Dainty and Dauntless

Need:

I took a poison so deadly. I had gulped it without caution, but now I feel it slowly draining my life. As I now squirm on the ground, a small bottle rolls out from my pockets. I am astonished, an antidote!

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"Riley thinks so too," Natalie sheepishly giggled, remembering the cute gesture as Riley had narrated it.

"Really?" came the voice from the other end of the phone call.

"Every girl was in awe at such a thoughtful boyfriend you were . A surprise birthday party was_"

"Whose boyfriend, Riley's?"

"Well, she did tell us that you guys weren't dating but," Natalie paused and giggled, "I wouldn't call a surprise birthday party 'just friends' behavior. Aren't I right?"

Illai's chuckle was croaky over the phone. Natalie pictured him blushing on the other end.
"Gosh, this is kinda awkward for me Natalie," his voice rasped, "Riley and I are good friends. We go to the same church and hang out sometimes"

"And...?" Natalie urged him to go on and he chuckled, "we did try to date but it was short-lived".

"Ha! I thought so," Natalie said pridefully.

"She's a good girl, very bright and lovable"

"Right? You're really missing out, Mr. Watts". Natalie pouted. "Well Miss Simmons, I've been really hoping for your time"

"You've got it now. How long has it been... a year?" Natalie giggly asked.

"Heheh... long enough for me to miss the glow in your eyes"
Hmm!
Natalie's heart thumped out of control.

Illai cleared his throat, "I've watched you for long and never dared to say anything. Perhaps it was cowardice but it was never uncertainty. You made me a beggar for your presence, time and adoration".

Natalie held her breath and got up from her bed. Her mind was all over the place.
Was he going to confess his feelings?

Her eyes widened, Oh my God he was.
She panicked, pacing around and chewing at her nails the more he stayed silent. Then she ended the call, suddenly in urgent need to talk to Elise. What was she going to do or say to him? She wasn't ready for this, she never had been.
Was he going to call again?

"No, no, no—," she chanted as she walked round her bed, nervously staring at the black screen.

"Please don't call back, please don't, please". She wished Illai could hear her whispers and change his mind about whatever he wanted to tell her.
The screen lit up and the phone buzzed, and Natalie felt her heart leap, shooting an impulse to her brain that made her head to start throbbing immediately.
If only Elise were here, she would have known what to do but she was not going to teleport all the way from outside town, was she? She watched the phone until the screen went black again then decided to wait a while longer. Minutes later after making sure he wasn't going to make any more attempts to call, Natalie finally dialed Elise's number and sighed when she picked up almost immediately.

"I need your help," she muttered, cutting off Elise's joyful hello, "what do I do?"

"Breathe Natalie, what happened? My God!"

"Uhm, you do recall the name Illai Watts, right?"

"Riley's boyfriend? Yeah, I do. What about him?"
Natalie flinched, "so you knew about it?"

"She denied it but she wasn't fooling anyone," they laughed and Natalie remembered why she had made the call, "yeah, so what do I say to him if he happens to say he likes me?"

Elise choked a bit, "What! Are you serious Natalie? Oh my God, really?!" Natalie didn't understand how Elise's exclamation quickly turned from shocked to excited.

"Yes, and I just hang up before he could say it out," Natalie whispered.

"Awww, you charmed the poor guy".

"What about Riley? She's perfect for him".
Elise chuckled from the other end, "Nuh-uh, doesn't seem like he agrees. So, what are you gonna say?"

"I asked you first. What do you mean what am I gonna say?" Natalie was bewildered, "what should I say?" Elise laughed out, "How about you first hear him out, okay? I'm sure you will figure out what to tell him right after".

"You think so? I literally don't know what to say".

Both girls laughed, "anyway, thanks Elise. I wish you were here.

"Oh dear, me too"
Natalie hang up, sighing.
•••

Riley and him were friends and that was it, but with Natalie he knew he wanted something more than a friend. He was attracted to her in a way he could only term as enchanting. She was bright, intelligent, reserved yet so knowing, and when she talked—he wanted to hear her talk forever.
His excitement for her aura and presence frightened him, keeping it all in this long hadn't been easy. He wanted Natalie Simmons to be his, to have her in all her beauty. How could he say it less obsessively?

"Well Miss Simmons, I've been really hoping for your time".
His heart had pounded really fast and then he had spilled his heart out, a portion of it to be honest. She had kept silent.

Was she shocked? Was her silence a good or a bad thing?
He didn't know what to think about her ending the call. He had sat down in silence, tapping his phone repeatedly, then without hesitation he had dialed her number again but she didn't pick up.
He was now impatient, and he started thinking out loud, "the weekend starts tomorrow, right? I have no classes, hopefully she doesn't have any too," he paced around. "I can drive to her campus and get there by Sunday." He went silent again.

"Oh my God, Illai!" He laughed at himself, bringing his hands to his head. After another moment of silence, he moved swiftly; grabbing a coat, a clean shirt and a bag. He shoved them in a bag and went on to collect his wallet, phone and car keys. When he was all set, he took one last look around, a deep breath and stepped out of his room; bag and car keys in hand. He locked the room and made his way to a black Chevy truck in the parkway. It's engine revved with a start and he sighed once more,
"God please let this be worth it," and he set off.

•••

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