Never Forgotten (ON HOLD)

Chapter 10

 I sat in the passenger seat watching the trees fly by the window. I wondered where we was going, but after asking him twelve times he told me I would find out when we arrived. How cliche of him to want it to be a surprise. I rolled my eyes at the thought and noticed movement out the corner of my eye.

I turned my head to see him changing the radio and turning it up. Probably to fill the silence, it wasn't awkward though. I noticed that a few moments ago, even as the silence filled the car the air of awkwardness never graced us with its presence. It might have been because we were friends before, but considering I didn't even remember that it was highly unlikely.

I stared ahead as my mind raced thinking of possible places we could be going. Not noticing anywhere we was going I knew it was a lost cause.

"If you hadn't of lost your memory you would have already figured out where we was going," Nate's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"If I had not lost my memory you might have never asked me out."

"That's very true," he said sounding gloomy.

"Sorry, that was a low blow."

"No it's true, just seeing you laying on the floor not moving scared me. Hell, just thinking about it scares me. It made me realize that every moment and second counts and I was wasting my time pretending my feelings for you wasn't there."

That was the most I have heard him say and the look in his face told me that he meant every word. I pondered what he had confessed and decided to change the subject.

"What sort of much do I listen to?"

I could tell the question caught him off guard. He chuckled to himself, "what don't you listen to would be easier."

"So I take it I have a very wide variety of musical preferences?"

"Whoa, when did you become so proper?" Nate asked raising his eyebrows at me.

I giggled which made his eyebrows rise even more. I must be nervous, "just answer the question."

"Yeah you listen to tons of music, it usually depends on your mode though. When you're thoughtful or sad you listen to slower and more depressing songs. When you are happy or excited you listen to up beat that usually has a heavy bass."

I wasn't paying attention to the road or else I would have noticed we had stopped outside of a little restaurant with a welcoming homey feeling. I recognized it, but no memories rushed into my brain. As I stared at the quaint restaurant I realized my urge to jump out of the car and run inside.

The sound of my door opening snapped me out of my thoughts. Nate smiled knowingly at me and extended his hand out towards me, "You remember this place don't you?"

"Oddly yes, I don't remember a specific memory, but yes I do remember it."

I grabbed his hand and got out of the car looking back at the restaurant we walked forwards and as Nate pulled the front door open for me the aroma of spices hit my nose and I felt at home.  A short balding man smiled brightly at us and hurriedly walked towards us. "Nate! Natalie! It must be a special occasion considering the lack of gym shorts and sweat."

I felt guilt wash over me for not knowing who the man was, but I noticed his heavy Italian accent sounded oddly familiar. 

"Mr. Russo I figured you would have heard, but I guess not. Natalie-"

"Natalie is perfectly fine," I interrupted Nate, "Nate finally decided to man up and ask me on a proper date."

This brought a smile to Mr. Russo's face. "Well it's about time, Miss. Natalie would you like a booth or table?" he asked winking slyly at me.

 "Booth please," I said giggling.

He walked us to our, took our drink order, and walked away smiling brightly. I noticed Nate staring at me and raised my eyebrow questioningly.

"Why did you not want me to tell him about the accident?" he asked.

"I don't like talking about it, it's almost embarrassing. I could tell we knew him pretty well and I didn't want the news to upset him."

"We come in here once or twice a week, usually after my basketball practice that's why he said something about being sweaty."

"So bringing me here before the accident would have meant a lot to me," I stated looking at him amazed.

"Yeah, one time we was eating here and you made a comment about how great it would be to come here on an actual date. I never said anything, but I kept the thought of taking you here for our first date in the back of my head for awhile."

"Well it means a lot to me and when I get my memory back it'll mean even more."

I looked down at my menu, but could still feel his eyes staring at me. I didn't look up just pretended to be reading my menu as children and adult's laughter filled my eyes.