Play the Game

Chapter Five

  It's been about three or four weeks since we first began hatching Frank's evil plan. I was beginning to think it didn't even matter either way, since my encounters with Mark were minimal. But one day, well, I guess something interesting actually came out of this plan.

  The dismissal bell had rung and Frank's plan for the day was for Nate to walk me home, and for me to give him that week's post. Neither of us was exactly bummed about it, though, because we had both gotten used to each other. Got along, even.

  But before we could walk, Nate had done 'business to take care of', so I wasted for him outside the building. I sat and waited for him under the tree, and it wasn't long before I heard footsteps approaching. “Hey, Nate. You ready to.."

“Oh."

  Awkward. It wasn't Nate, but Mark. “Ellie, I've been trying to avoid this, but we need to talk." He removed his back pack from his shoulders and tossed out to the floor. He ran good hands through his hair the way he always does when he's nervous. I knew this wasn't going to be good.

  “So, what's with you and...."

  “ Nate?"

  “Yeah."

I sighed. I knew this has to happen at some point, I just hoped it never would. “Nate, I thought we told you. We're... going out," I finished. His eyebrows drew together. “That's the thing, El. What about us?" I took a deep breath. It wasn't like me to explode in anger, but Mark was pushing it.

  “Mark, how can there be an us when you left and cheated? I thought it was obvious that we we're broken up."

“But, El, I'm here now. Why would you rather be with that, that loser?" He said finally, for lack of better words.

  I felt the moisture come to my eyes. I couldn't handle something like this; I have always been bad at confrontations. “He's not a loser, Mark! He's a-" I couldn't finish my sentence. I got overwhelmed with the fact that I was lying to Mark's face about Nate. If that wasn't enough, it was scaring me the way he looked so angry. Like he could hurt someone.

  Then I heard someone else come forward is. “Hey!"said Nate. “What's going on?" Mark directed his anger to Nate. “It's you," he said, the rage visible on his face. “Can't you get a hint? Go the hell away!" He charged Nate and pushed him hard. Thinking it was enough, Mark turned back around.

  But Nate didn't let it go. He pushed Mark back. “Guys, stop," I said in vain attempt to stop an upcoming fight. “Ellie, you might want to leave," said Nate. Mark took a swing at Nate and missed, but followed with a second swing, nailing Nate right in the jaw. Nate seemed hardly fazed. He shook it off and returned the favor with a nice hard punch on Mark's own jaw.

  “Okay, stop. Stop!" I stepped in between them while they were apart. They were both breathing heavily in anger like wild animals. “Please don't. Just.. don't." Nate stopped circling and so did Mark. They continued to glare at each other before Mark finally surrendered. “Whatever," he said, getting his back pack and walking away.

  After he was five, I sighed heavily and dropped to the floor. It wasn't long before I started to cry. And not long after that, I started to bawl. It was really quite unattractive, although I was hiding behind my sweater.

  Nate let me cry for a minute before sitting down next to me. I vicious and try to wipe my years. “Ellie? Why are you crying?" He asked softly. I stood and so did he. “I- I," my lip wondered add I tried to speak. The years came flooding again as I explained. “I can't do this anymore! I know he cheated, but lying to him is wrong! And getting paid to do it, that's worse! I thought it was a harmless little lie but- but you just got hurt, and now I can't even- "

  I got cut off. Out of nowhere, Nate's hands grabbed my face and he pressed his lips against mine. Tears were still trickling down my face, but his thumbs wiped them away. Finally, he looked away, leaving me shocked. My hiccup filled the still silence.

“Uh," was all I could say.

  The smallest smile tugged at Nate's lips. I blinked at him with wide eyes. Meekly, I asked, “Uh, what was that?" He shrugged casually, but I noticed he was still smiling. “You wouldn't shut up." I laughed.

  And laughed. And laughed some more, until it was just as uncontrollable and hysterical as my crying just seconds ago. Between laughs, I heard Nate saying, “Aww, c'mon. I just shut you up, do I have to do it again?" But I couldn't stop.

  Finally he did shut me up again. He took my face in his hands again and kissed me. Again. His lips are were so soft and gentle, unlike Mark's. The free times he missed me felt forced and weird. I opened my eyes and looked up at him after he pulled away. 

  “Shut up," he whispered again. I was blushing furiously. One of his hands was still on my cheek as I looked down at my bright yellow shoes. My hair fell over my face in a blonde curtain. “Okay," I mumbled back. Nate moved the hair away from my face and held it in place with his hand. “You okay Now ?" I nodded.

  He let go of me and stepped back. “Okay," he said. Then I guess we better get you home, huh. You've had quite an emotional day." He chuckled at the last bit. We gathered or belongings from under the tree and began walking toward my house.

                I held Nate's hand the whole way there.

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   “He didn't even hesitate," I said to Megan. We were sitting Indian-style on my bedroom floor on the Saturday after. Megan listened with wide eyes. “Holy cow, El. He got in a fight for you?"

“Well, it was more of him defending himself, but in a way, yes."

  Megan grabbed my hand. “Girl! He likes you. All we need now is for him to admit it and maybe it won't be a lie anymore."

  I still hadn't told Megan about the kids, though. “One more thing, Meg." “Yeah?" I sighed. “I had a total crying meltdown and would not shut up. Like, it was really bad. He just say there for a while but then he... He kissed me. To make me shut up. For no other reason than to make me be quiet."

   Meg's hand for to get mouth as she gasped. “No way! What did you do? Did you freeze?" A shy smile crept to my lips as I relived yesterday's moment. “I did at first. But then I might've kissed him back." Meg squealed. “Good food you, El! Nate's way better than Mark."

  I agreed. He was crazily underrated, and had a false reputation for being a jerk. Misunderstood,  you could say. “Meg, I gave him my share of last week's money. I just couldn't keep it. And when I gave it to him, he almost didn't take it." Meg made a little pouty face. “Aw. He does like you." “Pssh. As if."

  I tried to think rationally. He couldn't like me. We were hardly friends, and our whole 'relationship' was a staged one. The only reasoning behind Megan's words was the fact that he kissed me. Wait 'til Frank hears about this.

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A/N

Hello! Okay, so it was short, but eventful, do you agree? let me know in the comments about what you think, predict, or whatever. Later!

love, tuppenceabag