Chapter 13: Purple Monkey Flies North for the Spring

Rosalina's POV

I was at Stacy's house, getting ready for the dance with her and Gina. "So what happened between you and Nat?" Gina asked. "You guys seemed perfect for each other."

"Remember that bitch that was hating on us?" I asked, and they nodded. "Well I saw them kissing so I ended it."

"You guys were such a cute couple," Stacy said. "So does that mean he's available?"

"Do you still talk to him and his friends?" Gina asked.

"Yea, the guys don't really know what happened. Alex is cool, so we hang out. I help him with his work and stuff." I said. "Nat talks to me sometimes, I don't really respond. Most times though. He gave me a cupcake today."

"Why?" Stacy asked.

"His birthday's tomorrow," I said. "His friends were celebrating all week long and got cupcakes today."

"That's so sweet," Gina said.

"Did he give Meghan a cupcake?" Stacy asked.

"No," I said. "Meghan doesn't have the same lunch as us."

"Did he have any left over?" Stacy asked.

"One and its was for Alex," I said.

"Alright, let's go," Stacy said, grabbing her bag. "Mom! We're heading to the school!"

.

Other than the fact that Marcus was a total snooze fest, the dance was amazing! There were streamers and lights and fake snowflakes and a skylight that showed the actual snow. So this dance was from 7-11, which it meant it was four hours. Marcus had nothing to talk about. And then he had an asthma attack and they had to call his mom and he went home. It wasn't even 8:30! So I just hung out with Gina who didn't have a date. Stacy was basically dancing with whatever boy came into her view. It wasn't until around 10:30 that something awesome happened.

The gym doors burst open and a kid came in slowly, taking a deep breath before looking around the room. He had some snow on him and was a little sweaty, but other than that he looked perfect. His eyes met mine and I knew exactly who it was. He threw his coat to the side, walking quickly to me. He stopped in front of me, smiling slightly. "Rosalina," he said, a little out of breath.

"Nat what are you doing here?" I asked a little in shock.

"I needed to tell you that I wasn't cheating on you," he said. "What you saw wasn't what happened. You know Meg is just thirsty. She probably just wanted to make you mad. But I would never hurt you like that."

"You came all the way from New York City just to tell me that?" I asked.

"I really love you Rosalina," he said.

"Nat, that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever done," I said, smiling like crazy.

"How did you do it?" Gina asked.

"Well it was all Alex's idea." Nat said. "I was in a slump, playing Rosalina at the piano and he told me that I needed to go tell you the truth. So then I got changed while he gathered together some cab fare. When we combined our allowances it only added up to $130, so we had to borrow some money from the emergency cash stash which brought it up to $230. Then Alex went to stay with his friend and I got in a cab. That only got me to Monroe so I had to be a hitchhiker and it got me to Middlebury. And from there I had to walk."

"How long did that take you?" Gina asked.

"In total, about 4 hours and ten minutes," he said.

"You walked from Middlebury to Waterbury just to see me?" I asked.

"Rosie, I'll do anything for you," he said, quoting himself and making me giggle. I wrapped my arms around his neck, gently pressing my lips to his. He put his hands on my hips, gently pulling back. "I think I like it better that we're together then apart."

"Me too," I said.

"You look amazing tonight," he whispered.

"What about every other night?" I asked jokingly.

He laughed, then scrunched up his face and sneezed. "Are you okay?" I asked, concerned.

"Yea," he said. I rested my head on his chest, swaying gently to the music.

"This is an awesome Christmas dance," I said quietly.

"I totally agree," he said, kissing the top of me head.

.

"Gina, can Nat stay the night?" I asked while Nat was in the bathroom. "I think he's getting sick and I don't want him heading back to New York in the middle of the night in the snow."

"I think my mom will say yes," Gina said. "Even she's been routing for you two to get back together."

"That's weird," I said, sitting down on the couch that was acting as my bed. Ms. West, Gina's Mom, came in.

"All set Rosalina?" she asked.

"Yea," I said. "Is it okay if my friend stays the night too? He spent a long time getting here and doesn't really have any transport home and I'd hate to have him trudge through the snow and begging for rides and he spent all his money just to get here to see me."

"Sure," Ms. West said. "I'll check with Leo to see if he has any spare pajamas."

So after a few minutes, I knocked on the bathroom door that Nat was in. After I didn't get a response, I pressed my ear to the door to listen to see if he was even in there. Sure enough, he was there. He breathing deep a sharp, snd then the sound of gushing something. "Nat?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.

"Yes," he said weakly through the door.

"Are you okay in there?" I asked. I heard the lock click.

"No," he said as I opened the door. He was sitting on the floor, his head rest on his knees. His face looked flushed, especially his forehead and nose, his mouth hanging open slightly. He flushed the toilet, then looked up at me. He gave me a weak smile, before resting his head back down.

"Nat your getting really sick," I said, putting the clothes in the corner. "Come on. Let's see if we can get you washed up before you go to bed."

"Is everything alright in here?" Ms. West asked, peering her head in.

"Ms. West, Nat isn't feeling to well." I said. "Could you do your doctor thing and check on him for me."

"No, I know what's wrong," Nat said. "It happens all the time. When I was born I got a cold four days after my birth. Ever December I get sick around the 21st or sooner, depending on how much time I spend outside."

"Well what do the doctors say?" Ms. West asked.

"Well for the first ten years of my life they thought it was a serious problem but it's always just a simple cold so we just treat it like that." Nat said.

"Would you like a bath honey?" she asked.

"Yes please," Nat said.

"I think that's my cue to leave." I said.

I went back down to Gina's room, quietly going inside. "Is he dying?" Gina asked.

