Through Pain We Survive

Chapter 6

Nate got to the coffee shop and looked at his phone. Seeing the message from Gwen, he sighed. He got out of the car and went into the shop and looked around. He saw a guy with dark brown hair sitting with Becca, and Becca looking very uncomfortable.

She saw him as soon as he spotted her. "Sweetheart! You're off work early!" She hugged him and whispered in his ear, "Please play along."

"Yeah, I'm glad I was able to catch you here." He kissed her cheek. His heart fluttered.

The stranger looked shocked.

"Who's your friend?" Nate smiled at the creep, who looked shocked.

"Oh, I'm— I'm just leaving." He got up and left.

Becca turned back to Nate and hugged him again. "Oh my gosh! Thank you so much." She let go of him, and he already missed the feeling of her against him. "He wouldn't leave me alone, just kept talking to me, and he wouldn't take no for an answer, he—" her voice cracked, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm here." He took her back in his arms to comfort her. "Why don't we get you out of here." He grabbed her bag and handed it to her, then gathered the cups on the table and threw them in the garbage.

They walked out to the parking lot to her car. "Thank you again for being my knight in shining armor." Becca looked down. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

"It's what best friends are for, Bex." He smiled at her.

She was stalling getting in the car. "I— I really don't want to be alone right now."

"Come on back to the house. Gwen is working on costumes and AJ is working in his office. I do have a bit to do, but it can wait."

Becca smiled at him. "Thank you."

They got in their respective cars and drove back to Nate's house.

Walking back in, Nate decided to call Sara and apologize.

"Hey, it's Sara. You know the drill."

"Sara, it's Nate. I'm sorry I left like I did. Becca needed me to help her out with a creepy guy who would not leave her alone. Please know nothing is going on between Becca and me. Just— I'm sorry again. Please call me. Bye."

Nate hung up and sighed. He went in to the living room and sat next to Becca.

"Are you okay?" Nate looked Becca over with concern.

"Yeah. He didn't touch me, I just got creepy vibes from him and he just wouldn't leave."

"So, you wanna tell me the full story on the mystery creep?"

Becca sighed. "He tried striking up a conversation while in line. He was right behind me. They were innocent and safe enough questions that I answered them. He then stepped up with me and ordered literally right after me, leaning over and paying for both our drinks without consulting me. I just said thanks and sat down. He then followed me and sat and tried to get me to talk more. I feared if I left, he would have followed me. I told him I'm meeting my "boyfriend" here, and I excused myself to go to the restroom, and that's when I texted you. I went back after our conversation and just kept up the façade that my "boyfriend" had said he was going to meet me here after his work shift. Then you showed up."

"I'm glad I could help you. He sounds like a total creep."

"Yeah. I just—" she paused to take a shaky breath, "I am so stupid for even letting it get that far! There are too many predators out there for me to get that complacent."

Nate wrapped her in a hug. "Hey, you're not stupid. You let your guard down. It's okay." He rubbed her back.

She pulled away. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called. I just— I didn't know of anyone else to call." Becca sniffled. Nate covered her hand with his own.

"You know I'm here for you, anytime." Nate was still rubbing her back.

Becca looked down. "I— I don't want you seeing me as weak."

"No, you know I could never. The things we've seen and been through together, I could never see you as weak. You had to protect yourself."

Becca kept her head downcast.

"Bex, please. Look at me."

Slowly she brought her head up. He reached up and wiped her tears away. "You are not weak. You are not stupid. You are brave and very smart to have called me to help you out." She looked down again. "Hey, head up." He took his finger and gently tilted her head to look at him.

His heart was beating very loudly in his ears. This was as close as they'd ever been.

She looked in his eyes, down to his mouth, and back up to his eyes. Part of her was screaming to kiss him. The other, rational part was holding her back. He has a girlfriend.

Nate was staring at Becca. He wanted so bad to kiss her. To show her how he really felt about her. To put all of his passion for her into that one kiss. But he knew better. She doesn't see him that way.

Nate cleared his throat and turned away. "Uh, can I get you anything to drink?" He stood up.

"Umm, water please."

Nate got up and went into the kitchen. What was that? Why am I feeling this way? It's just Becca, we're just friends. Nothing more. He shook his head.

Becca wiped at her face. What was that? Do I really want to kiss Nate? How do I feel about him? I didn't think I liked him like that— but I wanted to kiss him. I wanted him to kiss me.

Nate sighed. Get it together! She is your best friend. Nothing will happen. She doesn't want it to happen.

Becca sighed. Get it together! He has a girlfriend. He wouldn't cheat on her. He doesn't like you that way anymore.

Nate came back in with a water bottle for each of them. "Here you go."

They sipped their waters silently. Occasionally, Nate would look at Becca, or Becca would look at Nate, but neither said what was on their mind.

Becca checked her phone and saw the time. "Umm, I'd better go. Thank again for everything tonight." She stood and all but ran out of the house.

Nate sighed again. I don't even know where to begin processing this.