The next day was rough for Nate because he had little sleep the night before. It was unbearably hot and humid, even at night, and the quiet night was making it hard for him to sleep. He found it to be funny that a New Yorker, used to noisy loud nights, found it hard to sleep in complete silence…except for some crickets. All of that and the thought of kissing Katrina was in his head all night, and if she wasn't so damn stubborn, he'd walk to her room and make love to her on her bed. Not that he wanted to disrespect her lovely grandmother's home, but he couldn't stop thinking about how sexy she looked and how much he wanted her. The truth was, that he wanted her more than she could ever know, and he wanted her still after the incident. But, he caved in to pressure of his "friends" and chose to be a follower.

"Well, good morning, Nate. I'm making breakfast. Please, have a seat."

"Good morning. It smells delicious."

"Thank you." she said as she turned back to the stove stirring a pot of grits. Nate knew he would have vomited at the sight of the unhealthy food she was cook if she was making it in New York, but he had to prove to Katrina that he was a humble guy. "Well, good morning, Katrina. Girl, you look like you woke up in a tornado. Go comb your hair, baby." she said and Nate saw her less than perfect appearance. He had to stifle a laugh that was building in his throat as he was used to seeing her looking attractive and put together.

"Grandma, I always come into the kitchen like this in the morning and it never bothered you before." she said scratching in her head. It was way past due for a hair salon appointment, but she didn't want to go to just any hair salon because she had developed a relationship with her hair stylist and you never cross them or you'll regret it.

"Well, we didn't have company then."

"He's nobody special…" she mumbled.

"What was that?" Lucille asked and Nate looked at Katrina with a smirk.

"Nothing." she said as she glared at him. She sat down at the table across from Nate and wondered how he woke up looking so perfect with the right amount of messy hair to created that perfect bed-head look. Slight stubble on his face…that beautiful face that held his perfect features and those liquid blue eyes. And those lips. The boy could really kiss and she wanted to do more than kiss, but she had to make sure he knew that he was wrong. She had to make sure he knew he hurt her. Although, she wished she wasn't so stubborn at times…because she really wanted to sleep with him after that kiss.

"Katrina, baby," Lucille said interrupting her thoughts. "I hope you don't mind going to the store today. Can you believe I ran out of sugar? You know I need to make my famous lemon cake or you know there might be a fight if I don't. Oh, I need some lemons, eggs…How about you take Nate with you? I know you're gonna need some help with all this. You could give him a tour of the neighborhood."

"Sure…I guess he can come along."

About an hour later, after breakfast, Katrina and Nate got ready and headed out the door. He had taken a taxi to her house and didn't see a car anywhere. And from what he saw, they were out of city limits with very few neighbors around. He knew that she, like him, was used to taking a taxi, the subway, a limo, or even walking in Manhattan but he expected her grandmother to have a car. That reminded him to have some things sent down to Georgia. He only brought one change of clothes in his messenger bag and he was planning of having the rest of his stuff sent down. They were walking to the end of the driveway when he stopped her.

"Wait, how are we getting to the store. Your grandmother lives out in the country and neither of you have a car."

"We're taking the bus. Don't tell me you're afraid to ride the bus with normal people, Nate. You know what, Nate, I wish you would drop this whole superior New Yorker shit. My grandmother might can't see that you're being so fucking fake, but, remember, that we were once in the same circles and we both know what fake looks like." she said as she walked ahead of him, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her around to face him. "What the hell?! Let go of me!"

"Look, you can just drop this whole humble act. You really think that you're better than me because you make your own bed or you take a bus to a grocery store? You know what, you weren't concerned with all that shit when you were out partying and drinking with all the 'it' girls in Manhattan wearing dresses and outfits that probably cost more than your grandmother's house. You think I'm going to feel sorry for you because your fucking reputation got you in trouble and no one believed you? What do you expect when you were out binge drinking and acting like a total slut in clubs?!"

"Fuck you, Nate! You have no reason to talk, you man whore! All I've ever done was have your back and you turned it on me. I was there with you when I found out that your dad was a wanted man and I offered to talk to my parents to help you, but you turned it down because of your damn pride. But, apparently, you didn't have too much pride because you slept with Catherine for money!"

"Don't throw that in my face. Apparently, you've forgotten about all the back-stabbing and scheming you used to do. I bet it's so convenient to forget all the bad shit you've done when you constantly bring up other people's mistakes."

"I don't forget! I live with my mistakes everyday. I'm trying to change. Serena did it, why can't I? I didn't like the old me and I thought you would like a new me more enough to…You know what, never mind. Lets go before we miss that bus." she said as she turned around and started to walk ahead of him again.

"Katrina…" Nate said in a soft voice as he pulled her back around to him. "Okay, I was a complete ass before, but I do hope you change. You'd be better than the rest of us in this endless cycle of deceit and fake smiles. By the way, Serena didn't change that much. Remember, she started partying again when Georgina came around. So, what is this really about?"

"I'm not telling you!"

"Don't be difficult. Just tell me."

"Okay, if you really want to know…I wanted to change because I thought you would like me more. Kind of like the way you liked Vanessa. She was perfect compared to me…are you happy, now?" she said as she turned, again, away from him, but he pulled her back.

"Yes, I'm very happy. All I've ever wanted was you, and I'm sorry I didn't have your back when you needed me."

"Yeah, you were a real punk for that." she said and he gave her a look. "Sorry…"

"Anyway, I have your back now. I was wondering if you wanted to…"

"Hook up?" she said with a skeptical look on her face.

"You really should let someone finish a sentence…"

"Fine. Finish it."

"I want you to be my girlfriend. I want you." he said as he kissed her. She didn't allow herself to remember the hurt because she didn't have a reason to hold onto that. She had Nate.