Beth had a full boring week of community service. She didn't come close to getting arrested, she didn't cry, and she didn't die. She had a boring week. And she loved it. She spent the days doing clean ups, and helping the community and her nights were spent with Nathan. Doing whatever came to their minds that night. They were very spontaneous. One night was an adventure in the park, the next was jumping into the community pool in their underwear at midnight. She was getting to know every side of him, and he was learning her greatest fears and insecurities. Nathan even found it in himself to open up to her about his dad. They hadn't made anything official, but what they had was special and they both knew it. Hell, everyone knew it.
One day, when everyone was sent to go clean up garbage, Beth was sent to staple fliers together for some fundraiser. Beth was positive Sally was supposed to do it but pawned it off on Beth. So for five whole hours she stapled booklets together. When she was done she could still hear the stapler clicking in her head. Beth walked out of the office and Curtis was sitting there.
"They did you dirty," Curtis said, looking at Beth. "Those friends of yours."
"What?" Beth knew what he was talking about, but she didn't know how he was suddenly so sure.
"I saw you at the club cryin', trying to convince them to tell the court what happened." Curtis shook his head. "I didn't exactly think you were lying but I guess I never really thought it."
"How could you ave possibly been at the club?"
"It's a long story, mate. In another version of history you all died except Nathan, and then you didn't. It was awful. I've had an awful day."
"You alright?"
"I am now," Curtis said. "But don't worry about any bullshit like that happening with us. We've got you."
"Thanks," Beth said. Curtis stood up, nodding before he walked away. Beth was still confused but she went off to find Nathan. Maybe he could make heads or tales of this. But when she found him he pulled her into the tightest hug. He didn't explain why, he just wanted to hug her. Beth made him become such a pussy. He made fun of guys like him before, but now, now he was one of them.
God, even his thoughts sounded like a pussies thoughts.
Where was Kelly? Could she hear this bullshit?
"C'mon, we've garbage to grab." Nathan tugged Beth along.
"I don't wanna," Beth whined, falling in step with Nathan.
"Awh, poor baby," Nathan joked.
After getting a few bags worth of garbage the group all sat down on the steps aside from Nathan and Simon. Beth was just enjoying the sunshine and talking to Kelly. Beth was thanking Kelly for caring enough about Beth to threaten Nathan. Kelly admitted that she ay have been wrong about him. This was mainly beside Beth explained all the sweet things he's done for her, Kelly could barely imagine him doing any of those things. Except suggest they go swimming in their underwear. That one made perfect sense. Kelly thought at first Nathan was doing it for the sex until Beth explained simply that, there was no sex. Or even kisses. It was just them getting to know each other.
"And he's not sleeping around?"
"I don't see how he could be, he's at my house everyday right after service. Or he goes to his mum's for tea."
"And yah trust 'im'?" Kelly asked.
"One hundred percent," Beth said, smiling. What Beth and Nathan had was very special.
"He's trying to kiss me!" Nathan shouted, and shouted again. Simon was trying to get his phone back from Nathan.
"Just give him his phone!" Beth shouted, glaring at Nathan. Nathan gave Simon his phone back and shouted 'melon fucker!' at him. Beth scoffed. Just as she was starting to convince Kelly that Nathan wasn't a bad guy. He made himself seem like such a twat when deep down he wasn't. "Stop being a dick," Beth said, rolling her eyes.
"I was just jokin' with him," Nathan said, sitting beside her. She ignored him. "Beth, c'mon. It was just a joke. Right, weird kid?" Simon glared at him.
Later in the day they had to have little talks with Sally. Beth just said what she usually did. That she didn't do it and it was not her fault. It only took her like five minutes before Sally excused her. Beth decided to take a break and have her lunch.
"You eaten yet, Nathan?" Beth asked. I brought an extra sandwich in case you hadn't," Beth said. Nathan hadn't stayed at her flat last night for the first time in weeks.
"You made me lunch? Ah, you spoil me," Nathan said.
Beth and Nathan made their way to the picnic tables outside. They both had a bottle of water, a sandwich, and there was a bag of crisps to share between them. They ate their food and talked about whatever. Beth mentioned how Nathan should be nicer to Simon. Beth told him that he could very well need Simon's help one day. And Simon won't be there. Nathan pouted and wanted the lecture to stop. Beth should've kept going, but he did look really cute. And those eyes, who could day no to them and mean it?
"Just stop being a dick," Beth said.
"I will," Nathan said. Beth looked sceptic. "Scouts honour."
Beth just raised an eyebrow at him. She didn't believe that for a second. Beth looked into those eyes again, and she found herself getting lost. They were just so pretty. Nathan smirked slightly, liking the effect he seemed to have on Beth. He'd never seen her look at anyone else like she looks at him and he loves it. He loves that her special attention was reserved solely for him. He didn't want to share the attention, and he didn't have to.
Nathan was looking back into her eyes. The whole scene was cheesy, and not at all unique. But it was their moment. His eyes flickered down to her lips. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her. Her lips were so perfect. They were pink, and cute, and just looked like they'd be so soft against his own. Beth had similar thoughts racing through her own head about was it would be like to kiss him. She thought his plump lips would feel so good against her own, and like fuck she wasn't finding out right now.
When his tongue peaked out to swipe across his bottom lip she decided to go for it. She brought her hand up to his cheek, slowly trailing it down until only her thumb remained on his cheek and the rest was on his neck. He leaned down a bit, going slowly, knowing that this was going to be her first kiss. He stopped about two inches away, giving her plenty of time to change her mind. But she wouldn't. She wanted this very badly. Beth leaned forward and connected their lips softly. Her soft lips were against his for only a moment, when she pulled away. Their noses brushed against each other as she stayed close.
