How Are We Not Together?

Chapter Three

I wait patiently for Nathan, tapping my foot rapidly on the top step of the side entrance to the main hallway. I huff in annoyance and fold my arms tighter across my chest, still upset about this morning.

Sage had been bragging to me about the new clutch purse she got this weekend and honestly, I didn't really care. She wasn't like the too-preppy, dramatic cheerleaders that you always see on those cheesy high school shows on tv. With her platinum blonde hair and bright blue eyes, she definitely had the looks, but she also had some brains in her. The only down side was that she talked about herself. A LOT.

We were just about to walk up the steps when I caught sight of Nathan and Levi in the student parking lot, the two immediately looking over the moment they heard Sage's high pitched giggle.

The moment Nathan and I met eyes, I froze. It was instinct and I didn't know what to do. Should I go up and apologize or ignore him? But why should I apologize, I didn't do anything wrong this morning. I went along with the latter and ushered Sage inside the building, animatedly trying to get her to show me her new pom-poms. When I looked back, Nathan looked pissed. Why, I didn't know, but to blow me off right now? To blow off our school tradition? That was a new low.

As I look at my phone once again, I debate on whether or not to leave. Nathan has always met me at the side entrance next to the recreational classrooms. From there, we always go to a large cement wall in the middle of the soccer field beside the school and write a sort of momento to each other that we re-visit at the end if the year. He can't miss tradition, he just can't.

~Flashback~

"Nathan, come on! We're going to be late!" I shout again, looking behind me in case any of the counselors happen to hear me. I stomp down the hall after him and clench my fists.

"C'mon, Anna. It's only a dumb presentation. They don't care and I want to show you something." He flashes a grin at me over his shoulder as he jogs down the hallway, turning the corner.

I sigh, knowing Nathan won't give up on his stupid adventure. He runs back and grabs my hand, tugging me to move out the side entrance. Why does this school even have a side door? It just gives another escape route for the students to ditch school.

Rain seeps through my clothes the moment I step outside, sending shivers up my body. I look around at my surroundings and see the soccer field which also doubles as a park for the public. A fine veil of most settles over the grass and not a single person is in sight. Everyone seems to be indoors. Even the flowers are finding safety from the rain, closed into tiny buds to stay hidden from the droplets of water. For a moment, my breath is taken away until Nathan tugs my hand again.

Freshman year hasn't even started and Nathan is already trying to get me in trouble. He pulls me across the field, soaking my socks through my shoes and I grunt when I smack into Nathan's back, my hand clutched to his still.

"Yo-You dragged me into th-the pouring rain to l-look at a st-stupid wall?" My arms wrap around my bare arms, trying to block out the cold pounding rain. It's barely September and the rainy season has already started. And it's not even the warm, bathtub like rains we usually get.

"Look at the wall, silly." Nathan replies with a 'duh' look as though it's the obvious thing to do. He wraps an arm around my shoulder and his playful look disappears, turning into concern. "You shouldn't go outside without a jacket, Anna. It's too cold and you're going to get sick." Nathan sheds his light jacket and places it over my shoulders, crashing me to his chest for extra warmth.

"Well, I did bring a jacket, but someone dragged me out to stare at a wall before I could grab it!" I snap, feeling the tension between us building. I push him away and wrap his jacket closer around myself, the smell of his cologne wafting around me.