The Fading Oddities of Nate Smith (A NateWantsToBattle Fanfiction) --COMPLETE--

Chapter Six

¥~Olive~¥

"You sure it was a good idea to leave Nate in our dorm?"

Tess snaps me out of my daze with her doubtful question. I turn my attention to her as we walk across the courtyard to our class.

I shrug. "I'm not entirely positive myself," I reply, shielding the morning sun's light out of my eyes. "But I doubt he'll get far if he decides to leave. He looked pretty beat up."

"I guess you're right..." Tess' eyes fall to the sidewalk, staring down to her worn red Converse sneakers. "I just don't know if it was smart to leave some guy we just met in our living space, of all places."

"He'll be fine." I look ahead again as Tess adjusts her book bag. The two of us stroll in silence for a while, taking in the morning and trying to wake ourselves up. Hundreds of other students are doing the same, going about their business in a lazy and sleepy manner. The aroma of morning dew mixed with cheap breakfast sandwiches and coffee fills the air, and it makes the morning actually feel like morning. Tess spits onto the sidewalk and turns her head toward me.

"Hey, why'd you freak out when Nate told us his name?" she asks.

I almost trip over myself at her question and look at her in a slightly surprised way. "Well..." I begin, not knowing what to reply. "...h-his name just sounded familiar."

Tess raises an eyebrow. "You suuuure?"

I nod quickly. "Positive. He might just be someone else, though..."

My friend laughs a bit and shakes her head, about to turn away from me to head into her own class. "Alright, then...But hey, we might be able to find out what happened to him, who he is...I dunno. Something about him, at least."

I nod absently, deep in thought. "Yeah. True..."

"Alright, I gotta go. See ya at lunch?"

"Sure..."

With that, the two of us part ways, both entering neighboring buildings. I'm greeted by an icy draft and a sudden change in atmosphere. What was once a quiet and laid-back morning becomes a busy building full of chatter and the buzzing sound of someone barking into the PA in a heartbeat. But through all the busyness and morning rush, I only have one thing on my mind.

"Nate. Nate Smith."

Who is he...? Why do I feel like I know him from somewhere? He can't possibly be who I think he is...

...can he?