Miranda

Chapter Eighteen

"We didn't realise we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun." -Winnie the Pooh

~Miranda~

"It's called the Superman look" I tug at the collar of the button-down shirt I have talked Nate into putting on over a nerdy Star Wars t-shirt. I am making it up of course but he doesn't know that. I am just having a little fun keeping him out of his comfort zone.

"You know, like Clark Kent? He always wore the suit over his Superman outfit, now you have your own little secret laid back look under your respectable clothes and no one will know." I give him a playful smile.

We are back at my apartment and are unpacking his new collection of clothing. I helped him pick out a new suit with three shirts and matching ties, two pair of jeans, a few graphic tees, which he claims that he hasn't worn since he was 12, and because he insisted, a pair of khakis and three button down shirts. I have at least convinced him to roll the sleeves of the button-down shirt up to his forearm but I may lose the tuck versus un-tuck battle.

I filled him in on what Nick had to say about everything, or rather what he didn't have to say. It was like he just wanted to ignore everything I had written in the letter for the time being and made a fuss over me taking a week off, with pay, to rest and heal. I tried to bring up the Becci issue, but he said that it was going to be investigated and that I shouldn't talk to anyone about it without his say so. And that was that. Nick had bags under his eyes, and I could tell that even this conversation was stressing him out. I feel guilty, I am the reason he is stressed, I am the reason for all of this.

"So, what do you want to do today?" Nate's claps his hands together bringing me back to the present. I hesitate, I didn't know that I would have company, I never have company. I figured he would just go about his business.

"Well, I, uh, didn't realize you would want to hang out with me, to be honest."

He shrugs his shoulders, "I don't have court until Monday, and I guess I kind of like talking to you." He holds his hands up suddenly as if a barrier is between us. "If you don't mind that is. I know that for all intents and purposes I am a total stranger to you."

I think about this for a second, it kind of takes me by surprise, I can't remember the last time someone asked me if I minded something, usually they just go ahead regardless. I smile more shyly at him. "I don't mind, all friends were once strangers, right?" wow that was the cheesiest thing I have ever uttered out loud in my life, what the hell? He gives me a big, genuine smile back.

"Yeah, I guess you are right. So, what do you usually do on a Saturday?"

Today is Saturday, so I have things on my to do list to accomplish. Normally I would open the store and work until 10 and not have to be back until 6 in the evening to close. In between I clean the apartment, go grocery shopping, and get ready to go see Grandma on Sunday. It feels weird to go around cleaning while a near stranger sits and chats with me, also I ache all over, my arm is in a sling, and don't particularly feel like scrubbing the bathroom today, I guess I can pass this once.

Grocery shopping would be next, I try to get this out of the way early so that I am not trying to lug my purchases up the stairs as the sun goes down. But I noticed earlier when we got back from the store and had gone to get a glass of ice water from the kitchen that Nate had fully stocked my pantry as well as my fridge, which I felt bad about and tried to tell him that I would pay him back, but he refused.

I glance over to the plastic bag I have sitting in the corner of the living room.

"Well, how do you feel about yarn?"