Give Me Back Whats Mine ➳ David Dobrik

Chapter Twelve ➳ Friends Who Kiss From Time To Time

Natalie

Relieved that I have someone who can take her off my hands for fucking five minutes.

I never knew that his words could hurt like that. Cut as deep as they did.

I played them over and over for the rest of the day, trying to decipher the meaning behind them.

In the space of about three seconds he had turned from funny and goofy, to bitter and cutting.

And then there was just silence. Radio silence.

The rest of the day was spent like that. The house was full of sounds, people coming and going, plans being made and executed, but no words passed directly between us. We were like magnets that repelled one another, as soon as we got within a couple of feet of each other, one of us would hastily head in the opposite direction.

It was avoidance, yes. But it beat the hell out of having a fight that would ultimately lead to a bigger, overarching conversation. A conversation I was terrified of.

Even though our day to day environment shifted so quickly and with such gusto, the relationship between David and I had always stayed the same. And there was some comfort in that. Like a safe space for us both to retreat into.

But then there was the kiss and the almost kiss and the bath and the shower and the sharing a bed and the holding hands and it all felt really, really good in the most confusing of ways.

Everything was upside down and not quite as I knew it. And the safe space was taking on water and sinking before my eyes.

I think that's why I agreed to go out with Fletcher.

I thought it would be like a reset button on everything that happened over the past month. I very stupidly assumed that it would make everything between David and I normal again.

Stupidly being the operative word.

***

'Dave?' I said, knocking on his door once before entering his bedroom. 'Oh, hey guys.'

I found him with Joe and Jason, editing the vlog for this week.

'Nat!' Jason bellowed, giving me a once over. 'You look so nice for your date!'

'Thanks.' I said, but my eyes were trained on David. He didn't even look up from his computer to acknowledge me.

'Have a nice time, Natty.' Joe said, smiling up at me before his eyes drifted back to the computer screen.

'Don't you think Nat looks nice, Dave?' Jason asked, elbowing David in the side.

His eyes flitted to me for a tenth of second. He shrugged. 'She's looked better.'

Again, his words stung. The emotional whiplash of it all making me feel sick.

'Dave!' Jason said, sudden annoyance is his voice. 'Don't listen to him Nat, he's just cranky because the vlog isn't piecing together like usual.'

I forced a small smile before turning to leave. 'I just came in to say goodnight.'

'Why would you say something like that?' I heard Jason accuse as I walked down the hallway.

Just as I got in my car, my phone dinged.

You look really nice.

Please don't go.

My heart ached suddenly. And for a split second I almost got out of my car and ran right back to him. Almost.

He's being a dick. I thought, my mind running through all the brushoffs I'd received from him today.