10

My mother and father had noticed that Nate and I were spending a lot of time together, and I haven’t told them anything. Whenever I told them I was going out with Nate, they’d slow down with whatever they were doing and give me a weird look. I wouldn’t question it, but instead go over to Nate’s house where there wasn’t anyone else there, and it wasn’t their business what we did.
When I would go over his house, we’d usually sit on the floor just talking, until we got closer to one another, and closer, and then we weren’t talking anymore.
    “Hey mom, can I borrow the car tonight?” I came downstairs, where my mom and dad were lazily lounging on the couch. It was raining outside, so everyone was just staying and relaxing here today. Well, except for me that is.
    “Going out with Nate again?” My father asked, flipping through the paper. He had that sound in his voice, that tone when you could tell he was unhappy with that idea, or if it was just typical of me.
    “No. To Lia’s. Can I borrow the car?” I asked again, hoping for a response.
Dad looked up for a moment through his thick glasses, and glanced over to my mother like he always does, moving his eyeballs slowly, then quickly returning them to me.
    “Liz, does this boy think you’re staying here?”
They were both looking at me now, waiting for my answer. This wasn’t mom and dad mode. This was Mr. and Mrs. Professor Shay, their serious mode, when they get down to business to set us straight.
    “No, he knows I’m on vacation…”
Mom shifted in her seat. “Liz, sit down.”
I frowned. “Mom.”
    “Sit down, Liz.” She said again, the finality in her voice stronger and more assertive.
I sat on the chair opposite them. It felt like an intervention, looking over at their serious faces.
    “What is this,” My mother started. “Between you and this boy?”
    “It’s nothing,” My voice got flat, and I was already so angry with them for bringing it up.
    “Don’t lie to us.” Dad said. “You have been spending almost every moment with him lately. It’s not nothing, Liz.”
    “Well if you know that, why ask me?” I said irritably.
They both shook their heads.
    “Liz, you can’t get attached. I don’t want to hear it when we leave.” Mom’s voice got softer.
I didn’t want to say anything, but I couldn’t believe they were saying this to me.
    “You didn’t think this through.” She continued. “You have to end it before you get hurt.”
At that, I was outraged. She thinks she could just tell me that, and I’ll go straight over there and end things with Nate? I can’t let people run my life like that, doing what they want.
I stood up. “No sorry, I’m leaving.” I walked out without another word, and went to the first place I could think of, Nate’s.
I could feel my face getting hotter, running down the street in the cold rain, hoping he was home. I knocked on the door hard so he could hear it through the pounding, relentless rain, but there wasn’t an answer. I tried again, and even tried to open the door, but it was locked.
I flipped out my phone and dialed his number. A few rings, and he picked up. “Hello?”
    “Where the hell are you?” I said.
    “Uh, at home, why? Am I supposed to be somewhere?”
    “Yeah, the door! I’ve been practically knocking it down!”
I saw the blinds from his room open, the light on, and Nate peering out. I stepped back so he could see me, soaking wet and getting wetter.
    “Oh, man. I’m sorry. Be right there.”
He hung up, and within seconds he opened the door. “What are you doing?” You’re going to get sick!” He grabbed my arm and pulled me in the warm house. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing, just my parents. I can’t stand them.”
He reached for a jacket in the closet and handed it to me, closing the door after me. “Sit,” He said, and led me to the couch. He sat close, and waited for me to say more.
    “I’m not staying Nate. I mean, I’m leaving in a couple weeks.”
He nodded, as if he knew, but he was pushing it to the dusty back of his mind. I just stared at him, I knew that he knew where I was getting.
    “So you want to know what happens when you leave?”
    “My parents just told me that they wanted to end it with you because they think I haven’t ‘thought it through’ or something like that.” I said with air quotes.
He nodded, looking at me carefully. I didn’t wait for him to reply to that.
    “So, what if they’re right?”
It scared me a little, saying this, that they might be right about something.
    “They’re not right.” Nate said, shaking his head. “Liz, do you think I’m going to forget about you when you leave? That’s crazy.”
I was glad to hear this, glad that he thinks of me so highly, but it wasn’t my point.
    “Nate, that’s not what I mean.”
He knew this, by the look on his face. He just wanted to say something sweet to calm me down, and to reassure myself that my parents were wrong, and I should stay with him.
    “Yeah, I know.”
It was silent for a moment when we both looked away, he seemed to be thinking; he had that dazed look about him, where you relax your eyes and you’re not focused on anything at all, just thinking…
    “Just now,” He started, looking back up, but not at me. “I imagined breaking up with you, and then you leaving to go home, and never seeing you again. I can’t do that, Liz. Even imagining it almost made me freak out.” He laughed shortly, and I smiled.
I looked at him for a minute, me, and for the first time looking at him while he was looking away, staring at his face, realized why he just looked at me all the time. I floated my eyes over his that were looking down, those soft, blue, gentle eyes. Then to his lips, at a slight smile, a left over from his previous laugh. I felt a slight twinge inside of me, and unsure of what it was. I looked at him once again, and felt love for him.
Love? I- loved Nate? It seemed too soon, to fast to fall in love with someone you’ve just met, someone who stalked you to the bookstore, someone who couldn’t keep their eyes off you.
I wasn’t sure, I was so less than sure. But I still felt that twinge, that twinge that will always be Nate, tingling in the pit of my stomach. I had to say it. The twinge was getting louder, almost uncomfortable, only realized when I tell him. I didn’t care, I just needed him to know.
    “Nate, I love you.”
He stopped his staring at nowhere and looked up at me, and didn’t say a word. I somewhat regretted saying it, it hasn’t been that long, maybe he thinks I’m crazy. I didn’t take it back though. I kept my gaze on his eyes and meant what I said.
    “I knew you’d fall in love with me.” He said, and kissed me with his soft lips, holding my head and smoothly running his fingers through my hair.
This was what my parents were afraid of, and what I was afraid of, even. Though they still stayed in their position that I should never have gained feelings for him, I was glad I had the ability to let go and let myself fall in love with him, despite the fact I thought he was insane. I was embarrassed though, that he said that, with a sly tone and with ease. I knew you’d fall in love with me.
I still didn’t have my answer however, of what would happen when I leave. I cared less, at this moment, when he was holding me tight, lips wandering over to my neck, and to me ear, where he whispered, “I love you too,”
It was still early, even though it was dark outside because of the poor weather.
    “Oh-I have to go.” I said after a while, remembering Lia’s dinner.
    “Go?” Nate asked; I’d just gotten here.
    “Yeah. I planned to go to Lia’s house tonight. She brought her husband here. You know, the one I told you about? Chris, he’s sick.”
He nodded. “Yeah, I remember.”
I moved myself off the couch, and noticed my hair was still wet and so were my flip-flops.
    “Come by at the store tomorrow. I’m going to be there almost all day.”
He said he’d come, and I left then, for another chance to ask my parents for the car.
 

Reviews

[Jenn Gold]

I liked this chapter. Though at the beginning I was like...what ignorant parents, not knowing where there kid goes. =) Can't wait to read more.