The Movies Make It Look Easy

Chapter 20

I mentally rolled my eyes as she spoke, "Nicholas King...Nick freaking King!" she said excitedly.  

I frowned, "umm...yes, I was aware that his name is Nick King...I don't know why that's important though." I trailed off at the look she gave me.  

"He's like the hottest guy in college, bad boy extraordinaire!"  

I had to fight the bile that rose in my throat at the dreamy look in her eyes. Natalie didn't normally look like that; no matter whom we were talking about.  

"He's just a guy Nat, and I doubt he's the hottest guy in college." I couldn't even make myself believe my own words - how sad.  

"Whatever, you're so in denial, but anyway talking about guys, how's Lee?"  

"Can we please not talk about Lee?"  

She frowned, "why?"  

"I just need to think about some things, that's all"  

She nodded, "okay, fair enough...just try not to hurt him too much, he's a good guy."  

I nodded my head, but I couldn't help thinking about what Nick had said. Was it not true? Or did Nat not know? I didn't want to ask - I needed to make a decision for myself.

We sat in silence, each lost in our own thoughts - I had a good idea what Natalie was thinking about by the way she was dreamily staring at Nick's open door - when the door opened.  

Nick walked in with a battered old bag over one shoulder and wearing equally battered old clothes with unknown stains covering them. He looked up at us and smiled; "Hey."  

I smiled in return and Natalie muttered a "hi", suddenly finding the table on the opposite side of the room to Nick very interesting.  

"This is Natalie" I said, gesturing at her.  

"Oh yeah, you were at dinner last night right?"  

She nodded still staring at the table.  

He shot me a quizzical look, but I just shrugged, I didn't know why she was acting all shy - hell I didn't even know the word was in her vocabulary - normally I couldn't get her to shut up.  

He turned his attention to me when it was clear that he wasn't going to get more of a response out of her. "Didn't expect to see you up so early."  

I glared at Natalie who had finally looked up and she had the grace to look sheepish. Nick smirked.  

"Right back at ya" I retorted, smiling.  

"I said last night that I had to get up"  

"Yeah but I didn't think you actually would, I mean you're worse than me."  

He laughed, sitting on the armchair and dropping his bag beside him with an audible clunk. "True."  

"So why are you up?" I asked genuinely curious. He didn't get up for just anything.

He looked away and ran his hand - nervously? - through his tousled hair. "Just working on something." 

I just nodded, aware that he clearly didn't want to talk about it. Natalie however didn't seem to pick up on that fact, "what is it?" she asked eagerly, she seemed to have gotten her confidence back.

"Umm, just something" he shrugged.  

"Ahh come on, it has to be important,.What is it?" she pushed.  

He glanced at me and his whole expression was screaming for me to help. I sat back and tried to contain the laughter that was bubbling up inside me as I watched the two of them.