Chapter 3: "None of us will make it into The Voice"

Natalia's POV

As I sat on the table munching on the muffins, I saw the door open and saw Brandon enter with a sickeningly happy grin on his face as he rushed towards Becca and enveloped her in a bear hug.

How the hell can people be so chirpy all the time?

I glanced back down at the muffin I was currently stuffing my face with. It was a simple chocolate chip muffin but I wondered how many I ate. Two? Three?

How many calories are there in a chocolate chip muffin anyway? 400? 500?

I finished the muffin and wiped my mouth with a handkerchief and climbed down from the table and decided to sit on a chair and distance myself from all the food.

I saw Brandon make his way towards the group where Archer and Nate were talking and sat himself down next to Cynthia.

Oh boy, here we go again.

I thought as I made my way towards them. Knowing Cynthia she won't be able to reject Brandon's sloppy attempt at trying to seduce her.

"Knock it off Brandon." I said taking a seat next to Cynthia.

"Oh is our little Talia jealous? Don't worry there's enough of me to go around." He said with a smug smirk.

This is what happens when you're hot and you know it. But really he's not my type.

"You wish. Besides Lady Cynthia already has her heart set on someone. Isn't that right, Cynthia?" I shot a teasing smile toward Cynthia, chuckling at her flustered reaction.

"I don't know what you're talking about." she huffed as she fidgeted with her brown locks.

"Really?! Who?! How could you hide something like this from me, Thia?!" Brandon said with a fake gasp and dramatically wiped his eyes to prove his point.

"We'll tell you when you grow up," I replied in a dry tone.

"Well since Cynthia's busy, how about you?" He asked, focusing his attention on me with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"No," I said, as I saw Becca and Dante making their way towards the doors that led to the hall outside the foyer, which connected to the main house.

"You didn't even-"

"Where are you guys running off to?" Archer asked, cutting off Brandon.

"We are...um...just going out for a walk and...uh...chat you know.....walking and pouring out her hearts to each other....uh talk." She said with an unsure look followed by a nervous laugh.

Yeah, right.

"I bet they were trying to go to the kitchen." I said with a smirk.

"Talia, honey shut up." She replied in an overly sweet tone.

I chuckled along with everyone as we shared a laugh over well Becca being Becca I guess.

"It's okay, go on eat something, we can hear your stomachs growling till here." Nate said while trying to control his laughter and failing miserably.

The foyer was lined with mostly sweet things and knowing Becca she likes her fried, protein-rich food more than this. Well, we had arranged for the food too of course but that was after the cake arrived. It would take some time for it to arrive considering how we skipped over the treasure hunt that took so long to prepare.

Speaking of, I should get the locations cleaned up.

I pulled out my phone from my bag and messaged the cleaning team to clean up the clues and everything else.

"Okay, back to what I was saying." Brandon continued.

"We don't care." I replied while staring down at my phone.

"Geez Talia, give the guy a chance." Archer said while chuckling, knowing this is pissing me off. Especially since I'm tired as shit.

"Archer, my man!" he said as he hooked an arm around Archer's shoulder.

"So, there's a party tonight." He announced excitedly.

"School starts tomorrow dumbass, I don't wanna wake up with a hangover." I said looking back down at my phone and browsing through my Instagram.

"Please! I need you to be there! Come on!" He complained and started sulking.

"Isn't it fine if you go alone? I mean you always go to these things anyway regardless of who's with you." Nate said, making an attempt to get Brandon off my ***. I shot him a grateful smile and he nodded back

"Exactly. And who won't let you in right?" Archer said in a matter of fact tone.

Don't stroke his ego, Archer.

I thought, shaking my head.

"That's not it! It's being hosted by the cheerleaders and I figured since Talia is going out with Gabriella they'll let me in, you know." he explained.

"Why won't they let you in?" Cynthia asked curiosity, lacing her voice.

Archer shot me a smirk and continued,

"Don't tell me..."

"You slept with the whole squad and they all found out." I smirked.

"Hey! Stop assuming!" He said, trying to defend himself.

"Why? Are we wrong?" I asked, faking an innocent tone.

"No, but-"

"Geez Brandon, learn to keep it in your pants would you?" Archer said shaking his head, as Cynthia and Nate both shared a disappointed look.

"Can you really blame me? They're all hot." he said raising his hands in a surrender motion.

