Cross My Heart

Cross My Heart Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Rachelle: 

I sat on the far side of the breakfast table, reading a book and enjoying my solitude. It was a nice day outside, but way too hot and humid. I wrinkled my nose and flipped the page, absorbing the tiny words. I looked up when I saw Christy, in a short denim mini-skirt and semi-translucent tanktop. I watched as she glared at me and picked up a pop-tart, and marched away.

"Shouldn't you be watching your calories, sis?"I teased, setting down the dog-eared book and waiting for her lousy comeback. Christy hated when someone teased her about her weight. Even if she is a practically a chopstick.

"Shouldn't you be pulling the stick out of your ass?"She said, barely turning back. 

"Touche."I smiled, shaking my head just a little. Christy's comebacks were always lousy, and that made me more than pleased.

I returned to my book when I heard the front door slam shut and Christy's Audi roaring away. She always has something to do on Sundays and I couldn't help but to feel envious. 

"Morning, Miss I have to listen to loud music at 1:30am." Nate appeared out of nowhere, pouring bitter scented coffee into his cup and running a hand through the bird-nest ontop of his head. 

"Morning, Mr. I take calls in the middle of the night." I retorted, taking an angry bite out of my toast.

"Fair enough. I just so happen to like Simple Plan."He shrugged and sat right across from me, grinning widely. 

I scowled, guess I have to switch CDs tonight. 

"I not really easy to get rid of, you know."Nate took a sip and ruffled his hair. His eyes were sort of sad, and his smirk made me think about how he looked ten years ago. Maybe vulnerable, and maybe even cute. 

"Noticed,"I grumbled and set down that piece of now-crumpled toast in my hands.

"So, whatcha doing today?Reading books?"He changed the subject and sneered when he picked up my book.

"Yes actually. My life is just so boring that I read books for pleasure."I snatched the book back. 

"I know a lot of thing that would give you pleasure."He winked and gave me a seductive look.

I cringed, "As tempting as that sounds, Nathaniel, I'm going to go upstairs."I lifted myself from the chair and stretched. 

"Don't call me that."He said, a hint of annoyance appeared.

Yes!

"Call you what? Nathaniel? Isn't that your name? Nathaniel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel..."I repeated, grinning inside, because I noticed the scowl on his face.I knew perfectly well that he hated being called Nathaniel. 

"You're a piece of work."He grinned, shaking his head and trailing his long fingers around the edge of the cup. 

"Oh, well."I sighed, "See ya, Nathaniel." 

I couldn't stop grinning when I reached the staircase. 

************

After breakfast, I continued reading my book, but in somewhere private. There was a window seat up in the attic and the light's just brilliant, so I snatched a couple of cookies and read for a while. No one knew that I hanged out there, only because I perferred to be alone. And reading in my room would be too obvious, for someone to find me.I stared hard, at the words on the page and tried to concentrate. 

 He trailed soft, feather like kisses down her throat and her collar bone, and she shivered with delight.His strong hands, gripped her waist and lifted her up, so his lips could touch the hallow of her throat...

"Urg!"I exclaimed, throwing the book down. Man, authors should really keep their books PG these days. 

"Anger is not healthy,you know."A dark shadow loomed in the dark, and I flinched at the sound of Nate's voice.

"WHAT ARE YO DOING HERE? GET OUT!"I screamed at him.

He laughed, and walked leisurely out of the shadows and propped himself right next to me.

"GET OUT!"I said again, edging away from him.

"So is this where you usually read?"he looked around and pretended to ignore me,

"What are you doing here?"I tried again.

"I was bored, and so..."He took in the scene, a couple of hardcovers lingered the floor and a old, cashmere blanket was balled up into a cushion behind me.

"So, this is what you do for fun? Stalking me?How long were you there, watching me?"

He furrowed his brows, and I crossed my arms.

"I was there because I wanted to ask you something, but you seemed so absorbed by your book, so I decided to wait."He answered casually, which made me even more angry.

"I came up here to get away from you! And here you are again, right next to me."I groaned, hitting my head on the glass window.

"Why do you hate me so much?"He asked seriously, his eyes caring.

I gulped,  I wasn't ready to give him answers yet.

"I don't hate you,"I replied."I loathe you."

"Oh, wow. That's reassuring."He muttered, picking up Pride and Prejudice from the ground.

"You left, without telling me, without a phone call or an email, you just disappeared. And you think I should be happy about that?"I demanded, curling my fist.

"I said I was sorry."I looked at me with those pleading eyes, his handsome face just inches away from mine.

"Well, sorry doesn't cut it, Natheniel."I spat into his face.

"Ouch."He grinned, lifting something out of his pockets."Does this make everything better?"He offered me an oreo.

I felt my heart pound with something unfamiliar. I wanted to take it, but I had more self control than that.

"No. I don't like oreos."I lied, turning away.

"You're a rotten liar."He narrowed his eyes and reached down, lifting the wooden floorboard up, to expose a whole stash of vanilla Oreo wrappers and cookies.

I was stunned. How did he know about that?

"Stop it!"I wacked his arm and made him drop the board with a loud "clank."

He was smirking again.

"You jerk."I muttered under my breath and stole a glance at him. He was still looking at me, with amusement.

"Now now, no need to be alarmed. I'm just going to ask you something, would you like to go to the beach with me?"He rubbed his hands on his jeans.Leaving dirt marks on his jeans.

"No."I said flatly.

"No?"He raised an eyebrow."Well then, you must want your friends to find out that you have a secret stash of candy under the floorboards and you still sleep with a stuffed animal at night?"

No. He wouldn't.

"What's his name again. Mr.Muddle? Mr.Huddle?"He pretended to look pensive.

"Mr.Cuddles."I corrected."And you wouldn't,"

"Aw, Rachelle, don't underestimate me."He narrowed his eyes again, and smirked.

Stupid jerk, he will not get what he wants! 

 "Well then, I guess you have to post that on Facebook, now."I ruffled his hair."Blackmailing me? That's so unlike you."I pulled at his hair until he grimaced and then let go. I didn't want to hurt him.

He looked surprised.

I smiled mysteriously at him, and slammed the door in his face.

So much for blackmail, huh?