tall trees and a bit far beyond. The figure of a glistening lake sparkled when the light comes in contact with it.

"This is amazing.."They all mumbled in awe.

" Why do you both have to get this room, can't we all just share it..."Luke pouted as the others nod their head in agreement.

Nate chuckled shaking his head "No can do. We all can't sleep here."

Pearl ran into the room in labored breaths as she took in the room.

"Cool huh?"Mark asked, making her nod.

"Who--"

Luke cut her off " forget it. It's taken they won't even let us share," he said.

"Sorry y'all, go get your rooms" Jacob replied shrugging.

They all matched out of the room in search of other rooms but none was like the master bedroom.

The rest of the rooms had twin beds.

Mark decided to stay with lan as pearl would have to make do with Luke after much protest.

What a trip it was going to be!