"No," I said. "I just hope he's better in the morning since it's his birthday."

"Ok, birthday," Gina said. "Is he having a party?"

"Your right, I should call Alex," I said, pulling out my phone.

"That's not what I said," Gina called to me as I dialed the number.

Mendez foster home, who might be calling?

"Hi, I'm Rosalina. I was wondering if Alex Wolff is there?"

He's been hoping you'd call. There was some shuffling before I heard Alex's voice.

Hi Rosalina!

"Hey Alex," I said. "Thanks for putting Nat up to his schemes."

I'm gonna guess it worked. And why wouldn't it? It was foolproof.

"I guess," I said. "Nat's gonna stay the night here, but I'll get him back by noon."

Okay. His party doesn't start until seven so it's all good.

"Alex, I think Nat's getting really sick," I said.

Don't worry, it'll blow over. It's just a winter thing. So, did his plan work?

"Obviously, otherwise I would give a shit about how he was feeling?

Alex laughed loudly, then went back to a whispered tone. Tell Nat 'purple monkey flies north for spring'.

"Okay," I said suspiciously.

Bye Rosalina, I'll see you tomorrow.

"Bye Alex." I said, then hung up. I turned to Gina, who had an eyebrow arched while she looked at me. "Yes he's having a party."

"You should go downstairs to your boyfriend," she said, playfully teasing me.

"Thank you for letting me and him stay here," I said, holding the doorknob.

"Of course, your my best friend," she said.

I smiled opening the door and heading downstairs. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I could see Nat laying on the other couch, sipping from a white Christmas mug. He looked up at me, giving me a weak smile. He sat up slowly, patting the spot next to him so I could sit. I walked over, sitting down and letting him rest his head on my shoulder. "Alex said to tell you purple monkey flies north for the spring."

He laughed weakly, his eyes looking up at me. "That's our secret brother code. Do you want to know what it means?"

"Not if its your brother thing," I said.

"It's okay," he said. "It means, 'have a good sleep and don't be a dick to the hot chicks.'"

"I am—"

"Yes Rosalina," he said, then took another sip of—

"What are you drinking?" I asked.

"I dunno," he said. "But my stomach isn't hurting as much and I think it's medicine. Mrs. West gave it to me."

So he was drinking probably medicine. "I'll be on that couch, sleeping. We're leaving early tomorrow, but don't worry about it."

"Who's taking us?" Nat asked, moving so I could get up.

"You'll see," I said.

He sighed, then lay back down. "Good night Rosie." he said.

"Goodnight Nat," I said, climbing into my own makeshift bed.

.

The next morning I got up before the sun, quickly showering and getting dressed. I marched up the stairs, creeping quietly into Leo's room. Leo was Gina's older brother who I am not ashamed to say is handsome. When he actually wants to be, he can be very attractive. But he's annoying, so it's no mystery why he's not in a relationship. According to what I've eavesdropped form back when I lived in Connecticut and would hang out here, he had gotten his share of girls back in high school when he 'snatched their little gifts out of thin air'. Yea.

He had oily black hair, always slicked back, representing his Indian side. His eyes were tight and chilling blue, and his olive skin glowed in the sunlight (he was most attractive in summer). He had strong muscles which you should see clearly in his tight, muscle tee shirts. He had a tattoo of something that represented his late father which was the sweetest thing ever. He was fairly nice to me, only not liking that I was friends with his sister. He was only six and a half year's older than me. My favorite memory with him was when I had my first crush/heartbreak. I was sitting on the couch in Gina's house, silently crying while Gina was at her relatives house. It was the summer before I left for New York, and he had just come back from his driver's test. He strides into the house, then saw me crying and came over.

"What's wrong BabyCakes?" he asked, crouching in front of me. I looked up at his concerned face, and told him what had happened. "Look at me, okay. Boys only want two things out of a relationship: sex and to mark your precious skin with a horrible hickey. You should be glad that he didn't want you because then he'd just use you and move onto the next girl."

"I don't think all boys want that?" I said, sniffing.

"Well when you find a boy who doesn't, then I'll be your servant for a whole week," he said.

"You haven't made me feel better." I said.

"This idiot that doesn't want you is an idiot." he said. "That's all I can say. Because you are an amazing person. And I'm not here to make you feel better. I'm not a girl, and I won't lie to you."

"Well now I feel better," I said.

"Aw shit, I did a bad job." he said, fake pouting. I laughed, giving him a hug.

Since it was winter, he was now bulked under the several blankets in his room, sleeping like a man-beast. I jumped on his bed, tickling him until he woke up. He groaned, looking at me tiredly. "Where'd you learn to do that?" he asked.

"My boyfriend does it to me when I need to wake up," I said, moving to a sitting position.

"BabyCakes has a boyfriend?" he asked. "The poor boy."

"Shut up, you owe me," I said.

"Last I recall I only owe the Bronx bitch," he said coldly, referring to Kristina. "She's such a good hustler."

"Anyway, you said you'd be my servant for a week if—"

"I know I know." he said. "What can I do to assist you?"

"I need a ride to New York City," I said. "Like, now."

"I need gas money," he said.

"Use your college money, it's not like it's going anywhere." I said.

"Love you two, BabyCakes," he said. "Why are you going there?"

"It's Nat's birthday today and he risked missing it just to come see me," I said. "He didn't even plan a way to get home. That's how urgently he needed to see me. So we're taking him to the city and then you'll stay be used me and Gina and Stacy are going to his birthday party."

"We leave in an hour," he said, pushing me off the bed. "Go get your baby ready."

"Just be ready to drive." I said, walking to the door.

He waved me off, slowly getting out of bed.