Afire Love (#Wattys2016)

12. Zero New Messages

Chapter 12 – Zero New Messages.

It had been five days. Five days since I met Nate's step-mother and five days Nate hadn't texted me. It bothered me but I couldn't stop thinking about the why. Why didn't he call me? Why not even a single text saying Carol and Juliet were still here in America to explain his absent from my life. But I also realized that my reaction was way over the top since we only knew each other since a few weeks now and had spent most of the time talking about Marcus and sorting out my family problems. We did have dinner once though and it was amazing and we met up to watch pretty women as well. 

Also important to mention was that we kissed and it was kind of a big deal for me. I had never felt better than I did in this particular moment for a very long time but still, this didn't mean that we had equal feelings about it. He still is an athlete and could have any girl he wanted, especially with his looks and mesmerizing green eyes. It annoyed me that the only thing I seemed to be able to think about were his amazing eyes but they also helped me zone out of my actual life with Marcus as a stepfather and all the problems coming with it. It had gotten more tensed at home again with Marcus and Jay clashing about an argument two days ago. I didn't quite catch what it was about but it nearly ended in a fistfight again until Jay backed off noticing me entering the kitchen. He had gotten more buff through the even extremer training at the academy and him hitting the gym more often to flee from the situation at home. Since this kitchen incident two days ago Jayson had not been seen at home. He just texted me once telling me that he was staying at a friends house and that he'd be home soon. Apparently he just needed some space.

It was Friday evening and Marcus was at his poker night with his friends again, mom was sleeping early like always and Jay was out of the house anyway so Ben had picked me up to hang out. 

Now he, Amy and I were sitting in his huge bedroom eating chicken nuggets and drinking cheap beer from the kiosk down the street. The house was quiet due to his parents and little siblings visiting a theme park over the weekend. Ben wasn't interested in tagging along and had the house for himself. Amy was complaining about rude customers at her job were making her life a living hell and explained that the owner of the diner was being a brat as well. Ben and I were laughing our butts off as she told us numerous incidents with customers she had gotten in trouble for like a little boy who clearly ordered a chocolate milkshake at the counter, so Amy said, and as she brought it to the table where the boy and his parents were sitting he started crying since he wanted a banana milkshake instead. Amy not having siblings and not being good with children in general, told him to cut the act and that he should stop being a crybaby since it wouldn't get him anywhere in life. Doing this directly in front of the parents nearly caused the owner to throw her out but he let it slide since he wasn't interested in searching a new temporary employee. 

The family had to leave the diner since the boy wouldn't stop crying and the parents were eyeing Amy angrily as she reported. She obviously didn't do anything bad but prepared the kid for his future, so she thought.

"How's the Nate guy doing?" Ben asked suddenly making my cheeks heat up instantly. Ben and Amy caught on it right away and started grinning. I took a sip from my beer and cleaned my fingers with the napkin Ben had handed me earlier to get more time to prepare an answer.

"How would I know?" I asked a little bit annoyed about the fact that I indeed didn't know how he was. We hadn't had any contact in about 5 days and I was majorly disappointed about it. Calm down Kel's. I told myself before continuing eating.

"Oh come on, Kelsey." Amy said rolling her eyes as Ben spoke out what Amy was apparently thinking since she was nodding along while he put up a thesis.

"You called him out of all people, a stranger you just met at a party, to drive your brother to the hospital after he was beaten up by your stepfather and told him the real story behind it right away. You needed one year to tell us and we are your best friends." He said raising a brow. "And that tells me, that you clearly have a thing for him." They looked at me expecting a response. Amy was looking at me with a knowing smile digging through her bleach blond hair with her long black nails.