I carve out a good three hours of my day to get ready for the Bradford party. I spend the first chunk of time waving my hair with the curling rod. I bring the side pieces back, clipping them together with a pretty, rhinestone barrette that Grandma Ruby gave me, and then get started on my makeup. I've always liked to keep things au naturel, which is why I don't apply anything more than just blush and mascara. I do, however, opt for a red lip. I remember going into CVS and purchasing the shade on a whim, but never used it. Well, today's the day. Once my hair and makeup are done, I slip on Remi's dress. Luckily, we're pretty much the same size. Speaking of Remi, I really wish she was invited.

"Isabella," mom calls from her room. "Ready to leave in 5?"

"Yes," I shout back.

I head for the kitchen, where mom is standing with Grandma Ruby. She looks beautiful, wearing this simple, yet sleek and beautiful lavender dress that she happened to pack.

"Well, aren't you a vision?" Grandma Ruby remarks when I enter.

"Thank you!" I dip my head down and smile. "Mom, you look beautiful."

"Yeah?" she touches the top of her hair and asks.

"Yes!"

Grandma Ruby glances at her watch. "So, ladies, shall we get a move on it?" She's not coming to the party, but she is driving us. Up until this morning, she was planning on attending, but she woke up with a bit of a cold and decided that it was best for her to catch up on some sleep. The lady's been out and about these last few days, and I think that all of the socializing is finally catching up to her.

I keep quiet the entire car ride there. I'm anxious about tonight; anxious about seeing Nico. And when we finally pull up to his house, I feel even more apprehensive.

"Good evening," the valet guy opens my door and greets me.

"Hello," I say back, then walk up to mom, who gives me a nervous smile.

"Ready?" she asks.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I joke.

Mom wraps the cream-colored shawl around her shoulders, and we head towards the front of the house, where waiters and waitresses stand on both sides, holding silver trays with glasses of champagne on it. I'm happy when mom takes one; she's going to need it.

We walk through the inside of the house, which happens to be beautifully embellished. There are several cocktail bars assembled throughout the room with more waiters handing out appetizers; one in particular offering me and mom some sort of tuna crispy rice dish. If my stomach wasn't in knots right now, I'd gladly accept.

Mom and I make our way to a circular table that's filled with floating candles and numerous place cards, and we scan the table until we find our names in black penmanship.

Then we step outside, and I can't help but take in the stunning atmosphere. A massive white tent occupies the enormous backyard, and inside is a crystal drop round chandelier that takes my breath away. There must be close to 100 tables inside the tent, all of which are decorated with white silk table cloths, fancy chinaware, and a huge candlelight centerpiece that's mixed with white orchids. In front of the tables is a stage where some guy wearing a tuxedo is currently belting out a rendition of 'Fly Me To The Moon' by Frank Sinatra.

I spot Brooks standing with his parents a few feet away, so I wave to him and he waves back.

"Honey, I'm going to say hi to the Caldwells. Want to come with me?"

I know that I should, but I'm so focused on finding Nico. "I'll be there in a second," I tell her.

I search the room for Nico, and just when I think that he's nowhere to be found, I suddenly hear, "Bella", and my body turns.

There he is. Standing confidently with his shoulders back as he unintentionally consumes every ounce of my attention.

Nico is dressed in a perfectly-tailored black tux with black leather shoes. His hair looks like it was freshly cut, and his hands are tucked inside his pockets. His luscious lips are curved upwards as he slowly strides towards me. Then, he shakes his head, almost like he's in disbelief, rubbing his palm against the nape of his neck as he finally makes it to me.

"You're...," he shakes his head and exhales as he tries to find the right word, "...exquisite."

The corners of my mouth lift up and I can feel the massive grin on my face. I can't help but glance down at the floor before bringing my eyes back to the only person that exists in this room.

"You look very handsome," I say earnestly. The words sound so delicate leaving my mouth that I feel a bit sorrowful. Here is someone that I want so badly, yet can't have the way that I wish to.

He grins at me and then leans his body in. I can smell the warm and spicy scent of his cologne as he kisses me on the cheek. After a few seconds, he pulls away, yet I'm still falling into him both physically and emotionally.

"I don't know what I'd do without you here, BC," he looks at me attentively and says. "You're my armor."

How can he say something like that and not expect me to be in love with him? You're mine, Nico. Can't you see? After all this time, you're mine, I want to scream. Instead, I reach for his hand, interlacing my fingers with his, and he looks down at it.

"I'll always be here," I tell him. We look into each other's eyes, aware that we both mean every word that we're speaking.

"Nico," a deep voice suddenly interrupts.

