Breakfast

Excitement- the word can be defined differently in different contexts, but in almost every instance, it links itself with a feeling of happiness.

But for Nora, it was linked primarily with hope.

The hope of seeing Myron, Robin, Romera and Adrin again.

She got up quickly and got dressed without any further delay! She didn't want to be late to class again.

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The hopeful smile was evident on her face as she walked into the dining room for breakfast, but that smile disappeared at that very moment when she saw Louis sitting by her father's side.

She wanted to turn around at the spot and flee from the scene, but whatever she was dreaming of, was not possible in reality.

However, she needed to think of some way to avoid him, or a calamity would arise if he told her father everything that had happened the day before.

She couldn't afford to take the risk of disappointing her father once again. The past day was the first time that her father had praised her, and said that he was happy because of her; and she wanted things to remain that way for as long as possible.

Before she could react to his unexpected presence or be able to find a way out, her father spotted her standing in the hallway, and called out her name.

"Nora, come here daughter- why are you standing there? Come and have your breakfast, or else you will be late for school today."

'Nora could not believe her ears! Had her father actually addressed her as his daughter, and taken her name in front of everyone present?! She was on cloud nine, and was so overwhelmed that even after hearing him, she stood there- frozen at the exact same place.'

Fredrick looked at his daughter, who had not taken a single step ahead, she was not even moving.

He stood up, saying, "Oh! This girl, Francisco, you know she is such a sleepyhead that she always remains in a daze, in the early hours of the morning!"

He walked over, held her shoulders gracefully and made her turn right, towards the entrance. He practically dragged her to the dining table and made her sit down on the vacant chair beside him, right across from where Louis was seated. 

He fixed a wide smile on his face and said, "Nora, meet your uncle, Francisco, Alpha of the Dionne pack! He has come all the way from there to meet his son, and we are fortunate enough to have him here for breakfast today.

And this is his son, Louis- and if I am not wrong, you two might be classmates."

He completed his statement and looked at Louis, who was staring at Nora without so much as blinking in acknowledgment.

"Oh, he is also the same! I am telling you, I have been nagging him since last night to remind him of the schedule for today, and our meeting before he heads off to school."

Francisco replied on behalf of his son.

"Yes uncle, Nora and I are indeed classmates." Louis finally broke off his gaze and turned to Frederick with a polite smile.

"That's great!"

While this exchange was taking place, Nora was not able to gulp down a single bite of bread; it was like her entire body had seized up due to the fear of getting exposed.

'She had many things going on inside her head, as this was the first time she was seeing the outside world- and if things continued this way, it might very well turn out to be the last.

There were so many things left for her to explore, but what if the mistakes of the previous day closed all the doors and snatched all the hopes from her? 

This thought was enough to rob her of all the happiness and hope she had for the day.'

She was completely lost in her own analysis, when she heard her father's booming voice again.

"See Francisco, and you were asking me why I haven't sent my daughter to the hostel yet. She wouldn't even eat properly if I didn't take care of her.

Nora, turn this way kiddo, let your Daddy feed you!"

Nora was not able to decide if she was happy, surprised or shocked.

'She was still processing his words, while half of her mind was insisting that she was in a dream and must wake up right this moment- because surely, whatever was happening couldn't be true.'

Before she could decide what to do next, her father grabbed her face and started stuffing food in her mouth.

"Daddy, I can eat by myself-" 

"It's okay, princess. Let your daddy take care of you for a few more days. After that, you will have to go to the hostel anyway; without you, the house will be really empty!" He spoke, almost choking twice in between.

Francisco couldn't keep himself from speaking up on seeing the Alpha's reaction.

"Don't worry, Frederick, I will be talking to the administration before I leave. I really don't think Nora will be able to adjust in the hostel, as she is much younger than her classmates; and she is also not familiar with the outer world."

He paused for a moment and spoke again,

"I don't think a princess should be living in the hostel; and the royal wing for the Alphas is already occupied, as Louis is also attending this branch, currently. Uncle is really sorry for that, Nora."

"Oh- Don't say sorry please." Nora looked up and met his eyes for the first time.

She turned to her dad to ask him what was going on; but found herself incapable of gathering the courage needed for that, even after several seconds.

"Ah! It's totally okay Francisco; in any case, I really didn't want my princess to stay in the hostel. After all, if she was born in privilege, then she should be eligible to get benefitted by that throughout her life."

"Absolutely!"

Saying this, both the elders raised their goblets and clinked their rims with each other.

Nora quickly glanced at the watch on her wrist, thinking that she was definitely going to be late again, when Francisco came up with a solution for that as well- leaving Nora even more confused about his intentions.

"Don't worry about sending Nora to school today. Louis will take her with him, as his driver is already waiting downstairs, and we can discuss that...you know."

Fredrick's face turned pale for a moment, he never wanted anyone getting close to Nora; but he couldn't decline Francisco's offer outright.

"But-" 

"Don't worry uncle, I will take great care of her."

"Okay then, I guess I can trust you with my precious daughter." Fredrick said with a faint smile playing at his lips.

***************

'Why did this boy always try to be so oversmart, an absolute perfectionist and overly welcoming in front of everyone?

How could somebody be this happy all the time, literally exhibiting a thirty-two inch smile on his face, 24/7?

She was definitely sure that this person had a habit of smiling in his sleep as well.'

"Nora? Nora!" 

Nora came back to reality, dismissing the rant going on in her mind to continue later. She turned to face him; and raising one eyebrow, asked, "Yes?"

"Belt!"

"Sorry?" 

"Seat belt, Nora!" He spoke, leaning over to pull the belt across her body and tucking her safely under it.

"Stay away from me!" She yelled as she pushed him away as quickly as she could, shocking him by the intensity of her reaction.

As soon as he was able to make sense of the situation, he explained, "I- I was just trying to fasten the seat belt, for your safety."

She snapped, "I could have done that by myself."

"Why are you always so rude to me?" 

"Because I don't know you!"

"Oh c'mon! We are sharing the same car, I was just having breakfast at your home, at least put in enough effort to come up with an authentic excuse." Louis was determined to know the answer today.

"Why are you always so polite to me? Like, have I asked you for any help, or anything for that matter? No, right?" Nora was also irritated by now, at the approach the boy had been following. 

'She was not quite sure why she didn't like this boy- but she just knew that it was not good for her to stay with him.'

"Because I like you, and want you to be my friend. Plus, I am nice and polite to everyone." Louis replied, regaining his composure and smile, both.

"And why is it so?" 

"Is there anything wrong with this?" He asked.

"Of course there is, how can you like everyone?" 

"Because everyone likes me back!" He justified his behaviour.

"No, that's not right; nobody can be loved by everyone-"

"You didn't let me complete my statement. There is a condition in the people I consider within the boundary of 'everyone'. When I say everyone loves me, it includes those persons who care for me-"

He was still in the middle of his sentence, when the driver interrupted him by slamming the brakes in front of the school gates.

Nora didn't waste a single minute in getting out of the car. Shouting a quick "Thank you", she rushed out, only to collide with a person.

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