Unfolding

By alexdenise_writes

1.6M 36.5K 44.1K

BOOK 1 of The Getting There Series When a clumsy first encounter leads to Aiden and Natalie unexpectedly spen... More

Summary
Author's Note
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Lucas Bonus Chapter (Chapter 14)
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Aiden Bonus Chapter (Chapter 32)
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Epilogue
Author's Note
Sequel + Others
Sequel - Out Now!

Chapter 33

28.3K 690 1K
By alexdenise_writes

I Don't Know

"I don't think anyone is ever ready, but when someone makes you feel alive again its kid of worth the risk." – Nikki Rowe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I never thought I would actually be glad to go back to school – yet here I am.

I'm sure hell must have frozen over by now.

As I walked through the crowded hallways on Monday morning, I actually let out a sigh of relief. Everyone had been driving me absolutely fucking insane since Wednesday. It's like they were afraid that if I so much as moved the wrong way – I would all of a sudden break.

I know I gave them a good scare and all – but I'm fine! The doctor gave me the all clear and told me I was good to go back to normal within a week. He wanted me to go back this Wednesday for another check-up, but other than that everything was fine.

As I came to a stop at my locker, I'm surprised nobody had cornered me in the parking lot and offered to take me to my locker in a white carriage.

17-31-05

The lock popped and the metal door swung open. As I reached up to the top shelf to shove my Econ book in there until eight period, my arm immediately dropped to my side and I couldn't help the wince that escaped my lips.

Okay so maybe I lied – my hip still hurt on occasion and the bruise had not completely healed, but nobody needed to know that.

After I shoved all of the books that I needed for the day into my bag, I slammed the locker shut and turned around to see if I could spot either Caroline or Brooke.

However, as soon as my eyes landed on the scene before me, I immediately wished I hadn't turned around.

Aiden was at his locker with some blonde cheerleader who was twirling her perfectly styled hair between her fingers, and batting her fake eyelashes at him. She continued giggled at whatever he had said, playfully shoving his shoulder.

The worst part? Aiden was actually laughing along with her.

I am well aware of the fact that Aiden and I are not official – and in part that in my fault. But it didn't make what I was seeing any less painful.

Lying in bed for almost an entire week had given me a lot of time alone with my thoughts. I remember opening my eyes in the hospital that day, and how my heart had a mind of its own when my eyes landed on Aiden. It was in that moment that I realized, no matter how hard I tried to deny it, my feelings for him were there and they weren't going away anytime soon. Then, of course, there was the incident where he almost called me his girlfriend.

I could swear I thought that he felt the same way about me.

The gentle touches, the genuinely sweet things he would say to me out of nowhere, constantly being by my side.

Maybe if I hadn't been so stubborn about letting him tell me how he feels, I wouldn't feel so betrayed and angry right now. If there's anyone to blame in this moment, it's me and my stupid fucked up ideology. I couldn't just be a normal teenage girl that lets the boy shower her with feelings and affection. Instead – I had to always be rational and think about the what if and the future.

I'm just so used to being on my own, I don't know how to open up to someone else. It was different with my mom, and with Caroline and Brooke. With them, I know that regardless of how badly I fuck up, they'll still be there at the end of the day.

But with Aiden, it was a whole new different because he could so easily just walk away.

I guess I was just so scared that if we put a label on our relationship, he'll have no problem walking away.

I'm not special – there's nothing distinctive about me. Hell – I'm not even that pretty. I could be skinnier. I could put in more of an effort into how I looked. And let's not even get started on my poor attitude.

Once you've been hurt, it becomes difficult to get attached again because you're scared. It's like this constant fear developed, and every time a new person comes into my life, I start to question their motives because I'm terrified that they're going to break my heart all over again.

As I continued to watch the blonde shamelessly flirt with Aiden, I couldn't help but wonder.

What if I really did push him away for good?

What if he didn't want me anymore?

But – then there was also the possibility that maybe I was just imagining it all and paranoia was getting the best of me. Perhaps I was looking too deeply into something that just wasn't there. Perhaps I was just another girl for him to check off the list.

