I Know You
by
FallenMidnightAngel
.*.
He was always there to carry my books. He would just appear amongst hundreds of scurrying college students, arms empty, and a grin on his face. I never asked. He was just… there. The second time he attempted to carry them, I yanked them back, a look of defiance on my face.
"I can carry my own books, you know. I'm not helpless." I said, putting ice into my voice until I could hear it freeze. Now, this would normally faze people, and they would step back, and then, when I turned my back, usually make a face behind my back. But he just grinned and held his arms out again.
"I know you're not. I just thought I might help – isn't that what you girls like? Guys helping?" And then he grabbed my book-bag, which, by the way, is something that girls do not like. I tried to pull it back, but he pulled harder. So hard, in fact, that he fell on the ground, my heavy textbooks going with him.
"Are you alright?" I asked grudgingly, pulling Grey's Anatomy off of him. He propped himself up on his elbows and groaned, rubbing his head.
"Fine," He said, annoyance very evident in his voice. "I just had a ton of books fall on me, is all. Nothing big." I put my hands on my hips and, without even thinking about it, my face set into a scowl.
"Well, you know, that's your own fault. You wanted to carry them, so maybe you just received them in an unwanted way. Now, since you wanted to carry them so badly, you can pick them up." He smiled, his mood changing faster than I could comprehend, and his eyes set upon the book in my hand.
"Grey's Anatomy? Interesting!" He said, reaching for it. I quickly pushed it into my book-bag and turned around. "Well, then. Be that way." Sticking his tongue out at me, he proceeded to pick up the rest of my books.
I started walking, hearing his footsteps catch up to me. I felt the corner of my mouth twitch upwards, something that rarely happened.
'Well. Maybe this isn't so bad.'
.*.
Around my third year of college, I gave him a key to my apartment, and he gave me a key to his. I would come home late, only to hear him noisily pouring cereal in the kitchenette.
"Rogan? Oh my God, what are you doing here?" I said, rubbing my eyes with my wrist, placing my other hand on the countertop. "It's almost two in the morning!"
He ignored my question and asked, "What kind of cereal do you prefer: Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Lucky Charms?" I sighed and sat down heavily on a chair, smiling slightly like I always did around him.
"Cinnamon Toast Crunch," He set down the box, gaping at me in horror. "What?" I said, suddenly self-conscious. I rubbed my nose and forehead, wondering if there was some ghastly substance there.
"What is wrong with you?" I blinked twice, offended. "Only freaks like Cinnamon Toast Crunch! Lucky Charms are the way to go!" He said. This instigated a face palm.
"Just pour the cereal."
"Gotcha."
.*.
Two years later, we were making our way in the world, free. I remember that one night I came home after a particularly hard break-up, and, like always, there he was in my kitchen, pouring cereal.
"Get out!" I screamed. "Get out! Why are you always here? I don't want you here! Get out!" He put the cereal down and stared at me.
"What happened to you, Nat?"
"Why should you care? All you guys are the same – idiotic! You don't care about anything!"
His eyes narrowed, and he walked right in front of me.
"We don't care? We're stupid? How come you can't notice what's right in front of you? I know everything about you, Nat. I know that your favorite color is green, I know that you love all things medical. I know that you prefer Cinnamon Toast Crunch over Lucky Charms, no matter how messed up that is.
"I know your birthday – January 17th. I know that you love all things flashy, and if you don't catch everyone's eye, then something is definitely wrong with them. I know that I love you, and you don't notice."
I stood there in shock, not moving, not blinking, I don't even believe that I was breathing.
And then, all of a sudden –
I noticed.
.*.
747 words. Geez, do you know how hard it was to file it down to 748 words? I had to cut out some details! :'(
Anyway, I actually quite like this little drabble thingy. I wanted to do something happy! :D I just feel like it's a bit rushed, but with the limit, that happens. Oh well! xD Also – I don't know Natalie Kabra's real birthday. I Googled it a ton, and found some interesting Facebook pages, but no official birthday. I thought that January was good for her, however, seeing as she is very icy.
Anyway, if you haven't figured it out, this is Natalie and a random dude named Rogan. I see this as an AU – the Clue Hunt never happened. Rogan is an awesome name, isn't it? Wrote this jamming out to my new favorite song! ^^
Anyway. Official post date: 6/20/11. (Sorry that it's a week late – my Internet was all wonky last Monday. Boo, Internet.)
~Ari
