Chapter Thirty-Seven: A Perky Girlfriend and an Exhausted Boyfriend
It was already 10:30 at night and Nathan was completely exhausted. His day consisted of running three miles around the local suburbs. Afterwards, the team had to complete several different drills in the camp's gymnasium. All he had wanted to do was go home and sleep in his comfortable bed. The bedding they provided at the camp wasn't anything close to being luxury. The cot had a simple mattress on it and plain white sheets that Nathan had brought from home. The camp did provide sheets for each of the players, but he didn't even want to think of who else had slept on those ratty old bed sheets. The dorm rooms were at least fifty years old and the paint was chipping off of the walls. Even though the dorm rooms each had a private bathroom, the bathrooms had a small shower with a very tiny shower head. Let's just say that the living arrangements weren't anything close to a four star hotel!
Nathan changed into a white t-shirt and a blue pair of basketball shorts. He sat down at his desk and opened up the letter Haley had sent him. He couldn't help but notice the fancy doodling she had drawn on the envelope. When he tore open the envelope, the stationery the envelope held was just as colorful. Haley had drawn tiny basketballs around the rim of the page. In between the basketballs, she had written his name in blue and silver letters. He could tell that she had spent a lot of time on his letter and he couldn't help but smile at the thought of thinking of her.
Dear Nathan,
Hello there Mr. HotShot Basketball Player!!! Are you enjoying camp so far? It's been almost two weeks since you have arrived at that camp of yours which means you have only two weeks left! Yay! Can you tell that I am just a bit excited to see you? I hope that you are just as excited to see me! Can you tell that I'm a little hyper right now? I just had a giant glass of caffeinated soda and a huge piece of chocolate cake with Brooke! I tell ya, that girl is definitely making an impact on me! First of all, she took me shopping around that mall of yours. Who knew that you could spend so much time in a mall that's like the size of my house? Well, not really the size of my house, but it's not like it's the Mall of America or something. Then, she had me all hopped up on sugar and then left me all by lonesome so that she could go hang out with Lucas. It's okay though, I'm not all that mad, writing to you is more enjoyable anyway.
Hmmm...what else should I tell you! So many things to write about yet so little writing space on this little notecard of mine. By the way, do you like the stationery this letter is written on? I made it just for you! I managed to find a box of markers in my closet the other day. Before I started writing this letter, I scribbled some basketballs around the outline of this stationery. I suppose it's really not that great looking but c'mon, it's the effort that counts! I know I'm a dork but I love making little odds and ends and decorating stationery and whatnot. I am quite the crafty, artsy little person. I guess you really couldn't call me artsy though because I can't draw worth a hoot, but I like to make collages and things like that! Okay, I am totally getting off subject but it gives you something to read, right? Right!
I can't break my silence anymore and I have to tell you that you were right about what happened with Lucas at the river court the other day. He really did drop the ball into the water when a fish jumped out of the river and scared him half to death! Oh so funny it was. I just could not stop laughing. He really didn't find it all that funny, but the other day he got me back by making me think I had lost your basketball. That's right, that brother of yours hid the basketball behind the bleachers when he noticed that I was frantically looking for the ball. I was searching high and low around all of the random bushes around that river court. It was not a pretty sight, I'll tell you that. Anyways, he came up behind me and told me to go look behind the bleachers. Behind the bleachers was the beloved brown, leather basketball that I had been hunting for. I guess we're even now...hehe.
I will definitely be cheering you on at the game in a couple of weeks! I am so glad that you want me to come because I was really hoping that you would want me to be there. Lucas and Brooke will be going with me. Oh and to answer your question, yes, Lucas and Brooke are still going strong. I was talking to Lucas the other night and he told me that he was thinking about telling Brooke that he loved her. I guess to me, it sounds like it is almost too soon to be telling someone they love them. They're only like, what, two months into their relationship? Isn't that rushing it a little bit? I don't know, I guess you can't really pinpoint a certain time in a relationship to tell them that you love them. I suppose if it was me though, I would wait at least another month. I think some people use those three words way too lightly. They are such powerful words. I can't imagine telling them to someone who I wasn't exactly one hundred percent sure of that I loved them. Does that make sense?