"Yeah, I can agree with you there but that doesn't mean I go around sleeping with all of them. Besides, with an attitude like that, I wouldn't touch them with a ten-foot pole." I said, playing with my nails.

"Says the one who's dating one of them." He shot back.

"She's different." I said in a clipped tone.

"Yeah, so different that she either sends us dirty looks or ignores us altogether." Cynthia replied bitterly.

Yeah, Gabriella is probably the only person who can actually make her angry. Well, she has her reasons for acting like that. I'm not trying to justify her actions but what else can I do in this situation? They are all important to me and I can't choose one over the other.

Feeling guilty and tired, I stretched for a bit and looked up at the ceiling in order to tune out the conversation.

Carmen, huh?

My phone vibrated in my hand indicating I had a notification. I clicked on it and saw that I had a message from her, asking if I was going to accompany her to the party tonight.

Why is everyone talking about the same damn thing?

I replied back saying I still wasn't sure. I might've had my party animal phase but that's pretty much over now, I seldom attended them now. I'm still unsure though, it is Becca's birthday but at the same time she might want to attend a party.

She's the most unpredictable person, I swear.

The doors to the foyer opened revealing the patissier's bringing out the cake on a dessert trolley. It was an apple cinnamon cake with blue icing and pink glaze dribbling down the sides. It was decorated with sprinkles and marshmallows.

As soon as they transferred the cake onto the main table, Becca and Dante walked through into the room, making their way towards the main table where we were all standing.

As she began cutting the cake, we all belted out singing Happy Birthday in the most off key tune ever. Brandon and Archer sang in an animated way with the most exaggerated tones ever, while Dante sang like an angel shooting judgemental looks towards them both, Cynthia and Nate sang, or tried to at least, as they struggled to hold in their laughter looking at the others.

Well, I guess none of us will make it into The Voice. With the exception of Dante, of course.

I looked around the room that was filled with contagious laughter and happiness, radiating pure bliss. These are the kinds of moments which made me wish I could stop time, and enjoy this moment forever.

Alas.

I saw Becca carrying two plates filled with cakes and other sweet stuff and walking towards me.

"Here." she said, forcefully pushing a plate onto my hand.

"I'm not hungry though. Besides all that is way too sweet for me." I said as I put down the plate on the table beside me.

"Yeah, because you totally weren't busy arranging this whole thing that you forgot to eat breakfast and only had one or two muffins from the table earlier."

"How do you know that?" I asked dryly. I was half-expecting this to happen.

"Dante." she replied with a smirk.

"Of course." I scoffed.

"I'm gonna smack him later."

"Yeah, eat something before that." She said as she pushed a piece of the cake in my mouth.

Cake.

Cream.

Calories.

"Keep on stuffing your face with those sweets and soon enough there would be no difference between you and an elephant."

No, stop. Don't go there. Today's supposed to be a happy day, no negative thoughts.

Breathe. Calm down.

I decided to focus on slowly chewing the cake, and getting it down my throat before I puked all over the expensive carpet.

****, it shouldn't be affecting me this badly now. It's been years for ****'s sake.

I heaved out a long sigh, and took a seat near Becca.

"Oh, that reminds me, are you up for a party?"

"Party? Today? I-" Before she had a chance to reply her phone rang loudly. She quickly got up from the chair and swiftly made her way towards the garden.

"It's been a while since we've seen Roman hasn't it?" Cynthia asked shyly while playing with her hair.

"Aren't you eager to know?" Dante said with a devilish smirk, to which she retaliated by smacking his head.

"Last I heard, he's abroad right? Speaking off, where did you guys go this vacation?" Nate asked as he sat down with a glass of juice.

"I went to Italy"! Brandon and Cynthia said in unison. They stopped and looked at each other for a second before Cynthia exclaimed,

"Hey you should've told me! It would've been so fun!"

"How would I know? The last I remember is you saying it was an emergency work for your dad or something and you took off!"

"Okay, my bad."

I heard the sound of the door opening and saw Becca making her way towards us with a deep, thoughtful look on her face.

Did something happen?

(A/N): Hey guys! Tsubi and Tysha here! Just a few announcements.

So, Natalia calls Gabriella by her middle name, Carmen. Don't get confused there!

We are really happy to tell you guys that from today we will be posting on every Saturday and Tuesday.

We really want to know, Who is your favourite character till now?

Tell us in the comments!!

Also, take this chapter as a sort of a filler cause the next chapter is gonna be dark.

LOVE,

TSUBI AND TYSHA <3.

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