Written in the Stars *EDITING*

Chapter 18: Pizza and Hot Chocolate (But Not at the Same Time)

A few days later, Mia and Nathan hadn't hung out or talked at all since the day at the gym. Hazel and Mia were currently in Hazel's basement eating pizza and catching up over their lives since the last time they had seen each other in person. FaceTiming only once had felt like weeks to them. They had both been busy with the holidays and family, and it would only get busier in a few short weeks with Christmas.

Hazel had just told Mia the great news- Violet had agreed to meet Mia next week. The only thing was that she had asked if they could double date with Mia. Even though Hazel knew the two of them weren't actually dating, she begged Mia if she could ask Nathan as a favor. When Mia had shrugged and not so subtly tried to change the subject, Hazel probed her further.

"It's just...I don't know if Nathan and I are in a good place right now."

Hazel's eyes narrowed, needing the full story. "Explain right now Wilson." So, Mia started to explain.

Mia was at the part where Nathan had pinned her down to the mat. "It was weird, I mean we were both silent and he started to lean down. I think we were about to kiss but that can't be true. I mean no one else was around to see it and why would we kiss if there was no reason to?"

"How can you not realize what this means? If you two kissed when no one else was around, you guys like each other."

"I said we were about to. We didn't actually. His friend Evan walked in and we started to talk."

"But if he hadn't walked in would you have tried to stop the kiss? Or be mad it happened?"

Mia took a bite of her pizza for a moment to think. "Honestly? I don't know," she answered truthfully. Continuing on with her story, Hazel interrupted her once again.

"Mia, you're a bitch."

"What the hell Hazel? That's mean!" she exclaimed in hurt.

"I'm not sorry. How are you going to sit here and tell me that you and Nathan almost kissed without it being to prove a point? Then tell me you asked another guy, Nathan's best friend in fact, if his dick was big right in front of him! That's a bitch move."

Mia faltered, taking in Hazel's point of view. "Shit. I didn't realize at the moment how it could have been taken. I mean it's not like I actually like Evan in that way. It was just harmless flirting. I don't like Nathan in that way either though. Should I apologize? Ugh," she groaned in frustration.

"I can't tell you whether you should apologize or not. I mean, you and Nathan aren't legitimately dating, so he has no reason to be hurt. We can figure it out later. Continue with the story."

After Mia concluded retelling her break up until this moment, Hazel decided they should eat more pizza and watch a movie before Mia went home. They watched a cheesy romance movie centered around an arrogant businessman from the city who meets a kind small-town girl. It was predictable, but they needed it. When Mia laid in bed that night, wrapped up in her blanket, she contemplated what Hazel had said. I probably just read the mat situation wrong, neither of us like each other like that, she thought. Even so, it would probably be best if they hung out before they met Violet together. Anything to make things less awkward.

☼⚜☼

A quick text that read "Want to hang out? I have snacks :)" to Nathan prompted a formal "Ok" but it was good enough for Mia. He would be over in five minutes and she hoped things wouldn't be too weird. Both her parents were out present shopping and Mia found the silence of being home alone boring, so she had texted Nathan.

When she opened the door, she greeted him with a big smile. As she pulled him towards the living room, the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile. They would be just fine. He settled on the couch as Mia went to go grab snacks from the kitchen. "What are your plans for the rest of the break? I'm going to my cousin's house next week as a pre-Christmas family gathering."

"Mostly just hang out with family. I'll also hang out with Evan and his brothers a few times. His mom makes the best mandu."

Mia nodded and held out her bag of sour candy to him. He took one, even though he didn't particularly love the flavor. The look of joy on her face as he ate it made it worth it. They continued talking, sharing various chips and candy until they were both full. "You have to tell me at least one thing on your wishlist." When Nathan shook his head, she pouted. "Oh come on! How am I supposed to get you the best Christmas gift ever if you won't tell me what you want? Does this friendship bracelet mean nothing to you? I just want our friendship to be solid," she said as she held up her left wrist which still had the brown and purple bracelet tied on it.

"I honestly haven't even told my Mom what I want. I'm happy with my life at the moment and what I have. Besides, I'm pretty sure our friendship will survive you getting me a shitty gift. Even if I have to fake enthusiasm when I open it."

"I don't want to give you a shitty gift though. I want to give you the best gift! As a thank you for how much you've helped me these past few months and to show how much I appreciate our friendship. You clearly don't anymore, considering you're not wearing your bracelet," she argued.

"In my defense, it kind of fell off. It's still in my room."

"Ok, I'll take that answer. If I stop pestering you about gifts will you do me a favor? It's kind of a big ask." After he nodded, she continued. "Violet agreed to meet me but she wants to go on a double date. Will you go with me?"

"That's it? Yeah just text me when."

"It'll be sometime next week. Now that I'm no longer worried about that, want to play a board game or something?"

For the next sixteen minutes, they attempted to play Monopoly. However, too much shouting and cheating ensued, so they decided to sit on the couches and talk some more. There would be no salvaging the game anyways, Mia had knocked the board over after landing in jail for the fourth time. "So then, he takes one look at me and runs off. Can you believe it?" Nathan had been recounting the time he had accidentally stopped a petty robbery from happening earlier this year.

"I don't get why he would. I mean, you're not scary at all."

His expression changed to incredulity as he took in her words. "How can you say that? I am definitely scary looking. I have a leather jacket and muscles. Not to mention, I have perfected the art of the cold, uncaring stare."

"I'd say sorry, but I'm not. You don't intimidate me at all."

"It hurts to hear my fake girlfriend say that. I've built my reputation on being scary you know. I don't get it. Why aren't you scared of me? I mean, I obviously don't want you to be considering we're friends now. But I mean even a few months ago before we were friends you weren't scared of me. Why?"

She could see it was tearing Nathan apart, not being thought of as scary, so she decided to ease his frustration. "Do you remember when we met?"

"No, but it was most likely a class we had over the years."

"Actually, I remember the very first day we met. It was your very first day at Redwood back in sophomore year. I was holding some books walking to class and we accidentally bumped into each other. My books dropped from my hands so I reached down to pick them up. I expected you to yell at me and tell me to watch where I was going. Instead, you leaned down and helped me pick them up. Then you smiled at me. There you were in your leather jacket, looking so angry like the universe had ripped away something you loved so dearly and you smiled at me. It was a kindness no one at Redwood other than Hazel had shown me in a long time. I knew at that moment that you would never hurt me." Finishing the memory with a shrug, she ate some gummy worms.

"I don't remember that day, but I'm happy I smiled at you." You deserved it more than anyone, he thought.

"Can I ask why you were so angry?"

Taking in the curiosity on her face, he wished he could answer her question. "Maybe another day. It's not that I don't want to tell you. I just don't want to relive it."

In a flash Mia was out of her seat, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the kitchen. "That's fine. Please tell me you're good in the kitchen? I saw this amazing recipe for hot chocolate and I want to make some. If you help me you get extra marshmallows." The change of subject was abrupt and obvious, but he was grateful for it nonetheless.

"I know you said you wanted help on this hot chocolate, but mine will be better than yours," he taunted.

"Oh, it is so totally on, Caldwell."