EIGHTEEN || SEVENTEEN spin off ||

Chapter One || Hate you

"Shit. Fuck. Shit. Shit. Shit" Nat exclaims in frustration, her frantic search for her walkman filling the room with her agitated energy. Her eyes scan every corner, her urgency growing with each passing moment.

I lean back, watching her with an amused smile. "You know, all that swearing won't exactly help you find it," I quip, enjoying the chaos of her hunt. She turns her attention from the desk clutter to face me, a playful glint in her eyes. "I hate you."

A grin tugs at my lips as I reply, "Aw, cute. I hate you too." Retrieving my walkman from my bag, I offer a solution. "You could always borrow mine for the day, you know."

Her sigh echoes in the room as she abandons the search, her hands on her hips. The tension dissipates as she suddenly pounces, sending me sprawling onto the bed. Laughter erupts from me as I absorb the impact, and my fingers instinctively thread through her hair.

In the moment, she lifts herself slightly, peppering my face with soft kisses—cheeks, jawline, forehead, and then lips. Amidst our shared affection, reality nudges us.

"We're going to be late if we don't move," I remind her, but she merely nestles her head against my chest. Her response is a dismissive groan, accompanied by a reluctance to part from the warmth between us.

I chuckle, gently rebuking, "We will get a detention, Nat." Her tone turns mischievous, suggesting a different kind of adventure. "Maybe we could make detention more interesting—have a quickie?" A laugh escapes my lips as I press a kiss to her forehead. "Unfortunately, I think the teacher and other students might hate that idea."

With a soft plea in her voice, she raises her head again. "Put your shoes on, let's not forget we're meeting Van and Tai." I say. A groan escapes her lips as she grudgingly detangles herself from me and heads toward the door.

I retrieve my walkman, placing it back in my bag.

Approaching the trailer door, I find Nat waiting. As the door swings open, we step outside into the warm embrace of the sunlit day. "What took you guys so long?" Tai laughs from her open car window.

Nat opens her mouth but Van's timely intervention offers a welcome save. "Yeah, let's not answer her question!" I chuckle, guiding Nat with a gentle hand as we settle into the backseat.

Clicking our seatbelts in place, we settle in as Tai's chosen song resumes its captivating beat. The enthusiasm is palpable when Van and I simultaneously gush, "I LOVE THIS SOMG. TURN IT UP" Tai's knowing chuckle pairs with the song's crescendo, filling the air with contagious energy.

The chorus hits, and we unabashedly scream the lyrics, "GET DOWN LADIES, YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO LOSE," embracing the liberating moment. Tai chimes in with her distinctive voice, intertwining harmoniously with ours, "HELLO DADDY, HELLO MOM."

In this shared euphoria, I glance at Nat, our connection unspoken but felt. As the verses roll on, I catch her murmuring the lyrics, her tough girl act fading slightly. A nudge from me carries a silent message of encouragement, a small gesture that bridges any gap between singing and muttering.

"IM YOUR CH-CH-CH-CH-CH-CH-CHERRY BOMB," the collective refrain carries the weight of our bond, our voices merging in exuberant harmony. I catch Nat's eye, a proud smile breaking through as I witness her embrace the moment, however tentative. Our voices unite, driving forward the declaration, "HELLO WORLD, IM YOUR WILD GIRL."

~

Gently pushing the car door open, I wait patiently as Nat climbs out. This particular morning feels like a pivotal one, the first day back at school after our relationship status became public knowledge. I take a deep breath, mentally bracing myself for the stares and whispers that might come our way.

Walking together, Nat and I share a side-by-side companionship, a unity amidst the bustling backdrop of the school grounds. Van and Tai drift off into their own world, their antics a reassuring distraction from the nervous anticipation that courses through me.

As our footsteps echo down the corridor, I sense the collective gaze of our peers turning toward us. My heart quickens, and just as the weight of scrutiny begins to bear down on me, Nat's fingers seamlessly interlace with mine. A rush of warmth floods through me, steadying my nerves. I glance at her, taking in her unwavering self-assuredness, and my lips curve into a soft smile, my heart admiring her strength.

Together, we navigate the hallway's ebb and flow, our joined hands a visible emblem of our unity. Our steps are steady, unhurried, as if to convey that we're here, that we're unapologetically us. I can't help but marvel at Nat's poise, her grace under the gaze of others. Her composure nudges me to summon my own, an unspoken reminder that we're in this together.

At my locker, I come to a halt, my movements familiar as I stow my bag inside. However, the subtle shift in Nat's posture next to me does not escape my notice. Leaning against the neighboring locker, she watches me with an intensity that's both reassuring and tender.

I retrieve a notebook from my bag, a simple yet deliberate action, I sense Nat's presence as a silent pillar of support

A random guy mutters "Faggots" as he strides past us.

In an instant, Nat's protective instinct surges forth as she seizes the offender's arm, asserting control over the situation. I watch with a mix of astonishment and intrigue, my thoughts racing to grasp the intensity of her reaction. Her actions hang in the air, a poised dance of power and authority.

Drawing him closer, Nat's body language commands attention, her poised demeanor juxtaposed with the undeniable tension in the atmosphere. As she inches closer to his ear, my imagination can almost feel the weight of her words, a visceral promise of retribution that's both chilling and awe-inspiring.

"Say that again and i'll strap you down and slowly remove your dick and balls, using a blunt knife so it hurts more."

With a calculated shove, she releases her hold on him, allowing him to stumble away in a rush of panic. His nod, a gesture of compliance, speaks volumes about the effectiveness of Nat's confrontation.

"You scared the shit out of him." I remark, my voice a blend of amusement and surprise, as I shut my locker, the echoes of his hasty retreat still resonating in the air.

Her gaze lingers on his disappearing figure, her stance unapologetically assertive. "He had it coming," she replies, her voice carrying a note of determination.

"Meet here before practice, alright?" Her smile, a beacon of reassurance, conveys the promise of shared moments to come. "Absolutely," I affirm,

As her eyes find mine, she offers a protective gesture that transcends words. "And if anyone else gives you trouble, just let me know. I'll handle it," she asserts, punctuating her declaration with a gentle kiss on my cheek. Gratitude wells within me, a warmth stirred by her unwavering support.

"Hey, I can handle myself just fine," I retort with a playful grin, savoring the banter that flows between us.

She counters with a wink, her tone imbued with a mixture of teasing and genuine concern. "Of course, but we wouldn't want any harm done to that pretty face of yours."

I raise an eyebrow, challenging her with a smirk. "And what about your own 'pretty face'?"

The flicker of surprise that crosses her features doesn't go unnoticed. She dismisses the notion with a scoff, a hint of self-deprecation coloring her response. "Trust me, 'pretty' isn't the word I'd use."

I meet her assertion with an unyielding compliment, my voice holding conviction. "You're extremely pretty, Nat."

She responds with an eye roll, a playful defiance in her demeanor. "Yeah, okay. Catch you later."

As I begin to walk away, I can't resist a parting shot. "Bye, you bitch."

A spirited retort follows me, her words carrying an affectionate sting. "You're just as much of a bitch. Hate you!"

I glance back, a smirk playing on my lips. "Hate you too!"