Being in love is never easy!
By: Sailorjj07
4. The Project, Part 2
A/n: OH MY GOSH! I haven't updated in such a long time! I'm really sorry guys! REALLY REALLY SORRY! Anywho, I'm gonna try to update as frequently as possible before school lets out for summer break. Okay? THANKS FOR ALL THE REVIEWS!
Disclaimer: I do not own!
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Actions
(Me!)
"So what exactly are we going to do for our budget, Tory?" Natalie asked, looking over the papers that she and her partner had received. Their was a sheet with jobs on it, a sheet with example budgets and a sheet that stated all the requirements for the project. Natalie began to read the requirements sheet and gaped at the bold letters at the bottom of the page.
"Tory...read this..." Tory glanced at Natalie's face, wondering why she looked so surprised.
"'A child is raised with both of their parents near them. For this project you are required to stay with your partner for a week. The two of you will take turns staying at one another's house and by the end of the month both of you will have lived at each other's house for two weeks.' We have to live together?" Tory asked, gaping at the paper as well. Natalie nodded slowly and gently took the paper back, re-reading it.
"So who's house are we staying at first?" Tory asked, with a smile. He began to fill out the two information sheets he had gotten, putting his name on top of one and Natalie's on the others.
"Your fine with this?"
"Yeah. It means I get to spend more time with my newest friend, right?"
Natalie smiled and nodded, "We can think of it as a sleepover for a month."
"Exactly. Can you put your mom and dad's name right here? You never told them to me." Tory handed Natalie the pen and she wrote down her parent's names then, handed the paper back to Tory.
"Natalie! Isn't that funny? Lan and I get to stay at each other's houses, but we live right next door to each other!" Maylu giggled at the realization of what the paper was asking of them.
"Well at least we don't have to go all over the place, like those two do. Tory lives about five blocks away from Natalie." Lan said, with a smile on his face, looking down at the baby in his arms. He and Maylu's baby girl had soft pink hair and chocolate brown eyes. They had decided to name her Sakura.
This was news to Natalie. She hadn't known how far Tory had lived from her. 'He had to walk five blocks after he took me home? I could've gotten him in trouble. I'll have to make it up to him!'
"Natalie and Tory, please come get Anastasia." Ms. Mari called over her class and the two stood up and walked to Ms. Mari's desk together. She handed Tory the baby and gave Natalie all the things that they needed and a stroller. "Good luck, you two."
"Thank you, Ms. Mari." They said together and then went back to their desk. As soon as they sat down, Anastasia began to giggle.
"Tory, what are you doing to her?" Natalie asked, with a smile.
"Nothing." Tory replied, poking the baby's cheek softly again. Anastasia giggled and reached out to grab Tory's finger.
"They're so life-like."
"I know. It's almost scary." Tory looked up at Natalie and smiled, "But she's ours so we have to take care of her like she's real."
"Right." Natalie nodded, and then sat down in her chair, filling out some more of the papers. "Tory, do you want to work, or am I working?"
"I'll let you pick." Tory held the baby with one hand and filled out some more of the information sheets.
"I think you're just trying to get out of deciding."
"Yup. So you can pick."
"Well I...want to be a chef when I get older."
"Is that on the list?"
"Yes."
"Then I guess you work."
"You don't mind?"
"Why would I? I'd be happy to stay at home with Anastasia." Tory smiled and put his pen down, turning to Natalie. She blushed at the way he was looking at her, turning quickly to fill out the budget plan.
"Okay, how does this look?" Natalie handed him the paper, and watched as he read over it.
"It looks good to me."
"Okay. And how are we going to decide who stays where first?"
Tory handed Anastasia to Natalie and took the calendar paper from their stack, "Well let's see...If you want, we can stay at my house first. My parents shouldn't mind, even if it is sort of last minute. And then next week we can stay at your house."
"And then the week after go back to yours, right?"
"That's what I was thinking."
"I like that idea. And all I have to do is go get my things for the week."
"Which there is only four days left of."
"Exactly."
A little bell began to go off and the rest of the class quieted down, along with Tory and Natalie.
"Okay, class. I can't allow you to work on this project all day. I will give you ten more minutes to fill out all the forms and then we have to move onto something else. We still have to watch that movie on live birth."
