The next instalment in the series. I don't plan to have many chapters following this one, but I don't intend this to be my last story. Thanks again to all dedicated followers of the series!
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Waking up with Nate had to have been one of the best feelings I'd had in a long time. The feel of his arm draped over me, clutching me to his body - I could feel the hard planes of his abdomen against my back. His face was pressed lightly into the back of my head, inhaling the aroma of my shampoo as he breathed, deeply asleep.
As I shifted slightly, attempting to wiggle free so that I could get up to use the bathroom, he unconsciously clutched me tighter, before relaxing again.
I slipped from his arms, put on his oversized t-shirt from earlier in the day and made my way to the bathroom. When I'd finished I looked at the clock perched on his bedside table - 6 o'clock. We'd slept right through the rest of the day's activities.
Smiling, I made my way to the edge of the bed where Nate was still sleeping, his arm outstretched where I had been resting beside him. I folded my arms, leant my weight on one leg and just stared at him. Nate was everything. He was good looking, funny, charming, and he was a hell of a lover - I blushed slightly at the memory. I still couldn't shake the feeling however, that there was something missing...a longing I didn't know was there. I frowned slightly.
"Are you just going to stand there and stare, or are you going to get your beautiful little ass back into bed?" Nate said, cracking open an eyelid to look at me. I squeaked slightly as his voice startled me, and averted my gaze hastily.
"I-uh...I thought you were asleep," I said, sheepishly.
He only laughed, and reached out a hand to yank me down beside him. With me facing him, he laid his hand lazily on my hip, and dragged me in for a long, drugging kiss. My eyes fluttered closed as his lips claimed mine.
Eventually, he stopped kissing me, and I reddened when I realised I was slightly breathless. He looked at me hungrily.
"I like seeing you dressed in my t-shirt..." he whispered. "It's sexy."
I looked away from him. "We should go and grab dinner," I said, getting out of bed to get dressed.
As I went to pull off Nate's t-shirt, I felt him pin my arms to my sides as he stood pressed behind me. He whispered directly into my ear, "Fine...but keep the shirt on."
I laughed, stepped out of his embrace and reached to pull on my discarded panties and jeans. Checking to see that Nate was otherwise occupied, I reached under my pillow for my book, and tucked it into the top band of my jeans, and placed my pen into my jean pocket.
A short while later, we were both making our way to the food hall, hand in hand. We didn't speak - we didn't have to. Everything was perfect.
That was, until we reached the doors of the food hall. As quick as lightening, Nate dropped my hand and walked through the double doors, leaving me outside the hall, alone. Confused, I followed him into the hall.
I scanned the room for Nate, and found him sitting at a table with Michael, Josh, Tiernan and Riley, along with a few of the girls that came to the camp on our bus.
I paused briefly at the door, staring in disbelief at Nate; but he didn't look up. He was laughing and smiling with his friends like nothing had ever happened. I pushed back tears.
It was then that the growling of my stomach reminded me of my pending hunger. I walked towards the sandwich bar, grabbed a chicken sandwich, paid and sat at a vacant table.
I ate in silence, mulling the day's events over in my head. Surely Nate hadn't meant anything by it. That afternoon he had been caring...loving even. He had been the perfect gentleman. What if it had all been a lie? A ruse to get into my pants...I felt ashamed.
I registered someone sitting down opposite me. I looked up - it was Riley, Nate and Michael's friend.
"You ok, Ronnie?" he said, sounding genuinely concerned. Then again, Nate had seemed genuine too.
I plastered on a fake smile, "Yeah I'm fine."
He looked at me with concern. "You know you can talk to any of us Ronnie? Especially Michael. You don't seem like you've been having the best time here."
"
Yeah, you wouldn't either if you'd just been through what I have
," I replied mentally, my silent retort dripping with sarcasm.
I laughed lightly, and returned my gaze to my food. Riley was sweet - yet another of my brother's friends that I'd grown up around. Like Aaron, Riley was like a brother to me, only he lacked a certain quality that Aaron possessed. I didn't know what it was, but there had always been something about Aaron that was different to all of Michael's friends. Riley clearing his throat brought me out of my thoughts.
My eyes snapped up to meet his, and I saw the confused, rather embarrassed look on his face. It was then I remembered that I had gone off in a daydream. Blushing, I murmured an apology.
"Just...promise me that you'll talk to
someone
Ronnie," he said, gently. With that, he got up off his seat, made his way to my side of the table and grabbed me into a rib-cracking hug. I returned the hug whole-heartedly. I hadn't seen or spoken to Riley in about a year - he and Michael had drifted last summer. I had forgotten how much he used to mean to me. I could never see Riley in a romantic setting - always a big brother figure...unlike
some
people I knew. It was then that I realised I was becoming obsessed with Aaron. I needed a distraction.
And it just turned out that distraction came in the form of Sam.
"Jeez Ronnie, try not to crush him to death! Clingy much? Riley, you should maybe step back before she mistakes kindness for a marriage proposal," she bit, cruelly.
I jumped apart from Riley, looking directly into Sam's cold eyes.