Deciding that this is not how I want to start my week off, I spared one more glance in their direction and walked – well, more like limped – towards my first period class. As soon as I walked in, I was bombarded with how are you Natalie and I missed you Natalie from people I had only spoken two words to in the past.

Honestly, the hypocrisy.

Someone is all of a sudden out sick for a while, and only then you decide you want to talk to them and be nice to them?

When Aiden walked into first period, he first stopped at my desk. "Why didn't you wait for me at your locker? You know you're not supposed to be carrying heavy stuff."

"You looked busy." I had to physically restrain myself from rolling eyes.

"Are you okay?" His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Just fucking dandy.

"I'm fine." I coldly replied as I buried my face in my backpack, pretending to look for something. After a few more attempts at small talk, Aiden eventually took the hint and walked to his desk just as class was about to start.

The rest of the day didn't get much better, especially when Leo cornered me in the hallway as I was walking towards my locker to grab a book I had forgotten. It's safe to say I went to class without the damn book, because as soon as he approached me I turned around and walked away.

Speaking of Leo, during one of Aiden's daily visits, I managed to convince him to tell me how he got Leo to delete that video all those months ago.

"Pretty please." I pouted as Aiden laughed, spinning around in the chair at my desk.

"No." He smirked.

"Just tell me!" I crossed my arms hoping to look more intimidating. "It'll make me feel a whole lot better..."

Now that seemed to get his attention.

"Pretty please with a cherry on top! Just tell me how you got him to delete that video. Once it's on the internet, it's out there forever."

"Fine!" Aiden eventually gave in as he came to lay down next to me.

"After you stormed out, I cornered Young into a classroom and made him delete the video in front of me from his phone and iCloud." He took my hand in his and began playing with my fingers as I listened intently. "Then I had a buddy of mine who knows computers trace it to the source, and take it down permanently."

"That's it?" I asked dumbly. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that.

"That's it." He nodded. "It helped that the video was only posted that morning."

"What about the black eye?" I bit my lip nervously.

"Ahh." Aiden chuckled. " That – well he had that coming from a mile away."

"Aiden!" I scolded. "Violence is not the answer!"

"So then I guess I probably shouldn't tell you that I smashed his phone against the wall?" He sheepishly looked up at me, amusement playing in his voice.

"Aiden!"

"I love it when you say my name, Princess."

Boys are so... so confusing!

On top of Aiden's surprise this morning, Lucas was also acting weird. He wasn't acting his usual cheery and extra annoying self. Instead – he was quiet and barely said a word to Caroline and I. When I asked her about it, she said he's been like that all day and wouldn't tell her what was wrong.

I also tried talking to him, but he left class as soon as the bell rang.

After eight period, I was determined to go and find Lucas to make sure he was okay, but it seems Aiden had other plans.

"Princess." I heard him call out, but instead of turning around I kept walking.

Princess my ass. He can go call that blonde bimbo princess, as far as I'm concerned.

"Natalie." He grabbed my wrist and turned me around.

"What?" I rolled my eyes as I snatched my wrist from him.

"Are you okay?" He asked, concern evident in his features.

"I'm fine."

"What's going on with you today?"

"Nothing."

"Natalie."

"Why don't you go flirt with that blonde cheerleader from earlier." The words came out of my mouth faster than I could stop myself.

Fuck.

"What are yo –" His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and his voice was laced with disbelief. "Are you serious right now?"

"Yes." I folded my arms across my chest and looked at him expectantly.

"Come on." He snatched my wrist again and pulled us into the first empty classroom he came across. Slamming the door shut, he turned to face me. "First of all, I wasn't flirting with her. She just wanted to know about Friday's game."

"Oh – so now I'm blind too?" I snorted.

He was so not helping his case right now.

"I didn't say that!" He narrowed his eyes at me in annoyance. "But what exactly do you want from me, Natalie? You push me away, and now you're here mad that I was talking to someone else?"

Yes.

In the heat of the moment I shouted, "I don't know!"

