The Quarterback's Girl

Chapter 4

I woke up alone in my bed the next morning. I put my hand out to feel for Nate, but when I opened my eyes, he was gone.

I sat up groggily, and turned on my lamp. On my desk, there was a small note, written on a sticky-note in Nate's handwriting. "Meet me at the park?" It said, referring to the small park that was around three blocks from my house. I smiled slowly. We always went to the park to hangout and pet the dogs that their owners let loose in the grass.

I got up from my bed, and slipped my feet into my soft bunny slippers. I dragged myself to my closet and pulled out a loose white T-shirt and a pair of black Adidas shorts. I was about to just slip my feet into a pair of brown Birkenstock's, but then I stopped. I had just gotten new pizza socks, and had been meaning to wear them for the past week.

"And who says I can't wear socks with sandals?" I said to myself triumphantly, putting my sandals over my pizza socks. "This is actually completely and totally awesome."

The house was quiet, and I grabbed my keys from the counter top on my way out. It was only about ten in the morning, and since it was Saturday, my entire family was still sleeping.

I could honestly just walk to the park, but I really didn't feel like it so I drove. Still half asleep, I didn't put on any music, so it was quiet the ride there.

"Nate?" I yawned after I had arrived at the entrance to the park. There were a couple people running around the track, and I reached down to pet one of the dogs frolicking in the field. Nate was nowhere to be found, so I shrugged and sat on the steps of the large outdoor play set to wait for him.

I got a text about 30 seconds later from him, telling me to go to our spot. Our "spot" is an area of the park that we always go to have picnics, or just talk. It's under a huge oak tree, and someone cuts the grass so it's never too itchy to sit down. There's a couple of benches in case, though. The best part about it is that someone planted a row of lavender plants at the edge. In the summer the lavender blooms, and it honestly smells just amazing.

Lavender is my favorite scent, and I can't remember a time when I didn't ever use lavender. I use lavender scented hair products, lavender lotion, perfume, everything. I had no idea that I even had this obsession, until I went over to Nate's house one time. He had a dried lavender plant on his desk, and I asked him why he had it, and he replied, "You've always smelled like lavender."

I sat down on one of the benches, and admired the scenery. The lavender wasn't in season, but I felt like I could almost smell it.

"Hey!" I heard Nate's voice and so I looked up from where I was drawing a flower in the dirt with my toe.

"Hey." I stood up as he approached me, and tugged him back onto the bench where he tucked me into his arm.

"I, uh, got you something." He fished a tiny box out of his pocket, messily wrapped in pink paper.

"Well, at least I know you wrapped it." I turned it over in my hand.

"Shut up and open it." He grinned at me.

I ripped open the paper and opened the box. "Nate! It's gorgeous!" Inside was a dainty little pendant with a gold chain. Strung on it was a misshapen turquoise stone. "Nate.. how much was this?" I frowned.

"Not much. I bought it from that little store you like. What's it called..?"

"Drift Away?" I smiled.

"Yeah, that's the one. Let me put it on you." I threw my hair over my shoulder so he could close the clasp.

"So, what's the occasion?" I turned back around to look at him.