Her giant BF . . . F?

Chapter 22- Awkward

 The rest of the day went by in a blur. Luter was in all of her classes except for the core classes which just meant, she had Earth History, Art, and Gym (which every student is required to take). Nate was in her Gym class, and he and Spreland were also in Earth History. 

     The only thing that brought a smile to her face was the fact that taking Earth History was like taking an English class in a foreign country. She could sleep in there and still get an A.

    On the bus Nate sat in the seat next to her and was asking her a ton of questions. She’d answered all of them halfheartedly still upset about her new discovery. But before she got off at her stop Nate discovered Nellie’s favorite color was gold, her favorite band was the Civil Wars, she was afraid  of ALMOST nothing, and near the end he tricked her by asking who her favorite giant was and she said Luter before she thought about what she was saying.

    “Wait! No! You tricked me, I don’t have a favorite!” Nellie protested loudly. But the smirk on Nate’s face indicted he wasn’t going to pretend he didn’t hear what she said. So her face slightly red and her expression sheepish she asked, “Please, don’t say anything, okay?”
  
He pretended to zip his lips and throw away the key. “Hey, do you have a phone?”

 Nellie thought about it, trying to remember if she’d gotten on during a shopping trip, but she couldn’t remember. “I don’t think so, why?”

  “Oh, I just wanted to have your number. .  . I’m sure Luter would like it too.” He grinned even bigger and wiggled his eyebrows. 

    Nellie laughed and smacked the window separating them from each other. “Ugh if I wasn’t stuck in here I’d totally hit you right now.”

   He started to laugh mocking her, “with those puny arms of yours?” 

   “I’ll have you know I’m not puny, in actually rather strong for a girl.”

   “For a HUMAN girl.” He corrected her.

   She merely waved it away with her hand, “Human? Retsnomian? What’s the difference?” she giggled and stuck her tongue out.

   He smiled back at her. “You are just so different. Any other human would have called me a racist just then. But you know I was just joking. YOU can take a joke.”

  Her smile started too dim. “I can take a joke. But sometimes the line between a joke and being just plain rude, is very thin.”

  He nodded in understanding just as the bus lurched to a stop Nellie’s upper half was thrust forward, her head almost hitting the seat in front of her.

  “Mr. Newcomb! Seriously take it easier on the braking next time!” Nellie winced at the pain his loud voice caused to her ears but tried to hide it when he turned back towards her saying, “Bye, Nellie. It was great meeting you! I’ll see you tomorrow at school.” He waved though the window, Nellie waved back as she unbuckled her seatbelt and rushed towards the elevator exit.

  Once on solid ground once again with all the passengers at the stop off, the bus sped away. Nellie looked up to see Colton standing there, not looking down at her but not walking away either.

  After a few EXTREMELY awkward and uncomfortable seconds Nellie started walking. It would be a long trek down the gravel driveway towards the house. The Holland’s hadn’t thought to install a moving walkway that connected the front door of the house to the end of the driveway.

  Colton walked slowly keeping pace with her. “Nellie?” his voice was hesitant.

  When she didn’t reply, he continued, “I know you aren’t exactly happy with me right now, I understand that, but if we walk at this pace it’ll take hours before we get to the house.”

  In a grumbly voice she replied, “Just like last time, you don’t HAVE to walk with me. You can be home in minutes, I’ll get their eventually.”

   There was silence on his end for a whole five minutes. He moved his feet only inches at a time somehow managing to stay patient.

   But finally after an hour of walking at a steady pace, Nellie was starting to feel tired. When she looked up at him, Colton just looked bored. She sighed loudly, hating the fact that she needed help with anything. 

   “Can I carry anything for you?” Colton asked her quietly, tentatively, worrying that she’d interrupt him with a ‘No’ before he even finished. 

    But she didn’t and after a few more minutes she sighed dramatically and stopped to take off her heavy backpack. Colton had been right about taking as little as possible on the first day, not that she’d admit that to him now. 

   She received a textbook that she’d keep at home, until the teacher noted otherwise, for every one of her core classes English, science, Algebra II, and both of her history classes, Earth and Retsnom. So with 5 heavy textbooks weighing her down weren’t exactly convenient. 

   She raised it above her head her arms slightly shaking at the weight. “Here” He bent over, casting a large shadow over her body, and plucked it up, hooking his finger through the straps. 

    After that it was much easier to walk, still slow, but not nearly as difficult. And after what seemed like an eternity the words that were casting a brand on her tongue finally slipped out of her mouth, “Thank you.”

   “No problem.” He said still looking straight ahead. Nellie thought she heard something like happiness in his voice but it also sounded a little facetious. But he was the one carrying her backpack, so she wasn’t about to protest and risk him dumping it back on her.