Finding Claire

Chapter 22

I was staring at my mother in shock as she giggled and danced around the living room, hugging a pillow.

Why?

I had walked in, already feeling her rage and wincing as she called out my full name. "Claire Roselyn Cross. Where in the world have you been? Don't you know I've been worried sick!?"

"Sorry mom. I went out with Nathan and the time flew by. It won't happen again," I whispered while looking down. A couple of minutes passed and she still hadn't said anything. When I finally looked up, her mouth was popped open and her eyes were wide.

"You went on a date with Nathan!" She shrieked and that's when she began to dance around, singing about marriage and babies and a bunch of other nonsense.

"MOM!" I screamed, making her stop. "IT WAS NOT A DATE! AND THERE IS NO WEDDING OR BABIES! IM SORRY IF I RUINED YOUR MOOD BUT COME ON!?! IM ONLY 17 FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!"

"Not for long. Remember your birthday is next week," she sang and I blinked rapidly. She was right. My birthday was next week and I had completely forgotten about it.

"Well whatever. I'm sorry again. I'll be in my room if you want to ground me or something." She never came by and I fell asleep, thinking about the events of the day.

When the sun came up the next day, I received a message from Nathan as soon as I hoped off the shower.

You up?

No. I'm still sleeping. Go away.

Ha ha. Have you had breakfast?

No..... why?

IHOP???

Ooooh. Oh I don't know. I was kind of hoping of enjoying my granola bar for breakfast. I joked.

No. You. Me. IHOP. Thirty minutes. Be there or I'll come for you.

Oh man!

*

*

"Just in time. I was about to go after you," Nathan laughed as soon as I stepped out the car. I glared at him and ran my fingers through my still wet hair. He followed my hand as it went up and down, but when he noticed me staring at him, he shook his head and smiled. "Ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be. I still need to do my hair," I laughed and he mumbled something under his breath. I ignored him, clutched my wallet even tighter and walked into the house of pancakes.

*

I mentally slapped myself as I caught myself staring at Nathan while he changed his shirt outside IHOP. His six pack was in view, and his biceps flexed as he pulled his shirt up and over his head. I swear I think I was drooling.

Why is he changing his shirt? Well his original shirt was white, and he spilled coffee all over it. How? Well I told him what my mom was singing about yesterday and he missed his mouth, the coffee spilling all over. Luckily, he had the silverware cloth on his lap so he got saved there, but shirt wise, that was another story.

"Ready to go?" his voice snapped me out of my dream faze and I blushed. I nodded, got in my car and drove off as he stood there, confused.

Once we got to school twenty minutes later, we walked inside and waited a couple of minutes until the bell rang.

"So.... umm I want to ask you something." he spoke softly as he played with his hands. "I know it's not until another three months from now, but I just want to be the first to say something." I raised my eyebrows up at him and he took a deep breath before he rushed everything out. "Willyougotopromwithme?"