This is War

Chapter 32

Chapter 32 - Natalie's P.O.V 

I tilted my neck and puckered my lips, focusing hard so as not to miss. Pulling the lip gloss away, I smiled at my reflection with pride-- perfect! My makeup was done nicely but not heavy or coated, just natural colors. 

Walking back into my room with my gray robe wrapped around my body, I looked at the pile of clothes on my bed. For once, I was actually allowed to pick out my own outfit for one of my father's business dinners. I had had twenty different outfits to start out with and now I'm down to four. 

Finally, I zeroed in my eyes on the winning outfit. I slipped on tights with a polka dot pattern, a high-wasted floral skirt with a creme sweater and brown boots with creme ruffles at the top. 

Once the whole outfit was on, I smoothed at my skirt as I looked back at myself in the full length mirror. My raven hair was styled into two messy braids on either side, resting over in front of my shoulders. 

Content with my look, I skipped down the steps and bounded into the kitchen, moaning loudly when the aroma hit my nose. Chicken paprikash with mom's famous homemade bread and hand tossed salad. I was frothing at the mouth. When she wasn't looking, I stole a piece of bread and shoved it into my mouth. 

"I saw that," She chastised, even though her back was facing me. 

I shrugged as I swallowed, "It was worth it." 

She chuckled. 

 "Oh my god, do I smell mom's famous bread?" Nate moaned, barging into the kitchen. 

Mom turned to him and smacked his hand with a spoon when he tried taking a slice, "Wait for dinner!" 

He groaned and whined like a small child who wasn't allowed to get the toy he wanted, "But mom!" 

"No buts, mister," She scolded, but I could see the amusement twinkling in her eyes as she did so. 

"Take these out to the table, will you?" She asks, thrusting dishes into my brother and I's hands. We make our way into the dining room and set them down on the already set table. There were other small sides to the meal mom had made, but none of them were as important as her homemade bread. God, I love her bread. 

Mom comes out and places the dish of chicken paprikash in the center and claps her hands, removing her apron and hanging it up in the kitchen next to the pantry door. Dad walks in, struggling with his bow tie as always and mom laughed at him, shaking her head, "Come here." 

Shock was one way to describe it as I watched her lovingly fix his tie, and he stared back at her with just as much love. It was strange, considering they hadn't exactly gotten along perfectly well for the past several years. 

Perhaps it was because we were moving soon. 

The doorbell rang and I offered to go answer the door. Making my way there, I pulled it open to find Mr. and Mrs. Hall, Noah walking up the sidewalk behind them. 

I smiled brightly, "Mr. and Mrs. Hall, won't you come in?" 

They smiled and thanked me, stepping in and Noah slipped in as well, "Thanks for inviting me in, too." 

"Get over yourself, Hall," I whisper, a small smile gracing my lips. 

He was wearing a black shirt buttoned up all the way to the top with the sleeves neatly rolled up to his elbows with grey slacks and black dress shoes. To finish the look, he had a creme tie which perfectly matched my outfit. 

I laughed, "We're matching." 

He lifted his tie, looked at my outfit, and chuckled, "I guess we are, Brooks." 

The actual dinner part of the dinner was uneventful, it just consisted of eating and my dad talking to Mr. Hall and thanking him for, and I quote, "such a wonderful and splendid employment opportunity". More like no thanks for this job that's ruining my daughter's life. 

And so at the end of eating, I looked over to see Noah, bored out of his mind, picking at his green beans and I couldn't blame him; I was doing the exact same thing. I dabbed my mouth with my napkin and turned to my mom, "Mom, would it be alright if Noah and I could be excused? We'd just go upstairs since I know you'd all want to head into the front room for cocktails." 

Slowly she nodded, "Alright, just leave the door open." 

Noah looked relieved and I'm sure I had the same expression on my face. Ignoring Nate's skeptical look, I led my former enemy into my room-- and shut the door behind me. What can I say? I'm a rebel. 

He plops down on his stomach on my bed so I take my desk chair and let out a slow sigh. 

"All of the fake people in there were reminding me of school," He suddenly blurts and I crack up, effectively breaking any awkwardness or tension hanging in the air. 

I had to wipe a tear from my eye, "They're going all 'my horse is bigger than your horse'." 

He groaned, "And it's just awful when they say something you know is so twisted and bent that it's the farthest thing it could be from the truth and then you see them glance at you as if for you to not tell the others that they're lying." 

"It's the worst!" I exclaim. 

He laughed, "You know, uh, speaking of school. Have you seen all of the posters for the winter formal up?" 

I nodded, "Yeah. A masquerade dance for my last dance here. I guess it'll be memorable-- in a way. Although, if I'm being completely honest, I don't really want to go." 

"Really?" He asks, surprise evident in his tone. 

"Yeah," I shrugged, "I mean, I'm going since it'll be my last dance here, but I feel like it's just going to suck." 

"Well it won't suck, because this year, I'm going," He smirks as if that's the best news I've heard in all of my life. 

I groaned, "Oh lord kill me now! Now I really don't want to go!" 

"Hey!" He exclaimed, chucking a pillow at me which I somehow managed to catch. 

"Hay's for horses," I shot back and he rolled his eyes. "Besides, after I'm gone, who'll be left to degrade that overly large ego of yours?"

"Alright, good point, but back to the dance. Why don't you want to go?" He asked. 

I sighed, "I mean, I guess I just don't want to be disappointed, you know? I mean, I have this whole night planned out perfectly in my head and I don't want it to be horrible and then that's all I'll remember is how horrible that night was and that's not how I want to remember it. Plus, I don't even have a date-- what other senior do you know who doesn't have a date to the winter formal?" 

"Well I don't," He offered, "But don't worry, I'm sure there's like ten different guys who are still trying to  figure out how to ask you to the dance?" 

"I highly doubt that," I snorted, in a ladylike fashion too, believe me. 

He shook his head, "Trust me Brooks, you've never been in the boys' bathroom and locker rooms and you never want to." 

Well, he had me there. 

∞

A/N: PLEASE DON"T KILL ME. I'm so so so so so so so so sorry that I haven't updated in like three weeks but everything's got me so stressed out and my mom's having a baby in two days and I'm just really kind of stressing so I figured I'd give you this before I have to go all big sister mode again. 

It'll probably be a while before an update again. 

I'm so sorry to you all, you guys are absolutely amazing. 

Picture of Natalie's outfit to the right