A series of groans rang through out the class, but they hurriedly finished their paperwork.
Twenty Minutes Later
"I'm sorry it took me so long to get the screen up and running, who'd have thought all those viruses were inside this thing? Thank you class, for helping me get rid of them."
"Hush Akira. You'll wake all the other babies up." Yai whispered to the black and blonde haired, green eyed baby. Yai was surprised when she saw the black hair with blonde tips on the baby boy. Chaud had smiled when he saw it, but Yai was trying to figure out how it had happened like that.
"Too late. Now Anastasia's up and curious." Natalie had to hold the baby farther away from Akira, whose hand had been touching her's gently. Anastasia wiggled slightly, trying to see the other baby behind her, but Natalie continued to rock her, trying to put her back to sleep.
"Want me to try?"
"Yes. Your daughter is already attracting boys, and thinks they're more interesting than sleep." Natalie handed the baby to Tory and then smiled at him, as the lights in the classroom dimmed.
"Okay, class. Now for the movie. If your babies cry, please find some way to keep them quiet." Ms. Mari said, and then moved away from the screen. She had allowed the class to move up and get themselves comfortable, the movie was five hours long. They would break at lunch and then finish the movie at the end of the day.
"I really don't wanna watch this movie." Lan whispered, groaning. The title began to run across the screen and an adult couple began to talk.
"Do you think they'll show them-?" Natalie asked, quietly.
"I doubt it. But even if they don't we saw the other movie, remember?" Maylu answered, watching the movie intently.
"True." Yai added, and Chaud nodded in agreement.
At Lunch
"That movie is really boring. It only got interesting when she went into labor and after an hour and a half of that, it got boring again." Natalie said, walking toward a big tree with Tory walking beside her. He had Anastasia in his arms, who was awake and eager to play. She kept poking at Tory, and trying to suck on his shirt.
"I don't think it will get any better either, Nat." He moved Anastasia fingers from his shirt for about the fourth time, and then handed her to Natalie. "She misses her mom."
"Well I missed her too! Yes, I did." Natalie cooed, touching noses with the baby. Anastasia giggled and grinned at her mom.
"These things act so real." Yai commented, watching as Chaud managed to hold the Akira along with his lunch.
"I know." Maylu added, sticking a bottle in Sakura's mouth. She began to suck gently, making Lan smile and sit down his and Maylu's lunch.
"Well, I like them." Lan said, opening Maylu's lunch for her. And then he began to feed her, since her hands were full.
"Isn't that cute? He's feeding her!" Natalie cried, giggling.
Maylu grinned, "Don't worry; you'll have to be fed too, if you want to eat. You have to hold the bottle for Anastasia and hold her too, leaving you with no extra hands, Nat. Unless you plan on doing it with your feet."
"True." Yai said, feeding a piece of shrimp to Chaud. He didn't seem to care too much that Yai was feeding him and sometimes he caught her fingers in his mouth, making her giggle quietly.
"Yeah, but-" Natalie shut up when Tory shoved a piece of fried shrimp from her lunch into her mouth.
"You know, you shouldn't talk with your mouth full, Nat." Tory said, laughing. He ate some of his rice, and then fed another piece of shrimp to Natalie.
"I don't want to seem like a burden, Tory."
"You aren't. I'm having fun feeding you." Tory replied, with a smile. And that's how they spent their lunch, laughing and talking with Tory feeding Natalie.
At the End of School
"I hope you guys learned something from that video! Tomorrow, we'll be going back to our regular lessons, okay?"
Then entire class chorused, "Yes, Ms. Mari" before the bell rang to signal the end of the school day.
"Well, who's going to who's house? I need to make sure I know, so I don't call the wrong numbers." Maylu said, looking at the group of friends around her.
"Natalie's staying at my house this week." Tory said, and Maylu nodded.
"I'm staying at Chaud's." Yai said, moving Akira to her hip.
"And I'm staying at Lan's. So if anyone needs to call anybody we all know where we're staying?"
"Yup." They all answered together.
"Okay then." Maylu turned and put Sakura in her stroller and Natalie followed suit. She strapped Anastasia in and began to walk toward the classroom door, with Tory walking next to her. Yai did the same and then caught up with the other two.
