The Runaway

Five

I peered into the misty window of the coffee shop and immediately saw Nate sitting down at a corner table. He looked nervous as he played with the hem of his shirt and I couldn't help but smile at how adorable he looked. I sighed to myself; I couldn't do this. I hadn't even walked into the shop and my heart was already pounding.

Just as I was about to turn and walk away, he caught my eye and instantly smiled. Shit, he saw me. Now I had to go.

Inhaling a deep breath, I entered the shop and approached the table where he sat. My coffee was already there with his sitting opposite it. I eyed it, my heart warming as I realised he remembered my order perfectly.

"I didn't think you'd come." His face was filled with relief.

"Neither did I." I admitted as I took the seat opposite him.

My cold, numb fingers grasped the cup and immediately warmed. Nervously, I took a single sip savouring the taste just as Nate spoke up again.

"So what's new with you?" He offered me a small smile at a feeble attempt to break the apparent awkwardness.

"Not much." I gave a short reply, not knowing what else I could say. "You?"

"Same." He nodded.

We both lifted our cups in sync and took another sip, placing them back down on the table in unison, too. I stared at my lap, silently wishing I had never came. Nate and I never used to be like this. We'd always make funny conversation and I'd feel completely relaxed around him. It's pretty fucking sad how easily things could change.

Silence overwhelmed us and I wanted nothing more than to run out of the shop and never return.

"This is more worse than the time I stole your last pizza slice." Nate recalled. "You didn't speak to me for the rest of the day."

"Hey, I paid good money for that pizza and that was, without doubt, the best pizza I've ever had and you snatched it away for me. You deserved way worse than me not talking to you." I glared at him, remembering the day very well.

He laughed at this and then so did I.

"That was probably the worst day of my life." He joked. "But I bought you a whole new one."

"It wasn't the same." I replied.

I started to feel a little better now that we had managed to get a conversation going.

"You're just picky." He shook his head.

"And you're just a thief." I countered.

He shook his head with a huge smile planted on his face. I was glad the ice had finally broken.

"Now, come on, tell me everything about London. Your school, new friends, cool places to go, everything. I want to know." He sounded genuinely interested.

So I told him everything. I started venturing into great deal about every aspect of life in London. Nate listened carefully, interjecting a question or two as I paused to drink my coffee. His smile never left his face and the way he looked at my melted my heart.

"Wait, you kicked him in the balls?" Nate's jaw dropped. "That poor guy."

"Well he shouldn't have called me a whore!" I defended to which Nate nodded in agreement.

"Remind me to never get on your bad side." He smirked and I couldn't help but remember that Nate was actually supposed to be "on my bad side".

Sensing my slight shift in mood, Nate sighed, speedily downed the rest of his coffee and looked at me dead in the eyes. My heart couldn't help but explode.

"Look, about the last time we saw each other..." He began.

I instantly began to feel pathetic and low. He pitied me, it was quite clear.

"I...I don't want to talk about it." I shook my head, not making eye contact with him. "It doesn't matter anym-"

"I was an idiot." He cut in. "Such a fucking asshole."

My head tilted to look up at him and I immediately saw the sadness that swept through him. It broke my heart to see him so miserable.

"It's in the past." I assured with a smile. "I've missed you."

Those last three words were enough for a huge smile to spread across his pale face. It was true though, I did miss him. The strong feelings I possessed for him weren't so hard to forget about.

There was something about Nate that just didn't seem right. He used to be so bubbly and full of life, but now? Far from it. What had happened since I was away? Or maybe he was just having a bad day, I didn't know.

"Anyway, we've talked so much about me. How's stuff with you?" I chirped.

"No, no, no, I haven't finished asking you questions." He insisted. "Like, what happened to the guy you kicked in the balls?"

He was changing the subject, I was sure of it. Something had happened.

"He made a full recovery." I speedily replied. "So, how's the family?"

I didn't get a chance to see his little sister earlier but believe me when I say that she is adorable as fuck.

"Uh, good." He shortly answered.

Then I remembered.

Shit, how could I forget?

"How's your mum?" I asked.

His face instantly grew dark and he looked at the non existent watch on his wrist.

"It that the time? I should go. It was nice seeing you, Charlotte."

And then he raced out of the door...