Shadow [The Wanted - Nathan Sykes]

Part 7: The Strong and the Weak

[HEY. So um, after part 6 I kinda posted the wrong parts... so erm, start reading from part 6 again for a clearer story! Sorry! >< xx]

"Hello?"

"Elle? It's Max. I got your number from Nath. How's Shadow?"

"He's alright. He isn't sick at all, he's just getting old."

"Well, remember what I told you, and keep it to yourself."

"Alright, I will."

"And, you could come talk to me if you need help with the closure."

"Sure thing. Thank you, Max."

It had been a few days and Shadow wasn't getting any better. Our walks along usual routes took longer, he was eating less, and he just sat in a corner of the house instead of running all over the place when I first adopted him as a puppy.

My relationship with Nathan, on the other hand, was growing stronger. We started going out more, I traveled with them during their UK tour and promotion, I was mentioned as a good friend of The Wanted's in interviews every once in a while. I was beginning to fall in love with him. That's when I realized Max was probably right; getting me and Nathan together was probably one of the adventures Shadow was taking me on. Our last adventure together.

"You ready?" Nathan said. He was in my flat on evening and he was taking me out on another date.

"Just about," I said, putting on my earrings. I was dressed in my usual style, printed T-shirt under a varsity jacket, jeans and a pair of sneakers. I never really bothered with makeup and all those girly stuff, unless it rose to the occasion.

"Gen, I need you to feed Shade at around 8."

"No problemo," her attitude toward Shadow had changed as he aged. "He's getting a lot easier to handle now that he's getting old and slow.

"Gen," Nathan said sternly. He had grown really fond of Shadow as well and understood how much he mattered to me.

"Wha-- fine. I'm sorry, okay?" Gen said. "Go crazy, kids."

"Ahh, damn, there aren't any good movies we haven't already seen." I said.

"Come on, follow me." Nathan said, taking me by the hand.

"Close your eyes," Nathan said, and I did as I was told before he continued to lead me to the mysterious place.

"Okay, open." I opened my eyes and saw a huge skatepark.

"Oh. My. God."

"One thing the Turner kids were popular for in our neighborhood was skateboarding. I wanted to take you here next week, but now seemed like a good time, too."

"But I don't have a skateboard." I said after admiring the whole park, seeing guys and girls do tricks I mastered at 12 because of my older brother's influence. It had been a while since I had last done it, but I was sure I could still do it.

"Anthony!" Nathan called out and approaching us was a man with an extra skateboard.

"You must be Eleanor?" He asked me.

"Yeah," I said.

"Anthony Martins," he said shaking my hand before handing me a skateboard. "Heard you were pretty good on the skateboard."

"Er, yeah," I giggled. 

"Well show us what you've got," Nathan said.

"You were amazing!" Anthony told me.

"Thanks, you weren't so bad yourself." 

"I don't think I've ever seen a girl as good as you. Ever thought of competing?"

"I have, but I lived in a small neighborhood where my brothers and I were really the only ones who bothered."

"We have competitions every few months, you should come over." Anthony offered.

"Sounds great!" I had always wanted to skateboard competitively.

"Cool," he said as Nathan walked toward us. "Aye, mate. I'll give you a call to tell your girlfriend here about any competitions."

"Thanks, but ah. She's not my girlfriend." Nathan blushed.

"Really? Ah, what a waste. I was just about to say you've got a real good catch." Anthony said. "But uh, sorry if I made things awkward. See you around."

"You've gotten better."

"Huh?" I asked Nathan. We were having dinner and it was fairly peaceful. No fans were surrounding the restaurant like they always would.

"On the skateboard. I used to watch you from my window whenever you and your brothers went by."

"Oh. Well thanks," I smiled. Come on, just ask him.

"Hey.. Um, I'm going home to Gloucester next weekend... do you wanna come with me?" I asked.

"To.. Yeah, sure," his eyes lit up. "Perfect timing as well, I have next weekend off anyway."

"I had yet another great night, Nath." I said as we stood in front of my flat door like always. This was usually the time he kisses my cheek and hugs me goodbye. But I decided it was time for change. As he leaned into kiss my cheek, I turned for his lips to meet mine. We pulled away for a second or two before he pulled me in by the waist and hugged me again.

"There he goes again," I said when I heard Shadow's barking from inside.

"Perfect timing again from Shadow," he chuckled. "I'll see you tomorrow."

I opened the door and saw Genevieve was sitting on the sofa with her feet on the coffee table, reading her magazine. It was the regular view for me to come home to, with Shadow by the door.

"Seems like our goodbye's coming soon," I whispered to Shadow who blinked in agreement.