Under The Surface [Editing]

Chapter Twenty Roller Coasters

A small grunt woke me up the next morning. I turned in the direction the sound came from. Nathan was asleep on his back, his mouth slightly parted. He was snoring. I rolled my eyes, his comment yesterday made me giggle quietly, I snored indeed.

 I climbed out of the tent quietly so I wouldn’t disturb him. Everyone else was still asleep, I assumed. There was no movement and no noise from any tent. I looked at my phone and it was eight am. Since when do I wake up this early on the weekend?

 I searched for my flip flops and stretched my body out. My stomach rumbled so I took the opportunity to have some alone time and grabbed my purse. Going for a walk on the boardwalk to find some breakfast, I had a lot to think about.

 Not caring that I looked a little like a beach bum, I searched around for something that would be open this early. Typically, the boardwalk didn’t close, but that was during the summer months. The air was breezy and cool and it felt good this early in the morning with the salty sea scent.

 Folding my arms over my chest, events from the day before flooded back into my mind. Nathan wanted to be with me, he didn’t feel good enough for me though. How wrong he was about that. His overwhelming worry about his father was understandable considering what I knew about him. He didn’t want to put me in the cross fire. My heart cracked and ached that he didn’t think it was possible to be a normal couple right now, and slight anger flared.

 I know I said we weren’t official or actually a couple to Lily and Debra. We just told each other we wanted to be together. He wanted to think of me as his, so did I. I said what I did to Lily and Debra last night for his benefit. He obviously knew that, and I wasn’t afraid to say that it bothered me.

 I had to put my thoughts aside as I smelled breakfast food floating in the air from the little diner I was standing in. The place reminded me of something out of the fifties with a jukebox, black and white checkered walls, chrome framed red leather seats. Looking at the menu, I ordered a breakfast burrito, no beans, I know strange, but I hated beans. My stomach growled insistently now.

 Guess this was how it had to be for now, like he said day to day. I would make sure I kept myself in check. Couldn’t get carried away when he was holding back, keeping his feelings under control. Why was it always the girl who is the one waiting for something? No don’t get angry, he was being protective. A small pang of anger fanned itself underneath my rational thinking though.

 Still, a smile crept on my face. At least, maybe, I could have fun with it. Play and keep him at bay, keep him wanting more, make him work for it. He has made me feel things so extraordinary it was his turn to sweat a little. Maybe this way it would keep my mind off of his worries. He didn’t want me making them my own.

 After I finished eating, I hurried back to our camp. Everyone had gotten up now. Lily and Debra were gathering things for the showers. My dad was cleaning up the area from the night before. Nathan was sitting around in the sand facing the ocean. He turned when my dad noticed I was back, both of them had angry worried expressions, but my dad was the one who spoke to me.

 “Where were you?” He asked gruffly.

 “I got up early, and went to get some food. I had a lot on my mind.” At the last part I spoke, I saw Nathan’s brow furrow a little and the anger fanned hotter.

 “Well don’t do that again, leave a note next time, you had us all worried.” My father scolded me.

 Nathan got up and began to walk towards me but now I was in a foul mood. He doesn’t get the right to worry about me if he was going to keep me at a distance still. I whirled and stalked off away from the both of them letting them both see my anger. Yeah it might have been immature considering, but they both knew how stubborn I am.