Apex Highschool AU (Wattane)

Jealousy // Ch.16

It's a new day and Natalie had promised Tae that she'd hang out with him for the day. They had both decided to go to the café and chat. Octavio watched from his window as Natalie and Tae walked down the street. He couldn't help but think what Natalie was doing hanging out with him. His heart ached, he didn't like sight of Natalie being with another boy.  He just wanted to go down there and intervene...but he couldn't. So he continued to just sit and watch, sucking his teeth as the two left his line of sight.
———
Natalie smiled at the cheesy jokes Tae was making at the cafe table. She knew he was trying his hardest to lighten the mood. They each took bites of their sweet tarts and giggled as the time flew by, telling each other jokes and having fun as if they were in their own little world.

"Thank you Tae, I needed that." Natalie chuckled, wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes.

"Anytime." he smiled before reaching to take a sip of his black coffee.

Natalie watched in surprise, she never knew how people could drink something so bitter. The only other person she knew who drinks that bitter mess was Mr. Nox. To think Tae also enjoyed it made her wonder.

"Tae?"

"Yes Natalie?"

"Can I see that cup for a minute?"

Tae looked at her with confusion, his brow raised at her. Without any further questions he hands her the cup of coffee. "Merci." she said, staring down into the cup of dark liquid. The last time she had black coffee was years ago. Maybe her taste buds have changed? she thought before taking a sip of the beverage. Her face said it all as she tried not to spit it back out. Tae chuckled at the sight of Natalie struggle trying to swallow the bitter liquid. Once she got it down she pouted at Tae for chuckling.

He stared at her pouting face, the urge to kiss her right then and there grew stronger, the longer he stared the more cute she looked with that pouting face of hers, he almost couldn't help it.

"That damn Octavio, he doesn't deserve someone as cute as her."

He sucked his teeth at the thought of it, the sight of her and Octavio, together...He hated it.
———
"Octavio?" a voice called, knocking on Octavio's front door. He didn't want to answer the door, but he also didn't want to leave them knocking for the next couple minutes. He really wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. He grunted as he got up and went for the door...it was Elliott.

"What's up dude?" Elliott said raising his hand for a high-five, but Octavio just left him to hang and glared asking, "What do you want?"

"Woah, looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of bed, huh?"

"I'm not in the mood compadre. Why don't you hang out with Renee or something."

"Alright, alright, is this about you and Natalie not being allowed to have contact with each other for the past few days?"

Octavio froze for a second before throwing himself onto his bed. Elliot smiled before proceeding to then then sit himself in the chair in front of Octavio desk. He looked over at Octavio laying on his bed and looking up at the ceiling.

"So tell me, what's wrong Octavio."

"I saw Natalie and Tae together."

Elliott looked over at him, his eyebrows raised. But even though Octavio wasn't facing him back, he knew he was in pain. He needed to lighten the mood somehow. "Knowing Nat, they're probably just hanging out or doing nerd stuff. Nothing to worry about." Elliot chuckled

"Hope so."
———
It was getting pretty late so Natalie and Tae agreed to head back to the dorms. They walk side by side, sharing the times of when they were in middle school with each other. Learning more and more things about each other and getting closer as friends.

"Hey...blondie, you lookin' to have some fun?" a strange man with a raspy voice called from behind. Natalie turned around facing the man who was now in front of her, her hands start to shake. "No, no thank you..." she anxiously said.
"Come on baby, don't be like that." the man said, grabbing and tugging on her forearm.

"Let me go!" she yelled. Tae hadn't realized Natalie wasn't by his side anymore since he was so focused on the conversation. He just kept walking while telling his story. "And then I ended up... Nat?"

Tae turned around to see the situation Natalie was in, his eyes widened and raged filled his body. "Shit!" Tae thought and ran as fast as could to her rescue. It was only seconds before Tae's fist made contact with the mans jaw causing him to let go of her. He then starts to throw punch after punch at him, blood splattering everywhere.

"Tae...that's enough." Natalie said, her voice breaking. Tae quickly got up and grabbed hold of her arm pulling her along with him into the nearby laundry mat. They both sit in silence for a few moments, a thump was heard and that was enough to cause Natalie to completely breakdown. She grabbed hold of Tae and cried into his chest. Tears seeping through his shirt. She was so scared.

"I'm the one at fault here, i'm sorry Natalie."

Tae put his arms around her, stroking her blonde hair and telling her it was going to be okay. After a few minutes Natalie lifts her head, eyes puffy and face still red. Tae wiped the remainder of the tears left from her eyes before she got up. "I'm sorry Tae." she smiled.

"I should be the one apologizing to you, idiot."

"Tch." he said and got up, he looked at Natalie and grabbed hold of her hand. "Now you can't leave my side." he mumbled and pulled her along with him the rest of the way back.
———
Octavio watched from the lobby window as the two made their way back from whatever they were doing. He waiting down here for ten minutes growing impatient. Once Tae and Natalie made it through the front doors they froze at the sight of Octavio standing near the stairwell, Octavio's eyes widened at the sight of the two holding hands.

"So this is what this was...I see."

"It's not what you think!" Natalie said, quickly letting go of Tae and rushing over to Octavio only to be pushed away. "Get away from me Natalie. You don't wanna look bad in front of your new boyfriend."

"Boy-boyfriend? Octy this isn't what this was, I promise. He's not my boyfriend Octy, you are!"

"What are you talking about Natalie?" Octavio scoffed.She looked at him in confusion wondering what he was talking about. "What do you mean?"
...
"We're over."

To Be Continued
//1162 words//