In love with my best friend? I don't think so...

Chapter 24

"So what did you think of my family?" Nathan asked as he grabbed my hand and led me out to their backyard.

The backyard was amazingly spectacular. There was a trellis covered in gorgeous crimson red roses, that led to this huge fenced in yard with a bajillion different flowers surrounding a green lawn. There were tiny little string lights strung everywhere and around every tree and pole. In the corner of the yard, where a massive willow tree stood, I could just barely make out a tree house through the branches.

"This looks....amazing!" I couldn't help but say, just barely able to think of words to say. I looked over at him to see him looking at me with a smile gracing his mouth.

"I'm glad you like it. When we bought this house, my mum had to make sure there was plenty of garden room and stuff like that...it's just a bonus that there's a tree house," he said with a huge smile pulling on his mouth, he tugged on my hand and led me towards the tree house on the other side of the yard. "Lady's first," he said once we maneuvered our way through the zigzag paths that led to the tree house.

I carefully walked up the wooden ladder that led to the huge tree house. I was astonished to see how cozy and roomy it was.

"You like it?" he questioned as I sat on a black bean bag chair.

"I very much do!" I said with a smile.

"Have I told you that you look beautiful tonight?" he said while sitting down beside me on a dark, red bean bag chair.

"Uh...I believe you did..." I said with a tiny blush starting to form around the tops of my cheeks.

"well, once again then, you look beautiful," Nathan said with a smile and grabbed my hand," I'm so glad my dad's job forced us to move here. When I first saw you, my breath was taken from me for a few seconds. Then, when Ms. Vell said you'd be my tour guide I was so happy, and Beth came in and said those mean, disgusting things to you and I saw your face crumble, and even though I was raised to never hit a girl, I wanted to hit her. Then, in the bathroom, I couldn't help but give you a hug, and might I say having you in my arms felt like a dream to be completely honest."

I couldn't help but smile and squeeze his hand. "So it's story time? Hm, okay...so when I first saw you I was extremely embarrassed because I was not really having a great morning and you saw me like that...and you looked so cute and adorable then you spoke with your accent I just about wanted to hide...then Ms. Vell told me that I was to be your tour guide of the school and it surprised me so much that you said you wouldn't mind eating lunch with me. I've been eating lunch by myself for a little over 2 years," I bit my lip considering whether I should continue and tell him a secret only one person held..."and when you hugged me in the bathroom. I haven't felt that safe since my dad killed himself around 10 years ago...since then my mum beats me everyday...she is the reason of this broken arm," I said holding up the cast that still bulkily hung on my arm.

Nathan pulled me onto his lap, wrapped his arms around me, and held me tightly. Until then I hadn't realized there were tears streaming down my face. I turned my head into his chest and cried and cried and cried.

I haven't cried this hard since the day I found my dad lying in the backyard with a gun in one hand and a note in the other...there was so much blood everywhere...on his shirts, his pants, even his shoes. It was streaming down his face from a hole just above his eyebrow. I stood motionless waiting for him to move or do something that would prove he isn't what my slow mind was processing and eventually the loving mother I once knew walked through the back door, suddenly turning into a cold-hearted woman right before my eyes, leaving me to fend for myself in this horrible world everyone calls life.

"Are you okay Reighleen love?" I just barely heard Nathans voice break though the barriers of my mind.

"yeah, I'm fine...I just...remember when I was in the hospital and I wasn't at school for a few days?" I asked sniffling back the remaining sobs letting Nathan wipe away the last few tears that had just fallen, "well...when I was unconscious, I was in the happiest place I thought I'd ever be...at the beach having absolutely no worry of someone coming and hurting me anymore...then you came to visit me and I wasn't as sad as I was just before you had gotten there. I wanted to go back so bad...then you were there, and drew this," I lifted the cast with the drawing of the cow," ...you've made me happier than I was at that beach." I ended my sentence with a kiss on his lips which never ceases the tingling feeling my lips get as our lips meet."