ix. I'm Not Jealous!

"Um, Natalie?" Sinead said to the girl who was currently crouched beside her. "Is this really necessary?" Natalie turned to face the red-head.

"What do you mean? Of course it is."

"Yeah, but spying on Dan and his date just to see if he won't spill any Cahill secrets seems a bit…far fetched doesn't it?"

"Daniel is an idiot." Natalie said, averting her eyes back to the couple sitting a few meters away from them. "He'll reveal everything about the Cahills on just the first date. I need to prevent him from doing so."

"OK…" Sinead said, her voice trailing off. "So why did you need me for this?"

"If Daniel does slip up, then I'll need a witness with me to tell the others it happened. If it's just me alone, they won't believe me. After all, Daniel is my enemy. They'll accuse me of trying to get him into trouble." Natalie answered, as a matter of factly.

There was silence between the two for a while, until Sinead spoke up again. "So, we are just going to sit here until Dan slips up? I mean, if Dan slips up."

"That was the original plan." Natalie answered, her British accent as piercing as ever. "Do you have anything else in mind?"

"This is stupid." Sinead said, rising up from the table they had been crouching behind. Natalie pulled her back down.

"Are you crazy?!" Natalie said in a hushed whisper. "We'll get caught, Starling." Sinead brushed off Natalie's hand and got up.

"No, we won't. You made us wear disguises for a reason. There's no reason to hide. Let's just get a table and watch Dan from there." Sinead's arms were folded, which said that she was not going back on her decision.

"Fine." Natalie sighed, admitting defeat.

So that is why, Natalie and Sinead were currently sitting at a table, Natalie staring at Daniel and his date, while Sinead stuffed her face with food.

"Since when did you start eating so much?" Natalie inquired, watching Sinead gobble down her third slice of chocolate gateau.

"I don't know," Sinead said. "Ever since I've started hanging out with Ham," Natalie held up her hand.

"Say no more. I understand." Sinead nodded, and then returned back to her cake.

"Say…Natalie," Sinead said, still in the midst of eating her cake. "Is busting Dan the only reason you're here today?" Natalie looked at the girl with surprise.

"W-what do you mean?"

"It seems to me you're jealous." Sinead said that sentence so normally, but the impact it had on Natalie was massive.

"What?!" Natalie cried getting up from her seat. Sinead looked up at the girl, alarmed at the sudden change in Natalie's calm behavior.

"Um, Natalie, you might wanna sit back-"

"I'm not jealous!" Natalie exclaimed. "Why would you think that?!" By now, Natalie was talking so loudly, that almost everybody in the restaurant had their heads turned to see her rather funny tantrum.

"Oh my god. Who's that chick?" Dan's date said, laughing. Dan, too, was chuckling, when he suddenly got up.

"Wait...that voice. I've heard it somewhere." He walked up to Sinead and Natalie's table, and pulled at Natalie's fake blonde wig. It came right off, and Dan stared at Natalie, dumbfounded. He grabbed the girl by the arm and hauled her out the restaurant. Sinead and Dan's date followed them out.

"What are you doing here?!" Dan shouted at Natalie. "And what's with all this ridiculous getup?" He held up the wig Natalie had been wearing. Sinead came between the two.

"Sorry, Dan." Sinead said, an apologetic look on her face. "We were spying on your date to make sure that you wouldn't reveal any of Cahill secrets to your date."

"Why would I do something so careless?" Dan said, giving both, Natalie and Sinead a spiteful glance. "You should know me bet-"

"Wait, wait, wait." Dan's date interrupted. "You're a Cahill?"

"Duh." Dan said, rolling his eyes. "It's right in the name."

"No way. I thought that was just a coincidence. I'm a Cahill too!" She squealed, clasping her hands together."I'm a Janus."

"But your name's Stef Jones." Dan said, raising an eyebrow.

"That's my dad's name. My mom's surname is Cahill." Stef said, smiling. Natalie turned her head away.

"Oh, I guess that's good then. E-enjoy with your C-Cahill girlfriend, Dan." She took Sinead's hand. "Let's go, Starling."

"Wait." Dan interjected. "Natalie, to find out if I would spill anything...that's not the real reason you came here right?" His tone was dead serious, and Natalie winced for a second, but then maintained her normal position.

"I said, let's go, Sinead." Natalie's tone was louder now.

"Answer me!" Dan said, taking Natalie by the shoulders. She shook him off and gave him a slap.

"Get away from me, Cahill! You have a girlfriend now!" Dan saw the tears pool up in Natalie's amber eyes. She ran away from the lot, furiously rubbing at her eyes.

"Wait, Natalie!" Dan ran after her.

Natalie finally stopped after a while of running, tired and huffing.

I think I lost him, Natalie thought, coming out from her hiding place. Someone caught her hand, and she turned around, alarmed.

"Dan, let go." Natalie ordered, her teeth clenched.

"Not till you tell me why you did it."

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because I want to know. And I have a right to know, too."

"Because I like you." Natalie said, under her breath.

"What was that?" Dan said, leaning closer. Natalie slapped Dan's hand off again.

"Because I like you!" She shouted, losing her patience. She then slowly bowed down her head, and continued in a meek voice. "Go on then."

"Go on with what?" Dan asked.

"Reject me. But, please, do it lightly. I'm not-" Natalie was interrupted by the sudden movement of Dan taking her by the hips and wrapping her up in a big hug.

"I like you too." He held her tightly, as she buried her face in his jacket. "But, Natalie...?"

"Mmm?"

"Don't slap me so hard next time." Natalie laughed and kissed Dan at the place where she had hit him.

"Better now?"

"Yeah." They both broke apart, and smiling at each other, walked down the road, holding hands.

Liked it?

I decided to try a different approach, since it's usually Dan spying on Natalie's dates. I figured it should be a bit different this time, so behold!

Oh, and this is a message from Sri Starlz; she said that she was not able to upload the Remembering Grace contest winners due to technical difficulties. She was very sorry, so I hope you all forgive her. And, in case you are wondering, no, she did not cheat. I was not told the winners either. If any participants see this, pass on the message, OK?

-Ghost.