Find Yourself (ON HOLD)

Chapter 7

The car ride to my dad's house didn't take as long as I thought, it took about twenty minutes to get there. We had just entered the house through the front door when my phone started ringing, it was my dad calling. I gestured for Nathaniel to look around or take a seat wherever he wanted before I answered the call.

"Hi dad," I said and placed my stuff on a chair near the staircase.

"Hello darling, how are you?" he asked on the other line.

"I'm great thank you, we just arrived home," I answered. "Oh! That was fast, unfortunately I'm not done here yet sweetie. I'm sorry, do you mind spending about another hour and a half with Nathaniel until I'm done here? Soon it will be five and I will be done around six or six thirty," he explained.

Come home already! I'll lose my sanity around Nathaniel, it's too much to take.

"No I don't mind, don't worry, we'll wait for you here," I said instead. "Okay sweetie, again I'm sorry. I will be there as soon as I can, love you," he said.

"Love you too, see you later," I ended the call and went back to the living room where I supposed Nathaniel would be seated. He was talking on the phone as he stood in front of the glass wall looking out the backyard. I took the opportunity to sit on one of the sofas that faced the flat screen in the living room. I turned on the television and immediately muted it so Nathaniel could continue his conversation without any distraction. He turned to look at me briefly and smiled slightly and turned to look outside again. I looked for movie options in case Nathaniel agreed to watch a movie. Maybe that way we could talk and do something else without feeling uncomfortable. The TV displayed so many options it was hard to choose one. One name caught my attention, I hadn't seen that movie in a while.

I selected the movie and pressed play then I went to the kitchen to prepare some popcorn and serve us something to drink. I realized I didn't know what would Nathaniel want to drink so I went back to see if he had finished his call. When I was near the living room I saw Nathaniel end his call, "What would you like to drink?" I asked from the other side of the room. He turned to look towards me and smiled briefly. "What are you going to drink?" he asked. I took this chance to joke with him a bit.

"Whiskey," I said coolly, he frowned and looked really confused. I laughed, "I'm kidding, I'll drink coke." He exchanged his frown with a smirk, "I'll have the same then, do you need help?" he asked. "No thanks, take a seat, we'll be watching a movie," I said and went back to the kitchen.

I took the drinks to the living room and went back to retrieve the popcorn. I came back and sat next to Nathaniel on the sofa where I initially sat before. "Thank you, what did your dad say?" he asked. "Oh, that he would be here around six or six thirty," I explained. I saw that the introductions had ended and the movie was about to start.

"What are we watching?" Nathaniel asked. I smirked, "I hope you like books," I turned to look at him and he frowned slightly but had a hint of a smile. He turned to look at the TV just in time to see the beginning of "The Book Thief". He was silent for a moment and then he muttered, "You're a special one Miss Kavanagh," he didn't look at me so I continued to watch the screen.

Watching the beginning I remembered how emotional I get while watching this movie and I mentally cursed myself for picking this one. I love it so much so I will just have to suck it up and hope Nathaniel doesn't think I'm an annoying crying baby. There are really rough scenes and I try to focus somewhere else until they finish to avoid being startled or begin to cry. Nathaniel doesn't seem to notice, he is watching the movie quietly. After some time he asks, "Why'd you pick this one?" I turned to look at him and answered, "I love the book and the movie is simply beautiful." He turned his body to face me and only now did I realize we were sitting close to each other. "What do you think of Liesel?" he asked me. I took a small deep breath and turned to look at him.

"I think she is the strongest character I've encountered. Even at her young age she shows loyalty, respect and love in the deepest ways. She finds happiness in the midst of chaos. I admire her."

He is looking at me straight in the eye, processing what I said and I know he is searching for some reaction but I try to be as calm as possible.

"Who do you think she has the strongest connection with?" he asks.

I think about it for a few seconds, "She has a different connection with each of her loved ones. With her adoptive parents for example she has different connections with the two of them. With her papa she know he understands her, he is carefree and loving and that is exactly what she needed when she arrived there. With her mama she took time to understand her, Liesel discovered she is tough looking but she is trying to help her to be strong but to care at the same time. Rudy was her first and only friend who shared the same age, he demonstrated her he is loyal, fun and caring. Even though there were hints of something more than a friendship and it didn't happen due to his death I think it was better that way, for them to stay as friends I mean. And Max," I sighed, "I believe she had the strongest connection with Max. They had many characteristics in common, but they were also different. He helped her discover the beauty in words and in books. She helped him in different situations. They were there for each other, even in their thoughts. I believe they ended up together although they didn't say so nor did they hint who she married."

I was deep in thought while I was explaining my answer to Nathaniel I hadn't looked at him. The movie was still playing and I could hear it in the background. I brought my eyes up and found the courage to look at Nathaniel. He was staring at me, deep in thought almost like measuring my answer and me at the same time. He opened his mouth but closed it again, apparently he didn't know what to say.

Then a smiled made its way to his face, "My you are an interesting girl Chloé Kavanagh," he said. I looked away, I could feel my face getting flustered. I felt his fingers in my chin, he gently made me face him. I could feel my heart beating faster, "Hey, I meant it as a compliment," he said and he still had the smile on. Then he examined my face and frowned slightly. "Are you- Are you blushing?" he asked. My eyes widened a bit and I tried to look away, "N- No no, I- I think it's the weather," I was looking the other way. He laughed softly, "You are blushing, don't be embarrassed." He tried to make me look at him but I refused, I was about to burst out laughing and I could guess my face was looking like a strawberry by now.

Then all of a sudden I felt his hands on my ribs and he started tickling me. "No!" I screamed. I hate tickles because they make me laugh too much. I was horribly ticklish, I started laughing so hard.

"Let me see you then!" he said whilst still tickling me, he was laughing as well. I couldn't stop laughing, I had to get away from him I needed to catch my breath. I tried to stand up but he followed me and didn't take his hands off. Then I tried pushing him back but he caught my arms when I pushed him. He fell back on the sofa and took me with him, except that I fell on top of him. We were still laughing but I soon realized I was straddling him and my laugh started dying out. His laugh started dying out as well and we were staring at each other. We were both breathing hard due to all the laughter but I could feel the atmosphere getting warmer. One of his hands made its way to my waist to encircle it, we were so close to each other I could feel his breathe. Our faces and bodies were getting closer.

The sound of keys brought me out of our heating moment and apparently he heard it as well. I immediately got off Nathaniel and sat next to him on the sofa. We both composed ourselves and looked at each other briefly then turned to look at the screen. Then I heard the door open and my dad entered the house.

"Hi sweetie! Good evening Nathaniel, I'm so sorry for taking so long," he said as he set his stuff down.

I stood up and made my way to greet him.

I don't know what happened between Nathaniel and I, and my dad came home at the wrong time. Tonight was going to be a long night.

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I'm so sorry for taking so long to update! School has given me a hard time and I haven't been feeling well, I hope you guys understand. I will continue the story and I will update every time I can, please continue to read!

I apologize if it's a short chapter, I will update as soon as I can!

If there are any mistakes I'm sorry and please feel free to point them out :)