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Chapter Ten

Zach

She had looked so small a broken when the front door had opened last night. She had trembled like a leaf in my arms and it had hurt so much to see her like that.

I know I shouldn't have.... and I know it was wrong. But I couldn't help it. 'How could you do this to her, max.' I'd wondered angrily as I held her. 'She doesn't deserve this. She doesn't deserve any of this.'

I couldn't take back those thoughts, but then again I didn't want to.

When Natalie had finally fallen asleep last night I'd stayed up and watched her, just to be sure she wasn't going to have another nightmare.

This reassured me that I was doing the right thing by keeping those letters from her.

"Pancakes with bacon?" I asked getting up off love seat and stretching. Man was I so sore. Remind me to sleep on the floor next time. It had to be more comfortable then this.

Natalie looked up at me with a duh expression. "Of course." But I could see the smile in her eyes.

If this is what I was able to get from her, then maybe that would be enough... as long as she's smiling.

"Alright, alright. I was just making sure, you know you females can be very demanding and mind flopping creatures." I joked as I walked to the kitchen.

"Mind flopping?" Natalie laugh.

"Yes you heard me." I pulled out the frying pan to get the bacon going before I started to mix the pancakes.

"What is mind flopping?" She was still laughing little, and when I turned to look at her pulling herself up to sit on the counter I couldn't help but take in her appearance.

She's pulled her hair up into a messy bun, and her large t-shirt, although rumpled, made her look amazing....

"It means constantly changing of one's mind." I informed her with a nod.

Nat raised an eyebrow at me. "Oh does it?" She got this smug look on her face, as she watched me.

"Yes, and females can never make up their minds about what they want. Hens they are mind flopping creatures." I explained with a shrug as I cracked two eggs and whipped them into the milk.

"So what does that make males?" I could feel her watching me. More likely then not she was glaring at my back.

I chuckled unable to help myself. "It makes us the superior of the two kinds." I puffed out my chest a bit.

Natalie laughed. "Superior? Really? Men couldn't function with out woman in their lives. You'd all be wondering around like bum bumbling idiots."

I was trying to hold in a smile as I cooked, hunching my shoulders to look like I was offended.

"Oh come on, you've got to have something to say to that." Natalie teased.

I heard her feet hit the floor as she walked over to me. "Awww did I hurt Zachy's feelings?"

Natalie poked my face with a finger.

I knew just by her tone that she has put a pouty expression on. And Natalie pouty expressions were so adorable.

"No you didn't." I said indignently. I pulled the lid off the bacon to flip the strips. "Because it's not true. If it was only up to men, things would get done a lot faster and decisions would be made much quicker."

Natalie snorted. "Oh yeah sure things would. Because all men would magically turn into respectable humans who aren't lazy all of the sudden." She said rolling her eyes and crossing her arms.

I turned to face her, crossing my arms. "Not all men are lazy, and lots of them are respectabe." I glowered at her. Not amused by this.

Natalie laughed, smiling at me now. "No, but most of them are." She smirked up at me.

"And what am I?" I slowly too a step towards her, my eyebrow raised.

"I don't know...." Natalie shrugged, looking away.

"Yes you do.." I stepped closer to her. I towered over Natalie, her small frame was dwarfed even more by her big pajama shirt. Why was she so innocent? With her big eyes staring up st me... I just didn't understand...

"I-I don't know..." Natalies voice trembled slightly. She looked down and fiddled with her fingers. It was one of her nervous habits of hers.

It took me a moment to realize I was the one making her nervous. Swallowing, I took a step back. And turned to finish cooking. How could I possibly make Natalie nervous?

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After breakfast I told Natalie to get ready for the day because Quinn wanted us to hang out today.

I cleaned up the kitchen up and say on the couch waiting for Natalie to come back down.

Things aren't makings sense anymore and I'm not sure what I need to do for them to turn to right around any more. Or if they will ever turn right again...

"I'm ready." Natalie called as she came down the stairs.

I stood and grabbed my keys. " Alright let's get going before Quinn sends out a search party." I chuckled. As I headed the door.

The ride back to my house was quiet. The radio was the only thing that made the whole ride not awkward. It was my fault,, I don't know what I did but I knew it was.

It was something I said it did in the kitchen this morning. I just hope that whatever happened there didn't ruin anything that Natalie and I might have had.