This is War

Chapter 31

Chapter 31 - Natalie's P.O.V

Sighing, I brought the hot chocolate up to my lips, closing my eyes at the steaming liquid burned the back of my throat. Getting burnt never felt so good. I pulled my scarf around tighter as a cold air whipped me in the face when a snow-covered Nate came back inside the house.

"The driveway is all shoveled," he told me, kicking off his boots.

I smiled, "Thanks."

Things were kind of awkward between us-- he hadn't exactly been all that excited when he found I that I had gone over to Noah's house.

He shrugged in response and walked past me, the coldness coming off of him both physically and metaphorically.

Heaving a sigh, I jumped down off of my stool and picked up my bag, shouldering it before hurrying out the door and into my car. It was freezing and I happily pulled on my gloves so that the steering wheel wouldn't freeze my hands. Starting the car, I set the heat to full blast and backed out of the driveway.

It was barely December and I was already freezing my ass off.

My nose scrunched up as I pulled into the parking lot and took my usual spot. I hate school. Have I mentioned that before?

Bustling into the building where the heat embraced me in a tight hug, I let out a breath of relief-- relief I felt for only a second before I was bombarded by Kate, Olivia and Margo.

Olivia got out the first word, "How was your date with Noah?"

"What?"

Kate rolled her eyes, "You know, when you ditched us on girl's night to go out with him. How was the date? Was it worth ditching us for?"

"It wasn't a date," I told them.

"Even I know it was a date," Margo said, folding her arms over her chest.

Shaking my head, I walked past them, trying to get to my locker.

"Come on, just admit it was a date!" Kate exclaimed.

"What was a date?" Dylan interrupted, coming up next to us with Logan at his side.

Olivia answered, "Her and Noah."

"Ugh! It wasn't a date!" I exclaimed, exasperated.

"But you still hung out with Hall?" Dylan question, his face twisting as he said his name.

I shrugged, my nerves already starting to get fried.

Logan scoffed, "You've got to be kidding me, Nat, after everything that bastard's put you through?"

"Oh shut it!" Olivia snapped at her brother. "I think they're adorable together. It's like when we were younger and people said 'If he's mean to you, he likes you'."

"It wasn't a date!" I shouted, slamming my locker shut.

Spinning on my heel in annoyance, I strode away from my group of shell shocked best friends who were currently annoying the living shit out of me.

~

Throwing my keys on the kitchen counter, I dropped my bag on the ground and stopped in my tracks as I took in the sight of my parents standing in the kitchen staring at me, their arms crossed, and Nate sitting on the counter with a sour expression. 

"What's going on?" I questioned. 

Mom sighed, "Listen, we know you haven't exactly taken the news of moving well--" 

I scoffed, "That's the understatement of the century. You're dragging us away from our home-- our lives-- just because Gram died. Well, you know what? People die everyday!" 

"That is not the only reason we're leaving!" Mom exclaimed, her voice light as she placed a hand over her heart. 

Dad shook his head, "You see, Natalie, this is exactly what we mean. Think of what you just said to your mother. It's as if you're emotionless now." 

"I'm the emotionless one?" I question in disbelief. "In case you couldn't tell, I'm showing at least fifty emotions right now! You two are the emotionless ones, just picking up and leaving everything behind." 

"Nat," Nate tried to intervene, his voice strained. 

"No," Mom spoke, her voice unusually hard and firm, "we're not leaving just because of Gram's undeserved departure. We're moving because your father received an incredible job offer, a promotion. He'll be the head of all Hall's Department Stores in Wisconsin. It was Mr. Hall who got this job for your father. Speaking of which, we're having a dinner tonight with them here." 

"Great," I spat with sarcasm and venom pouring out like a hose on high power. 

"Why can't you just be happy for your father?"

I glared at her as my eyes began to water, "Because his happiness means my misery." 

Storming out of the room, I made my way upstairs and made to slam my door but it was thrown back open by Nate. 

"Come here," he demanded, pulling me into a tight hug. 

I sobbed onto his shoulder, "They just don't get it, Nate." 

"I know," he whispered, "I know." 

Pulling away, sniffling, I sat down on the edge of my bed and he sat next to me, his arm over my shoulder as he pulled me into his side. 

"Talk to me, please." 

Wiping the tears from my cheeks, I looked down to my hands that were folded in my lap. I didn't think, I just let my heart do all the talking, "I can't do this, Nate, not like you. You can just drop everything and move five states over with your family, but I can't. I can't stand to leave all of my friends and this life behind. We have it so good here, Nate. Why do they want to ruin this?"

"I wish I knew," he sighed, resting his chin on top of my head. "But all I know is that we have to dress up and pretend to like the snobbish things we'll be talking about at this dinner tonight." 

"Noah's not that bad when we're not at each other's throats. He's actually a pretty good friend to have," I blurted, worrying about my brother's hatred for him. 

Nate smiled a little, "I believe you. Don't worry, I think he could even be good for you." 

My eyes widened, "Really?" 

He nodded, chuckling a little, "As long as I don't have to shoot him, yeah." 

I cracked a smile. 

∞

a/n: I'M BACK FROM THE DEAD HOLY CRAP! It's taken me five days to write this... i don't know I'm just having really bad writer's block I guess. the next chapter is going to be longer I hope. Gif of Natalie (Lucy Hale) to the side/top depending on how you're reading! :) 

SPOILER: Dinner time! Who's hungry?