Path of Love

Chapter One

'I am so late" I said as I sped up on the side walk, effectively leaving Nate behind.

"Exactly! So you might as well take your time" he replied as he tried to catch up.

I stopped and turned to look at him as he got to where I was, finally in front of the building where we had a class.

"Your logic is as stupid as your face, Nate" I offered him a sarcastic smile.

As we got to the door, I began checking my bag for my key card.

"For an organised person, you are an unorganised mess this morning," Nate said as he took out his key card from his jean pocket. Just as he was about to swipe the door open, the doorknob was turned from the inside the building and someone opened the door.

"Oh, excuse me," the person said when he saw Nate and I standing on the other side.

I had been busy ransacking my bag pack for my key card which was also my student ID card. I needed to stop by the library to pick up a book for my philosophy class and there was no way I could checkout a book without it. All the while, all I could think about was that I would have to go back to my apartment and get it after class. I already had a feeling it was going to be a bad day.

And then I heard his voice. My heart settled in the pit of my belly. I immediately looked up and for a brief second his brown eyes were glued to mine and he held his gaze, knowing.

"Coming?"

Nate was already in the building and was holding the door for me.

"Er, yes" I replied.

Just before I closed the door behind me, I glanced outside and he was gone.

                                                                        *   *   *   *   *

I watched intently at his laptop screen as Nate worked on coding for some software he was developing. I was sitting on the couch which was a few feet away from where Nate had set up his "work-place" in our apartment. I was determined to put yesterday's encounter behind me but his face kept popping up with everything I did. With no classes on my Friday schedule, Fridays were set apart exclusively for my internship at The WallFlower. I had been eager to use that as a distraction this morning but for the first time since I began my internship, I was distracted at work and wanted to come home. My boss had noticed and insisted on making me take the rest of the day off.

And that was how I found myself on the couch at home, with a book open on my lap while I watched Nate type numbers and letters I definitely did not understand.

Getting up from the couch, I walked to my room and got dressed in a pair of black jeans and black sweat shirt. I knew the rule; never disturb Nate when he's in the zone. However, Alison was in class and I couldn't call anybody else.

You desperately need a distraction, I reminded myself.

I grabbed a grey sling bang, then my phone and proceeded to commit the ultimate sin against Nate. When I got to the siting room, I heaved a sigh when I found out that I did not need to disturb the zone. Nate was taking a break and was currently watching a show on TV.

"Thank God. Please come with me, I need to be distracted" I said as I tried to pull him up from the couch.

"Come with you? Why are you always in my space woman?" He said and stood up.

"Ugh, shut up"

"Fine, where are are we going to?"

"Anywhere"

"Anywhere where? I need to know what to wear"

"You always have on sweats" I sighed.

Nate ignored my comment and went into his room. He came back out a few minutes later wearing black sweat pants and a light pink hooded shirt.

My distraction involved a foot long subway sandwich, a pedicure and new clothes.