Keep Up || Nate Parker

Chapter 4 - I Love Cleaning Up

I wake up tangled between sheets and a splitting headache makes me wince in pain.

"Here, I've brought you some paracetamol and water," the soothing voice of Nate Parker tells me and my headache instantly feels gone. Of course headaches don't work like that so I had to take the paracetamol.

"What happened last night?" I ask, my voice coming out more rugged than expected.

"You were very drunk, accusing me of cheating and tired."

"Why would I accuse you of cheating when we aren't together? Don't bullshit me Nate," last night is a blur and I feel thankful for it, not having to worry about anyone else but myself.

"I'm serious, you thought I was with Daniella," he smiles as he sits on the side of his bed. "Well I was but nothing happened, she was talking to me about Levi."

He kisses my forehead for reassurance and I spot my dress from last night neatly folded on the end of the bed. I soon then realise I'm wearing one of Nate's t-shirts and I feel thankful.

"There was no sex, right?"

"Mase, you really think I would take advantage of a drunk angry munchkin shouting at me before falling asleep on my bed?" He laughs, and wow that laugh is adorable. "I've made us toast, then you can help me tidy before my family get back from my uncles."

"How long have we got?" I smirk, pulling myself out of bed.

"I'd say," he looks at the watch on his left wrist and wriggles his eyebrows. "Two hours."

"Plenty of time," I smile and plant a kiss on his lips. "Thank you for last night." I hop off of the bed and make my way downstairs for toast and see the house in a complete state.

"Maisie?" Nate calls down after me as I sit down at the table that Nate has already cleared for us to eat. "Your phone is ringing."

"But I just sat down to eat!" I complain and take the phone before answering. "Hello?"

"Maisie, you said you would text me. What the hell I thought something had happened to you," Dylan rambles on the other end of the phone.

"Uh, no. I'm at Nate's, was I meant to text?"

"Yes, you said last night," she snaps, obviously concerned for my wellbeing.

"I'm sorry Dylan, I can't remember a thing from last night," I try to say as nicely as I can so that she doesn't snap again. She gets so offended when someone says she needs to be nicer, but sometimes she does. "I'm okay though, you have nothing to worry about. I'll see you at the park later?"

"Okay," she says and hangs up.

"Well that was weird," I laugh and pick up the slice of toast on my plate and take several bites out of it.

"Is everything okay though?"

"Yeah of course it is, Dylan's just annoyed I didn't text this morning," I continue to eat my toast as Nate does the same and we sit in silence until we're finished.

"Okay babe," Nate says as he takes my plate and puts it in the dish washer and the heat in my cheeks rise. "Let's get this place tidy."

I had the job of holding the black bin bag whist Nate put all of the cups and any other... Rubbish into the bin also. It's very surprising what you can find after a party. Upstairs and downstairs that is, people have no decency.

"Nate, this is disgusting how can you touch that. Don't touch me ever again," I squirm whilst holding the bag and screw my face up in disgust.

"You're adorable."

He lifts his hand to my neck and I jump away.

"Ew!" I shiver and drop the bag, " you can do the rest."

"Aw baby, come on," he coo's and walks over to me again.

"Wash your hands before you come near me, that is disgusting."

"It wasn't used!" He laughs at me and eventually pulls me into his chest. "I love- cleaning up."

He pulls away from me abruptly and cleans up everything without another word.

"You love cleaning up?" I ask in hope of a reply. Sparks are flying through me in hope I'd broken down his wall in only a short time but it seems I had not.

I head back upstairs and sit myself down on the bed. Why am I so bothered? I have enough going on to care how Nate feels about me. But my parents are never around to care about me, and my brother is never home.

"Mase," Nate calls as he comes through the door and I continue to look down as I can feel the tears prick in my eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I miss them."

"Who?" He asks and sits down next to me, wrapping his arms tightly around my body as the tears fall. I need to stop doing this, I hate crying and I hate being vulnerable in front of the person who I know can hurt me the most.

"My parents, I miss them. I'm not allowed to see my dad because my mum got full custody but I never see her," I rest my head on his shoulder and wipe my eyes. I need to stay strong. "Sorry, I'm okay."

"I'm so sorry, Maisie," Nate squeezes me arm and then let's me go. "Let's go to the park? The house seems to be as clean as it'll get."

"Okay," I smile and get myself up. "I'll get dressed."

*

"Coincidence that you two showed up at the same time, yet again," Dylan says to me as I sit down on the bench.

"You knew I was there," I smile and try to get some of the anger out of her.

The boys are playing football once again and Hunter has a close eye on Levi, as per usual.

"He wants kids with me so bad, I can tell," Hunter comments and myself and Dylan burst into fits of laughter. "Hey! It's true, alright?"

"Alright, alright," I hold my hands up in defence.

"Ugh, it's almost half way into the holidays," Dylan moans and throws her head onto Hunter's shoulder. "Our last year of school."

"I cannot wait to get out of that shit hole," I laugh. "Out of the social ladder for good."

"And onto a new one," Hunter reminds me and I sigh.

"Don't even go there."

Levi picks up his ball and Nate, Austin and Levi walk over to us.

"Want to go to McDonald's?" Levi asks, twirling the ball in his hands.

"I love McDonald's, I need some Big Mac down my throat," Hunter blurts out and I can't help but snort a little, covering my mouth afterwards. "I uh- that came out wrong."

"Let's just go to McDonald's."