Mark Bradford appears, placing his hand over Nico's shoulder, not in a loving way, rather in a controlling manner. "There's someone here that I'd like you to meet." Then he looks at me. "Isabella, dear, it's good to see you. You wouldn't mind if I steal my son for a few minutes, now would you?"

It's funny that he asks because it doesn't matter. Mark Bradford does what he wants, when he wants, regardless of what other people think.

"Not at all," I say, but there's insincerity to my tone. I don't like the guy, and I'm not going to start pretending like I do.

Nico looks at me like 'I'm sorry, my dad is such an ass', and then utters, "I'll see you later, BC."

"Bye," I press my lips together and quietly say.

I watch Mark lead Nico to a tall man with white hair. Nico stands there with an indifferent expression on his face as his dad makes the introductions, and I can tell that Nico's attention is elsewhere. He looks unhappy, not that his dad would ever notice; ever care.

"Is that my beautiful Bella?" a voice calls out again, this time, from a woman.

I turn around to find Gillian Bradford standing before me. I haven't seen her all summer, yet she looks as regal as ever. She's dressed in a fitted, sequined gown with thin straps. Her blonde hair is pulled back tightly in a bun and she's wearing diamond chandelier-like earrings that probably cost more than Grandma Ruby's house. Let's not forget about the glistening tennis bracelet that's on her wrist.

"Gillian," I exclaim. "Hi!" She walks up to me with her arms open wide and embraces me warmly. I've always gotten along with Gillian - in fact, there's a part of me that wants to like her. But that desire conflicts with the dislike that I have towards her abandoning Nico when he was younger.

She holds onto my hands as she looks me up and down. "You look beautiful, honey. Has Nico seen you yet?"

"Thank you," I smile. "And, yes. I was just with him, but Mr. Bradford needed him."

Gillian's gaze circles the room until she spots Nico with her husband. "Ah, yes. Harry Hammond," she says of the man Mark and Nico are talking to. "He's investing a lot of money into Mark's company. Mark has been waiting to introduce him to Nico. If you ask me, the timing couldn't have been more perfect, don't you think? I mean with Nico not going to Columbia in the fall, and whatnot."

I thought I heard her wrong, until I realize that I didn't. "I'm sorry," I shake my head and state. "Nico's not going to Columbia?"

Gillian inches her face back and looks at me in a surprised manner. "Nico didn't tell you? Mark wants him to skip his first year of college so that he can get a handle on the family business before he retires and has him running the company."

"I'm sorry," I say again. "I'm...I'm not understanding."

Gillian scratches her neck and looks at me uncomfortably. "I should stop talking. I'm sure Nico is going to tell you soon."

"Gillian!" a woman decked out in Chanel standing to my left calls out, and Nico's mom waves to her.

"I'll see you later, Bella," she smiles at me. "Have fun."

I look over at Nico, who's eyes are on me. I wonder if he saw me talking to his mom. I don't want to be upset with him given the current circumstances, but I can't believe that he would hide something like this from me. How could Nico not tell me about withdrawing from Columbia?

My eyes finally leave him, and I begin to walk away from the tent and towards the pool. I take a seat on one of the lounge chairs, not caring if anyone at the party can see me. I look down at the floor, trying to process everything that Gillian just told me, but I'm having a hard time. At the end of the day, it's not my future, and therefore, not my choice, but I know how much Nico wanted Columbia. And I know how much he didn't want to work for his dad...at least not right now.

"Bella?" Nico calls out.

I gulp, and pick my head up. "Hey," I say as enthusiastically as possible.

"You okay?" he squints his eyes at me and asks.

"Mhm," I nod my head with a forced smile.

"You don't seem okay," he says, walking closer to me until he's practically hovering over me. "What's wrong?"

I really don't want to ruin the night, but I can't stop the words from slipping. "When were you going to tell me that you withdrew your admission to Columbia?"

"I-I," he stammers. "What?"

"Your mom let it slip. She thought I knew."

"Listen, Bella, I was going to tell you, I promise. I just...I needed some time to process my decision."

I raise my eyebrows. "So it was your decision?"

Nico falters again. "Ye-yeah, it was my decision." He rakes his hands through his hair, causing it to lose its tameness.

I lick my lips and nod my head, pretending like I believe what he's telling me. "Okay," I say.

"Okay," he repeats, nodding as well. "Should we get back to the party then?"

"Yeah," I whisper.

He lends his hand out for me to take, which I do. I smirk at him as I meet his stance, and he gently smiles at me. If looks could speak, his would say, 'I know that you know that I'm lying. For my sake, just go with it'. Mine would say, 'whatever you want, Nico. I just want you to be happy'.