I walked out to the balcony and gazed up at the night sky. I smiled as I recall the happenings 15 minutes ago. I feel that what happened was so surreal.

I was so nervous when I saw the horde of reporters that could possibly take my picture, but Nate made sure that no one will even have a glimpse of me which made me relax.

I was anxious that Mark Jones is going to blackmail me, but one small talk from Nate made me forget the possibility of getting used or busted at the spot.

I was a nervous mess when I saw Alexandra Vera Karlsson sitting beside me, but Nate's soothing voice made me want to drown in his song instead.

Nate's presence alone makes me feel safe. His presence alone has the power to veer me off from nervousness and anxiety. He can soothe my nerves with just his voice. Those things make me wonder on how he seemed to have become the pillar that I could somehow lean on.

People started clapping their hands after Nate ended his song. I wasn't able to join because I refuse to resurface from the depths of my thoughts. I can feel every emotion from his voice when he sang.

I tilted my head, watching him from afar. As his audience started crowding on him, I shook my head, trying to regain my composure.

Being around him lately gives me different feelings. It's as if every emotion in the world can be felt altogether at the same time. I feel anxious, excited, nervous, and relaxed every time we're together. It's crazy how one person could shift your mood from negative to positive. But as crazy as it gets Nate can somehow comfort me with just the simplest gesture. Even though, he had been kind of an ass lately, I think I could count on him to lighten my gloomy mood.

I chuckled at how crazy my thought gets whenever I found myself alone.

"I thought you're going to hold on to my drink?" A voice that I've tattooed on my mind brought me out of my reverie. I smiled. I turned around caught my tongue in my throat. There, standing in front of me holding our drinks while being illuminated by the lights behind him is none other than the person I was thinking.

He probably thinks that I was ogling him because of how long I was staring. And he's right, but I would never say that out loud.

A smirk had made its way on his face as he stared back at me. His green eyes mirroring my own.

A sudden chuckle escaped my lips. His eyes looking at me, surprised. I stared back mortified with myself.

What is it with his green eyes?

He laughed as he stalked towards me. He handed me my drink as I tried to avoid eye contact.

"What are you laughing at?" I heard him asked.

"What are you laughing at?" I asked back meeting once again his dazzling green eyes. I saw the glint in them and I immediately turned my head back. I gasped, fascinated at how he can make me feel flustered by just staring at me with those playful eyes.

"Because you just let out a giggle when you saw me." I think I just heard a slight tease laced in his voice when he answered. "You sound like a schoolgirl seeing her crush in a class."

"I am not a schoolgirl, and you are not my crush," I said in defense. And by some miracle I managed to hold his gaze and tried to stare him down.

"I didn't say I was your crush," he said back. The spark in his eyes is clearly visible as he leaned down a little bit to level with my eyes.

"You didn't," I said, pursing my lips. "But you implied."

With that he laughed wholeheartedly while tossing his head back. A laugh resonated in my throat as I took in his carefree laughter.

After a couple of minutes, he stopped and simply stared at me. I giggled and looked away.

"What?" he asked. "What is it?"

"What is it with your eyes?" I finally asked the question that has been in my mind since we met. I looked at his eyes again and giggled. Me giggling too much is probably because of too much alcohol consumption. And I will be blaming it on that.

"My eyes?" He asked, seeking my own green ones.

"Yes!" still giggling, playfully avoiding his gaze. "Why are you always giving me that look?"

"What look?"

I look up. "That look," I said pointing my forefinger at him.

A grin spreads wide across his face as he wiggled his eyebrows.

I laughed loudly and playfully covered my face. I can't help it. I'm blushing like an idiot.

"Don't do that."

I parted my fingers and gave him a confused look. "Don't do what?"

"Don't cover your face when you laugh," he said, trying to tug down my wrists. "You always look good when you laugh."

I closed my fingers again as I tried to suppress the smile that is currently on my lips after his compliment. I took a deep breath before slowly removing my hands from my face.

"Hi, stranger," he said, meeting my gaze. I wasn't able to say something back as I was drowning in Nate's green eyes.

He placed a hand on my cheek as I continue to stare at him. As if automatically, my hands trailed up to trace his features.

I felt him shiver as my fingers started from his finely sculpted jaw that makes it one of his prominent features. I touched his thin lips, making sure to trail my forefinger. His tongue darted out licking his lips, as my eyes followed the movement. The times we've kissed flashed through my mind and I immediately felt my cheeks started to burn again. Surprisingly, I continued to trail my fingers on his perfectly shaped nose. I stopped when I reached the bridge of his nose. I slid my hand to his shoulder as I stared at him.

His eyes were finally devoid of their playfulness. The playful glint of his green eyes was replaced with a different spark. His eyes seemed to have become darker compared to what I saw previously. I saw something in those green eyes. Something I am not familiar with.

Unsure of what I'm seeing, I kept my gaze on him. I was compelled not to look away as he reached for my other hand and placed a lingering kiss on my palm.

I gulped.

When he looked at me again, this time with much darker eyes, my mouth suddenly felt dry. Unconsciously licking my lips, I watched him as his eyes followed the action, doing the exact same thing I did when he licked his own a moment ago.

Our face now, inches apart. His forehead touched mine. His eyes darting from my eyes to my lips.

I gulped again and breathed out. I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from gasping as he cupped my face. His thumb pressed on my lower lip, coaxing me to part them.

Our lips are only centimeters away when we heard a phone, ringing.

I heard him cursed under his breath. I pulled away from him immediately. My face hot, my whole body is probably sweating.

I don't know if I should be glad that we were interrupted or not. He's making me feel this weird sensation in the pit of my stomach. And I don't know if I like it or not.

"Carter" he said. His voice sounds husky and desperate. I can still here his phone ringing so without looking his way, "Just answer your phone." I said, breathless.

I need to breathe.

When I finally glanced at him, he gave me an apologetic look and reluctantly answered his phone.

I turned away and walked back in the event. I can still feel my flushed face from the events outside as I navigated my way through the washroom.

I scanned my current surroundings and found that there is only one cubicle that was occupied. I let out a sigh of relief.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I blew out a puff of breath.

"Nice job, Vanessa Carter." I said still staring at the mirror. "Twice in a day, you almost kissed him."

I bowed my head as I heard the flushing sound of a toilet.

I hope I could also flush myself out of this hellhole of a situation too. I heard the cubicle door opening, as the occupant probably went out thinking I'm going crazy.

With my head still down, I washed my hands.

I want to wash my face to help me cool down, but Jessica would probably be batshit crazy once she I get home.

I shivered. Who knows what she'll do if she finds he makeup she carefully put on me was washed away.

Not a pretty picture.

I sighed. I guess I'll just have to use the air to help me cool down.

When I looked up, my eyes widened in shock as I stare at the reflection of the person behind me. Blue eyes wide in shock, staring, gaping at me.

"Princess Laura?"