It's Complicated Pt. 2

Chapter 2: Caught in the way you got me

Her phone buzzed in the distance as she lay on her bed, exhausted from the night before. She crashed as soon as her head hit the pillow that morning, and hadn’t woken up since.

Contemplating whether or not to answer the phone, she dragged herself across the room to pick up the cell from the dresser.

She answered with a sighed hello.

‘Are we still on for lunch at 2?’

“Yeah, sorry I just woke up. I’ll be ready in about 20 minutes. Are you still picking me up?” she asked as she grabbed the nearest pair of jeans and began putting them on.

‘Yeah, just text me when you’re ready and I’ll leave then. I’ll see you soon.”

She hung up the phone and continued to get dressed. Her hair looked fine, but her smeared eyeliner looked messy so she began reapplying her makeup quickly.

After 15 minutes, she texted the familiar number and waited for the dirty blonde haired, deep green eyed boy to show up at her doorstep. He was driving his father’s car again, indicating that his was still in the shop.

His smile grew as he walked toward her. As he approached her his arms widened, pulling her into a hug and kissing her lightly on the cheek.

“I’ve missed you.” He said, “I don’t know if I could go another 3 days without you.”

She smiled lightly, “I missed you too, Nathan. Would have been nice if you had at least texted me” she joked.

His eyes squinted at her, and his smile appeared again as they began walking to his car.

“I texted you last night and you never replied. I figured you were already asleep”

He opened the door for her, and waited as she made herself comfortable in the passenger seat. She watched as he walked around the front of the car. He was wearing a plain grey shirt with some dark wash denim jeans. She loved it when he would wear plain clothes, as she had a pretty plain style herself.

She and Nathan had met through her cousin, Sarah, whose best friend was his younger sister. She had recognized him from school many times before, but it wasn’t till the evening they met that she actually noticed him. One night about a year ago at a small get together she had gone to with Sarah she kept catching his gaze on her while he took sips of Blue Moon, his drink of choice. They were both still young, and her curiosity tempted her to talk to him. Since then, they had remained in contact almost daily.

“So were you asleep?” he inquired, starting the car.

“Oh, “ her trans broke, “yeah I was really tired. I didn’t really sleep much the past couple days and I think it drained me”

She had never lied to him before, and it felt weird even now to do it over something so silly. She didn’t know whether he’d be jealous knowing how her night was really spent, or if he’d even care at all. Surely he would, but he had never shown an ounce of jealousy before and she couldn’t picture him starting to now.

“I can tell. You still look a bit tired.” He paused, “but you still look great. I’m just glad I get to see you again before I leave next week.”

Nathan’s father was a pretty well-known lawyer in town, which required him to travel to meet with clients. After Nathan graduated high school and expressed his love for law, he too would travel alongside his father to gain experience while also going to school full time.

“How long will you be gone this time?” She asked, a bit of sadness washed over her.

“Just 2 days, but I won’t be home till late Sunday night. I could stop by if you’re still up.” He kept an eye on the road as they drove through the streets. It was a sunny day today as always, but the temperature wasn’t as hot as usual. It felt nice.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll just see you Monday. I don’t want you driving too late.” She said as she placed her hand on top of his.

He smiled to himself.

‘Jodie’s Café’ the familiar sign read as they both got out of the car. He quickly grabbed her hand and led her through the front doors. The soothing smell of coffee wisped past them as the cold air conditioner hit them. Taking a seat in the nearest booth, Nathan watched as she made herself comfortable in the seat directly across him. Her movements were so graceful, and that’s what he loved about her.

She was looking down, which gave him the chance to take in her appearance. She was wearing skin tight pants that covered her slender legs and accentuated her thin figure. She had thrown her light brown hair up, like she always does in a rush and her usual tank top style was now replaced with a maroon v-neck. Her green eyes looked up at him and he smiled.

“What do you feel like eating today?” he questioned, sliding the menu that had been sitting beside his arm toward her.

“I’m not that hungry. I think I’ll just get a bagel and some coffee.”

Nathan nodded and waited as the waitress came to assist them. He hadn’t really planned the rest of their day, but if all else fails they could just go back to his place for a quick swim.

“How’s your dad? I didn’t see his car parked in the driveway” He asked, watching as the waitress came back and set two bagels, a pastry, and 2 mugs of coffee on the table before him.

“I haven’t seen him. When you called I had just gotten up. He was probably out running errands before I woke up.”

Nathan nodded in agreement and cringed as he took a sip of the hot coffee, burning the tip of his tongue. “Have you talked to Sarah?”

“She asked me yesterday if we all wanted to hang out tonight and I said maybe, but other than that no. I’m sure she has a kickback she’d like to go to with everyone.” She took a bite of the soft bagel and immediately tasted the sweet blueberries buried inside the dough. It was heavenly.

“I don’t mind going if that’s what you want. I just figured you’d want to spend some one on one time with me.”

