An Abundance of White Blood Cells // [WATTYS 2017]

TEN

Above is more Nate

I rubbed my sweaty palms on my jeans. We were parked outside of Nate's house ten minutes late. I'd made him wait to go so I could change. I'd decided to wear jeans, converse and a blush pink t-shirt. I thought that would be better than cookie monster pajama bottoms and a black tank top. Nate went to take my hand and opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. "Don't say 'Don't worry they'll love you'."

He shook his head and chuckled. "Don't worry, they'll and intense affection for you."

I rolled my eyes and giggled. "Haha, very funny wise guy."

Nate let go of my hand, earlier he'd made me promise I'd wait for him to get my door. When he did, I hopped out of the car. I took a few deep breaths as I felt Nate lace his fingers with mine. He led me past the multiple cars and to the back yard. The gate was halfway open, and I could hear music and voices. Nate pushed the gate open and let me pass through.

The back yard had a few picnic tables set up on the patio, a grill that was being manned by Nate's Dad was off to the side. The picnic tables were filled with couples and their kids, who's ages ranged from infant to eighteen. In front of the patio was a fire pit and camping chairs placed around it in a circle. There was a little swing set off to the side that had a few kids playing on it.

It smelt like burgers and hot dogs. Behind the grill was a picnic table that had bags of chips, condiments, paper plates, napkins, plastic cups, basically anything you'd need for a back yard cook out. It was the picture of a happy family.

Nate dragged me to a table where his mom was seated along with three other people I'd never met. Nate's mom gave him a look that I had no idea how to read, which meant that I didn't know if it was good or bad. We sat down next to his mom, across fro, Nate's relatives. "Mom, you already know Sloane." He said.

"Mmmhmm," His mom nodded. "I remember her." She had a smile on he face, that could have several different meanings.

"Sloane, this is my Aunt Sarah, my Uncle Jay, and my cousin Austin." Nate said, gesturing to each person in turn. I shook all of their hands. Nate's aunt, Sara, asked me a bunch of questions. Mostly about school and things like that. She didn't ask much after I told her I did online school, although she did comment on the fact that I was a grade ahead than I should be. Eventually Nate's mom and aunt got up to get something from the kitchen. "I'm gonna go get some food. You want anything?" Nate asked, rubbing my back a little.

"Just a hot dog, thank you." I smiled slightly.

Nate got up and left, his uncle followed, which left me with just Austin. "So he roped you in, eh?" He said.

I nodded. "I guess so."

"You know, you're the first girl he's ever brought over." Austin continued.

I looked up from my hands. "Really?"

"Yeah!" Austin nodded. "He must really like you."

The rest of the afternoon I talked with his family and listened to funny stories that they told. Eventually the part moved to around the campfire and we roasted marshmallows at four in the afternoon. Which was a bit different than what I was used to. There weren't enough chairs, so Nate had me sit on his lap. I roasted two marshmallows and in no time he and I had the sweet goodness that is a s'more. I got some stuck on my lip and he got it with his thumb. I knew we were being watched by certain members of his family (his mom, aunt Sara, and a few other women) but I didn't care.

It was nice.

Eventually I was pulled off Nate's lap by his younger cousins her were just around eight years old. They had me play by the swing with them, I'd push them on the swings or we'd race around the swing sets, which didn't last long because I was getting tired faster than normal. Nate and a few of his other older cousins around his own age joined us.

I talked with them for awhile, mostly about what Nate was paying me to be his girlfriend. It was kinda weird to me, to be his girlfriend. It wasn't that I wasn't okay with it...it just meant that I needed to tell him about something that I'd been putting off for awhile.

***

The barbeque ended around five thirtyish. I said my goodbyes to everyone, which took at least fifteen minutes, before Nate took me home. As we drove he told me how much his family liked me. I was quiet most of the time. Trying to figure out how to tell Nate that I had had cancer, but I was currently as healthy as a horse.

He pulled into my drive way, got my door like he always did and walked me to my door. "Thanks for coming Sloane." He said

"I had a lot of fun, you're cousins are great."

He leaned down and we kissed a couple times, the shivers were still there, and we said bye.

The words I meant to say never came.