Noah had driven away, back to his dorm in University. I mournfully watched him drive away. When would I see him again? And when would he realize we were engaged?
I turned back to Nate. Now that I've spent some time with both of the brothers, I can sort of tell them apart. Noah has a stronger jaw line, a straighter nose and is a couple inches taller. Nate has thicker eyelashes, redder lips and a brown tinge to his blond hair.
There.
But the problem with this is that you have to look really close.
"How many years older is he than you?" I asked.
"Two," Nate replied.
I frowned. "That would make you the same age as me."
"Yeah."
"How come you're so tall, then? That's not fair."
He smiled at me, and I felt my heart thump against my chest. That was weird...maybe I was coming down with something. I should go see a doctor.
"We can go find a job tomorrow," I said, changing the subject.
Nate blinked his thick, long lashes at me, and tried a begging look that did not suit him. "Please don't make me get a job."
"That's the best bit...you don't have a choice," I sang, skipping as we walked home. I was feeling a lot chattier tonight than I would ever normally be. That was because I was in love! I forgive you Cupid. I really do.
"Don't make me do manual labour," he begged.
"What, Mr. Playboy afraid of getting his hands dirty?"
He look he gave me was extremely suggestive.
"Oh, that is wrong!" I said, slapping him over the head. "You have a filthy mind, Nate!"
"You know you love it," he asked, with a smirk.
I normally would've floored him, but today that was somehow endearing. Everything seemed so bright and sunny and happy! Which was really saying something about the power of love, because it was night and the only person I could see was Nate, who was looking incredibly...how should I put this..."impassioned"? I tried to ignore him, but it's hard when the person is staring straight at the back of your head.
When I finally couldn't take the tension, I stopped.
"Nate, it's too awkward. You can stop walking me home now."
He frowned. "I thought you were walking me home."
"Why the hell would I walk you home?"
"I don't know...maybe to get into my pants?" I had to hit him just a little bit when he said that.
"Then why are you following me?" he demanded, his brown eyes watering as he rubbed the place I'd wacked.
"I'm not! You're following me!"
We both stood there, staring at each other for a moment or two. Slowly, I raised my left foot, and he did the same. We both took a step forward in unison. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot. Left foot. I broke into a sprint, trying to leave him behind. For a stupid playboy, he sure knew how to run. Why the hell was he following me? Was he planning something?
Just as I reached my front door, I realized I lost him. I smiled. Stupid playboy couldn't run fast enough, then. I'd just gotten my key out to open my door, when I happened to glance over at the house, the one the crazy dude with a "magic pony" lived in...
And I just happened to see Nate, standing on his porch, staring back at me.
My eyes flicked to the "For Sale" sign on the front yard that had been there for a while. It now said "Sold". My gaze turned back to Nate, who had a key in his hand.
Two dots connected. Oh God. He was...
Nate's face spilt into a wide smile, and he leaned on the porch. His brown eyes sparkled in the moonlight.
"Hi there, neighbour."
And the most upsetting thing about this?
I blushed.
Maybe I really was ill.
***
I lay in my bed, trying to sleep. It was almost impossible, because one, my arms hurt from the painful arm-twisting my parents had inflicted upon me and two, the douche (Nate) who had the bedroom opposite my window wouldn't switch his lights off. When crazy magic pony guy lived there, he never did anything as annoying as that.
What was Nate doing in that room?
I suddenly shuddered. I didn't want to think about it. Maybe he'd called over some girls.
My phone rang, interrupting my mental debate to go over there and yell at Nate to turn his lights off, no matter what type of crazy party he was having.
It was Keri. I picked up.
"Hey, Keri," I whispered.
"Oh, it's 'hey' now, is it?" she replied, huffily. "Do you know how much my arm hurts?"
"Calm down, I only twisted it a bit." For some reason, I have no sympathy for other people's pain. "You have no idea what my parents did to me after I got home... just because I was a little late home... and apparently Mr. Hale, King of Our School himself, phoned my house, and told them I have detention. They've docked my allowance again."
"That's awful!" Keri said, immediately sympathetic. I smiled. That's what I liked about Keri. She genuinely cared about others. "But at least you have your bachelor..."
"Shut up about that. Keri, I have so much to tell you!"
"What?"
I explained everything, about the weird dream (something I'd refrained from mentioning in the past because, well, would you?), the reason why I blew five-hundred bucks on a random guy (it's weird how she didn't ask for an explanation, before... to be honest, nothing needs an explanation in Keri-world), and...Noah.
Even his name made me smile...
"So you're in love," Keri said. I frowned. I didn't like how it sounded - all mediocre and lame.
"Basically..."
"But he's in University, so there's no way you can see him."
"Well, his University is pretty near our school...but I can't just, just know, go there..."
"It's simple, right? Get your pretty little slave to set up a couple double-dates with this Noah guy."
"Great idea!" My eyes narrowed. "Wait...why 'double-date'?"
"Obviously, I'm going to come along."
"What?"
"Well, if you're not going to have Nate, I am. You can't waste a guy like that."
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, Keri. If you like that kind of guy."
"What, insanely hot?"
"He's not hot!"
"He so is."
"Nate is not hot!" I yelled. "Keri, you -"
"Hey!" A voice called. I sat up straighter. Nate had lifted up his window, and was yelling at me through it... I flushed, when I suddenly realized he was topless. He had a well-toned, bronzed chest, and strong-looking, muscled arms. Not creepy steroid-muscles, like some of the guys at my martial arts class, but well-defined. I couldn't help but stare. He didn't miss that.
"I know how hot I am," Nate said, smirking, "but can you keep it down?"
He slammed his window closed, making it impossible for a comeback.
Damn him.
"Ade!" Keri yelled, down the phone. "Ade? Who was that? Was that Nate? Is he in your room?"
I took a deep breath. "Keri, there's something else I haven't explained...Nate is my new neighbour."
***
"We have new neighbours! The Harris' have moved back!"
I closed my eyes, and tried my best to shovel my cereal in. I was late for school already, but I was dawdling. Maybe if I leave really date I don't have to face Nate...even if I was going to have to work with him, I don't want to have any one-to-one time with the guy.
My Mom glared at me, and rolled up her sleeve - a sign she was getting mad, and might hit me. God, she was temperamental.
"Sure, Mom," I answered, tonelessly.
"I think we should greet them! After all, we haven't seen them in so long...how long has it been, Arthur?"
"I don't know," my Dad replied, as tonelessly as I did.
"Years..." Mom said, reminiscently. "We should have a barbeque with them! Mr. Harris always did like a barbeque..."
"Oh, that'll be great, Mom!" I said, practically jumping up and down. Maybe Noah will come! "Please can we?"
She looked at me like I was making fun of her. Maybe I did overdo the ecstasy.
"Shouldn't you be at school?" she said, glaring at me. "You're always late!"
I managed to leave the house with only minor wounds.
As I locked the door behind me, I caught sight of Nate, doing the same thing.
Just my damn luck.
***
Author's Note: Did some gardening. Nice.
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