Psycho But Not Really

p s y c h o - 23

"Thea, baby, wake up" Nate's voice echoed in my head, my eyes fluttered open, and I was on the bed, Nate must've carried me. I stretched my arms, as Nate watched me intently. I was still getting used to him calling me by pet name.

"Thea, what I said earlier this morning, I meant it all, I will never break you, or even hurt you in any way" he said, and softly caressed my cheek. I melted in his touch, humming in response.

We got up, and went to brush our teeth, I decided to put some music on as we brushed our teeth, Nate rolled his eyes, as I swayed my hips, and pointed at him. After our washing up, Marcl texted me and asked me to meet him at a coffee shop, I told Nate, and he wasn't too fond of it, so he asked to join, and I accepted it.

I had work later that day, so I wasn't too busy.

Nate protectively, hung his arm over my shoulder, as we walked into 'Stacey's Cafe', this place was beautiful, the architecture was modern. I spotted Marcl sitting at the far end, waving and smiling at me. I felt Nate go tense and groaned, "Calm down, will you?" I whispered, and elbowed his side. Nate let out a hot, and low groan again.

As I took a seat across from Marcl, Nate sat down as well, Marcl gave me a questioning look.

"Sorry, uhm, this is Nate, and Nate this is Marcl" I said, introducing them. Marcl gulped, and seemed nervous.

"Oh, any friend of Thea's, is friends with—", Nate clenched his hands into a fist.

"Boyfriend" Nate corrected, and I blushed, Marcl coughed, and looked at me shocked.

"Dang, Thea, I've never seen you with a boy, since that football player in high school-" my eyes widened, "how do you know!" I raised my voice.

Marcl laughed, "you guys seriously made out, in front of the whole school" he said, Nate cleared his throat, and I slumped in my seat.

"That's not the point, anyway, how are you going with everything?" I asked, my eyes holding sympathy. Marcl sighed, and shot his eyes at Nate, who was dying of boredom, Marcl felt uncomfortable talking about Jennie, in front of Nate. So I tapped his shoulder.

"Nate, can you go across the street, and order me a coffee?" I asked, but Nate narrowed his eyes, "We're literally in a coffee shop, and you want me to go across the street?" He raised his eyebrows, I rolled my eyes, "I don't like the coffee here, now go!" I slapped his neck. Nate clicked his tongue, and walked out.

I faced Marcl again, "Look, the whole Jennie thing, I'm fine with, but Nate, I'm not fine with" his mood changed. I raised my eyebrows, obviously oblivious to what he was saying.

"Thea, he's dangerous!" He slammed his hand on the table,  I flinched, "What are to you talking about? You don't even know him!" I started to get angry, Marcl was totally overreacting. I get that I was his close friend, but that doesn't give him the right to disrespect Nate. Especially in front of me.

Marcl pinched the bridge of his nose, "Look, just promise me, you'll stay away from him?" He tried to negotiate, and I was beyond over it. I stood up, and furrowed my eyebrows.

"No, I will not let you interfere with my love life, I promised Nate I would never leave him, and here you are trying to pry into my private life, let it go Marcl, Nate is special to me" I scoffed, and walked out.

I looked back at Marcl, and he looked stressed, like he had failed a task, I saw him say something, before punching the air. I saw Nate come out of the store, with two cups, and looking unbothered. It seemed like my bad mood went away.

"Hey, I didn't know which coffee to get you so I-" I cut him off, and kissed his cheek, Nate smiled, and gave me the cup. As we were walking back to my place, I was silent, Marcl's reaction was unlike him, I've never seen him worked up before, even over a boy.

In high school, most of the boys would try to ask me out, or try to hit on me. I'd admit myself that I'm a pretty young lady, but Marcl never had a problem with them.

"What happened, you're awfully quiet?" Nate nudged my shoulder, and I looked up at him, I sighed as the thought of me leaving him.

"I don't know... Marcl said you were dangerous, and I guess I'm a bit upset" I lowly said, Nate held a look of anger, "I swear, if I ever see that dude again, I will-" I laughed.

Nate looked down, his eyebrows raised, "cute" I mumbled. Nate gasped, and stopped walking, I knew how he hated being called cute, I smirked and continued to walk, Nate still standing there, shocked in disbelief.

"I am not cute! I am scary, and dangerous! Just like that Mac Donald's dude said!" Nate called out, trying to catch up to me, I bursted out laughing, "it's Marcl, and sure you're tough and dangerous, have you seen yourself when you sleep, you look like a helpless sheep!" I teased him.

Nate frowned, "stop watching me sleep, you weirdo" he poked me, and laughed.

When Nate walked me home, he said that he had to finish off some work, he kissed me a goodbye, and left. There was an aura I could feel around Nate, like he's hiding under a shadow, like he's been trying to lure me into something. I've been contemplating if this feeling was real or not. I mean I've to admit, he is a scary guy, I've seen scars, and bad sides of Nate. But that's not proven to his aura.

I sighed, and walked to the bookstore, signing in, I was greeted by Cathy, the manager, she was in her late twenties, she wore round glasses, and wore mostly fluffy cotton clothing, she gave off that cozy vibe.

"Hey, could you stack these books in order today?, we have some books coming in soon" she politely said, and nodded. I replied back with the same tone, "of course".

I went to the back, and got the rolling ladder, pushing it to the second floor, I gathered the books and stacked them into their places. The bookstore consisted, of two stories, the first floor, was for studying and textbooks for subjects, and the second floor was where the stories were, like historical, or fiction, I could estimate there were over five thousand books in the store. The place was pretty big.

I wouldn't even call it a store, more of a library.

When the bells of the door jingled and chimed, I quickly rushed over to the counter, stumbling on my way, I looked up, the familiar tall figure towered over me.

"Oh, Thea?"

•••

Who must it be?