"Call us and tell us what happens, Natalie." Yai whispered, as she walked by Natalie, going toward the limo parked outside. It was Chaud's and he stood next to the open door, waiting for Yai.
"Okay. I will."
"Good. See you later, guys!" Yai then folded up the stroller, handed Akira to Chaud and then got in. The limo drove off when Chaud got in behind her.
"Well, come on you two. We go part of the same way." Maylu said, pushing the stroller onto the sidewalk.
Five Minutes Later
"See you guys later!" Natalie and Tory yelled together, having reached Natalie's house. Natalie pushed the stroller inside the door and removed her shoes, motioning for Tory to do so as well.
"Mom?"
"Natalie, welcome home honey!" Natalie's mom came out from the kitchen and smiled, "So these are the baby projects Ms. Mari gave you? She's adorable!" Natalie's mom picked up Anastasia and held her in the air before bringing her back down to her face, "Hello little one. What's her name?"
"Mom, I'm going to stay at Tory's till Sunday for our project. Oh and her name's Anastasia."
"I know all about it. Ms. Mari sent all the parents e-mails. I think this is a very good project too. Now where is your husband?"
"Mom!"
"Hush, I'm just kidding. You must be Tory. I remember you from the party. How are you?"
"I'm fine." Tory answered, smiling widely at Natalie's mom. She smiled back and led him toward the kitchen, "Would you like something to eat Tory? A snack? Something to drink? I just made some cookies."
"I'd like a cookie, thank you." Natalie's mom nodded and handed Anastasia to Tory.
"Here, take her upstairs. I'll bring the cookies up. You two can stay here for a little while. I talked to your mother about it already. Such a kind woman she is!" Natalie's mom went back into the kitchen and Natalie led Tory upstairs to her room.
"Sorry, my room's extremely girly." Natalie said, before opening the door slowly.
"It's...wow...Natalie...your room...It fits you...Perfectly." Tory looked slowly around the purple and black room, surprised at how pretty the colors looked together. He took in all the toys lined against a shelf in the wall, probably from when she was much younger.
"Thanks, Tory. I just need to get some clothes and things and I'll be ready to go. You can sit on my bed if you want." Natalie went to her closet and pulled out a large, purple duffle bag and began to take clothes off her hangers and into the bag. Tory sat down on the bed and watched her, noticing how even she matched her room. He laid Anastasia gently on her back, in Natalie's bed.
"Hey! Can I visit my room too! NATALIE!" Nadalia cried, from the PET strapped to Natalie's hip. She jumped slightly at the cry Nadalia gave.
"Nadalia? Where have you been?"
"I've been here the whole time! You've just been ignoring me!"
"And me too!" Iceman cried, from Tory's PET.
"I'm gonna call the OP police on you!" Nadalia pouted, and crossed her arms over her chest.
"No, don't do that!" Natalie said, laughing. She logged Nadalia and Iceman into the net, watching as they both appeared on the computer screen.
"Nadalia, there is no such thing as the OP police." Tory commented, laughing. Natalie watched the happy expression and sighed. Tory was truly gorgeous.
"I know that, but my threat worked, didn't it?" Nadalia sat on the ground of her home page and Iceman sat down next to her, looking around Natalie's room.
"Lia, you shouldn't threaten your OP." He said, turning to face Nadalia. They had spent some time bonding while their OPs went through school and were both happy to get to stay together.
"I know, but its fun, Iceman." Nadalia answered, sounding like a child being punished.
Iceman grinned,"Oh, I agree. But it's still not nice."
"Fine. I'll leave her alone." Nadalia leaned forward, her face almost touching the computer screen, "Tory, what is she doing?"
"She's getting her things ready so you guys can stay at our house." Tory replied, rubbing the baby's stomach gently.
"Oh." Nadalia noticed the baby on the bed and gave a loud screech, "SHE'S SO CUTE! Is that the baby?"
"Yeah."
"Hey, Nadalia could you hold it down just a little bit? We all know the baby is cute." Natalie's mom said, from the door way.
Nadalia grinned,"Hi Mom! How are you today?"
"I'm happy to see your smiling face. I haven't seen you since what about two days ago? Why haven't you been coming downstairs to see me?" Natalie's mom answered, handing a cookie to Tory. She sat down on the bed next to him and smiled at Nadalia.
