Written in the Stars *EDITING*

Chapter 5: The Big Football Game

The next few days at school were relatively the same. People stared as Mia and Nathan held hands and girls that Mia wouldn't consider friends initiated intimate conversations about her "relationship". The two of them hadn't hung out outside of school since that day at Jo's however. Nathan was too busy completing tasks for other clients and Mia had an entire season of a new Netflix show to binge-watch. They clearly led different lives.

Finally, it was Friday, the day of the big game. Hazel was going on a date and as much as she would have loved to see the "way you're going to make a fool of yourself" she also knew that Mia would tell her in detail. Before leaving to get ready for her own date, Hazel had laid out an outfit for Mia to wear to the game. It consisted of a jean skirt, a cardigan, and Mia's favorite star necklace. Mia was too uncomfortable to wear the cardigan with nothing underneath so she swapped it out for a short-sleeved graphic tee that she tucked into the skirt. She threw on her Vans, grabbed her wallet, and sat outside on the porch swing to wait for Nathan to pick her up. After he pulled up into her driveway she ran to the passenger side and greeted him with a smile.

Nathan glanced over her for a few seconds, prompting Mia to raise an eyebrow at him in question. "You look cute," he said while pulling out of the driveway.

"Aww thank you, Nathaniel."

He quickly glanced at her in confusion before turning his eyes back to the road. "My full name isn't Nathaniel, it's Nathan."

Glancing down at her phone and texting Hazel who was wondering if she was being stood up because her date was a minute late, Mia replied back to him. "Oh I know your name is just Nathan Caldwell, but I feel like you embody other names too, ya know?"

"Uh no I actually don't. Anyways, are you excited about the game? Briar deserves to get its ass kicked, the kids who go there annoy me."

Turning to stare at him, Mia questioned him. "Why don't you like Briar? Even though I haven't gone to a game at all this year I know our team is great, so I am excited."

"I've tried to do business with Briar kids and they're all stuck up and never go through with what they say," he shrugged.

Mia let out a chuckle. "What, the kids at our school aren't stuck up and go back on their words? I've heard about what you did to Sam Denning," she teased.

A wide smile overtook Nathan's face as he pulled into the school parking lot. "I can neither confirm nor deny that I had any part in what happened to him." Taking a deep breath, he turned to face Mia. "Are you ready for this?"

With a nod, she said, "Yes. Now let's go cheer on Redwood!"

When they pulled up to the ticket counter, Nathan started to pull out his wallet to pay. Mia quickly stopped him and handed the cashier a ten-dollar bill. Grabbing his hand, Mia pulled him to the bleachers so they could take a seat.

"Why didn't you let me pay?" he said once they took their seats.

Her eyebrows knitted in confusion as she said, "It's part of the deal? I pay for things that pertain to our deal."

"Oh right of course," he mumbled.

So far, the game was entertaining and Redwood was winning. Nathan only paid half attention to the game, the other half of his attention was focused on Mia. He was captivated by the way she cheered at the top of her lungs and looked like she would run down to the field and fight the Briar players herself whenever they scored. At halftime, he offered to go get them snacks. She handed him a ten and asked if he could get her candy. Down at the concession stands, he stocked up on as much candy as he could and a cold drink.

"Here you go," he smiled, handing her the handful of candy boxes he had bought.

"You didn't buy yourself anything!" she pouted when she noticed he was left holding the drink.

"I'm not that hungry."

"I don't care. Here," she pushed the chocolate bar into his hands. "These sour candies are my favorite candy of all time so you can have the chocolate." The smile disappeared from her face when the game started and Briar started to run with the ball. She shouted in anger when a few minutes later, they scored a touchdown.

With her face stuffed with the sour candy, she looked almost like an angry chipmunk. It was cute though, Nathan thought. After another hour of playing, there were only a few minutes left of the game. Mia was wishing she had checked the weather before leaving. Her short-sleeved shirt was not the right option for the slightly chilly breeze that swept through the field like a bakery's aroma sweeping into the streets. Nathan shrugged off his leather jacket he had been wearing and placed it on her shoulders.

"Are you sure Nathan? I don't want you to be cold. Besides, it's my fault for not bringing a jacket."

He shook his head. "It's fine. Just don't forget to give it back," he joked. With a smile, she slipped her arms into the jackets.

She looks cute in my jacket, he involuntarily thought.

Finally, the game ended and they walked down the bleacher steps holding hands. Mia noticed Olivia pointing at them from where she was sitting with all her friends. It caused a slight annoyance to arise in Mia, even though the entire point of them going to the game together was to ensure people saw them as a couple.

Nathan and Mia drove to her house in silence, enjoying the sleepy sounds of the night outside the car. When he pulled into her driveway, she unbuckled her seatbelt. She shrugged out of the leather jacket and handed it back to him.

"Thank you for making tonight fun. Oh, and for lending me your jacket. I would have frozen without it. Who knows, I might have developed hypothermia or something," she babbled.

Chuckling, he placed his hand on top of hers. "Tonight was fun," he nodded in agreement, "and you're welcome for lending you the jacket. Although, I don't think you would have developed hypothermia without it. Maybe just a cold."

She laughed at his statement and opened the car door. She was about to step out when she turned in her seat and threw her arms around Nathan's neck. He was surprised but after a second his arms snaked around her waist. They hugged each other tightly for a few seconds.

"Goodnight Nathan," she whispered as she let go of the embrace and stepped out of the car.

"Goodnight Mia," he whispered back. It was only after she stepped into her house and locked the door that Nathan's heart stopped beating so erratically.