This is War

Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15 - NATALIE'S P.O.V

I was on edge for the rest of the day. Scratch that-- make it week.

Slowly but surely Kate was able to face crowds at school again. She was able to smile and laugh and actually walk down the hall without cowering away from the many curious and accusatory looks.

Right now we were sitting in homeroom and I was trying not to stab literally everyone in the room by bending my pencil back and forth to release the stress building up.

The teacher smiled at all of us as if to mock me, "Class, we have a new student today! He's not here yet, but when he shows up I want everyone to treat him kindly. Understood?"

Some mumbled agreements were returned and she nodded in approval.

That's when the panic really began to build up inside of me.

I hadn't told me friends-- something told me they'd overreact just like I was. At least I hoped I was overreacting. The door was opened and I cringed, turning my face away and looking out the windows.

The temptation was too much. Slowly, I turned my head to face the door, where he stood in all his glory.

"Class," our teacher all but sang, "this is Duke Hall, our new student! Care to introduce yourself Duke?"

"Obviously I'm Duke," his perfect voice rang out and earned a couple chuckles. My friends were giving me glances, gaging my reaction but I kept my face blank. "I'm from California, but I was here two summers ago, so some of you guys seem familiar, I play football and baseball and that's about it."

He forgot the part about how he's a douchebag, I thought sourly.

"Alright, thank you. You can find your seat, next to Miss Brooks," Our teacher pointed at me with a smile.

Our eyes locked and recognition flared, as if all the memories were coming back to him in a wave. He took only one step towards the seat and I spoke bluntly, "No."

"Excuse me?" Mrs. Kips glared at me. She smiled at Duke, "Go ahead and sit."

"No thanks," I shook my head, resting y feet on the chair.

Duke looked like he didn't know what to do.

"That seat's taken," a new voice spoke up and I looked over to the door to see Noah walk in with a light smirk and sit in the seat next to me after lifting my legs and dropping them on the ground.

Flustered, Mrs. Kips turned to Duke, "Then you can take Mr. Hall's old seat Mr. - uh - Hall."

This made a few students chuckle and Duke walked to the back of the room, sitting next to Jarrett who greeted him with a blank expression.

Once Mrs. Kips finally began the lesson, I turned to Noah, "So why exactly did you save me from sitting next to your douche bag cousin?"

"Because it's my job to torture you," He replied with that ever so signature smirk, "not his."

"Charming," I mutter and turn back to face the chalkboard.

When the bell finally rings, I'm immediately swarmed by my friends as we walk out the door. I hear Kate first, "Did you know he was coming back?"

I nodded.

"Why didn't you'll tell us?" Olivia asked, slightly hurt.

"Because I knew you'd overreact," I stated with a shrug.

Dylan scoffed, "We would not overreact! I would've just beat him to a pulp before he had the chance to set foot in town."

I raised an eyebrow at him and they all gave in, agreeing with me.

"So why was Noah sitting next to you?" Logan asked me, uttering his first words of the eventful morning.

"He claimed, and I quote, 'It's my job to torture you. Not his'," I told them.

Olivia's jaw dropped, "Oh my god! What a dick!"

"Tell me about it," I muttered.

Logan clenched his fist, "I swear I'm gonna knock that kid back into the Stone Age."

Kate nodded, "Be my guest."

"I'll help," Dylan offered and I laughed at all of my friends. I stopped when they all straightened, staring at something behind me. Turning slowly around, I found myself looking up at the last person I wanted to see right now.

I breathed out his name, "Duke."

He rolled his lips in his mouth, forming a thin line, "Natalie, do you-- do you think we could talk for a minute?"

It felt as if I were frozen-- I couldn't breathe, couldn't think and couldn't move. I was just entranced in his stare as all of the memories smacked me full force in the face like a tidal wave. A tidal wave that hurt like a bitch, to be specific.

Kate nudged me and I blinked, taking in a breath, "I don't think that's a good idea, Duke."

"Please, Natalie, just for five minutes?" He pleaded and I could feel my resolve crumbling.

With a sigh, I nodded, "Fine."

He smiled and with one last glance back at my friends, I followed him into an empty classroom.

We stood there for a while in silence, looking anywhere but at each other.

"So, how have you been?" He finally broke the silence.

"Great until your cousin came back," I answered.

Duke nodded, "And what about when I came back?"

I didn't miss a beat, "Well that dropped me down to an all time low, actually."

Hurt flashed across his face and he looked down, "Listen, Natalie I know we didn't end on very good terms--"

"No," I interrupted, "the problem is that we really didn't end at all. I woke up one day, and you were gone without any explanation. You can't just expect me to forget that, Duke!"

"You don't have to forget, Nat, not at all. But do you think you could find it in you to forgive me?" His eyes were pleading, frown lines together in his forehead with his eyebrows forehead.

I shook my head, tears beginning to well up in my eyes.

The same thing was happening to him, "Nat, please. I'm so sorry and god, I still love you. I've loved you all this time."

Again, I shook my head, "I can't do this right now, Duke."

Apparently, he didn't take no for an answer. He dove in and captured my lips in his with an intense passion and hunger and need. Pulling back, I lifted my hand and listened to the loud echo of my hand hitting his cheek. His head was turned to the side and he looked back at me in shock.

"You slapped me," He stated, dumbfounded.

I defended with the statement, "You kissed me."

Without waiting another second, I shouldered my bag and hurried out of the room and down the hall into my next class. After being yelled at for being late, I slumped down in my seat.

After my friends mouthed to me asking what's wrong, I shook my head and told them I'd explain later.

In reality, I'd probably dodge the question for as long as possible.

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