This Is How It Goes

Chapter Nine: I See You

I follow Natalie to the cafeteria. I eat with her. I watch her.

She pretends she’s fine. If you didn’t know her, if you hadn’t seen her before last night you’d never suspect a thing. She gets her food, smiles at people, eats and makes conversation with Max and Laurel. She tries making conversation with me but I’m too busy studying her. Waiting for the downfall.

But it doesn’t come.

Luckily for me I’ve been people watching my entire life. I notice things. I notice the way her smile twitches slightly, how she blinks too much, swallows too hard. I see the quiver in her hands and the constant tapping of her feet, her fingers, her fork. I hear the uneasy tone to her voice and the way her words run into one another too quickly. I can see you Natalie. And you’re not okay.

“So how was the party guys? I didn’t see you at all.” Max says around a mouthful of eggs. “Too busy getting handsy with the seniors were you?”

Natalie laughs uncomfortably and looks at me. I smile at Max, “We didn’t stay long actually. Natalie and Harry left early and I decided it was no fun without them.”

“Why’d you and Harry leave early?” Laurel asks.

Natalie shrugs. “We weren’t really in a party mood.”

“Fair enough.” Max says and then turns her attention to me. “I wanted to ask you something Kat.”

“Shoot.” I say, my focus still partially on Natalie.

“Do you know an Isaac Heal?”

“Isaac Healy?”

“Yeah, that must be him. Tall, brown hair, good looking in a preppy way?”

“Yeah, Isaac. I sort of know him.” I lie. I know him. I know him too well.

“He was asking around for a Kat last night. He looked really flustered.” Max says looking at me carefully. “Do you know why?”

I shake my head, trying to appear casual. “No idea. We met at my Mom’s wedding in the summer, haven’t really seen him since.”

“Maybe it was another Kat.” Max says shrugging.

“Yeah.” I say.

“I think I’m going to go.” Natalie says getting up quickly. She has an odd look on her face, like she’s seen something horrible. Perhaps terrifying.

“What?” Laurel asks. “You’ve not finished your breakfast.”

“Lost my appetite.” She says quickly and begins walking away. I look around and see the cause of her sudden departure. Harry.

He’s just walking in, looking tired but jovial. Lance who I met in Harry’s room a few nights ago is there with him and someone else I don’t recognize. They are making their way over to Natalie. No way in hell.

I launch out of my seat making Max and Laurel jump back in surprise. I swing my leg over the seat and push through a sea of tired and grumpy students. The coffee must have been in short supply this morning.

Harry walks casually, chest out, head up. Like a god damn runway model. And he’s strutting his way over to Natalie. Who the hell does he think he is?

Natalie doesn’t need someone to save her, but she does need someone to protect her sometimes. Especially from scum of the earth boyfriends.

He doesn’t expect me to intervene, he’s only three or so feet away from her now, but I can see Lance has noticed me. But my attention is on Harry. A surprise attack will be all the more satisfying. Natalie may be content to let him get away with what he did. Because she’s scared. But I’m not. And I’m not going to let him near her.