Later that week, Nathan and Curtis were sitting on the roof while on break from their service. Nathan was trying to smash a glass bottle using only his mind, while Curtis was just laying there, ignoring everything the Irishman did. Basically, nothing unusual was happening on top of the roof today. Well, that was until Simon burst onto the roof with the horrible news that the bodies would be dug up shortly due to an environmental monitoring station. They needed a plan, and quickly.
"We have to tell the others," Nathan said but before he could rush off to warn Beth, Curtis grabbed his arm.
"Alisha and Kelly, yes. Beth, no."
Nathan shook his head. "She has the right to know too."
"You're right, she does have the right to know. After it's been dealt with," Curtis said.
"We can't do that to her," Simon said. Beth deserved to know, just like everyone else.
"She'll have a panic attack and start crying wildly and be terrified. She can't handle this type of thing and we all know it. This would be for the best," Curtis explained, looking directly at Nathan.
"We'll tell her after it's dealt with?" Nathan asked.
"We'll tell her after it's dealt with."
So they didn't tell Beth, which Nathan didn't like. He didn't want to keep this from her but Curtis was right, she'd freak out. As long as they dealt with it fast it wouldn't be that big of a deal, worse case scenario she hits him a few times.
The worst part about it was that Nathan kind of wanted Beth there while they dug up the bodies. He wouldn't want to admit this to anyone but having her around was comforting, and would help ease his nerves. Realistically, they needed each other. It was the weirdest time to realize how much you care about someone. Here Nathan was, digging up a body in the middle of the night, and all he could think about was Beth and how badly he wanted her to just hold his hand right now. Nathan was coming to terms with actually having genuine feelings for a girl while hiding two dead bodies.
They brought the bodies to the community centre and left them there overnight while they thought of what to do with them. Beth was ignorant to all of this, which was why she was so confused when she called Nathan to chat but he sounded like he was going to cry. His voice was scratchy, and sad but Beth could tell he was trying hard to sound the opposite of his genuine feelings. That was the problem with people who are an open book, like Nathan, they have a hard time covering up their emotions and secrets when they want to. She invited him over right away, wanting to comfort her friend.
Nathan arrived less than a half hour later. Beth opened the door quickly, not bothering to look through the peephole. He smelled rotten, he looked uncomfortable and he was covered in dirt. He had a rucksack over his shoulder. Beth didn't say anything but she did move aside to let him into the flat. Beth told Nathan to go have a shower, he didn't need to be told twice. Beth made some microwave popcorn and made two hot chocolates, with little marshmallows. She didn't know what was wrong, but she figured he could use some comfort food. If he didn't need it, then he would just want it.
It was nearly midnight when Nathan stepped out of the shower. Steam poured out from the bathroom as he walked out with only his boxer shorts on. His hand was gripped his wet hair as he flopped onto the couch, still not saying anything. Beth sat beside him carefully holding the two hot drinks. He took his happily and chugged a sip, burning his mouth without a care in the world. Beth just set hers down on the table.
"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" she asked, looking at him. He stared into his mug, occasionally flicking his eyes over to look at her in his peripherals. The bodies were still in the community centre, so he couldn't tell her what was wrong. She'd end up getting herself and everyone else arrested. Unintentionally, of course, but arrested all the same.
"It's just been a rough night," Nathan said, putting his mug on the coffee table. He wasn't technically lying to her, just procrastinating in telling the whole truth. He would tell her the full story eventually.
"What happened?" Beth asked. Nathan should have known she would want to get to the root cause. She was a good friend after all. He had to play very carefully with words.
"Alisha and Curtis are in some kind of fight, and Kelly has gone bald for some unknown reason. And Simon," Nathan started. "Was following me around like a cat after affection."
"He just wants to be your friend," Beth said. Nathan flopped over so his head was resting on Beth's lap. He curled up in a little ball with his hands tucked under his chin. Beth put her hands on his soaking wet hair and played with it soothingly. Nathan said, "he is my friend."
"Do you want to talk about it? Or would you rather just watch a movie?" Beth asked. She didn't want to pry too much.
"Movie," Nathan mumbled, nuzzling more into her knee.
"Alright," Beth said, grabbing the remote for the TV off the armrest of the couch. She flicked to the Netflix channel and turned on a random comedy. Although the movie was pretty funny, neither of them laughed. Nathan was tense, making the atmosphere tense. So Beth just let him lie there, and watch his movie.
"Can I stay here tonight?" Nathan asked, looking up at her.
"Course, Nathan. You're always welcome here you know. Since you've been staying here I found time to move some stuff around in the guest room. And I've made it up. Anytime you want, you can come stay here." Beth smiled at him, tangling her fingers up in his hair. It was dry in parts, but still damp in others. It was cold, and very pleasing to play with. Beth leaned down and took a whiff of him. She laughed.
"What?" Nathan asked, her laughter making him laugh slightly as well.
"You smell like a field of daisies!" Beth said, poking his nose as her laughter calmed down.
"Well, you don't exactly have any manly shampoo," Nathan defended, crossing his arms. She smiled at him. She said," I just thought it was kinda funny, is all."
Beth went to bed in her own room, as Nathan got himself tucked into her guest room. He slept better than he had since his mum gave him the boot. Beth slept fine, but she ad better nights. She was confused as to why Nathan of all people, would be upset over someone else having issues. It didn't make sense. Beth thought he was lying to her. But it was his business. Didn't have a thing to do with her. If he ever decided he wanted to tell her, he would. Beth decided she wouldn't bring it up again.
The morning was just as you would expect. They got up, got ready, and went to service. Nathan had brought clean clothes in his rucksack. He hadn't told her that he was a homeless yet, and he didn't know if he would. It was kind of embarrassing.
