Is this destiny?

"Hi, Corey…" Two boys said in unison when Corey and Merve approached them.

Corey nodded in greeting. "Victor, Samuel… This is my girlfriend, Merve. Merve, these are Victor Miller, the class president, and Samuel Wood, the class treasurer."

Merve did her best to focus on remembering their names and functions, and not to get distracted by all glitzy décor.

Victor was the first one to greet Merve. "Nice to meet you, Miss…" It was obvious that he wanted to hear her last name. In this place, people\'s values are determined based on the family they belong to.

Merve blinked and it took her a second to understand where he is going at. All kids at the Cliffside Villa use only their first names, but since he asked… "Miss White. I am Merve White."

Merve didn\'t lie. When Sarah and Aiden took them in, all kids had the option to pick their names. Some of them kept their original ones. Merve and Hande decided to leave their past behind, and that meant to change their surnames.

"Are you related to Jeffrey White?" This question burst out of Samuel.

"He is something like an Uncle to me." Merve responded.

Victor\'s smile widened, and so did Samuel\'s.

"Careful guys…" Corey half-growled. "You are looking at my girlfriend. Don\'t flirt with her."

"We would never do anything inappropriate." Victor said while straightening his fedora hat. "I was just surprised… You mentioned that you are taken, but I didn\'t realize your girlfriend is from the White family. Miss White, please, call me Vic and feel free to come to me for anything you might need."

"And you can call me Sam, Miss White."

Merve glanced at two boys. No one calls her \'Miss White\'. That is so formal and… foreign. "Please, call me Merve."

Corey ushered Merve to the side. "Let\'s get some drinks."

Samuel and Victor observed Corey and Merve leaving and they exchanged glances.

"A Smith and a White." Samuel voiced his thoughts.

"Why do you sound surprised? It\'s normal for big families to firm their bonds with relationships. This is only one more reason not to offend Corey. Let the others know that the girl by his side is not to be messed with."

"We are protecting them?" Samuel asked with a frown. He will never understand why Victor is so set on everyone in the class getting along.

Victor gave Samuel a knowing look. "We are protecting us. If someone causes trouble for Corey\'s girlfriend… Whites are not merciful. Do I need to remind you how things work?"

"Of course, not, Vic. I\'m on it…"

…

"Is it a big deal that my last name is White?" Merve asked Corey.

"For them… yes."

"And for you?"

"For me, it\'s a big deal that you are Merve. My girlfriend."

Merve smiled.

They checked drinks available and Merve was interested in the fruit punch. It was in a big crystal bowl, pinkish in color and it had some fruit bits floating in it.

"You want punch?" Corey noticed where her gaze gravitated.

"I would like a taste. I never had one and it looks fancy."

"Every fruit punch is different." Corey explained that it can be a mix of any fruit juices and that sometimes fruit pieces are added as well. The only thing fancy about it was the bowl. Corey got two glasses and poured for both of them.

Merve didn\'t forget Sarah\'s warning. She used the bracelet and the information on the contents was shown in a small font as a hologram above the bracelet.

"It has alcohol… Not much, but this is alcohol. Should it be in here?" Merve was not sure what to think of this. Is this normal? Other than the teachers, aren\'t they all underage for drinking alcohol?

Corey glanced at the teachers who were standing nearby and exhaled. "It should not be here, but this is a high school and high schoolers are eager to get a buzz. Doing prohibited things is the most exciting. Let\'s get something else…"

"No. This is fine." Merve said. "I would like to experience how buzz feels like. With you."

"Only one glass." Corey said sternly.

"Is that enough for a buzz?"

"Honestly, I\'m not sure…" Corey admitted. "If there is no effect in half an hour, we can have another one. How does that sound?"

"That sounds… acceptable."

Merve sipped fruit punch which was spiked with vodka and she didn\'t taste anything other than the fruity sweetness.

A few kids approached them, and Merve was surprised that they already knew that she is Miss White, Corey\'s girlfriend. She realized that it must be the class president and the treasurer who spread the news, and she hoped that this is a good thing and that it will not attract trouble.

She watched a few teen movies, and she saw that mean girls will lock someone in the restroom, or dump dirty water, or force someone\'s head into the toilet and flush. Merve\'s conclusion is that all the bad things in high school happen in the restroom and that she should stay away from it.

When the third group of Corey\'s classmates left after exchanging greetings and pleasantries, Corey gave Merve a meaningful look. "No one will dare to bully you here."

"Is it because of you?" Merve guessed.

"No. Messing with you is messing with a White and no one here would dare to do such a thing. I noticed that they are super polite and that they are keeping the distance more than usually from me. It\'s definitely because of you. Your identity is protecting me." Corey explained with sparkles in his eyes.

Merve paused. It\'s not that she does not think that the White family is awesome, but she always saw herself as someone ordinary. Suddenly, Merve realized that she is not ordinary. If people associate her with the White family… that comes with perks, but it carries responsibility as well. What if she embarrasses herself? Wouldn\'t that be embarrassing Sarah and Aiden? And also Jeff and Anna? She kept her half-finished glass of punch to the side. She can\'t afford to get a buzz, what if she makes a fool of herself?

"Are you OK?" Corey noticed the change in Merve\'s behavior.

"Can you teach me how to act properly?"

Corey didn\'t understand. "What?"

"Everyone here has some background. I\'m not sure that I know how to act. I don\'t want to embarrass myself." Merve explained.

Corey stifled a laugh. "I am a Smith and you are a White. That gives us the right to create rules. Do you think that my classmates are nice because they like us?" Corey made a dramatic pause. "They fear us. They fear what will happen to them if they offend us because of who we are. That is why they will smile and swallow any grievances no matter what we do. Trust me on this one."

Merve looked at Corey and her expression told him that she is confused.

Corey inched closer and spoke in a half-whisper. "You are adorable, and I want to kiss you, but my teachers are watching… Let\'s dance."

They went to the dancefloor and Merve put her hands on Corey\'s shoulders. She smiled when his hands landed on her waist and they started moving. The light was dimmed and the spotlights from the ceiling moved over the heads of people who danced. It didn\'t take long before Corey pulled her closer, and their bodies touched at the same time when his palms landed on her back.

Corey leaned as if he wants to whisper something to Merve, but he kissed her on the cheek.

This prom thing… she likes it.

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