Nathan

❶❶

"It isn't some stupid ass crush, is it?"
- Nathan

Two days later at school I tried to have a normal day. No drama, nothing negative, simply because this was my last school day before the family vacation. Nathan was so excited that he went to sleep really late last night. I should know because I had to listen to Drake all night long.

"When you get there, make sure that you put on sunscreen, wait no, before you get there. I think beating the clock is bes–" Farrah was already over her not being chosen for this trip, so she made it her duty to micromanage it as much as she could before I left.

"Farrah!" I call with wide eyes, "Thank you for all of the information you gave me."

"No problem .... do you mean everything I told you today or the pamphlet I airdropped you yesterday?" She asked innocently, causing me to chuckle and push her away. Before we could even pick up another conversation, I felt a presence to my left.

Turning in that direction, I came face to face with Heather. "Hey Peri .... and others, this weekend is going to be so fun, I hope to see you guys there." The girl smiled, right before rubbing my shoulder and walking past us. Farrah eyed her until she was out of sight, and then turned to me with disgust.

Did I mention that the reason why she was fine with not going to the Hamptons was because Heather was going to be there?

"I can't stand that prude ... prud-ing it up like a prude, freaking prude." She spat with crossed arms. I looked at her weirdly because her word choice was not only inaccurate, but strangely censored.

"What's with the 'freaking', and you and I both know that that girl is the furthest thing from a prude." I correct.

"Oh I forgot, my mom sent me to this anger class, and our first step was to banish all cussing. Hell, I guess that bastard actually knows what he's doing because I haven't cursed since."

"Um ..."

"DAMN IT– I-I meant DARN it!" Farrah cursed, face palming herself a bit too hard. I took this time to actually decide if I wanted to talk to her about this whole Eli ordeal. I mean, of course I do, she's my best friend for crying out loud.

"Hey, um, do you think that Roman–"

Just then, I was caught off by a new voice, which sounded like it belonged to Asher. When I found out it did, I almost bursted out laughing because I instantly remembered that Farrah has a huge crush on him.

"Hey girls," He greeted, giving each one of us a hug. The girl had subconsciously closed her eyes amidst their embrace, so I had to bump into her so she wouldn't embarrass herself. "I was asking through the group for a favor, but everybody was apparently doing some other irrelevant shit.

But would either of you be free to go to–"

"I'll go."

"–the soup kitchen?" He finalized, looking at Farrah with a slight winced expression. I started laughing because Farrah was so eager that she didn't even listen to what he was going to offer. I knew for a fact that she wouldn't be able to do this so I stepped in.

"Yeah, she can't, see Farrah has a phobia of–"

"NOPE!" She interjected, stepping in front of me. "I-I don't have a phobia of anything, I'll be more than happy to accompany you to the soup kitchen." After pumping his fist and pointing at her, Asher slowly backed away from us. Which almost made me laugh again.

"BITCH!" I cried, doubling over in a fit of laughter. Farrah has had a phobia of homeless people for as long as I can remember. Not only that, she hates soup, the texture, the smell, everything about it is a big no for her.

"Laugh it up, but I just secured a date with Asher, how do you like me now?" The girl smiled, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"Yeah, with Asher, and a group of strangers from off of the streets." I mutter, and close my locker so that we could keep walking. I don't think that homeless people themselves scare her, but rather, the fact that they're homeless, which is honestly so confusing.

I've told her multiple times that they can't help the fact that they don't have access to clean water most of the time, but she still remains frightened. It's a very ugly fear to have, and I almost misinterpreted it the first time we met, which almost prevented us from becoming friends.

X

"PERI!" Nathan called from the behind our shared wall, I didn't understand why he felt the need to scream at the top of his lungs every time. My room is literally an inch away from his, "I need help with something." and he used this to his advantage every fucking time.

I stood up from my bed and walk out of the room, wondering what it is he could need assistance with this time. Yesterday it was making his bed, and the day before that, he didn't know how to make his tv split into two screens. As you can see, he really doesn't discriminate when it comes to calling me to help him with things.

"What is it?" I ask, peering in through his doorway. He stood beside his bed, looking down at his beyond full suitcase. Nathan was always one to overpack, usually, majority of the bags in the car are his. You would think that we were staying for over a month.

"I need you to tell me if I should take this shirt or not." The boy informed, so I sat down on the bed to get comfortable. When it came to his wardrobe, it usually takes a long time for him to pick everything out.

He held up two black shirts, both of them looking the exact same. I glanced up at him, wondering if he was serious or not. "You do realize that these are the same-"

"No, they're not, this one is like an off black, but the other one is a black-black, you know what I mean?"

"To be honest .... I really don't." I chuckled, watching him throw one of the shirts in with the others. He didn't find anything funny, because as I said earlier, he takes this stuff very seriously. I mean, I do too, but he adds another level to being obsessed with clothing.

"Hey, um, I hate to beat a dead horse but, we're not going to have any ... complications on the trip, are we?" Nathan questioned, and he could sense that I didn't follow so he elaborated. "Like, you aren't attracted to me anymore, right?"

When I came into his room, I was not prepared in anyway to be asked this question. I feel like lowkey, that is the only reason why he even called me in here, to ask me about how I felt towards him. But I just shrug, because honestly, I don't even know where my head is at.

"You can be honest with me, I know that last time I blew up on you, but you and I are close, I'd hate to see that go away because of some stupid ass crush." He told, while zipping up the suitcase. When he noticed that I wasn't saying anything, he stopped to turn and look at me. "It isn't some stupid ass crush, is it?"

"No, but It's not that, I don't have any control over this–"

"Let's just say you did, would you even want to stop it?" His question silenced me, and I'm pretty sure that once again, my lack of speaking served as my answer. "I'm never going to feel that way for you, so just stop dreaming about me, and thinking of m–"

"That's literally the point, Nathan, I can't stop! After hearing you say that, I want nothing more than to do just that. Fuck, you're being such a dick again, why?" I yell, and stand up from his bed. What he had told me was nothing but the truth, and if it wasn't for how hurt he'd made me feel, I wouldn't be yelling right now.

"I'm just saying, you're going to inflict pain on yourself in the end when you find this out, so just give your heart a break now and leave me the hell alone!" He put, stepping a bit closer, which of course intimidated me and made back away slightly.

"You want me to leave you alone? Fine, consider it done, Nathan, don't talk to me anymore." I put, before walking out of his room heated, and slamming the door behind me.

X