Something Worth Fighting For

Chapter Thirty Seven: The Beautiful Life

Chapter Thirty Seven: The Beautiful Life

The weekend had finally arrived. Dallas had come home from practice looking as though he went to some university preparatory school. Since the coach had gone on a tirade about the team arriving and leaving the training sessions looking clean and professional, Dallas had decided to smarten up. He wasn't about to face the coach's wrath any time soon.

Dallas unlocked the front door, and walked into the house. He had worn tan coloured pants, a short sleeved white collared shirt, and a matching tan vest. His blonde hair stuck up from the numerous times he had run his hand through them...out of frustration...and the heat while playing on the field. His bag was slung over one shoulder as he entered the house.

He welcomed the cool air from the air conditioner. The heat outside was making him slightly uncomfortable and itchy in his clothes. It was only May and the temperature was increasing steadily. Today seemed like a good day for a picnic. It was the perfect day to go somewhere nice and cool...perhaps by a lake.

Slowly, he walked up the stairs to drop off his things in his room. Derek's parents were not home, albeit conveniently. Derek was off on a date with Aimee...which Dallas had made sure to razz him about, mercilessly. That only left one person. One person who needed an outing...not only to relax...but to forget the week's unprecedented events.

Dallas opened the door to the room across the hall. It was empty. She wasn't there. Her bag was on the floor, closed. Her desk was clear of any text books. Dallas looked around puzzled. Where's Natalia? He wondered.

He walked down the stairs, taking a moment to glance at his watch. It was lunch time. He knew she hadn't planned to go out.

Heading in to the living room, still there was no sign of her. The couches were empty, the television off. Dallas was starting to feel disappointment brewing. He had come home hoping to see her. Now she was no where to be seen.

It wasn't until he heard a laugh, that the basement caught his attention. The door stood ajar. Dallas smiled.

Figures, He thought. If the entire upper portion of the house is empty...she's in the basement...

He walked down the steps. Sure enough Natalia was lying on the couch laughing at something on the television.

She paused what she was watching as she saw him walk down the stairs.

“Hi, Dallas!” Natalia said, cheerfully.

“Hey. What are you doing in the basement?” He asked.

“It's cooler here than it is upstairs...and I was going through Derek's stash of movies.” She told him, with a grin.

Natalia sat up. She was wearing simple flowing white dress with a bow tied at the back. Instead of wearing pants, she was wearing black capris, her black flip-flops lay off in a corner. Natalia's hair had been half let down over her shoulders. The other half had been tied, with her bangs covering her forehead. She looked beautiful.

Dallas sat down next to her.

“Why do you look so formal?” Natalia asked, gesturing to his clothes. Dallas sighed. “Didn't I tell you?” He asked. “Nope.” She answered.

“Well...coach had a fit about all the players looking as though we just get out of bed...and show up. So he told us to look clean and professional. No baggy pants allowed...I think he's sick of seeing pictures in the newspapers...where some of the guys have their boxers showing...not that I'm one of them...I think it was for the over all look of the team.” Dallas told her.

Natalia was snickering, which soon turned in to laughter. “It's not that funny!” He told her, her laugh was infectious. Soon he was laughing along with her.