Chapter 9
Nat's PoV
"Oh my gosh....Nat. How did you know I've wanted to come here?"
I had brought her to the Domain- one of the more upscale out door malls in the Austin area. Honestly, I love coming here and buying a starbucks fruppacino to just relax. I reached behind my head and began scratching my neck like I always do when I'm nervous.
"Well..um. I don't really know. This is just the place that I always come to when I need to study. It's just so like...I don't know....laid back I guess? And plus, I always come shopping here when I need some time to my self. So I figured, what the hell. You've seriously never been here before?"
" Nope, never."
"Well then, I guess that makes me your own personal tour guide."
I held out my arm so she could loop hers in mine and then set off down the sidewalk.
"Okay, on this side we have-"
"Oh my gosh! They have a Free People here?!?!? I haven't seen one of these since I left New York. Come on Nat, we have to go in," she squealed. Right in my ear I might add.
Before i knew it, she had dragged me in to the little flowery store. She dropped her arm and ran over to all of the necklaces and bracelets on the wall, giving me time to scan the store. The little boutique was very-let me repeat that- very colorful. If you asked me to describe it in one word I would call it exotic.
"Nat, come here, I need help fastening the clasp on this stupid necklace."
I rushed over to help her, grabbing the ends of the necklace ever so gently, purposely allowing my fingers to brush over her hands. I could feel her shiver slightly and smiled.
'Maybe she does like me,' I thought to myself.
"Nat..Nat...you know, this is the second time you've been off in your own little world."
"Huh? Oh...sorry. I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"Oh..nothing."
"Yeah...sure,whatever. So what do you think of this necklace? It's beautiful right?"
"Yeah...yeah it is. Do you want me to get it for you?"
Her face turned a slight color of red as I asked the question.
"What?"
"Rosalina. Do. You. Want. Me. To. Buy. The. Necklace. For. You.?"
"Um..you really don't have to so that for me. I can pay for it myself. I wasn't really even planning on buying it."
"No..no...I insist."
"Well then, I decline."
"But I insist."
"I told you. I decline."
" Too late."
I grabbed another necklace off the wall that looked just like the one she had picked out. I walked up to the lady behind the register and handed her the necklace.
"Will that be all sir?"
I looked over my shoulder.
"Hey Rosie, you want me to get you-" but she was gone.
"Uh..no..I guess. Sorry, I gotta go."
I grabbed my credit card and the bag and hurried out the door. Finally, I caught sight of Rosalina sitting outside of the Starbucks, crying.
"Hey, Rosie. Don't cry. Not again. Do you know how many times I've already had to stop your tears? What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. I just....I don't know. Just, every time someone ignores me, it reminds me of how my mother ignored my father."
"Well, what's wrong with that?"
"The last time my mom ignored my dad, she died. I was about 4 years old and we were going home from the grocery store. My dad kept telling my mom to buckle her seatbelt up but she wouldn't listen. As the light turned green for us, a drunk driver ran the red light and hit our car straight on. My dad and I were both wearing our seat belts but my mom didn't, and it killed her. And now, I hate when people don't listen to me."
"I'm so sorry Rosie. I didn't know. But hey, think of it as Nat Wolff's Christmas gift to Rosalina Dimeco."
"Well then," she got a flirty look on her face," I guess Rosalina, owes Nat a gift in return."
She leans over the table and I start to blush. Her eyes start to close and my hands start to sweat. I can feel her breath on my cheek and my leg starts to twitch. Her lips touch mine, and I can feel sweat running down my neck. She starts to pull back, and I pull her back in. I can feel her smile, and I bring my sweaty hand up to caress her cheek. She pulls back and I watch her reaction. She smiles and I smile too.
"Ahh. So now that that's taken care of, I believe we have some studying to do."
She giggled.
"You seriously expect me to believe that after that, we are going to study."
"Well how about a proposition. You ace this test with help from that excellent tutor of yours and I take you back home with me as my girlfriend for Christmas. Now how does that sound?"
Her face looked shocked and I almost felt bad for asking. Maybe I'm pressuring her into this too fast. If she says no things will get pretty awkward. Oh no Nat. She hasn't said anything and it's already been 30 seconds. You know Thomas and Qaasim always tell you that if a girl hesitates for longer than 37 seconds, she's not that into you. How did they come up with 37? I mean what a random number. Why not 36...or maybe even 38? Stop wasting your time talking to yourself inside your head. 34.....35.......36.....thirty-sev-
"Well, if that 'excellent' tutor of mine would get his head out of the clouds again-by the way, that's three times already today-he would hear his girlfriend tell him to go get their crap out of her car."
"Oh....I see....you're just using me. The only reason you want me is so that I can go fetch your bags for you. But that's fine. I'm ok. Don't bother trying to tell me otherwise. I know."
I pretended to cry. She pushed my shoulder.
"Shut up you big baby. That's not the only reason. Remember the whole mind reader/famous kid star thing?"
"Oh yeah...like that makes it any better."
I got up and headed for her car.
"And if it's any consolation Nat, I think you're a really nice guy."
I turned around and winked at her. "I know"
"Oh..yeah..you're pretty cute too."
"Tell me something I don't already know."
She scowled.
"Will you just go get our bags already you retard?"
" Yeah, sure whatever...but remember. I'm your retard."