Chapter 12: Marcus Gadern

Nat's POV

Besides band practice and our Halloween show, I haven't talked to Rosalina in weeks. The only time we ever talk is when we're yelling at each other. She talks to Alex, and Alex tells me what she says. And she talks to my friends, but they don't tell me anything. They just say that it's not about me, so I push it off. And she still sat with us at lunch, just didn't talk to me or sit next to me. Today was the Monday that started my birthday week. My friends always give me this crazy week long celebration, so I was looking forward to lunch today.

Qaasim and Thomas stood up on our lunch table, screaming for silence. "Attention people of third lunch," Thomas Sid loudly. "We have a very special announcement to make."

"Today, December 12, kicks off the last week before winter break," Qaasim said. "And it also starts our beloved Nat Wolff's birthday week."

"His birthday is on Saturday, and it would be kindly appreciated if you all gave Nat a round of applause for his thirteenth birthday." Thomas said.

"He said clap," Qaasim said, making everyone clap. Well, everyone except Rosalina, who was glaring at me. And then there was a icy shiver that ran down my back. They dumped Gatorade on me! They applause grew louder as I saw Jadin and Josh, they're the eighth graders who are the soccer captains, holding the cooler and laughing.

Rosalina wasn't laughing.

She didn't get as drenched as me, but she still got a little wet. She got up, heading for the doors to the hall. "I'll be back guys," I said quickly, getting up and following her. She was walking really fast and I needed to run to catch up to her. Running in soaking wet clothes in the winter is awful. But I eventually reached her, grabbing her arm and stopping her. "What Nat?" she asked angrily.

"Rosalina please just let me talk," I said.

"I don't want to hear your lies," she said, trying to pull away.

"Please Rosalina," I begged. "I don't want my birthday to come and you're still mad at me."

"Fine," she said, just as her phone rang. "Hold on." She pulled out her phone, answering the video chat. "Hey Gina."

Rosa, you will not believe what I found out.

"What'd you find out?"

I heard from Reggie who heard from Kacey who heard from Mark who heard from the Weaf Twins who heard from Kelsey that Marcus Gadern has a crush on you and if you were to come back for Christmas break he'd ask you to the Christmas Dance!

"Really?" Rosalina asked hopefully.

Yea. He's gonna pass me right now so you can talk to him.

Another person, a guy, came on to the screen. Hey Rosalina.

"Hi Marcus," she said, her voice high pitch. That's how it gets when she gets excited.

So how's New York?

"It could be better," she said, glaring at me slightly. "I was planning on spending winter break back in Waterbury."

Well, our Winter Dance is Friday. But you probably have school.

"We get out early," she said. "I'll be heading over that day."

So you'd be coming to our dance?

"Yea," she said excitedly.

Well would you like to be my date? I mean, unless you have a boyfriend cause Stacy told me you had a boyfriend.

"No, I don't have a boyfriend," she said. And I'd love to."

Awesome. I'll see you then.

She hung up, bouncing with excitement. Rosalina turned to me, a small smile on her face. "What were you gonna say?" she asked.

"Never mind," I said quietly, looking down at the ground. "I'll tell you a different time."

.

On Friday, we got out early so our lunch was earlier. Cooper gave Mrs. G extra money so she could make me some cupcakes for my birthday. Thomas and Qaasim got the whole cafeteria to sing Happy Birthday, even though I was faking my happiness. Luckily, the only person who realized it was Alex, and he was in elementary school so he could confront me about it.

I gave Rosalina a cupcake even though she said she didn't want one. "Even if you aren't talking to me, I still care about you," I said to her, putting it in front of her. "And even though your spending break in Waterbury, I was hoping you'd come back tomorrow for my party."

"I don't know," she said, not looking up at me.

"Well, our spot will always be reserved," I said, then walked away.

I know I few months ago I was being a jerk to her, but now that she was actually moving on it made me feel like I was gonna die.

So later that day, I was at home playing the melody for Rosalina when Alex came home. "Why aren't you getting ready for the dance?" Alex asked.

"I'm not going," I simply said.

"That's it Nat," Alex exclaimed. "Get off your lazy butt and go show Rosalina that you don't need her!"

"Rosalina isn't going either!" I said loudly. "She's going back to Connecticut to go to her old school's dance with some boy she had a crush on before she left."

"That's BS!" Alex yelled. "Get up and go get dressed. Your going to Waterbury to get your woman back."

"Alex—"

"Let's go Nat!" he said. "You've been sitting around like a sack of potatoes since the beginning of October, and I'm sick of it."

I groaned, sliding off of the bench. "Fine," I said.