I just noticed how my first three paragraphs were full of spunk and excitement and then the last chapter I just wrote was all serious. It's like I'm going from one emotion to the other! I suppose the sugar is just warring off now. That's probably a good thing though because it is 9:30 at night and I need to go to bed pretty soon. I have a big day tomorrow! Would you like to know what I am doing tomorrow? I bet you do so now I shall tell you! I am going shopping! Haha...did you expect something really fantastic like going to the beach or going on a mini road trip? Oh the beach sounds like fun! I love the beach. Okay, I'm getting off topic again! I apologize. I think the sugar is beginning to run through my system again! Anyways, it's a big day, so says spunky Brooke Davis. She told me before she left that I needed to get as much sleep tonight as possible because we had a big day tomorrow. I can't even imagine what we haven't seen in that mall yet but at least it is something to do! It will be fun, I hope...hehe. I don't think I'm really shopping for me though. I think she is planning on buying an outfit for her anniversary with Lucas. I suppose we will find something fabulous for her to wear!
Now I am just rambling so I should probably stop writing this letter to you now. I think I am just going to go turn off the lights, climb into bed, and just lay there while listening to some music. That should hopefully calm me down a little bit. I mean really, how long could this sugar rush last? I guess I am about to find out, huh? Well, here's to at least some sleep tonight! Oh goodness, never again am I letting Brooke convince me to eat all that sugar so late at night. I guess it's true about experiencing things is the only way to learn! I hope you are doing well at camp! I'm sure your doing a great job! Only two more weeks!
Hales
He pulled out his notebook and ripped out yet another page of lined paper. He knew exactly what he was going to say to her. It was always so easy for Nathan to write to Haley and he really couldn't figure out why, he just knew that she had an amazing affect on him.
Dear Haley,
I have never seen that side of you Haley James! You were so hyper in that letter you sent me. Brooke really does seem to be having an affect on you! Your letter was really funny though, I enjoyed reading it. You gave me a good laugh this evening. Today has been one of the longest days of my life. Coach decided to make us run three miles this morning. To make matters worse, he had us running at six o'clock in the morning! I'm starting to get a little tired of this camp. Coach seems to be making this camp harder than the others I have attended in the past. I heard he and his wife are getting a divorce and that's why he's making practice so strenuous. I suppose he's just channeling all of his frustration and anger towards us. Speaking of divorce, I wonder how my parent's marriage is. Do you have any idea on where they stand right now? I suppose you don't. I hope that by the time I get back from camp, they will at least have signed the divorce papers. That's so horrible, isn't it? When does any kid really wish for their parents to get a divorce? I guess I just want my mom to be happy and she isn't going to be happy with my dad smothering her all of the time. Hopefully the divorce will make my dad change his ways too? Maybe he won't pressure me anymore and act like a normal father around me. That's probably wishful thinking but a guy can dream, right? It has been nice though, not having him here around me for the past two weeks.
I agree with you on the whole 'I Love You' subject. I think it's definitely too soon for them to be saying those words to each other. I guess whatever feels right for them is what matters most. They do make quite the vibrant couple though. She is such a cheerful person and is always rambling on about something. Lucas, on the other hand, is reserved and would much rather be writing down his feelings than telling them to someone. I suppose they are good for each other. Lucas can teach Brooke to tone it down a bit and Brooke can show Lucas how to have a little harmless fun. Oh and by the way, before Lucas and I were buddies, I was Brooke's best friend. Guess who had to go shopping with her? Yup that's right, me! I think I know the layout of every single store in that mall. She dragged me there every weekend. First, she would have me help find clothes for her. She had me stand outside of the dressing room and then tell her what outfits looked good on her and what outfits did not. Then, she would take me to men's clothing stores and pick out outfits for me to try on. I can't even tell you how many remarks and funny faces I received from various store clerks and customers. You are probably wondering why Peyton wasn't the one to go with her. Peyton always managed to give Brooke an excuse for not going to the mall with her. I guess I was Brooke's rebound. Oh well, she definitely has quite the spunky attitude. You can't help but laugh when you are around her.
This letter is going to be really short again. I apologize but I really need to head to bed. It is already 11 o'clock and I can hardly keep my eyes open. I am so exhausted, Hales, and I still have to take a shower! I have started a routine where I take a shower before I go to bed so I can just roll out of bed the next morning. It's such a good idea, too. I am able to sleep in longer. I promise to make this up to you in my next letter though! I'm talking a lot of paragraphs! Goodnight!
Nathan