We're Just Friends... Aren't We? (Finished)

Chpt 26

   I stand outside the room, my palms clammy. I raise my fist to knock on the door but I can't bring myself to do it. "Just come in Ivy, your hovering is setting me on edge." I hear Nathan's angry drawl coming from within. Gulping I turn the handle slowly to reveal him sitting on the bed, his head in his hands. He doesn't look up when I enter, but I feel it appropriate to shut the door behind myself quietly. I lean against the door, biting my lip, trying to think of something to say but nothing comes to mind. "Nath." I whisper, edging towards him carefully.

"I'm not a bomb Ivy." he says agitatedly. 

"I know." I reply, still wary of him. 

"Then why are you acting like I'm about to explode?" he asks me, looking up to meet my gaze, causing me to freeze.

"You might just explode." I reply, trying to sound jokey but failing miserably. I tentatively sit next to him, glancing at him sideways. I place my hand on his shoulder and squeeze it lightly, "It was two years ago you kno-" I start but he shakes himself away from me and stands up as soon as I start to speak, running his hands through his hair.

"I do know Ivy, I remember that night very well." he hisses at me, his back still facing me. 

"Nath… no one was hurt-"

"My mother was in a coma for six months!" he shouts, causing me to wince. 

"But Henry didn'-"

"He should have listened to me dammit." 

"Let bygones be bygones." 

"No! It's not something I can forgive him for Ivy."

"Well maybe you should try, even Gemma-"

"She can only forgive him because she's alive." he hisses with contempt laced in his voice. I stand up and take in a deep, shuddering breath. 

"Yeah and maybe you should be thankful that she is." 

"What the heck do you mean?" he asks, wheeling around to face me.

"Do you really think that Gemma wants the two of you to keep fighting?" 

"That has nothing to do with what he-"

"It has everything to do with what happened. Gemma has let it go, Charl's let it go, I've let it go so why can't you?" 

"Because he… he could have killed her."

"But he didn't Nathan! Just grow up, won't you?" I ask, tired of his mentality. "You're supposed to be an adult for crying out loud." 

"Yeah yeah whatever Ivy. This is all my fault, isn't it?"

"That's not what I'm saying-"

"It is. You're saying that I should grow up and that I should stop being so childish, so therefore this is all my fault."

"Henry was wrong to-"

"Henry, Henry, Henry, it's all about him."

"What are you even-?"

"Did you ever stop to think what it felt like to be in my position?"

"Did you ever stop to think what it would feel like to be in his? You guys have been best mates since forever and then for the past two years you've just cut him out of your life?"

"Even you, Ivy, even you."

"Even me what?" I ask, angry myself. 

"You've fallen prey to his games."

"What games?" 

"His mind games. He's not worthy of forgiveness."

"Why? If I had done the same thing, wouldn't you have forgiven me by now?" I ask, regretting it as soon as I do. Nathan's eyes narrow as he takes in a deep breath. 

"How can you even say something like that…?" he asks me, looking shocked. Shell shocked. 

"I just meant to say-"

"It's different with you. Everything is different with you, Ivy." he whispers, his face crumpling. I open my mouth to ask what he means but he simply ignores this and brushes past me to get the sleeping bag out. 

"Nathan… you didn't answer the question." I dare to whisper. 

"Do I really need to?" he asks, still not looking at me as he lays out the sleeping bag and lays down, purposely turning away from me as he does. 

   I wake up, yesterday's events hitting me before I even open eyes. Groaning, I roll over trying to think what to do. Sitting up I notice that Nathan isn't in his sleeping bag, great. He's not naturally an early bird, so that means he's still pent up about yesterday. Sometimes his inherent childishness is really irritating. I hear a knock on the door and frown, Nath wouldn't knock. "Come in." I say, swinging my legs off the bed and heading towards the door. Henry opens the door, looking ashen faced. "What's wrong?"

"I'm really sorry about yesterday Ivy, I know-"

"Don't worry about it. Nathan can be a baby at times, he'll come round eventually." I assure him.

"Doubt that." he says, laughing nervously. 

"He will, he just needs a little more time."

"I don't blame him honestly, I just -" he starts but is cut short by the sound of footsteps - Nathan's footsteps to be accurate. I hear a clatter and step around Henry to see eggs and toast littering the floor, with a sour faced Nathan in front of them. 

"Nath?" I whisper, confused. 

"I see how it is." he whispers quietly, before turning away. 

"Nathan…?" I whisper, wondering what he was doing with food. I smile at Henry, excusing myself and walk out after Nathan who's storming off, fists clenched. 

   I find him in an empty room, one which hasn't been properly decorated yet, sheets scattered across the furniture. "Nathan?" I whisper.

"What do you want?" he asks me, venom dripping from his words. 

"What was that all just about?" I ask him quietly. 

"Nothing." he replies with a candid shrug.

"Well obviously something's up." I reply, stepping closer towards him. 

"Everything's dandy. You and Henry are best of buddies, along with everyone else so you clearly don't need me." he says to me.

"Nathan, please stop being so childish-"

"I'm not being childish!" he exclaims, his eyes boring into mine. 

"What else do you call your behaviour of late?" I ask him, hands on my hips. His face softens a little and he shakes his head.

"You don't get it Ivy."

"Then explain it?" I ask him. 

"I just can't forgive him like that Ivy, he hurt mum. He hurt her. The only reason I haven't beaten him up is because we used to be mates but just thinking about... it makes me so god damn angry."

"But Nath, he's apologised and Gemma is fine. In fact by not making up with him you're putting more stress on her, which is what we were trying to avoid by faking this engagement, right?" I ask him and his head jerks up to meet my eyes once again.

"I guess so but-"

"Faking the engagement?" I hear someone asking from behind us. 

AN: Sooooooooo things are getting interesting? Agreed? PLEASE speak to me! I am human and like to speak to people :) Comment/Vote go for it :) Tell me who you think it is ;)

Dedicated to AndreaAvelino8, because she liked all of my chapters which made me happy.