DRUG

Chapter 8~B

"I miss you, I miss my best friend."

It was the first time in a while that Natalie and me exchanged utter and full sentences to each other. My mind was convinced that she was avoiding me until I had an unmitigated glance at her face and realised that she might actually be caught up in too much work to relax and talk to me, as she had explained. She looked exhausted and the work day hadn't even begun.

"I know. I miss you too." She gave an apologetic smile which seemed weakened by her bulged eye sacs.

"How have you been?" She added , while her palm reached out for my shoulder and stroked it softly.My chest became a bit warmer at the realisation of her selflessness. She always cared how I felt, regardless of her own state.

"Hmm"

I took a deep breath and gave it to her honestly.

"I could use a deep sleep, Natie."

"Issues with Chris?" She gave me an empathetic grin.

My chest saturated at the sound of his name and a deep sigh felt convenient to open up my airways again.

"I'm sorry I haven't been there for you, sweetheart. I haven't been there for anything lately." She continued before I could reply verbally.

"Its okay. Our marriage is just taking a few blows, I guess."

"Have you told him?" She became uneasy as she asked. "I mean about, you know... Your affair?"

The question had caught me off guard. I wasn't ready to face Natalie's shaming face.

"Yes. I mean, no." She sighed and I felt the need to justify myself.

"I mean, I tried telling him. Last night even."

"It's not that easy, Natalie." I explained in attempt to convince her to milden her harsh glare at me.

"Anything could happen after I tell him."

"Chris and I are not ready for anything."

I had a moment to inhale cups of breaths when our waitress placed our beverages on the table. It was a relief to have someone else to rest my eyes on besides Natalie, especially in this inevitable atmosphere of guilt.

 She gently moved in her hoyden like form and was somewhat circumspect in all she was doing. Probably because she was alot younger and inexperienced in the waiting field. Her features were also very soft and quite frail looking and although she wasn't entirely the idea of sexy and beautiful, her features were in sync, such that she would look easier to love. On that note, I was seemingly not the only one impressed by her warmly calm nature because Natalie gave her a second glance too. I watched Natalie as a smirk grew on her face as we exchanged mutual greetings with the young lady - probably in her early twenties.

"Sorry, the kitchen is a little slow today, our senior chef is absent, the current one is in training and a little slow. I hope you don't mind the delay?" She spoke in a subtle, insecure tone which enunciated her shyness.

"Don't worry about it, clearly its not your fault." Natalie replied awfully kindly, as if she was an acquiantance to the young lady.

"Thanks." she blushed. "Honestly, it's my first day on the job, and I must say, people around here can be uptight. Your kindness basically just made my day."

Natalie's eyes shone in sudden intrigue and her smile became more genuine.

"People have got issues, don't let them get to you. Once again, it can't be your fault. You're quite lovely." Natalie sent the sharp compliment with a tone that I could've sworn was flirtatious.

"Oh, thanks. Thats a first, I guess." Her form slumped a little as the compliment left her a little awkward.

"I'm Vanessa," She blushed and reached out for a handshake to Natalie.

"Natalie." She replied, her eyes still glowing. It was quite random that she became so intrigued, especially by an insignificant individual like Vanessa.

"Hi, I'm Dani.." I interjected. However, my presence seemingly made things awkward. On that note- I sipped on my coffee.

"I should probably go and check if your orders are out. I'll be a sec." She smiled awkwardly and scurried away.

As if she wasn't content with the strangers sight, Natalies eyes followed Vanessa until she disappeared  in the distance. Once she was out of sight, Natalies gaze fell on me, and she lost the sparkle in her eyes.

"What?" She stirred her cup of coffee and avoided eye contact.

"Uhm, am I missing something here?" I was perplexed.

"Something like what?" She said with a straight face.

"Oh I dont know. Maybe your sudden intrigue for our cute waitress?"

"What?" She laughed. "Don't be silly."

"Of course you were, you were so intrigued by her." I insisted on the conversation although she was avoiding me.

"She's just a nice person, and I was being nice too. Stop overreacting. And besides, I don't date girls - If that's what you meant by 'intrigued by her'.." She lifted the menu high enough to only leave half of her face exposed to me.

"You're being a hypocrite, you know?" I shot my eyes right into her's, and she placed her coffee on the table,crossing her arms against her chest the moment they were free.

"Mhm?" She gave me a pout.

"Youre essentially forcing 'truths' out of me, but I'm not getting a single honesty from you." I said.

She raised her eyebrows, but her faux insolence came crashing down and she slid softly into her chair.

"Fine."

"I guess my mind has just been adventurous lately and I've been seeing things a little differently, okay." She said with so much discomfort in her bodily accent.

"So you've been seeing g-..."

"No, shut up." She hushed me and looked around. She never has been the type to care who was eavesdropping, that was my portion. So this sight was quite a new one for me.

"I haven't been seeing girls. I've just been, you know, seeing them. With my eyes, That's it."

Her voice was toned down to what was an almost whisper, an almost ashamed whisper.

"But why are you so... silent about it?"

She chuckled a little and rolled her eyes.

"I'm a black female, that's why."

"But it's probably just work stress, sweetheart. You know how it is. Enough about me, atleast I dont have two men to chose from."

"Dont put it like that." I laughed.

"Whatever you want to call it. Seriously though, you need to talk to Chris. Maybe he's losing it. And we dont know if this other guy is worth your marriage."

I felt that. I feel it everytime she speaks.

But I just can't get my body to agree with what my heart knows is right. Nate has got an awful grip on me. He's like wind for pollen, sun on ice,

drugs on an addict.