When it Happens

Chapter 7

I nearly saw Nate every day for the next few weeks. Not only at school, but we would hang out after school and on the weekends too. How many girls would like to do that!

Aside from school, we met every Tuesday's and Thursday's at my house. He would sometimes stop by my work and hang out there. Friday's and Saturday's we saw each other at parties. Sunday's were the only days we didn't really hang out.

For our project, he kept making excuses not to go to his house. From "My dad's friends are there" to "the maid is home," I decided not to bug him about it. I had only known him for a little over a month. No reason to go poking into his life like a therapist and think too much of it.

It seemed so much longer though. Nate made my life fun! Not only because he was hotter than Matt Dillion (sigh), but he was sincerely funny. And not a Dave or Fryer kind of funny. He was a cute funny. A funny where you watch your friend stick blueberries up their teeth and smile.

I was hoping he was enjoying spending time with me as much as I was enjoying spending time with him. Not once whenever we hung out did he bring another girl into the conversation. I knew he had to have been seeing at least one girl throughout the course of those two weeks. There was no way I could believe that man would stay single. I, of course, wasn't complaining of the possibility that he was still single.

As much as we were hanging out, nothing really progressed past the boundary of being friends. I didn't mind it, but it was kind of weird being as close as we were and not anything being accomplished romantically besides an innocent flirt tossed out there every now and then.

When my birthday came around on the 22nd, I walked downstairs to eat breakfast, and my mom was already cooking up chocolate chip waffles and bacon. My favorite.

"Good morning, mommy."

"Morning, slug bug. Happy birthday!" I walk up next to her and she gives me a side hug and a kiss on the forehead, continuing to flip the pancakes. "Check the table, I got you a little something."

When I looked over at the kitchen table, a small box was placed on the table with a little bow on the box. I opened it, and a gold chain with an ichthys on it appeared in my sight. On the back, it had my initials, VER, scratched into it.

I let out a breath. "Mom, it's gorgeous." It really was. My mom was always the best at picking out gifts for me. That was just one of her many perks- she knew me.

She smiled. "Just to remind you that Jesus will always be with you on your very special day, so be careful. Don't have too much fun."

I laughed, knowing that would never happen. I didn't even have a boyfriend. After I ate, I kissed her on her cheek and walked out the door to drive to school.

I didn't even expect Nate to know it was my birthday. I never really liked my birthdays to be a big deal. I was always so shy about having all the attention on me. It just wasn't my style. However, on that Friday in 4th period, he came in smiling. I couldn't help but still a giggle as I saw his goofy face handing me a gift.

"Happy birthday!"

I take the box. "Thanks, Nate. You didn't have to get me anything. How'd you know it was my birthday?"

He shrugged and brushed a hand through his hair. "Heard it in the hallways. Open it, open it!" He demanded like a five-year-old.

"Okay, okay!" I sat up so I could fully take in the present, placing the box in front of me. He goes around and sits in his seat, leaning up close so he could fully take in my reaction. My breathing grows heavier when I realize his face is right above my shoulder, taking in his sweet, vanilla smell. God.