Left Abroad

Chapter 3

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Pic of Adam James Smith
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   “Nathan, this is Adam James Smith and Adam this is Nathan Shaw,” he said and we shook hands.

   Oh my, I actually touched his hand. He was a bit, just a bit taller than me, brown hair, strong chin, beautiful brown eyes I almost got lost in. Even beneath his suit I could see he was well built and I could see he had just as much money as Micheal.

   “Uh, you mind giving me my hand back?”

   He just gave a smile and I could feel my cheeks getting warmer and gave a quick look at Micheal.

   “Nathan, why don’t you check what’s taking our parents so long since they are running a tad late and they made sure as hell we were finished early.”

   I silently thanked him and started to walk away, on my way up the stairs both pair of parents came down. I turned around again and was relieved, we would leave immediately and then there would be no awkwardness for me. I saw the two standing at the door, it looked like they were whispering about something.

   “He’s back,” I could just hear Adam whisper to Micheal and he turned around to face us all.

   “Shall we go,” Micheal said to us all giving a bright smile.

   Why did it feel like something was up. I just shook my head. They both looked at me for a moment and then went out the door, I reluctantly followed. This was going to be a long night, I could just feel it. No limousine this time and needless to say I was thankful! I felt a little out of place in it.

   “Why don’t the kids go in one car and we grownups in one,” my mom suggested, sealing my fate.

   So we got into our separate cars and I almost ran to the back seat, I didn’t want to feel one of their eyes boring into the back of my head. I also could not drive yet. I stared out the window at the lights in the night sky, the stars grabbed my attention like a guy without a shirt. They stood out brilliantly against the navy blue almost black sky. We came to a stop then and I hadn’t even realised we were at the restaurant yet. We got out and I followed them to where out parents where already standing and waiting for us at the door.

   Inside we went and we were lead straight to a large table reserved just for us. Everybody took chairs and I was left sitting opposite of Adam. Why?! Now each time I would look up, I would be looking straight into those brown eyes. The dinner started rather uneventful, but I saw how Micheal and Adam exchanged glances every now and then. I felt a foot rub against my leg and almost jumped straight up, a few looked at me but Micheal just looked down and gave a small laugh. He was starting to make me feel a bit suffocated, from the sketchbook to trying to make me think Adam is playing footsy.

   “So, Nathan, any girlfriends back home?”

   “No,” I said looking up at Adam.

   “How is Southern Africa?”

   “Corrupt as ever. No, I guess it’s okay, from what I hear the schools certainly are different here. . .”

   Our first meal came and we talked about the school and some of the nationalities and the believes and religions in SA. I heard a bit about here in the USA and the schools and so on and it all sounded a lot interesting.

   At the end of the main course we were still talking and Micheal also joined us. Somehow we ended up on the topic of climate.

   “It’s really hot, like it makes you lazy and just want to lay down. I don’t know how people say you get use to it, 17 years and I haven’t. It really is just too hot,” I say.

   “Like your sketchbook,” Adam asks after Micheal gave him a quick elbow to the ribs.

   I felt myself go tomato red, did he really tell him about that.

   “Excuse me,” I said and quickly got up and made my way to the bathroom.

   I looked at the mirror, I really was almost tomato red. I opened the faucet and wet my face. This was not the best night for me. Why did I feel like this, from the moment I saw him when I opened that door. The way his eyes shined and the way his smile revealed those perfect teeth. Stop it Nathan. Now I was as red as red could be. Then the door opened and it brought me back to the now.

   “Nathan, are you okay?”

   “Are you being serious right now,” I whisper yelled.

   “Okay, so at least it’s not diarrhoea,” he said laughing and I punched him in the arm.

   “What are they saying out there?”

   “Nothing much, although Adam had to leave, something about his girlfriend” he said giving me a wink, “having a crisis.”

   Girlfriend? Or should I say boyfriend? Either way it felt strange  for some reason. I felt like a green eyed monster, why was I jealous, I’ve know him for what, an hour and a half. No. This wasn’t for real, did I develop a crush on a guy that I met an hour and a half ago?

   “Let’s just go,” I said.

   The rest of the night was totally uneventful and the only highlight to it all was dessert. When the sugar hit my tongue, it melted like all my troubles.