Exchanging Lies

7. He's Darker than Dawn

I wake up in a pile of sweat and check the alarm clock on my nightstand.
5:53 AM
I sigh and pull the covers off of me. I just can't shake the conversation I had with father about my mission. I still couldn't find what he wanted but it's only been two days since I got here. Two months though, I really have to stop involving myself in these people's activities. I get out of my bed and make my way downstairs to get a glass of water. I grab a glass and look out the window. A tall figure is standing facing away from me. I nearly drop the glass but I can see the color of his hair. Phew, It's just Nate. I grab my glass of water and open the patio door. He turns around and looks at me.
"Hey, why are you out here?" I walk towards him and stand next to him.
"I could ask you the same question," he moves his finger up and down pointing at me and I realize. I'm only in a slip dress nightgown. God, how embarrassing. If he couldn't see my figure before well he's getting a real view now.
"Gah! Don't look," I cover myself with my hands. It's actually really warm outside since it's the middle of September. It's starting to get colder but you can't really notice it right now. Or maybe it's just me that's hot.
"I'm not looking at you," Nate pulls off his shirt and throws it at me. "Here, put this on before I am tempted to look."
I hope he can't see me blushing. I shake my head and slide the shirt over my body and then I take a look at him. He's so ripped it's ridiculous. I just want to run my hand along his chest and feel the many hills and valleys. EW, Del, PLEASE stop.
"Are you okay?" He's looking at me which means he can see me having an inner monologue moment all while staring at his abs.
"Yes! I-i mean, yeah," Oh my god what has gotten into me. I usually never let a boy make me nervous and after he yelled at me earlier who would have thought I'd be stuttering.
"Okay... Well, look, I'm really sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have yelled at you especially when you were just asking me a question."
Is he...apologizing?
"You're forgiven," I'm so tired of his wishy washy personality. One second he's a jerk or a pervert and then the next, he's completely nice to me again.
"Good, who else would I bother the shit out of?"
"I think you do that to everyone, I'm no different," I laugh.
"Funny! How about we take this inside? The sun is starting to rise."
"I'll catch up with you, it's nice out here." I rub the sleeve of the shirt he gave me and hug myself.
"Just don't lose track of time we leave for school in an hour." I sigh when I hear the door shut. So much for not being involved in family activities. I practically barged in on his quiet time. I just can't shake the feeling that there's more to this family than I was let on.
/////
"Della, let's go! I told you to keep track of time!" Nate screams from the bottom of the steps while I braid the other side of my head.
"Just leave without me then, you know I take a long time to get ready," I scream from the bathroom. I look in the mirror and grab my stuff and make my way down the stairs. Nate is gone? Where did he go?
I wasn't being literal about him leaving me, I still need a ride to school. I look outside the window and his car is gone.
That JERK! He really left me! Ugh, and Kate and Gavin already left and Stella got a ride from her friend.
I pull out my phone and call my second contact. Hopefully she can pick me up.
//////
"Thank you for picking me up, by the way."
"Oh Del, it's not worries at all! I'm surprised you didn't get a ride with Nate," Emily chirps.
"Yeah well, he left me before I was done getting ready."
Emily sighs. "Don't expect too much from him, that boy has a lot of issues."
"So i've heard," I look out the window as we pull up to school and I see Nate and his friend group sitting on the steps.
What the fuck? I mean, I dug my own grave but I didn't intend for Nate to help me with it. He knew if he left I wouldn't have a ride to school and he still did it anyways. UGH he boils my blood! Emily and I walk over to the steps and Nate makes eye contact with me. I give him the 'we need to talk' look and he scratches the back of his neck and stands up.
"I'll see you later guys, gotta get her to class."
"You don't have to get me anywhere, apparently," I tighten my grip around the books in my arms.
"Okay sweet, we're talking about it in front of everybody. Yeah I don't have to take you anywhere. It's not my job, I'm not getting fucking paid to be your chauffeur. YOU gave me the green light to leave Della, and I did. So don't get mad at me for shit you told me I could do." I was taken back by what he said. I wasn't expecting him to be so cruel. I guess he had a point though, he didn't owe me anything. Maybe he could be a little nicer but he didn't owe that to me.
"Fuck this, I'll walk myself to class you miserable asshole." I turn on my heel and walk into the school. I can hear snickering in the back and not a peep from Nate. He was right, but he didn't handle the situation well. I was pissed and I would rather walk home than listen to him another second.
/////
Is this therapy for me?? Possibly, I'm bored and I think there is a lot of cool elements to this story there's just a way I know I could make it so much better. I'm also beginning to realize that these two fight all the time. I promise it won't be like this forever.
-E