"Because Nat's been keeping me all cooped up in this PET. I wanted to get out yesterday, but she wouldn't let me." Nadalia said, sticking her tongue out at Natalie, who had walked by the computer.
Natalie rolled her eyes, "That's not why she didn't come to see you. I let her out. Why don't you tell Mom what you were doing yesterday?"
"I wasn't doing anything!"
"Liar." Natalie turned to her mom, grinning, "Mom, do you still have any of my baby clothes?"
"I thought you'd never ask! I washed them just in case you wanted them. I'll be back!" Natalie's mom hurriedly went out of the door and Natalie took her mother's place beside Tory.
"Can you believe how eager to help she is? That's my Mom for you."
"I think she's really nice. I can see where you got it from. Although I'm wondering if she's scared of the subway too? Mrs. Froid, did you get that from your mother as well?" Tory was going to make sure he kept his promise.
"No. My mom is not scared of the subway, and neither am I." Natalie said, giggling.
"Natalie Froid, you're lying. That isn't very becoming, you know." Tory replied, tapping her nose with his index finger. He grinned at her and picked Anastasia up. "If you hold her for me, I can carry your things for you."
"No, it's okay. I can carry my stuff."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep. Let's go help my mom out."
Thirty Minutes Later
"Thanks for dropping us off, Mom! I'll call you tomorrow!" Natalie yelled, as her mom drove off. Tory held the door open for her, while she walked inside his house.
"Mom! You home?" Tory yelled, taking off his shoes. He then took Natalie's off for her, since she was holding the baby.
"Yes! I'll be right down honey! I want to meet your wife!"
Natalie laughed, "Well your mom doesn't seem to have a problem with it."
"No. I'm guessing my dad isn't here yet. Probably still at work." Tory said, quietly. He led Natalie to the living room and watched as she sat the baby down on her back.
"She needs a diaper change. Don't you? Yes, you do." Natalie said, touching noses with Anastasia. She took the diaper bag from Tory and began the process of changing her diaper. By the time Tory's mom came downstairs, she was all done.
"Oh! You must be Natalie! My, you are so very pretty! I talked to your mother today too. She seems really nice." Tory's mom came into the living room, all smiles. Tory just laughed quietly as his mom took Anastasia from Natalie. "Why don't you show her your room, Tory? She can put her stuff up and you two can rest a while. Dinner will be finished in about ten minutes and I can watch the baby too."
"Alright mom."
"Oh! What's my granddaughter's name?"
"Mom, you make us sound so old." Tory said, exasperated.
"Her name is Anastasia." Natalie replied, amused. Tory rolled his eyes at her and then took her hand.
"Come on. I'll show you my room."
"Right behind you."
"Tory! Your father will need Iceman tomorrow. He's gonna make a few changes to his programming. Nothing extremely serious, just a few new things to make him more helpful."
"Okay."
An Hour Later
"Your mom cooks really well." Natalie said, unzipping the sleeping bag. She and Tory were sleeping in his bed, but to keep from raising suspicion, Natalie slept in a sleeping bag on top of Tory's blankets. The baby was lying in her crib beside them, and was sound asleep.
"Thanks. But those cookies your mom gave us earlier were delicious too."
"Thank you."
"Oh Iceman! I don't want you to leave me!" Nadalia said, with a sad pout on her face. She had heard Tory's mom tell Tory about Iceman's upgrades.
"Lia, you'll see me again later. I'll just be gone in the morning when you wake up. But I'll be back before you get back from school." Iceman put his arms around the sad girl navi sitting next to him.
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"Okay!" Nadalia yawned and smiled at Tory and Natalie. "Good night you two! Nat, behave!"
Natalie rolled over and looked at Nadalia,"I should say the same for you."
"O course not! I'm a good girl."
"Sureeeee...Good night, Iceman. Night Nadalia."
"Night, Nat. Night Tory." Iceman said, yawning.
"Good night you two." Tory replied, closing his eyes slowly. Natalie rolled back over and closed her eyes, going to sleep almost instantly.
"They'll be alright..." Nadalia whispered to Iceman, who nodded and went to sleep as well.
End Chapter 4