I Adore You // Braeden Lemasters

Chapter 5: Just Like a Movie

Natalie woke up with a pounding headache. For a moment she almost forgot Braeden was her ride home last night. She reached for her phone and realized it was past noon.

"Shit," she mumbled.

Her phone was dead, but after plugging it in it started to blow up. She had missed calls from Mikey, messages from Hailey, and a message from Braeden.

"I hope you were able to get some rest. Today is a new day ☀️ Please lmk if you need anything! I'm here for you."

She tossed her head back onto the pillow, still feeling so embarrassed. She wondered how Mikey could have acted like that last night... He seemed so nice before.

"I'm really sorry." The first message from Mikey read.

"Please come back."

"Can we please talk?"

"I'm sorry I was drunk. I messed up."

Natalie ignored his messages and stared at the ceiling. She felt this empty and desolate feeling inside, and decided to call off work. She hadn't left her room for most of the day. She received a message from Braeden that evening,

"Hey just wanted to check in and make sure you're doing okay."

"Just been laying in bed all day. I'm much better though. Thanks for checking!"

He replied almost immediately.

"Of course. I'm just a call away."

She smiled. A tear fell down her cheek. The past 24 hours felt like such a blur, she could hardly believe it had really happened. This feels just like a movie, she thought. It didn't feel real. There was a knock at her door. Aubrey cracked the door open,

"Hey," she said. "Can I come in?"

Aubrey sat on the edge of the bed. She stroked Natalie's hair away from her face.

"You doing okay?" She asked gently.

Natalie shrugged. "I'm fine, I guess. Just sad. I really liked him."

"I know..." Aubrey hushed her. "You can do so much better though, Nat. He doesn't deserve you."

Natalie teared up and wiped her eyes.

"I'm fine." She said through tears.

Aubrey held her. She slept for the rest of the evening and was up just in time for work the following morning.

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"One large green tea and a slice of banana bread? That'll be $6.50." Natalie said.

Her phone buzzed in her back pocket as she put the cash into the register. After handing the receipt to the customer she slid her phone out from her pocket.

"You coming to the show tonight?" Braeden sent.

Natalie's mind had been elsewhere, she completely forgot about Wallows' upcoming shows. She still felt embarrassed from her last encounter with Braeden. She did want to see him, and she still had the jacket he had put on her the night he gave her a ride home. After giving it some thought, she replied,

"If you want me to be there, then I will be there!"

"I want you to be there only if you wanna be there 😅"

"Well I owe you for the ride the other night, so the show is where I'll be 😂"

"Great 😌 see you later then" he said.