"I don't know what the fuck I want!" I threw by backpack on the nearest seat and sat ontop of the desk. "I've never had to deal with this before. All of these feeling and emotions."

He hesitantly took a few steps towards me until he was standing right in front of me. "So talk to me."

"I – I... I – don't know – " I stammered over my own words. Why was it all of a sudden so difficult to form a proper sentence?

"Then listen!" He trapped by body with his. "Stop running away and just fucking listen."

"I want you, Natalie – only you!" He reached out for my hands which were resting in my lap as his gaze held mine. "You are probably the most difficult person I have met, but you're all I want."

"I find myself thinking about you all the time..." I mumbled shyly. "You constantly drive me crazy with how overprotective you are. And even though I want to slap you 90% of the time, there is just something about you that won't let me stay away! I've never exp –"

All of a sudden, Aiden's lips were on mine and I sat frozen in place. It took my brain a few seconds to register what was happening before I sat up straight and wrapped my arms around his neck, melting into his touch.

Completely ignoring the fact that we were in public and anyone could just walk in and find us making out on a table, I kissed him back with the same amount of passion.

The kiss was sweet and passionate. Not like the ones we've shared before. No – there was something different about the way his lips moved with mine, and how our mouths molded together perfectly. His arms wrapped around my body tightly as I tangled my fingers in his hair.

When Aiden pulled back, a lopsided smile stretched across his face as he said, "Go out with me."

As soon as the words left his mouth, my stomach tightened in an unusual way. "Wha –"

"No more running away, Princess." He said, peering down at me. "Be my girlfriend."

Girlfriend.

One word that was so... foreign.

I felt the heat rush to my face as I tried to avert my eyes so they were anywhere except on Aiden.

I've never had a boyfriend before. Sure – there have been other guys before him, but nothing so... official. The thought alone terrified me, but it also brought on a surge of excitement.

I glanced down when I felt a hand close around mine, and then looked back up to meet Aiden's intense gaze. "You're so cheesy." I teased.

"Is that a yes, Princess?"

"I mean... I guess I can fit you into my schedule." I smirked as I reached up to capture his lips with mine.

"You're lucky you're cute."

"Lucky me then."

Afterwards, Aiden and I were at his locker and I was sitting on the floor while he was he was putting on his cleats.

"Hey," I bit my bottom lip as I asked him, "What's going on with Lucas today?"

"He's... This time of year is just really hard for him." Aiden sighed, a sadness in his eyes.

"How come?"

"I'm sorry, Princess." He shook his head. "That's not my place to tell you."

"However," He continued, flashing me a knowing smile. "I can tell you that he won't be at practice today and if you hurry, I think you can catch him in the parking lot."

How did he know...

"Go." He pecked my lips one last time before nudging me up.

"You're the best!" I called out over my shoulder as I limped out to the parking lot.

Now was not the time for pain, I thought angerly.

Luckily there weren't that many cars left so Lucas's Jeep was easy to spot. As I made my way over to him, he was shoving his gym bag in the trunk.

"Hey." I smiled softly as I approached him.

"Hey Buttercup." He smiled, although it didn't reach his eyes.

"Whatcha doing...?" I couldn't help but play with the hem of my sweater. I didn't want to over step and make him more upset than he already was.

"Going home." He slammed the trunk shut. "You need something, Buttercup?"

I answer looking up to meet his eyes. "I was wondering... if you wanted to come somewhere with me."

"Right now?"

"Yes – right now. It'll be fun, I promise."

He looked around hesitantly, as if searching for any excuse to say no. Finally, he sighed and folded his arms over his broad shoulders. "Where to?" He motioned for me to lead the way.

"Actually..." I replied. "Would you mind driving? I'm not feeling too well."

I probably should have listened to the doctor when he said to take it easy, but then again... I never really do what I'm told. I had a slight headache beginning to form, and the pain in my hip had gotten consistently more annoying as the day went on.

Lucas shot me a concerned look, but I waved him off. "It's fine. Now let's go!"

........

