Nearly Euphoric {Nate Jacobs}

Chapter 14

I was walking into school today when I saw Nate standing right next to my locker waiting for me.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" I ask Nate.

"I was waiting for you because I want to talk about something," he says.

"What?" I ask.

"What were you doing talking to that freak of nature yesterday?" he asks.

I knew exactly who he was talking about, but I decided to play dumb.

"Who are you talking about?" I ask.

"Jules," he says flatly.

"Oh... Jules. I just kind of became her friend yesterday. Rue, Lexi, and I made up, and Rue's sort of friends with Jules now, so we all decided to start sitting together at lunch and stuff," I answer.

"I don't want you talking to her. I know you're too naive to understand, but she's super fucked up," he says in a condescending way.

"Well, I like her, and want to be her friend. It's not like you have to hang out with her," I say.

"Yeah, but she's a bad influence on someone like you," Nate tells me.

"What do you mean, 'someone like me?'" I ask.

"I mean that you're normal and well behaved. Jules is the exact opposite. I like you the way you are, and I don't want her changing you," he explains.

Well behaved? Who is he, my father?

"First of all, Jules is really nice, and you don't have to be 'normal' to be a good person. And second of all, I'm not someone who starts acting like the people I hang around with. I hang out with you, and yet I haven't turned into a close-minded control freak," I say and then immediately walk away to class, scared of what might happen after what I've said. Unfortunately for me, Nate is also in my class.

Nate follows after me, the whole way to our seats. We both sit down without saying anything to one another. I get brave and glance over at him to see his reaction. He looks pissed off, but he mostly just looks hurt at what I said.

"I'm sorry," I say to him. "I didn't mean to be so rude. I just don't really feel like you have the right to tell me who I can and can't hang out with. I'm used to being independent and on my own. I don't even have parents that tell me what to do. But I still make good responsible decisions. So I don't know what you're so worried about," I say.

"You weren't necessarily wrong about what you said. I am a control freak when it comes to the people I care about. That's why Maddy and I never really worked out. She hated being controlled. But I thought you were someone who would be more okay with me telling you what to do," he tells me.

"Well, then maybe I'm not the girl you thought I was," I say. "I don't pretend to be super confident and never let myself get pushed around by people. But I certainly don't like to be controlled. I've never been in a relationship before. But I think balance and trust are the most important parts. You have to be able to live with the fact that I'm going to be my own person. If you're worried about someone I'm hanging out with, then you need to let me know that you're concerned... not just tell me that I can't be friends with them. If you can't trust that I'm making smart decisions, then this isn't going to work out," I say.

"Okay, can we compromise by you not talking to Jules anymore?" Nate says.

"That's not a compromise Nate!" I say in frustration.

"Fine, then you have to promise me you're not going to let her rub off on you. And promise me you won't be like her best friend or something. Stick with Lexi, I like her better," he says giving in.