I'm Over It

Chapter Eight: Is this Love?

"Are you going to say something?"

The entire car ride, he hadn't said anything. Not to mention the fact that we had passed all our usual hangout spots. As a matter of fact, we were outside of the city in this grassy area. Lucas pulled over and got out of the car. I tried to ask him where he was, but then he came back with a grin and held up a picnic basket.

Apparently, he went there often because he automatically made his way to this opening in the center. I followed him blindly. He was smiling and I couldn't help but smile as well. He was setting up and when I tried to help, he swatted my hand away. I gasped and held my hand why trying to stop smiling. He finally looked at me and I glared at him because I held felt so neglected so far. "Hey." I narrowed my eyes. "You haven't said a thing to me and now it's hey? What is it, Lucas?"

"I'm sorry. I should've said something. But if I did, I would've gotten distracted by that smile of yours," He said grabbing my hand. I snatched it back. "Flirting will get you no where." I lied. He was completely forgiven and I lowkey enjoy the unspoken tension. He led me to the blanket and when we sat down, he pulled out some if my favorites. Fried chicken, Dr. Pepper, Twinkies, everything. I was drooling as he took the food out. "When did you do this?" He got all shy. "Well... I had plans of asking you out and was kinda prepared for it."

I kissed him softly before picking up a piece of chicken. We laughed and talked while we ate. As we were smiling and laughing, I thought about a question I had been meaning to ask. "What was that about yesterday? You seemed so mad." His face dropped. "It was.. nothing." So he thinks I'm stupid now? "Sir, I have know you entirely too long for you to be lying to me." He sighed. "He mention my father." His father?

"I know your father. What did he say?" He shook his head. "You know my dad. You've never met my father."

"Okay," I said, "who is you father and what was said?" He wasn't sure how or where to start. "My dad left my mom when I was 10. The fact she lasted that long is still a mysterious to me. He was an abuser. Used to beat on my mom. I was about 6 when I found out what it meant, so I start trying to protect her. So, I started getting hit too. Rose doesn't remember him much and I'm glad. He used to get drunk and smoke around me. One night he kinda just... he used his hands to hurt us. I walked in one day to see him cutting my mom and I flipped and started bashing his head in."

"Did he die?" He shook his head. "No, but me and my mom were alone with little Rose. She was only 6 at the time, yall had just met. If you remember, I was a little of protective of both of yall." I raised an eyebrow. "I just thought it was because I was cute." He laughed. "Well yeah... that too." I just want to be there for both of you in any way that I can be. Rose is my sister and I love her because I know we depend on each other. And you, you're my girlfriend and I am going to protect you with my dying breath. When it comes to you two, I never wanna feel like I'm letting you down."

"Lucas, you're never gonna be like him. We have known each other for 11 freaking years, and you are probably the most caring person I've ever met. And I'm glad we didn't... you know. When we do that, I want it to be genuine, and that would have been for the wrong reason and I probably would've punched you after I found out." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, but I smiled at him, indicating that I was joking.. kinda. "You know, I can't believe it took us so long to be together." She stopped and looked at him. "Completely your fault if you didn't know." He gasped dramatically and pretended to clutch his pearls. "I can't believe you just said that. You know, you could've confessed."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever." After we were done eating, we just played around in the field. The he did this thing where he tried to see how many sunflowers he could fit in my hair. After a while of playing, we kinda just went back to talking about our goals in life, what we wanted to do, how we wanted our relationship to go, the whole 9. By the time we were leaving, the sun was already coming down. As we drove home, his right had was on my thigh as his left hand steered. Something about it just felt so right.

The rest of the week, we spent out time together, we were almost never away from each other. The more time I spent with him, the more I knew this was the person I was meant to be with. Eventually, my birthday rolled around and we to my home, Tennessee, so I could spend it with my family. Upon getting there, my dad and Lucas shared a strong handshake before he was led to the patio.

It was time for the "boyfriend talk." He had it with each of my boyfriends and I knew he was being genuine. He had punched a hole in the wall when he found out about Peter. I was sitting with my sisters, telling them about all the fun I've had with Lucas over the past week. They were all giddy and stiff which made me happy, but I was kinds nervous about how the talk was going. When they came back in, they were all smiling, so I guess that's a good sign.

We were enjoying my birthday and eating entirely too much food when all of a sudden it hit me. Something was wrong. Something was gonna happen. I told Lucas and he told me I was just paranoid, but something didn't feel right. Then he walked in.

"Hi Natalie, happy birthday."