She blushed slightly, “Of course I do. But do you really want to spend another few days in town visiting only me?”

“That’s what I look forward to.” He said before taking a bite of his pastry, and taking another careful sip of coffee. “As long as you’re the first person I see and the last I’m content. Do you want to hang out with Sarah tonight then?”

“Why don’t we just go back to your house and have a few drinks?” She asked, finishing up the bagel.

Nathan shrugged, “We can do that. Text Sarah and tell her the plan, I’ll tell a couple of old friends. Until then we can go back to my place and swim. Haley has missed you.”

A couple hours went by and while the plans had changed slightly, Sarah was already on her way to Nathan’s house. They had spent most nights together at his house until he began going on trips with his father, so it was nice that they got to spend another night like this. The temperature had dropped slightly, and the sun had gone down leaving only the lights illuminating from his house the only source of light.

His house was big. Not a mansion or anything, but big enough that he could say he had the biggest house in the neighborhood with ease. The stairs leading up to the porch were a light tan, and gave more appeal to the pink and yellow flowers blossoming beside it. As anyone would walk in, the white marble floor glistened, not that anyone would really notice it with the huge staircase and family photos leading upstairs in clear view.

Nathan had always said that the pool was the best part of the house, which no one could argue against. It was indoor, and heated throughout the whole year. The water was a deep blue, almost ocean-like from the chemicals they’d put in it to keep it clean.

Sarah walked through the door with a smile on her face, and her arm around a familiar face.

“You guys remember Joe, right? He was in our 5th period trig class in high school.” Her voice echoed. “We were supposed to hang tonight so I figured I’d bring him along”

“Oh yeah, I remember” Nathan beamed, whether or not he was just saying so to be nice, no one could tell. “What do you drink? I have pretty much everything in the fridge over there, help yourself.”

Joe nodded, “Thanks man, what do you want Sarah?” he asked as he made his way to the fridge by the mini bar.

“I’ll just have a Smirnoff for now, thanks”

Sarah turned toward me with a glimmer in her eye. Her newly short blonde hair framed her excited face, “Didn’t he get hot? I didn’t recognize him when he introduced himself on the strip the other day. He said when he saw me he just had to talk to me.” She whispered, “I’m gonna see how the night goes and if anything happens, familiarize the face because he’ll be around for our next meet up.”

Nathan returned with a drink and told Sarah to direct Joe to the restroom he needed help finding.

“He seems like a nice guy” he stated, handing her an opened Mike’s hard lemonade.“I don’t remember him though”

He took a seat beside her and watched as she took a big gulp of her sweet drink, one that she hadn’t tasted in a while. She wasn’t much of a drinker, but it was her favorite regardless of the low alcohol percentage.

“Who else is coming?” She asked

He took a drink of his Blue Moon before setting it down on the table beside him. “Sarah said she invited a few people, and I texted some cousins. They’re coming for sure, but I don’t know about Sarah’s friends.”

As the night drew on, a couple more people than expected showed up besides Nathans cousins. By now she and Nathan were a bit tipsy, and she knew how he’d get if he ended up drunk by the end of the night.

Even being slightly buzzed seemed to give Nathan a reason to be noticeably more affectionate toward her. He sat closer, and had his arm around her waist for an hour before making his way to the beer pong table that was pretty occupied by the strangers. She watched as he made his way toward them. She had always liked him a little more tipsy, because he was on the timid side without alcohol and actually made whatever they had a bit less platonic.

He turned toward her one last time from afar and raised his drink toward her before chugging it down and offering his turn in the game.

Sarah took the chance to take the seat beside her to catch up.

“So are you guys dating yet or what? It’s been what? 6 months?”

“Not yet. Both of us agreed in the beginning that we have other priorities, and I still stand by that. I’m not sure if he does.”

“Do you guys at least have sex? If both of you are playing the friends with benefits game might as well get some benefits out of it.” Sarah laughed, raising an eyebrow.

“The farthest we’ve gone is making out, we were both really drunk and I doubt he even remembers.” She answered truthfully, staring at Nathan from across the room. “He wasn’t bad for being wasted, I think if it hadn’t had been for him passing out when I went to the restroom we would have gone all the way.”

“Well maybe you’ll get that chance tonight.” She winked, turning her eyes toward Joe, “or maybe I will.”

A few hours passed and as he hunched over her as she made her way up the stairs, she couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed that Nathan would get that drunk again. Every little while he would speak to her, but his slurred words were understandable. She placed him on his bed and made sure he had enough blankets to last him through the night.

He pulled her toward him as she was leaving, causing her to fall onto the bed with him.

“Lay with me tonight, please Ava.” He whispered, cupping her cheek with his hand gently.

She contemplated and looked at the time. It was already too late to meet up with the dark haired boy from yesterday if she had decided last minute to do so, as his nightly routine would have surely been over with by now. She sighed, and lifted the covers before making herself comfortable in his arms.

Maybe tomorrow she thought, before drifting off into slumber.