Dunkin' Donuts [ H.S. ]

Chapter 24

After the light rain of yesterday, Natalie woke up to a cool breeze wafting outside and faint sunshine streaming through her windows. She closes her eyes and took deep breaths of today's air.

She stretches her arms causes a few crackles at the end of her spine before she climbed out and fixed her bed then climbing downstairs of their lonely home. "Hi honey,"

She peeks over the kitchen doorway and saw her beautiful silver haired mother wearing a floral apron as she slices up a cabbage. "Good morning? You didn't join dad's meeting this afternoon?" she asked, walking towards the granite island of Mrs. Roberts' kitchen.

"I don't want to starve myself while I listening to business crap and corny jokes of your father." Mrs. Roberts said jokingly, chuckling as she put the chopped cabbage in to the saucepan. Natalie pulls a teasing face, and waggles her finger at her mom.

"What are you cooking?"

"A dish your Nana Maura taught me. How was the festival?"

"It was fun... great actually." Natalie mumbles. Mrs. Roberts looks at her at the corner of her eyes.

"Did you saw him?"

"Who?"

Natalie's mom turns her body around. Her arms are cross against her chest as she raises an eyebrow at her daughter. "How is he?" she asked anyway, turning her attention back at her cookery.

"He told me he's good." Natalie responded, lightly bobby her head.

"How are you then?"

"I don't know." Natalie let out with wistful tone.

"Honey, come here."

Natalie walked around the island to her mother. Mrs. Roberts opened her arms and engulf her daughter with warm love and worry.

Afterwards, Andrea and Natalie went out for a brunch. The Sunkist – brown haired lady rambles while her Asian best friend eats her Fettuccine Alfredo, starting with Landon being in the same place like hers and a curly haired guy then Harry being charming as always then to her one of her professors and then to her indistinct feelings on everything she's overthinking every minute.

"And then – "

"You know," Andrea interjects, clearing her throat in to her fist. "And I know that we've known each other since 9th grade. I know your first kiss which happened inside the janitor's closet, I know your first s – intercourse and I also know it sucks!" she cries, making a few people glance at them and causes a blush creep on Natalie's cheeks.

"What I am trying to say is we're like sisters. I can see the stars in your eyes when you talk about the things you love, that include kids, teaching, daycare, and Harry." Andrea points out. "But, that's none of my business." reaches for her iced – tea then taking a sip. Natalie eyes widen then blowing air between her lips creating quivering sound.

"By the way, Dunkin Donuts made new velvet cakes."

"Are you serious?!"

In that time, Harry knocks on the brown crafted door of Mr. Charlie's home. His friendly bald man opens the door, greeting Harry with a smile and welcomes him whole heartedly.

"Sit down, my boy." Mr. Charlie directs to the couch at the living room yet Harry didn't complied but followed him all the way to the kitchen.

"What's cooking, doc?" pulls one of the metal dining chairs to sit to.