Nearly Euphoric {Nate Jacobs}

Chapter 16

When I got to Nate's house there were about six cars in his driveway. I'm pretty sure we were the last ones that got there because I made Lexi take the long way there so she didn't have to drive on the highway. We only almost crashed once... so I guess that's progress from every other time I've driven with her.

Even though Nate and I have been dating for a while now, this is the first time I've ever actually been at his house. It's a nice house though. I expected they would have money because Nate's dad is a pretty successful businessman within the town.

Lexi and I walk up to the front porch. "Should I knock?" I ask Lexi.

"Umm, I don't know... isn't that kind of lame?" Lexi responds.

"Well, I don't want to be rude," I say.

"He's literally your boyfriend Brina," Lexi says.

"Yeah, that doesn't mean I shouldn't still have manners," I answer.

"Okay then why'd you ask if you didn't want my advice," Lexi says.

"I'm still considering your answer, I just-" I get cut off by Nate opening the door.

"I thought I heard someone out here," he says. "C'mon in," he opens the door wider.

Lexi and I walk in feeling kind of stupid for being so overdramatic for the simplest thing. There are ten of Nate's football friends here, and about half of them brought their girlfriends. I'm relieved that there are no more people than Nate made it sound like there would be. Nate introduces me and Lexi to his friends. Even though I've gone to school with these people for years, I never really talked to most of them. The only one I somewhat recognize is Daniel. I just know who he is because he used to date Kat in like 6th grade or something, and she's talked about him once or twice.

Lexi sits down on an open couch in Nate's living room and I follow behind, sitting next to her. Nate comes back from the kitchen with a beer and sits down in the empty seat next to me. As I'm sitting here at Nate's house in a room full of his friends after one of his games, I can't but feel like a terrible person. This used to be Maddy and her life. Her boyfriend. Her boyfriend's friends. Hanging out at her boyfriend's house after her boyfriend's game. And now it's mine. My life. My boyfriend. My boyfriend's friends. Hanging out at my boyfriend's house after my boyfriend's game. And Maddy's doing what? Sitting at home alone heartbroken because I took it from her, even though I'm supposed to be one of her friends. I really like Nate, but sometimes I wonder if that makes me a bad person.

I try to shake the feeling because I know there's nothing I can do about it now. The damage is already done. Maddy already hates me, and that's probably never going to change even if I did end things with Nate.

"What's wrong?" Nate asks me interrupting my thoughts.

"Hmm? Oh, nothing. I'm fine," I say giving a little smile. I guess sometimes when I'm thinking it shows in my face.

"Do you want something to drink?" he asks.

"No thanks," I say. I have to go pee way too bad to be drinking anything right now. "But would it be okay if I use the bathroom?" I ask. I've had to pee since we let the game.

"Oh yeah sure. The bathroom is at the end of the hallway to the right," Nate says pointing down the hallway across the room.

"Thanks," I say getting up and walking to where he pointed. The hallway leads back a lot farther than it seemed like, and I wonder if I passed it up already. All the doors a closed and I don't want to accidentally open the wrong one. I'm pretty positive I make it to the right one eventually and try to open the door but it's locked.