THE PACT <3

Chapter 5 (Natalie)

Chapter 5

Natalie

Devon macadams. Devon macadams.

He might be the only guy I've ever met who seemed genuinely interested in what I have to say. It might be because he was sober. I was glad that he asked me out because if he didn't ask me, I would've asked him. I believe that if you think life is giving you a sign, you should go with it. And if a guy who was nice enough to bring me back to his place and tuck me in just so happens to work next door to my dorm, I'd call that a pretty good sign that we should talk.

I couldn't wait until Friday night. It was longest I'd gone without a drink in a year. It was easier to practice for the juries we had coming up. It seemed like 6 took forever to get here and a couple of times I contemplated going to sal's. But I spent extra time in the shower and on my makeup and hair so that helped a little. Plus I went to tops and got two boxes of cinnamon toast crunch.

When I got to Java's I was just a tad nervous. First date. First sit down date I've ever had, actually. Does going to a bar count as a sit down date? But when I saw Devon, I wasn't nervous anymore. He was sitting at one of the barstools, and when he saw me he looked so excited. He almost jumped out of his seat. And ran over to the door.

"Hey."

"Hi!" I was already blushing. Who does this guy think he is? He took my hand and pulled me through the ever present mass of people ordering around the counter with expert precision. I set the box of cinnamon toast crunch on the bar.

"Did you bring us dinner? Because I don't need any." He tapped the box against the counter and laughed.

"Nope. I haven't had a drink since the night we met." I felt strangely proud that I made it this far. I usually like to see how many drinks I can handle, not how many sober days I can handle.

"I can tell. You look beautiful."

I force myself not to blush. "Aw, thanks! You look great, too." I noticed something that wasn't there the last time I saw Devon: rubber bracelets with the names of bands on them. And not just any bands, my favorite bands. Sleeping with sirens, black veil brides, all time low, and the like.

"I like these the best," I say, gripping at the bracelets. "Whoops, I probably shouldn't have touched you, should I?" I think out loud.

He immediately dismissed it. "Wait. You like these bands, miss yo yo ma?"

"Oh, don't get me wrong. I love me some yo yo ma. That guy's the shit. But so are kellan and andy."

"No shit!" He says. "You know they're all coming to DARIEN lake next week?"

"No way. Warped tour is coming here?"

"Yup. Every band on my arm. I was gonna go alone. Wanna go?"

"Of course I do! My juries are gonna be next weekend, though. Whatdayis it?"

"Wednesday. You don't haranguing Wednesday, right?"

"Nope! I'm totally free! "

"Yes! It's so much fun. I've been there before."

"Sweet!" I smile, and remember that we're in javas.

"So, we've got our second date planned, but we haven't started the first yet."

Devon blushed and raised his eyebrows. "So this is our first date?"

"Unless you wanna count me crashing at your place. Then you could say you got me in bed on the first date." He laughs. "Which reminds me," I say. "I brought these for you."