Heart Me

Chapter 12

Kayla's POV

I sat on a plush sofa across from the bed in the room Grace and I had been allocated for the weekend. The room had a cozy yet slightly worn charm, the kind you find in old vacation lodges. Grace and Mia were sprawled on Grace's bed, giggling and whispering about the day's events. Grace was teasing Mia about how she had started a fight with Lily earlier. I wished I had been there to witness the scene unfold. Our laughter was abruptly interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Who could that be at this hour?" Grace complained, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was only 9 PM, not terribly late, but it felt like an intrusion nonetheless.

"I'll get it," I sighed, pushing myself off the sofa. As I opened the door, Nate stood there, a warm smile on his face, holding a bottle filled with some sort of drink.

"Can I come in?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I peered back into the room, seeing Mia and Grace lost in their conversation. It was comforting to see them getting along so well. Turning back to Nate, I decided it would be best to keep our interaction private.

"Why don't we go somewhere else?" I suggested.

"Sure, my room? Is that okay with you?" he inquired. I nodded, and he led the way down the dimly lit hallway. As we walked, I couldn't help but wonder what was in the bottle he carried.

Once we reached his room, he opened the door, and I finally asked, "What's up with the bottle?"

"It's for you," he explained, a hint of pride in his voice. "I went to the kitchen and made you a remedy for your cold or flu. It's just some boiled water with herbs, a recipe from my mom."

We stepped inside, and I took in the surroundings. His room was a mirror image of mine and Grace’s, with similar furniture, wall colors, and even the same generic portraits hanging on the walls.

"Where's your roommate?" I asked, curious.

"He's not here yet. He'll be coming tomorrow," Nate replied, a hint of relief in his voice.

"Oh, I see," I mumbled.

"Privacy," he shrugged. "I just hope he doesn't come at all. Even at school, I prefer having the room to myself," he admitted with a wince.

I closed the door behind me and walked over to the sofa, sinking into its cushions. Nate sat on the bed across from me and handed me the bottle. I unscrewed the lid and brought it to my nose, only to be greeted by a sharp, burning smell that made me recoil slightly.

"It tastes as bad as it smells," Nate chuckled. "Just close your eyes and take big sips quickly."

Desperate to get rid of my sore throat, I did as he instructed, gulping down the concoction in large swallows. I handed the bottle back to him, grimacing.

"I'm impressed. I didn't think you'd finish it," he teased, trying to catch my eye. I glanced around, my eyes landing on his laptop.

"I see you were watching a movie," I said, eager to change the subject.

"Yeah, I was. Want to join?" he asked, his face lighting up.

"I want to watch an animation," I said, feeling a bit like a child.

"Sure," he said with amusement.

He reached for his laptop and placed it on his lap. I moved over to the bed and sat beside him as he scrolled through his collection of movies and series. I chose one at random without even looking at the title. Nate made space for me on the bed, and I settled in, getting comfortable.