CHAPTER 2
SKATING
Natalie Bridge sat at home. It was Friday. School had ended a couple hours ago. She had just had a wonderful time with Justin. They had had ham sandwiches with mustard, lettuce, and cheese.
Natalie was in her room sitting at the desk she had painted herself. Homework was never a problem for her. She was incredibley smart and quick learning.
The phone rang from down stairs. She was home by herself so she ran down the stairs and answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Um, Hi!" said a familiar voice.
"Who's this?" she said.
"It's um, Justin!"
"Oh! Hi Justin! Did you want something?" said Natalie sitting down on a kitchen chair.
"Um, well, yeah. I was just wondering if you wanted to, ya know, go do something tonight?" he said sounding extremely nervous. Natalie jumped up, twirling her hair around her finger.
"Oh! Of course! Definitely!"
"Great! Um, where do you want to go?" he said sounding releaved.
"I don't know. Um, let me think. Do you like skating?"
"Skating?"
"Yeah! Like, ICE skating?"
"Oh, well, sure!" said Justin, "I'll pick you up at six and we can have a late dinner!"
"Great! I'll see you then! Bye!"
"Bye!Oh, wait! Where do you live?" said Justin. Natalie chuckled a little.
"32 Nevo Street. Bye!"
"Thanks! Bye!" He hung up and Natalie did the same. She darted upstairs, took out a couple bucks from her money jar, grabbed a pair of gloves, her cell phone, and headed back down stairs.
At six o'clock the doorbell rang. Natalie ran to the door and opened it.
"Hi Justin!" she said smiling up at him.
"Hi!" he smiling too. Natalie grabbed the keys on the hall table and followed Justin outside. She closed and locked the door. Justin opened th door to the Russo's car. The car was packed. Mrs. Russo was driving, Alex was sitting on the far side next to the window, and Max was sitting in the middle.
"Um, is it okay if you sit next to Max?" he said.
"Sure!" she said climbing into the car and buckled her seat belt.
"Is everyone buckled up?" said Mrs. Russo as she pulled out of the tiny driveway. Justin turned around in his seat (he was sitting in the front seat).
"So did you ever get that homework done Mr. Heim assigned us?"
"Yeah!" said Natalie leaning forward slightly to talk to Justin, "I thought it was actually relatively easy!"
"Me too!" said Justin, his eyes widening, "Everyone a talk to says that it was like, impossible!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, and Mrs. Alan..."
"Okay, can you guys stop!" said Alex suddenly, "I get enough about teachers at school! I don't need to hear about it from you guys!"
"Don't mind her!" said Justin who was glaring at Alex, "She's just upset that she has to take Max to the movies because she has 'nothing to do'!"
"Shut up Justin!"
"Hey!" said Mrs. Russo, "Don't fight in front of our guest!"
"It's okay!" said Natalie, "I baby sit on weekends sometimes and its way worse!" Justin snickered.
"Okay kids! We're here!" said Mrs. Russo. Justin got out and hurried over to the other side of the car. Natalie opened the door and Justin helped her step down.
"Bye! I'll pick you two up at nine! Where did you decide to go for dinner?"
"Um," said Justin looking at Natalie, "We never really decided."
"We could just walk around town and see what we can find and we'll call you later." said Natalie. Justin nodded.
"Sounds good! See you later!" said Mrs. Russo. As she pulled away Justin and Natalie waved. The two turned and walked into the ice skating rink. They payed for the rental skates and sat on a bench to tie their skates. Natalie finished tying her laces and, glancing over at Justin, who was having trouble with getting it tight enough, and knelt down to help him.
"Thanks." said Justin.
"No problem!" she said tying the last knot. He stood up and wobbled a bit before taking his first step. "You okay?" she said.
"Yeah." he said. They both stepped onto the ice. Justin hung onto the rail, pulling himself along. Natalie glided along beside him.
"Ready to let go?" she said glancing at the railing he was clutching.
"Um,"
"Come on! You'll never learn if you never try!" Justin looked around and sighed.
"Fine." he let go of the railing and stopped moving, "Hey! I didn't fall!"
"Justin, you've stopped moving!" she said giggling, "Here." Natalie moved in front of him and turned so she was facing him. She took his hands and started moving backwards. They were moving slowly, but at least they were moving. After about fifteen minutes Natalie had let go and was now gliding beside him. They had also started to move a little faster. After another ten minutes they were skating normally.
"So, where do you want to go after this?" asked Justin.
"I don't know. Where do you want to go?"
"I guess we could go to the..." he suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" she said. He was looking over at a group of girls in the center of the rink.
"Oh, no! Hide me!" he said bending behind Natalie (which was quite difficult, because Natalie was a foot shorter than him.)
"What?"
"See that girl over there? With the black shirt?" he said pointing to her.
"Yeah, what about her?" she said.
"Well, that's my old girlfriend, Miranda!"
"Old or Ex?"
"I ment ex-girlfriend." he rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Well why don't you just go over there and say something?"
"NO! I can't do that! Because I'm with you and she'd think...ya know."
"Which we're not!" Natalie said quickly.
"Of course not!"
"Is that what you thought?"
"You and me? Pft! No!"
"Good."
"Ya." they both stood and looked at each other, "Well, if your not going over there than I am!" she said, and before he could do anything Natalie had zoomed off towards the group of girls.
"Natalie! No! Don't!" but she had already reached them.
"Hello!" she said. The girls looked at her and a few giggled at her orange-streaked hair and zipper-pull earrings.
"Um, can we help you?" said Miranda.
"Yes, I'm looking for Miranda?"
"I am Miranda." she said sneering at her.
"Oh, well I'm friends with Justin!" she said cheerfuly.
"Wait, Justin RUSSO?" she said, towering over Natalie.
"Yes, is there a problem?" just then Justin came over and waved sheepishly at Miranda. She Glared at him.
"That's my ex-boyfriend!" she said coming so close to her that they were almost nose-to-nose.
"So? I believe the word ex was in there." surprisingly Natalie seemed to be making up for her hight.
"So your dating him now?" she said looking her up and down.
"NO!" they both said.
"Come on Natalie." said Justin.
"Yeah, go on Natalie!" she said, the other girls giggling. As the two skated away Natalie looked over her shoulder and stuck her tongue at Miranda.
"Oooo, burn." muttered Justin smiling.
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That's it for the second chapter. hope you liked it! i'm still writing the other chapters. don't worry! if someone has an idea or anything then feel free to give me a shout. please R/R thnx