Freedom -On Hold

Freedom Chapter 5

Chapter 5:

Natalie swirled around my room in my office chair. She beamed. 

"Oh, Talia," she sighed, closing her eyes and placing her feet on my bed. "I'm so proud of you,"

I pushed her feet off. "There's no need to be proud. He came onto ME. And besides it was going to happen anyway,"

She ignorantly put her feet back up on my bed. "Oh, I knew it was going to happen, I'm just glad it did!"

I rolled my eyes, a habit I had been (at that time) trying to break. 

She stared at me with a pervy face. "So what's your next plan of attack? Are we talking waist and below?"

I leaned over across the bed and smacked her arm. "No! Not yet at least,"

She winked at me. "Another thing that I can just sense is going to happen,"

"Shut up,"

She howled with laughter. "Don't be shy!"

I scowled and she only laughed harder. 

"Just don't forget to tell me when it happens, okay?"

I shook my head. "No, I won't forget. I just won't tell you,"

Her lips curved downward. "Wow, I see that I'm the only person that actually values our friendship,"

I fake-smiled so wide my cheeks stung. 

Rolling her eyes dramatically, she turned away from me and grabbed her bag. "Alright then, fine. I see how it is. Later, not-best friend. I've got to get home before my parents file missing person reports for me,"

I stiffly saluted her as she walked out my door. "See ya,"

She closed the door behind her and I shamelessly thought about what would happen next for Tyler and I. Were we actually going to become a couple or just remain in our friends-with-benefits-type flirtationship?

The next day after school I was feeling extra ballsy and decide to ask him. 

"Tyler," I began, as we walked to his car. He'd taken me home every day that entire week. "Would you consider us a couple?"

He looked down at me, slightly amused. He then looked up and stared straight ahead at the parking lot. "I would,"

I smiled a bit but then stared at the trees that loomed beside us to hide my grin. "Same here,"

I wasn't looking at his face but I could tell he was smiling. 

An awkward silence stalked us as we climbed into the car. He watched me carefully as I put on my seat belt. When I was buckled up, I too stared at him. Our eyes locked for a second and then he turned away, facing the steering wheel. He smirked as he started the car. 

His smirk made me giggle. "What?"

He grinned and giggled along with me. “‘Would you consider us a couple?’” He mimicked my voice. "Really Talia? You're too adorable,"

I swatted his shoulder with the back of my hand. "I just wanted to be sure!"

He laughed, almost loosening his grip on the steering wheel. 

For once, I wasn't blushing. "I have the right to know, Tyler,"

He nodded, sighing softly. "Yes. You do,"

Another silence fell over us, but this time out wasn't awkward. It was light, enjoyable: the kind of silence that was filled with thoughts about each other.