They had to finish sorting the clothes today. They helped carry out the boxes, piling them all into a large truck. When they were finished, they had to get Beth away from the scene. But Alisha left with the volunteer, and Curtis stormed off too. Quite frankly they needed her help. Nathan didn't want to drag her into this.
"Okay, Beth listen very closely, and don't freak out." Nathan sat her down on the bench near the parking lot. "Simon is stealing Sally's car right now. We need to use it to move the probation workers body."
"Excuse me? Why do we have to move it?"
"Because we can't leave it in the community centre! They were diggin under the fly over. But now we have to put them back so they're covered in cement forever." Nathan put a hand on Beth's shoulder to comfort her but she didn't freak out like they had expected.
"Is this why you were upset last night? Why did you guys tell me? I could've helped," Beth said.
"We thought you'd freak out, to be honest."
"I am freaking out," Beth said. "But let's get this done. I don't want to go to jail."
Beth was to stand look out. She stood by Sally's office. When Sally tried to leave twenty minutes later, Beth freaked out. Beth tried to stall Sally by asking to talk but Sally couldn't stay she had a meeting. After promising to talk to Beth tomorrow Sally stopped into the bathroom. Beth rushed out of the building to warn the others.
"She's coming out here," Beth said.
"What do we do?" Kelly asked.
"Steal the car," Nathan said, slamming the trunk and getting ready to get in.
"She's going to come looking! She'll report it stolen," Simon whispered.
"There she is," Nathan whispered. They all ducked behind the car, watching her fish in her purse for the keys. When she couldn't find them she rushed to her car. That was when they took the opportunity to rush over to the dumpsters. Beth watched Sally get into the car. She started coming up with her legal defence right there. Could she play the crazy card? "You're the one with all the big ideas," Nathan said to Simon. "What do we do?"
"Where's the keys?" Kelly asked. Beth just watched Sally look around the car. The car started up moments later. Beth looked at Nathan who was already looking at Kelly. Sally drove away, obviously off to her meeting. Nathan ran out to the parking lot to watch Sally drive off. "Shit!" he said pointing at the car with two open hands.
Beth stood up from behind the dumpster with tightly closed eyes. Simon was right beside her with both of his hands on his head in defeat. They should leave the country. They might as well take the blame and leave Alisha and Curtis out of it. Two of the people present could probably leave too. Beth wanted to shout dibs but no one else seemed to be thinking the same thing she was. Where was Curtis when you needed him? Turning back time would be a truly handy power right now.
Nathan grabbed Beth's hand and started walking to the roof without another word. Nathan told Beth tat he was going to call Curtis and told her to ring Alisha. She did, but got no answer. She tried a few more times and left a short message about how they had a very big problem. Nathan decided to use the direct approach. Beth heard 'so the probation worker is driving around with the stiffs in the boot of her car'. Or something along those lines anyway.
"I left a message," Nathan said, walking over to where Beth was and sitting close beside her. Kelly was on the other side of him. He put his head on her shoulder sadly. "I guess that's it, we're going to prison."
"My grade teacher said tha's where I'd wind up," Kelly said.
"Yeah well, you'll do alright. You got the whole bald thing, you're well butch." Kelly punched Nathan hard in the arm. Nathan sat up straight and looked at Kelly, holding his now tender bicep. Beth didn't do anything to stop, he deserved it. "Ow, ow! You know you hit me a lot."
"Yeah, cos yer a dick!"
"Maybe Sally won't look in the boot," Simon said, trying to find hope where there was very little.
"Oh, finger crossed, eh?" Nathan said, leaning his head back on Beth's shoulder.
"Don't take this out on him," Beth said quietly. Nathan looked at her without sitting up, but didn't say anything. Kelly scratched at her hair desperately, obviously annoyed by the cheap wig. Simon's head was back in his hand, while Nathan nuzzled in Beth's shoulder. Beth was staring out at nothing. Trying not to cry. At least she had some time to mentally prepare herself for prison. She was going to end up being somebodies bitch.
Beth reached over and grabbed Nathan's hand, holding it tightly in her own hand. She cared more for this stupid prick then she'd ever cared about anybody. It was awful that she only sorted out her feelings right now. It was odd, somebody was driving around with the body of a man she'd help kill but Nathan was making her calm. Nathan's soft hand holding hers was somehow making this all okay. It was okay, obviously. But his hair tickling her neck, and his thumb slowly rubbing up and down her own was making it feel okay.
"I'm gonna try ringin' Curtis again," Kelly said, pulling out her phone. She walked out of earshot of the group. Simon looked at the pair awkwardly. He was kind of waiting for one of them to tell him to scram but neither of them did. So Simon stayed there, watching them. Since they weren't looking, he pulled out hi phone and began taking a video. "Curtis and Alisha are coming from the park," Kelly said, rejoining the group.
"It'll all work out," Nathan whispered against the skin on Beth's neck. She swallowed hard and prayed to every God of every religion that he was right. When Curtis and Alisha burst onto the roof Kelly had to explain everything that happened. In order to save a fight now Kelly didn't mention that Nathan left the keys.
They had to leave the community centre. If Sally found the bodies then the community centre is the first place the police will look. And with those notes in the locker, they couldn't chance it. So they all went there separate ways. Nathan walked Beth back to her house and slept there that night. But this time he slept in her bed. It mostly consisted of Nathan rocking and soothing Beth while she cried. Nathan couldn't sleep while she cried. Not that he would never blame her. He had never been this anxious in his entire life. It felt like they laid tangled together for three days when it had only been six hours. They both wanted to stay in bed forever.
But they had to get up.
