Chapter Three

Natalie and I spent the next two days eating lunch together and slowly moving her stuff into my apartment. She spent those first two nights of our engagement at her place, trying to figure out what she was moving into my flat and what she was doing with the rest of her belongings. When she had most of it figured out, we decided she'd spend the night at my place.

I picked her up at her place, figuring we could drive to work together and there was limited parking around my flat. She had a decent sized duffle bag slung over her shoulder probably filled with clothes. She opened the passenger door and tossed the duffle bag in the back. She had been carrying another bag which she handled more carefully, which I assumed had her laptop and paperwork in it. She slid in the seat beside me placing the smaller bag on the floor by her feet. We exchanged smiles and quiet hellos. I knew I was nervous about her staying the night, but I wasn't quiet sure how she was feeling. I was just hoping things would go smoothly.

She stayed quiet for the entire drive to my flat. She only spoke when I asked her what she wanted from the Chinese restaurant around the corner from my place. Once at my place, I helped her carry her things in. I placed them on the floor of our bedroom and walked back into the kitchen to eat dinner with her. We acted like a married couple, talking about our day and she talked about school. She had a paper to write and hoped I wouldn't mind her working on it after dinner.

After dinner, she stayed in the kitchen and hooked up her laptop while I went into the living room and put on a movie. I had changed out of my jeans and t-shirt and put on a pair of gym shorts and a white t-shirt. Natalie stayed in her work clothes as she typed up her paper. I paid little attention to the movie I had put on. I was slightly distracted by the sound of the clacking keys, but it soothed me at the same time. I glanced back at her every so often seeing how cute she was when she was hard at work. Although I looked back at her, she seemed not to notice me starring at her. Her eyes stayed glued to the screen never meeting mine.

Her fingers moved quickly tapping each key and moving on to the next. She occasionally stopped typing and could hear her clicking with the mouse on the keyboard. When she got into a steady rhythm again, I started to doze off.

I had to be asleep for about an hour when I felt something shaking me gently. I opened my eyes slowly letting them adjust to the light from the television. When they did finally adjust to the light, I saw Natalie sitting next to me in one of my t-shirts and her hair tied up in a sloppy bun. "Hey," I mumbled.

"Hey sleepy head, hope you don't mind that I borrowed a shirt. It seems like I grabbed clothes for work but forgot to bring something to sleep in," she whispered back to me as she brushed some hair off my sweaty forehead.

I nodded okay as I yawned. My eyes fixed back on the beautiful girl sitting next to me looking completely adorable in one of my oversized shirts. She propped her head up on her fist against the back of the couch. "What time is it?" I asked looking up at her beautiful hazel eyes.

"Just about two. Sorry I had to work. I really wanted to spend more time with you, but the assign…"

I held up my hand stopping her from finishing her apology. "It's okay. I know you had to get it done. We'll spend tomorrow night together, just you me and any movie you want."

"Okay, I'll have to think long and hard about what movie I should choose," she laughed. We sat there watching each other, like when both of us didn't know what to say. Although we spent most of our time like this, not talking but looking deep into each other's eyes, I just enjoyed being with her. "We should probably get some rest. You've had a long day and so have I. You should come to bed."

She got up and I watched her as she started to walk to my bedroom. She stopped in the doorway and turned to look at me over her shoulder. I hadn't moved from my spot on the couch. I didn't know what I should do. She looked adorable standing in the doorway to my bedroom dressed in one of my shirts. I normally would have died to have a girl just like Natalie doing exactly what she was doing, but something didn't feel right. "I, uh, think I'm going to crash on the couch tonight."

Her smile faded from her perfect lips. Instead a questioning look replaced it. "Why? You've got a perfectly good bed that we can share." Her demeanor was relaxed, but she seemed slightly concerned as if she had done something wrong.

I rubbed my hands over my eyes trying to find the right words to say. I didn't want to hurt her feelings. This was so new and I didn't want to screw things up. "I know, but I don't think it's a good idea. I think we should get to know each other a little better and I don't want to jump into bed with you."

She rested against the door pane. Her head tilted to one side. She looked hurt for a moment but shrugged her shoulders sadly. "Okay, well I guess goodnight and I'll see you tomorrow morning." She turned around and went into my bedroom. She put her hand on the door knob and was starting to pull it closed but stopped.

I stayed exactly as I was on the couch. I kept my eyes on my bedroom door debating if I should just go in and lay down with her. I sat there thinking about everything but I finally decided it was best that I stayed where I was. I laid down on the couch hoping I had done the right thing.