When it Happens

Chapter 8

Nate didn't call me that weekend, and when I walked into History Monday morning, he was there before me. He looked up and gave me a soft smile as continued the novel we were assigned to finish in English.... today. He wasn't even halfway done. Leave it to Nate to do everything last minute.

"Great book. He leaves her in the end," I leaned back to him and whisper.

"Well geez. Thanks for ruining it for me," he chuckled, and I knew all was forgiven... or so I thought. I wanted to call him the minute I got home early Saturday morning from the party, but I didn't know how exactly he had reacted to Mikey kissing me barely on the lips. So, I put it off.

I tried to carry on a simple conversation but he didn't really reply, so I just stopped talking. This wasn't Nate. This wasn't us. He had to be mad at me. I didn't even do anything though! Mikey kissed me. I was just caught in a state of shock.

I heard him put the book on his pile of stuff on the floor just as the bell rang for class to start.

I could obviously tell he was distancing himself from me after my birthday. I just didn't get why. It wasn't like we were dating or anything. I could kiss who I want. If it really bothered him, why didn't he make a move earlier? 

If he didn't trust me about Mikey, then what was the point? Was I supposed to just wait around for him?

I walked ahead of Nate when our lunch came. I needed to make sure he saw what I was planning to do.

When I got to the table, everybody was there. Perfect. Nate was just walking up to our table when I strolled up to Mikey, said, "Hey," and plucked a kiss on his lips.

Oh, the look on both those poor guys faces! Mikey looked as if he hit jackpot, and Nate looked as if somebody just shot him. I smirked and turned my head towards Nate, and his lips were pursed together as he took his seat next to Dave and Shannon. Fryer looked confused and opened his mouth to say something, probably to roast one of us, but decided against it and continued eating his sandwich.

A part of me felt bad for causing Nate to look that way. But if he was going to act that way towards me for not knowing the whole story, then I was going to make another story.

***

Homecoming was jumping through the days at St. Agnes as the weather got cooler and cooler. I always loved homecoming. It was the only dance I had been to, since Prom is Spring of Senior year, and homecoming was Fall 9th-12th grade.

Mason asked Shannon, Dave asked some girl that goes to the public school nearby, Fryer went solo, and Mikey asked me. I actually didn't know what Nate was doing for homecoming. What I did know was that we hadn't been talking for a week and I was going crazy. My life had gotten so boring. I missed his goofy commentary.

Homecoming was a big deal at St. Agnes. Guys hung posters asking girls to go to homecoming with them, asking over the loudspeakers during 1st period. Even mums were made and worn the game before Homecoming. About a decade ago, the graduating class of '85 heard that mums were a big part of the culture down in southern states, and decided to start the tradition here at St. Agnes for the future students to enjoy. I've gotta say, it was pretty cool.

On the night of homecoming, I went over to Shannon's house to get ready. I laid my make-up bag and dress across her white bedspread. Like I said, Shannon was the girly girl, and her room proved it. Hot pink walls, White furniture, white bedspread, and pink throw pillows. She had posters of celebrities all over her room, and paintings that said cheesy quotes.

There were unspoken rules on what you wore to homecoming. It had to be short. Prom was when you got to wear long dresses. If you did happen to wear a long dress for homecoming, you would get socially bashed immediately. We weren't in the market to fall social standings because of a dress length.