Beth was just testing him, seeing if he really wanted to kiss her. And he did. Oh, God did he ever. He brought his hands to her hips and pulled her towards him again. Their lips were connected again. Dancing together as if that was what they were always meant for. Their kiss was slow, and shy and everything they had been waiting for. The hand Beth had on his neck moved to tangle itself into Nathan's wild head of hair. It was soft, and still smelled like her shampoo. Nathan pulled away, moving to place a kiss on her cheek, and then her nose. Finally he kissed her forehead, and then brought her in for a hug.
Beth was content just resting against his chest, listening to his heart beat. It was way faster then it should have been. Was he this excited to kiss her? Maybe he really felt the same way he did. He did. He felt as strongly about her as she did about him. They were the perfect balance. She made him a little more serious, and he cracked away at her shyness and made her a little more goofy. How she ever wound up liking him was mind boggling to him, but never for a second would he complain. Beth was the best thing that ever happened to him. She was all his without it even being said.
Another few minutes of just, being together was ended by them having to clean posters off the wall.
"We neva did fin' out who was puttin notes in are lockas," Kelly said, scraping away.
"What did I say? I said they had nothing, they were just pissing in the wind," Nathan said proudly.
"We don't know what they've got on us," Curtis said.
"They could be watching us right now," Simon added, freaking Beth out a little bit.
"This shit is old news. We have out foxed the fox, which makes us very bloody foxy." Nathan leaned over to Beth and winked. Because she wasn't paying attention she gave herself a small little paper cut. "You alright?"
"Just a paper cut, I'm fine." Beth waved him off.
"I know I'm beautiful but watch what you're doing, you could really hurt yourself." Nathan winked again. Beth rolled her eyes and continued to scrap.
When they were done for the day Nathan told her to dress nice and be ready at six o'clock. When she asked for specifics he told her casual nice. So she did as he asked of her, and got dressed in a nice shirt and jeans. She wore pink ballet flat, with a headband of the same shade of pink in her hair. She was excited. Night with Nathan, even nights in, always made her excited. Excited, nervous, and happy all wrapped up with a pretty little bow.
Nathan was at the door at six thirty.
"I was beginning to think you weren't going to show," Beth joked, walking out of her flat and locking the door behind her.
"Now what kind of prick would make a stupid mistake like that?" Nathan poked fun at himself, fully aware she was referencing that night over a month ago where he stood her up.
"Where are we going?"
"To my mum's for tea," Nathan said. "Jeremy's out of town and she wants to meet yah."
"So you've told her about me then?"
"I talk about you to her all the time, love." Nathan said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and then leaning down to press a kiss on her temple. Beth would have liked there to be a label on this relationship but for now, she was content as is.
"Will she like me, then?" Beth asked.
"She already loves you, actually." Nathan smiled. His mum's opinion was actually very important to him. His mum had only ever met one other girl, and the relationship fizzled out a week after his mum expressed her distaste for the girl. Now, he couldn;t even recall her name. But Nathan knew this would be nothing like this. Beth was a gift from God himself. She was nice, pretty, friendly, and just perfect. He thought everyone had flaws. Simon was weird, Curtis had no sense of humour, Alisha was as selfish as they come, and Kelly was the most vicious girl he knew. But Beth had no flaws, Beth was perfect.
So Nathan didn't feel at all nervous about walking up to his mums house with Beth under his arm. He walked right in, knowing she wouldn't mind, to find her in the kitchen.
"I'm Louise, you must be Beth. Nathan has told me so much about you," she grabbed both of Beth's hands and pulled her away from Nathan. "Let me look at you."
"Mum! You're being weird," Nathan joked, pulling Beth back towards him.
"Nathan told me how pretty you were and I thought he was exaggerating but my, wasn't I wrong," Louise said, smiling. She clapped once. "How would you like some tea?"
"Love some," Beth said.
"Nathan, you heard her. Go get the kettle on," she directed, pulling Beth with her into the den. They heard Nathan whine from the kitchen but he did as she asked none the less. "It's mandatory that I show you his baby pictures."
"I'd love to see his baby pictures," Beth said, sitting down on the couch. Louise brought a big photo album from the shelf. It was burgundy and black checkered with a gold frame. In the very centre was a picture of Nathan, Louise, and an older man. "Is that Nathan's dad?"
"Yeah, that's him. You won't see him in many of these pictures," Louise muttered, shaking her head. She began to flip through the book, telling a story every so often. In summary, Nathan was just about the cutest little momma's boy on the planet. Nathan walked into the room with two white mugs in his hands, and a can of pop tucked under one arm. When he saw the photo book he scoffed, setting the two cups down on the table in front of the girls. He sat on the floor and cracked his pop. There was nothing he could do to stop his mum from showing Beth those picture so he wasn't even going to bother.
"Nathan, you were so adorable," Beth said, smiling at him.
"Leave me alone," Nathan said. He fiddled with a piece of the carpet. He loved that she was saying these things about him but he didn't want his mom to see the pink tint across his cheeks. Unfortunately for Nathan, she did see it.
"Awh, Nathan. I have seen you blush like that since you were just a boy! He used to be so shy around girls until he hit pube –" Louise was cut off by Nathan snatching the photo album from there laps.
"That's enough of that," Nathan said. He tucked back into it's spot on the shelf.
"I'm going to go check on supper, shouldn't be long now. It was almost ready when you arrived," Louise said, stepping out of the room. Nathan sat beside Beth on the couch.
"Embarrassing," Nathan said, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, give it a rest. You love it," Beth said, reaching over to pinch Nathan's cheek. He swatted at her hand as soon as it touched him. But she was right, he did love all this attention.
Nathan's life was turning out brilliantly.
