Never Forgotten (ON HOLD)

Chapter 4

I let Nate guide me through the crowd of people and towards the back of the room. There was a group of attractive athletic looking boys smiling at Nate and I.

As we reached the group Nate looked at me "Natalie these are some of the people we hang out with."

"Why are they all boys?" I asked eyeing them suspiciously.

One of them walked forwards and slung his arm around my shoulders casually. "Because we all play basketball and since you go to ALLLLLLLLLL of the games and half of the practices we see a lot of each other." he said stretching out the L in all.

"Why do I spend so much time at basketball games and practices?" I asked surprised. I knew I didn't play any sports and I didn't think I was dating anybody. Well I hoped that I wasn't because that would be awkward.

"You come to watch Nate." he said looking at Nate from the corner of his eye.

I looked at Nate and I saw that his cheeks took on a pinkish glow but he was trying to act like the boys words hadn't affected him. I looked back at the boy and saw him looking at Nate to. I felt a need to defend Nate so I just quickly changed the subject.

"Who are you?" I asked looking at his arm, that was still draped over my shoulders, pointedly.

"Oh right sorry, I'm Cannon nice to meet you ma'am" I notice how country he was and I felt a smile creep onto my face.

He pointed at all the other boys telling me their names, but I knew I didn't have a chance of remembering them all. Their was about ten or eleven standing there and he said it was the whole basketball team but a few which couldn't make it.

I stood there talking and laughing with them. They all had a great sense of humor and I couldn't help but think of how much fun I probably always had with them.

The one that kept me laughing the most was Nate and every time our eyes would meet I'd catch myself looking a little longer than necessary. I noticed that every time we did this Cannon would give me a knowing smile and I would flush slightly.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned to see a blond boy with milk chocolate brown eyes. "Hey Natalie my names Tanner." he said holding his hand out to me.

I felt Nate tense at my side "Who invited you here?" he asked his angrily.I felt the shock that was probably noticeable on my face. I couldn't understand why Nate was suddenly so angry at the guy.

I felt Cannon walk closer to me and stood on the other side of me glaring at Tanner too. I tried to cut the tension in the air so I stuck my hand out and shook his. "Nice to meet you Tanner."

"Do you think we could go somewhere and talk I really need to talk to you about something?" Tanner asked looking at me pleadingly.

"No you can't sorry Buddy." Nate answered for me

I shot him a questioningly look but otherwise ignored his answer. "Yeah that's fine we can go outside" I said looking at Tanner.

I looked at Nate and saw he looked murderously angry. "I'll be right back okay?" I asked looking into his eyes.

His face softened a little and he kind of shrugged. I reached for his hand and gave it a little squeeze before I walked outside with Tanner.

We walked out the front door and I sat on a swing close to the front so I knew somebody could help if I needed it. I don't really know why but the boy made me uneasy and I didn't like it.

"Natalie I'm your ex-boyfriend." he said getting right to the point. "We had a pretty bad break up and I messed up big time with you. We was really good friends before we dated and when we broke up I started ignoring you."

"Why did we break up?"

"That's not why I got you to come out here" he said acidly.

I was surprised by his attitude and I felt angry rise in my chest. "Then why did you get me to come out here?" I asked with the same tone he had.

He smiled at me "That's why I tried so hard to be with you. You match my attitude and aren't afraid to make me mad to.o"

As he said this Nate's face flashed in my mind and I instantly felt guilty. I wonder why he didn't like Tanner, I guess if he ignored me and it hurt me that could make him mad.

"So why did you bring me out here?" I asked again noticing he changed the subject.

He took a deep breath and looked me in the eyes. "I wanted to ask you out on a date."