From The Start

48

Nathan

Candy and I were inseparable except for when it came to class. She always knew how to make me laugh and light up my day, but I always felt that she still hid something from me, which I had no objection to.

I sat at the lunch table and waited patiently for her but there was no sign. I looked around and saw Gail enter the lunch room with her crew, a smug smile on her face. I knew the look all too well.

Ever since Candice and I made it public, she wouldn't live it down. She'd approach me in the halls or sat next to me in class as if nothing had ever changed. At one point she touched me inappropriately in front of Candice but I saw no angry streak across her face or any emotions for that matter. Lately she's been closed off and it started to puzzle mote than usual...

A throat cleared, barring my thoughts and I looked up to see her standing over me with a weak smile on her face.

"Someone's a little too far gone." She spoke up and then took a seat across from me. I shook my head a bit and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Someone's in a good mood." I said not realizing my fork still dangling between my fingers. I let it slip from my fingers ans plop into the plastic tray and turned my head away to look out the high windows of the cafeteria.

"What's wrong Nate?" She touched my hand in the process. Startled, I turned to her immediately. Denial welded into my eyes.

"Babe, are you sure? You look spaced out." her hand still lingering on mine.

After her words, there was a bit of awkward silence. I really couldn't take it anymore, I felt something pull inside me that forced me speak up.

"Where have you been Candice?" I almost yelled and a few students next to us turned their heads, but I paid them no attention. She looked up in awe at my tone and I knew I was taking a step back as I dropped the pet names.

"Nathan, please calm down, why do you seem so tense?" She removed her hand and guilt enveloped me.

"It's nothing. I'm sorry I yelled, I didn't mean to scare you." I shamefully placed my eyes to the tray of untouched Mac and cheese. Unsure as to why I even bothered to take up a tray?

"You didn't scare me and it doesn't seem like nothing to me."

I felt a bit uneasy and scratched the back of my neck. "Nate, we've been dating for almost eight months, I think it's time we open up to one another." She suddenly spoke, sadness in her voice. Feeling relieved that she wanted to open up, I was dying to know what she concealed.

"babe, I..." I was cut off by Casey and Jamison who were approaching the table like two unbearable frat boys.

"Nate, my man!" Jamison swooned in, plopping directly next to Candice and smirked a little too comfortably in her face.

"If looks could kill," Casey darted his eyes between everyone at the table and slid in next to me.

"What are you guys doing over here?' I asked, my annoyance clear as day.

"Whoa! Are we interrupting the love birds over here?" Jamison placed his hands under his chin and fluttered his eyes.

"Not the time Jamison." Casey added, in a girlie tone, mocking Jamison.

"Will you two beat it?" Candice finally spoke up with her arms folded, looking just as annoyed as I was.

"Well, little miss Cinderella's got some nerve. We can't see our boy now?" Jamison worked up, pretending to be angry. Candice turned to face him with a frown and he only made it worse with his grin.

"Well, if you don't, I will." She rose up, the chair sliding behind her and shortly after, she storms off.

"Candy, wait." I yelled behind her, "don't go" She continued to stomp out to the lunch room exit, ignoring me.

I turned back to Jamison who tried to look innocent and Casey threw up his hands to surrender.

"Was it something I said?" Jamison spoke childishly.

"Gee, what do you think?" I said before rising up myself to go follow behind her.

I knew that the relationship wouldn't be perfect of the bat and there would be some set backs, but I hoped it wouldn't ruin what candice and I was working to build.

"Nathan." I heard someone yell from afar. I pressed on, inching closer to the exit. "Nate!" I heard again. I snapped my head in the path of the voice to catch a glimpse of Gail, waving me over. I tried so hard these past months to avoid her and not get caught in her little traps, but it was almost impossible when we had classes together and pretty much shared to deal with one another.

I told Gail once, that I would always revere her as a friend, but I don't think it was ever love. More or less, a social status thing. We held eyes for a few seconds and I shook my head to decline, as I approached the doors to leave.

My mind set on one person.