Here we are guys, another chapter for Spring Love
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Chapter 4:
Thursday 2nd February 2012
310 East 46th Street
Manhattan, New York
1115 Hours
It was quite a spring day in the Isle of Manhattan, the sun shined along the streets of the most beautiful city renowned for people to chase their dreams. Hence the nickname 'The City of Dreams.'
Alina was in her apartment in Manhattan, she was dressed in a pair of black tights, a green lacey skirt with a white blouse. Her black hair was loose and curly with a wavy quality as well.
Alina had left her apartment as she walked out locking the door.
She got out onto the street as she began to walk to Bluestone Lane coffee shop in Time Square. She had passed the shop windows noticing that Valentine's Day was around the corner, she loved Valentine's Day and it was her favourite holiday next to Christmas and Easter.
She walked into the coffee shop as she ordered a latte, when it was ready, she took it to a corner table and pulled out a favourite book of hers called 'Brooklyn'. She saw Nate walking on his own, he was wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt with blue jeans and a leather jacket. She noticed his black hair neatly combed back giving it a sort of ivy-leagued style cut.
Alina was quite taken with the man noticing his handsome good looks and what was in her opinion, his sweet smile.
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Nate had walked into the coffee shop, he ordered a black coffee as he looked around, he saw Robert Cole talking with an unfamiliar blonde that he didn't recognise. He had smiled softly to see a fellow friend of his seeing somebody. He had seen 6 of his best friends meet the ones they've fallen in love with.
Nate smiled as he looked over and saw Alina sitting down with a drink in her hands reading a book. An intrigued look crossed his face, she was too interested in her book to notice him, he noticed the book that she was reading called 'Brooklyn', Nate had bought that same book when he had been home from the Navy after his tour, January 2012.
Taking a sip from his coffee, he noticed Alina taking a sip from her drink, when she put it down, he smiled at her, she returned the smile only flashing a half-grin.
Nate decided to walk over as he said, "Hello Alina."
"Hello, Nathaniel. How are you?" Alina asked. Nate smiled, "I'm very well, Alina. How are you this lovely day?"
Alina blushed hearing the way, Nate had said her name like it rolled off his tongue, it sounded like music to her ears.
"Better. Now that this lovely day has brightened by your appearance." Alina said. Nate smiled with such confidence as he said, "I only thought your smile made the day brightened by your delightful appearance."
Alina blushed as signalled for Nate to sit down at her silent request. He took her upon this offer as he said, "You look lovely Alina."
"You look very handsome, Nathaniel. You almost look like a fine Italian wine." Alina said. Nate smiled, "I never had that opinion of myself."
"What do you think of me?" Alina asked. Nate looked down at his hands as he fidgeted with them, he then said, "I never judge a book by its cover. You look beautiful the way you are. True beauty is on the inside."
Alina smiled, "How poetic." "I read a few books as a kid." Nate said.
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"What's that you're readin'?" Nate asked. Alina smiled, "Brooklyn. A story of love in the 50s, a young Irish lady falls in love with an Italian-American from New York."
Nate smiled and then quoted, ""Some people are nice and if you talk to them properly, they can be even nicer."" "Rose said it. How'd you guess?" Alina asked.
"I have that same book. I bought it at least a week ago after I got back." Nate said.
Alina's interest peaked as she asked, "Got back? Pray tell, what is it you do?" "I'm in the Navy. I served quite a bit of time."
"Thank you for preserving the free world for girls like me." Alina said. Nate nodded, "Just did my duty, for God, Honor and Country." "I have a brother who is a serviceman. You'd get along with him fine." Alina replied.
Nate smiled, "I'm sure he and I would do just fine."
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Alina smiled as she drank the rest of her latte. She then put her book in her bag as she said, "Want to get somethin' to eat?"
"Have you ever had pizza?" Nate asked. Alina laughed, "Is the Pope Catholic?"
Nate smiled at her wit as the pair stood up, Alina asked, "Where's the best pizza place?" "Best one I know is on Pennsylvania Plaza." Nate replied.
The pair walked out onto the street as Nate put his hands in the trouser pockets. Whilst Alina put her handbag on her arm.
"So, what's your favourite food?" Alina asked. Nate chuckled, "I like Italian, Chinese, I knew a buddy of mine that cooked up some Korean food. I'll pretty much eat anythin'."
Alina laughed as she said, "My favourite food is Italian, I like a lotta things, burgers, steaks, but I've never had a hot-dog."
Nate looked at her as if she was crazy, "You've never had a hot-dog?" "Never had one." Alina said. Nate nodded, "Looks like I'll need to re-educate you."
Alina hit him on the arm as she said, "Not funny, Nathaniel."
"You said you never tried a hot-dog, not me." Nate replied.
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The pair walked into the restaurant; they were seen quickly as they walked to a nearby table. Nate pulled out a chair for Alina as she smiled and said, "Thank you, kind sir."
"Well, I always see to it to show respect to a lovely beautiful young woman, such as you Alina." Nate replied.
Alina then asked, "So where are you from?" "I'm from Texas, small town called Arlington." Nate said.
"How does a Texan end up in New York?" Alina asked. Nate didn't know how to answer as he explained, "I had a lousy childhood, my mother I never knew. My Dad, he was a soldier but he didn't care a bit for me, sent me away to New York when I turned 5-years old and got me into private school, only damn time he cared was to send a cheque for my birthday or Christmas. By the time I turned 14, I was kicked out of private school for multiple fights."
"That bad?" Alina asked. Nate nodded, "Well, I didn't start the fights, but I finished 'em. Anyway, after the incident… the school booted me out. I was left on the streets for a little while."
