Tortured Love

Chapter 6

Carter looked back at Natalie shocked that she didn't want her usual. He turned back and smiled to himself, happy that Natalie was coming out of her norm. Carter paid for their yogurt and grabbed two spoons then took it to their table, sitting down in front of Natalie. He placed hers in front of her and started eating his own. Carter couldn't help but look over Natalie's appearance again. She looked so much different than the Natalie he'd been with for the past few years, who was always dressed to the T.

"You look really hot, babe." Carter said, staring at her. He couldn't seem to look away.

"I didn't look hot before?" The words just seemed to rush out of her mouth. She placed a tiny laugh after she spoke to play it off. Truthfully, she wanted to know the answer. She already knew but she wanted him to say it. 'No, you didn't Natalie. You looked cute before. You looked sophisticated.' She knew he'd never say that. He loved her, which meant she'd look hot to him anyway, right?

"Of course you did, babe," Carter said, "you know I didn't mean it like that." Carter mentally slapping himself. He knew Natalie knew he loved her but sometimes she would have doubts about herself. Carter leaned over and kissed her lips gently then sat back in his chair to continue eating his yogurt.

"You ready to have a good time?" Carter smiled at her, trying to change the subject. He wanted tonight to be about him and Natalie finally getting out together and being normal teens for once.

Natalie smiled faintly and nodded. She started eating her yogurt and leaned back in her chair.

"I'm so excited," she said and took a few more spoonfuls of yogurt. She looked out the window watching the other couples walk around the plaza. They looked so happy. She hoped she and Carter looked like that to others. The older couples just reminded her of her parents and she forced herself to look away. She didn't wanna think about that. She hated that they'd spent her whole life molding her only for them to leave each other. 'Tonight I will be different,' She sat got up and sat in Carter's lap, kissing him softly. 'I need to be like other girls,' she thought.

Carter was slightly stunned by Natalie's forward behavior, but kissed her back none the less. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled back, searching her face for something, anything.

"Are you okay?" Carter asked, rubbing her back gently. He was happy she was coming out of her shell but didn't expect Natalie to ever act like this around him. She was always so reserved and withdrawn. He didn't know if he was happy with her behavioral change or worried.

Natalie kissed him again and nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I'm fine. I'm just trying to make you happy. Tonight is all about you," she said and kissed the side of his jaw softly. She stood up and grabbed her frozen yogurt. She took another bite and tossed it in the trash.

"I'm ready when you are," she said and smiled at him.

Carter finished his yogurt before getting up and throwing it in the trash can. He walked back to Natalie and took her hand, heading to the front door. After they got outside Rita's he released her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, kissing the side of her head.

"You already make me happy." Carter mumbled against her head. Once they got to Natalie's car, Carter opened the driver side door for her before walking over to the passenger side and getting in.

Natalie got in and started the car, backing out and driving onto the road.

"You make me the happiest girl in the world," she said glanced over at Carter as she drove.

Carter smiled taking her hand, interlacing their fingers. He pulled her hand up and kissed her knuckles before placing their hands on his lap.

A few minutes later they ended up at the party just as it was getting dark. Natalie parked behind a beat up Toyota Camry and got out, making sure to lock her doors. The music took her back to the previous and last party she had been to. She took a deep breath. 'You can handle this.'