The summer after both Caroline and I got our driver's license, we had made it a mission to explore the city and discover new places for us to hang out. With my mom being at work most of the time and her mom driving her insane, we spent most of the summer just hanging out. Brooke was away at Volleyball camp in Michigan, so it was just the two of us.

One day we were walking back to her car after getting ice cream, when we saw a sign in front of a book store that read, Read with Puppies! Of course, curiosity got the best of us and we went inside.

We later discovered that every day from 3-5pm, the book store owner had puppies from the animal shelter across the street come in, so people could play with them while browsing for books. Some people even decided to adopt one on the spot.

Needless to say, Caroline and I ended up coming back to the same book store at least once a week.

As Lucas parked his car and we got out, I pulled him in the direction of the familiar store front. "Where are we going?" He asked.

"You'll see." I said as I came to a stop in front the green sign that read Roscoe Books. The place was actually hidden amongst the different commercial businesses on the street. It was positioned in between a music store and a small Chase Branch. As I pulled open the door, I was immediately met with the familiar smell of sweet, musty paper and ink. Rows upon rows of white shelves stuffed to the brim with books made up the entire top floor. At the very back of the room, was a large white desk where the store owner – Mrs. Nelson – was sitting on a stool.

Making our way down the spiral staircase and towards the basement where the children's section lies, we were met with the loud squeals of children and soft barking. Even from the middle of the staircase, I could make out about a dozen or so puppies – all different breeds – running around and wagging their tail. The sight made the corners of my lips twitch in excitement.

What can I say, I have a soft spot for animals.

"What is this place?" Lucas asked from behind me.

"This is a puppy book store." I proudly replied. "Well – not really but every day the owner lets the animal shelter from across the street bring in puppies in the hopes of helping them get adopted faster. You can play with them, read a book... it's fun."

As his eyes scanned the scene in front of him, I swear I saw a ghost of a smile on his face. "What would you like to read today?" I asked as I picked up two random books. "Charlotte's Webb or... Winnie the Pooh."

"How about we keep looking, Buttercup?" He gently took the two books I was holding and placed them back on the shelf. His smile didn't go unnoticed by me.

"I'm here if you... ever want to talk about it..." I said as I let my finger tips run through the various titles on the shelf.

He hummed in response but didn't say anything else. Instead, we continued to browse the children's section until I picked up a copy of The Hobbit and dragged Lucas with me to where the puppies were running around.

I figured if he wasn't ready to talk about it, that was fine. However, he could still play with the dogs.

"My mom died... when I was nine." Lucas finally said as a golden retriever continued to lick his hand.

My head snapped up in his direction, completely abandoning the hardcover I was reading. "Lucas I – I'm so sorry..."

He shrugged, refusing to meet my eyes. Instead, he focused on the small chew toy at his feet. "It's fine... it was a long time ago."

I gently set my book on the floor and scooted closer to him. I didn't know what to say, so instead I wrapped my arms around him. He hesitantly patted me on the back as I continued to hug him.

"Today is um... the anniversary of her passing." He cleared his throat. "I know it was a long time ago but... it's still a shit day."

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, Lucas..."

"It's okay... I – I want to..."

"She had ovarian cancer." He continued. "The doctors tried all sorts of experimental treatments but eventually it just... it just became too much. It spread to all of her organs and she just... one day she was here and the next... she... she was just gone..."

I didn't realize there were tears streaming down my face until one landed on my hand. I tried to blink them away before he saw me, but it was too late. As if on cue, the tears started coming down harder and my vision blurred. "You don't have to cry, Buttercup."

"I know... I – I... just.. I'm so sorry Lucas!" I sniffled as I buried my face in his shoulder.

Why am I like this?

I was the one that was supposed to be comforting him... not the other way around.

Great job, Natalie!

________________________________________________________

The chapter you have all been waiting for!

The reason it took so long for Aiden and Natalie to admit their feelings to one another isn't because this is a slow-burn romance (although that is partly why), but mainly because Natalie has issues of her own that she needs to come to terms with.

Also – my poor baby Lucas! 😭😭😭

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