Alina's shocked expression turned to sadness hearing Nate's tale of woe, "I'm so sorry. I don't understand how someone could do that to you."
"Thank you, after a while on the streets, winter settled in. I was pretty much stuck, then 2 people saved my life." Nate said. Alina smiled, "What were they?"
"A mother and her son. The mother brought me to a hospital for hypothermia, she found out a young girl had leukaemia, I offered bone marrow to her which ended up saving her life." Nate said.
Alina smiled, "You were saving people long before you were a military veteran."
"Yeah, yeah I was. After I recovered, I didn't know if my father was alive, she offered to take me in, to give me a home. I couldn't accept but they were insistent that I stayed with 'em. From there, that was that."
"When did you join the Navy?" Alina asked. Nate could see she was gettin' weak in the knees as he said, "I joined the Navy at 17. I didn't really have a path in life, I just worked hoping to make my way in life."
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Both Nate and Alina ordered some drinks and ordered a meat feast deep pan pizza to share. Nate had then said, "I offered to buy you pizza, allow this to be my treat."
Alina laughed, "You're a gentleman, my aunt often said that New York gentlemen were loud-mouthed drunks."
"Oh, I'm far from that, my dear Alina. I wouldn't go so far to disrespect a beautiful lady." Nate said. Alina blushed before saying, "Thanks handsome."
Nate smiled as he asked, "Where are you from?" "My mother was from New Orleans. My Dad, he was from Europe." Alina said.
"Tell me a bit about your mother?" Nate asked. Alina sadly smiled as she said, "She was beautiful, she always taught me that beauty came from within, true strength is your heart, stay true to yourself."
Nate nodded, "Sounds like a wise woman." "She was. She passed away when I was 24." Alina sadly said.
Nate felt sorry for Alina as he said, "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked." "No, don't apologise. You haven't done anythin' wrong Nathaniel." Alina said as a tear went down her cheek.
Nate wiped the tear away as he reassuringly smiled at her.
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Their lunch had arrived as they split the pizza between them. Alina looked to be enjoying the pizza as she checked the sauce didn't slide from her mouth.
Nate laughed as he said, "Being careful?" "I love pizza. That's all I'll say." Alina said.
"You said your brother's a serviceman?" Nate asked. Alina nodded, "Yeah, our mother sent him to live in with a family relative of ours. He loved home as a child. He enlisted in the Army."
Nate smiled, "Good to hear another good man in the Military."
Alina smiled too replicating the same grin that Nate wears on his face.
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310 East 46th Street
Manhattan, New York
1815 Hours
By the end of the day, Nate sees that the sun is setting, the pair walk around New York for a bit, they end up visiting the tourist section of the UN, they walked along the riverbank of Manhattan.
Nate was a little afraid to tell Alina about his family or his time in the Navy but decided to wait a little longer before he told her.
They then walk her back to her place as she says, "I had a great time today."
"Me too, Alina. Me too." Nate said.
Nate kissed Alina on the cheek as she blushed. She then said, "Are you busy this weekend?"
"Not to my knowledge, Miss Lafayette. Why do you ask?" Nate said. Alina then said in a panicky voice, "I have tickets to an NY Rangers game. I won them via a radio contest… it's okay if you aren't a fan, I can always give them away."
Nate smiled, "Are you kiddin'? Tickets to a Rangers game?" "Not kiddin'." Alina said.
"I'd love to go a Rangers game. I haven't been to one since I was 16. I'd love to go." Nate said. Alina smiled gratefully before saying, "Shall I meet you or…?"
"I'll pick you up from here and we'll go to the game." Nate said with a smile. Alina smiled as she said, "I'll see you soon, Nate."
"See you soon, Alina." Nate smiled.
Nate began to walk as Alina walked into her apartment. Once the door was closed, she then let out a huge smile as she turned her radio on that played a love song.
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3413 Avenue T, Marine Park
Brooklyn, New York
1934 Hours
Nate had taken the subway back to Brooklyn, he stopped at the station on Fillmore Avenue and walked on his way to Avenue T in Marine Park, Brooklyn.
He walked in the door as he took his jacket off. He looked on the table to see a note that said, "Gone out for dinner with a work colleague, be back later. Mom."
Nate nodded as he headed to the kitchen and took out a pack of rice. He began cook up Chicken Teriyaki for one. The rice he used was long grain brown rice.
He heard a knock on the door as he turned the stove off. He then walked to answer the door as he saw a petite young blonde woman with light blue eyes standing at the door as she said, "Hi, I'm lookin' for Bobby, Bobby Thompson."
"Ah, sorry to be so rude, I'm Nate, Bobby's brother." Nate introduced himself. the blonde smiled as she said, "I'm Charlotte, is Bobby around?"
"Bobby's in his room. I'll show you up if you need me to."
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"Nate, who's at the door?" Bobby Thompson's voice called out. Nate smiled, "A friend of yours called Charlotte."
Bobby appeared at the door as she said, "Hey come on in. Sorry, I didn't know you were comin'." "That's okay. Thought I'd surprise you." Charlotte said.
"It is a beautiful surprise." Bobby said.
Nate looked between them and said, "I'll be elsewhere. Pleasure to meet you Charlotte."
"You too, Nate." Charlotte had said. She walked up the stairs with Bobby as the pair headed to his room.
Nate stayed downstairs and continued to cook dinner. He took his gun out of the holster as he laid it on the table beside him.
He just ate his dinner silently as he thought of Alina and the current impact she had on him.
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I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Can we get some love for this story?
Please like and comment on this chapter.