The Girl he Wants

22- Did I Prove Anything?

***NATALIE'S P.O.V***

   The waiter at the restaurant takes everyone's orders, leaving Sam and Natalie alone to converse once again, which is fine by Natalie. "You go first."

   "Mmm. Okay. Um... What's your favorite hobby?" Sam questions her as he leans back in the chair and rests his arm casually on the arm rest. His light, hazel eyes shine in the afternoon sunlight, his dark hair glinting.

   "Easy." Natalie says to him, lifting his bushy eyebrows. "Playing video games."

"No way. That's mine, too." A remarkable smile forms Sam's lips. "Well, that and talking to you."

"Oh, Sam, are you flirting with me?" Natalie's cheeks heat up, although the rest of her body keeps her feelings hidden and tucked away, just like she likes them. When Sam nods, her mouth turns up. "It's not working."

Sam lets out an exaggerated huff. "You're just playing hard to get."

"Or you just suck at flirting." Natalie giggles, attempting to keep her tough composure when Sam's jaw drops.

"Well, that's not nice." Sam shifts in his chair, his eyes narrowing.

Natalie says, "My turn. What's your favorite song?"

"Depends what genre." Sam responds as soon as she gets the question out.

Prepared, Natalie adds, "Pop."

"For pop, I'd have to say..." He gazes at the sky as if there is an answer in between the beautiful, white puffs of clouds. "Well, my favorite older pop song would have to be You're Beautiful by James Blunt." He pauses and gives Natalie the perfect chance to roll her pretty eyes. "Favorite new pop song is Feels."

   "Okay, cool." Natalie nods. "Makes sense. Those are good songs."

   "So, what do you plan on doing after high school?" Sam's next question slips off his thick lips and into Natalie's ears.

   She sighs, her heart plopping into her stomach. "I wish I could say I am already applying to colleges and I will be getting a four-year degree, but I won't. I can't go to college."

   Sam sits up, his shoulders tensing. "How come?"

   "I don't have the funds." Natalie's eyes drop onto the ground. "Besides, I have to help my family pay off my mom's hospital bills."

   "What? Why is your mom in the hospital?" Sam's queries are soft and sensitive in a way, his eyes honestly concerned.

   "Was." Natalie corrects him, her heart breaking all over again. "She died a little over two years ago." And then to answer the question in Sam's eyes, she says, "Cancer."

   Sam appears as if he might hug her. "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to-"

   "No, it's fine." Natalie displays a gentle smile on her face. "I've grieved for her and now I can look back and remember the good times, not just the bad. I... I like talking about her."

   Sam is speechless as she continues. "Honestly, I feel like I keep her memory alive when I bring her up in conversation."

   Natalie swallows and leans back in her chair as Sam tells her, "Natalie, that's amazing. Not many people can say that."

Natalie lifts her dark eyes to his. "I know this is what she would want me to do... To think of the good times and not the bad." The side of her mouth lifts up. "But anyways... My turn."

   "Do you have any pets?" Natalie asks Sam casually, pretending like it's a normal thing to talk about her mother, when it's not. To her family, she could say it is. Not a single day goes by that Natalie, her father, and her little brother don't talk about her mother. Yet, she hasn't had many close friends to share her thoughts with about her mother. Being able to--which Natalie was definitely not expecting when she first met Sam--is both a blessing and a nightmare. She plans on sharing only the good memories--the ones she cherishes, not the additional, horrible memories that flood back into her mind.