The Arrangement

Chapter Sixteen

I found myself sat on the couch snuggling next to a softly snoring Lukas, a classic Audrey Hepburn movie playing in the background -Charades I think it was-

I pried his heavy arms off of me and went to check my phone, when I heard the sound of keys at the door, completely frozen I turned slowly towards it. And Jules came walking in, I breathed out a sigh of relief and went to her.

"Hey your still up?" she hugged me.

"I just got up, what's the time?" I looked around for the clock.

"It's nine thirty, and you should be heading home. Or you can sleepover if you want...never mind you should sleepover it's gonna be too late when you get back home."

I frowned at her rushed out and breathless words but let it drop.

"Alrighty where's the Ben and Jerry's I'm in the mood for The Notebook" we made our way to the kitchen and grabbed a load of junk food - My manager is so gonna hate this- and sat our selfs next to Luke in the couch and played some sad movies.

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I woke up on the recliner snuggled up into the blanket. When I got up to check my phone, being extra careful not to wake up a cuddling Luke and Jules.

I found my phone in the kitchen where I left it yesterday. It's six and I'm feeling pretty energetic. I went up to the spare bedroom and chucked on my Victoria's Secret black tights and matching black and white sports bra. After putting my hair up in a messy ponytail and washing off whatever scattered makeup I had left in my face and plugged my earphones into my phone and left a note in the kitchen for Luke and Jules telling them I was going out for a run.

After getting my shoes on I put my playlist on blast and left.

I didn't know where I was going or how long I was running for but, I just felt free, like nothing could catch up to me, all my worries and troubles are off my shoulders and my mind is empty. I love this feeling. I do wonder if this is what a bird feels like everything it takes flight...

When my legs almost gave way I found myself in the beautiful forest area surrounding RockDale, it was amazing, all the green and brown, I did a three sixty seeing everything, an amazing lake behind me with a small water fall right above it, constantly creating a rainbow.

I sat down on a log next to the lake and soaked in the surreal surrounding. I tasted the water with my hand and it's fresh water -thank god! I completely forgot to bring a bottle of water- so I drank my share and did some stretches.

I was about to head deeper into the forest to explore but my phone rang.

It was Christian. I took a deep breath and answered.

"Hello? Natalia, where are you?" His frantic voice came through before I could even say a thing.

"I went out for a run...didn't you call Lukas?"

"I did but he said you left an hour and a half ago"

"It's seven thirty!?"

"Yes! Where are you?" He asked again

"Umm...I don't know?" I looked around again

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I mean I ran into the forest somewhere and it's beautiful out here Christian, and I love it" I smiled

"That sounds amazing Nat, but your brother and I are freaking out, so can you please tell us where you are so we can go and explore with you?" He practically begged.

I have to admit, I didn't expect that from him what so ever.

"Umm, I think you can use the find my iPhone app thing?"

"Alright, I'll try, don't wonder off too far we'll be there soon"

"Okay, bye"

"I love you, bye" He ended the call

Trying to ignore the tight feeling in my chest after he said that, I took a deep breath and walked around the water for a bit, waiting...and waiting.

Then a thought came to my mind...Why do I have to wait, because people are worried? Plus shouldn't Christian be with fake ass barbie bitch right now, 'cause I'm not at the house...?

I started to walk towards this magical looking small group of glittering blue flowers, when I heard some rustling in the distance. Me being me...I turned off my phone, slipped it into my bra and listening to the surreal environment it was in, birds cherishing, water splashing, leaves falling. I continued my journey towards the amazing flowers.

I walked for a while just exploring my surroundings when I came across a small cave type thing, it had a little waterfall that runs into a little pond that covers up about half the cave and the other half -the one I'm standing on- the Flores are flat and the walls tall but not too tall and in the middle there is a rock shape like a surface or a chair.

I sat down on the chair/furniture/surface rock thing and turned on my phone. It's about seven twenty and I have about twenty miss calls from Christian and fifteen from my brother. I was about to give Lukas a call back when the rustling in front of the cave got my attention, looked up and there he was...Christian, all tired and shirtless.

"What happened? Bitch ate your shirt?"

He shook his and and slowly walked over to where I was sitting and sat down next to me.

"Well, what happened was, I was following someones phone when out of no where the signals turn off. From there I tired calling that person but no one picked up, so I just walked around all alone and I found this cave and here I found that someone" He looked me in the eyes.

"Christian what the fuck do you want from me? What? Are you done with your bitches already?!" I was so annoyed, one minute he's so nice and next he's sucking face with the school slut.

He was so calm. Then he took my hand -I tried taking it back but he has a really good grip on it- and placed it over his hart. His heart beat was calm and steady.

"Christian what are you doing?"

"Pay attention to my heart beat when I say this okay, nothing else, just what I say and the beat of my heart, can you do that for me?" I nodded and waited for him

"I didn't kiss that slut at school" His heart rate was still steady. "I wouldn't do that to you, because I love you Natalia, I love you and only you" His heart was still beating at normal pace.

For some strange twisted reason, my mind was hoping that he would be lying, but my heart fluttered.

"Christian, you can't" I got up and was about to walk about, but he got hold of my wrist...and that was when I saw his eyes....