➸ EIGHT

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Hello! How was your morning? Mine was overwhelming, I woke up to 500 FREAKING READS. When I first published just the first chapter I was like 100% thinking no would ever read this BUT NOPE I WAS WRONG. Damn.

Shoutout to Love_and_Kalopsia !! Her book is so freaking good and I fell in love with it immediately! Please go show some love to her, if that's not too much to ask. Thank you so much for reading, voting and commenting on my book! I can't explain how much it means to me even if it's a little comment, I appreciate it all!

Vote - Comment - Share (If you wanna. But I'd appreciate it if you did. But you don't have to. But please do.)

—————

Thalia Lively

We sat at a light grey, marbled styled table at the back of the café. I could really see the details of the café more clearer now that people weren't crowed in here. It smelt like fresh mint and not like sweat mixed with bad breath as it did last time I was here.

It wasn't sunny at all today. It was cloudy but still bright outside, as if the sun's light rays are still managing to fight through the threatening clouds.

That faint brightness was lighting up the café from the massive windows covering the walls. The brightness was shining on the right side of Nathan's face, highlighting his strong but sometimes soft features. His vibrant green eyes were shining brighter, it was like they finally weren't filled with worry, stress and anger.

They looked peaceful as he read through the menu, debating on what he wanted to order. I sat here with my book in my hands, supposedly reading when really I was admiring him. I'm not sure if he could feel my glances from time to time but if he did, he didn't acknowledge it.

I felt like a creep, just looking at him but I couldn't help it. My eyes were drawn to him as if they'd figure out this mystery sitting in front of me just by staring.

The bell coming from the door rang as a new customer walked in, causing me to snap out of my gaze. I looked over and saw a mother and her son. The mother looked beyond stressed as she was struggling to hold the little boy's backpack and her own purse on her arms and then to top it off, some little car toys she carried in her hands. She set the toys in front of the boy as he sat there looking at his mother in wonder.

She had frown lines, tired eyes and messy hair. She rubbed her face harshly and looked down at her hands sighing. She looked wanly, beaten down and my heart went out to her as I suddenly grew a connection with this woman I've never met before.

She kissed his forehead and went to order, leaving the boy at a table close to her.

The boy didn't care about his toys, he was too busy focusing on the gum ball machine just inches away from our table. As his mother was looking at the menu and fumbling with her purse, he slid out of his chair and walked over to the machine.

Nathan's eyes averted from the menu to the boy was now beside him, looking at the gum ball machine with want.

Nathan reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter, reaching his hand out to the kid, gesturing at him to take it. The boy gave a toothily smile and took it, then walked over and reached in for a hug.

Nathan got the hint and slid closer towards him and reached down to match his short frame. He hugged him and then ruffled his hair as the kid giggled.

"I'm Max." He said looking up at Nathan, holding his hand out.

Nathan looked at it amused and chuckled slightly. "I'm Nathan." He shook his hand firmly but gently.

Max looked over at me and his eyes lit up, he looked back at Nathan attempting to whisper but I caught every word. "Is that your girlfriend? She's super pretty." He said in Nathan's ear causing Nathan to look at me briefly.

"She is pretty isn't she?" Nathan replied. "Do you have a girlfriend?" He asked the little boy who's face blushed in embarrassment.

Wait, what?

"Um, no." He said as he moved over to the gum ball machine and put in the quarter, twisting the handle done could get his gum ball.

"Why not?" Nathan pried.

"Girls just don't like me." Max shrugged and reached in the slot where the gum ball fell down to. He pulled his hand out and grinned once he saw he got an orange gum ball. Orange seems to be his favourite colour since he had orange shoes and an orange shirt.

"Are you kidding me? You're the cutest little boy I've ever seen, if those girls don't like you then they're probably blind." I finally spoke, sort of appalled that no girl noticed Max with his adorable round, freckled covered cheeks and baby blue eyes.

He blushed and looked at Nathan for help, but Nathan was looking at me instead.

"Max!" His mother ran over, looking relieved that Max was still here, she must've had a heart attack when he wasn't in his seat.

"I said to not move, Max." She crouched down to his height and said softly.

"I know momma but I wanted gum. Look my friend gave me money to buy one!" He showed his mom the orange gum ball happily. She looked at him confusingly, not seeing any other little kids by him.

"Your friend?" She questioned.

"Yeah, his name is Nathan and that's his girlfriend." He pointed at Nathan and then at me smiling widely. She finally noticed us and seemed to have been rendered speechless.

"Sorry if he bothered you—" I cut her off in seconds.

"No, no, he didn't bother us at all." I said smiling at Max who was now all of a sudden shy and pressed up against his mothers side, shoving his face into her stomach.

"Thank you." She looked at Nathan and I gratefully and I nodded back at her. They walked off back to their table, Max waving as his mom holds his hand.

I looked back at Nathan, unable to forget a little detail. He saw me looking at him as I tried to control my outbreaking smile but failed miserably.

"What?" He said leaning back, waiting for an answer.

"So, you think I'm pretty?" I teased and he broke out into a laugh, looking out the window and I could feel the air being knocked out of me. His laugh lingered in my ears and I suddenly wished this moment would last forever as I watched him refuse to make eye contact. His cheeks were faintly pink now and he pursed his lips trying to hide his grin.

I loved but also hated how I'm feeling right now, my mind flew the endless memories and the worst one of them all played over again in my head. It's always been repeating itself in my head, reminding me that I had lost something I can never get back.

Thankfully someone came over with our milkshakes and food, setting them down in front of us. I didn't bother looking at the waiter as I was completely and utterly way too infatuated with the freshly cooked meal in front of me. The food didn't look anything like what fast food restaurants hand out, this looked like it was baked in god's kitchen.

I zoned out of my trance once I noticed that the waiter— no waitress remained in her spot and stayed at our table. I looked up and saw a girl that looked like she was in her early twenties. She had brown hair with blonde tips, tan skin, curvy body, dark brown eyes and thin, long eyebrows.

"Hey, Nathan." She flirtatiously said as she leaned on the table.

He looked at her disinterested, but nodded at her as a greeting nonetheless. I almost laughed at how uncomfortable he was getting when she started coming closer. I stared at her, waiting for her to finish her act and leave us to eat in peace. I couldn't eat knowing she was standing there, picturing Nathan naked in her bed.

I tried to stop my face from scrunching up in disgust as I looked at her, knowing she was having dirty thoughts by the way she eyed him up and down and practically melted whenever he looked at her for even a second.

Nathan must've said something to get her to leave whilst I blanked out because next thing I know she's walking off, swaying her hips of course. Was there any other way of making an exit?

A thought hit me and I can't believe I didn't think of this before.

"What's your last name?" I asked, if I'm going to sit here skipping class with a stranger, I might as well get to know him.

He sipped his milkshake and replied easily. "Reyes."

Nathan Reyes. I liked the sound of that.

"And what's your name? You didn't introduce yourself either. It's a bit weird knowing that you probably know my first name and now have my last name yet I don't have yours." Of course I had his name, Riley only said it a couple thousand times as she gushed about his looks.

"Thalia Lively." I answered, also realizing that he had no idea who I was. "Why did you want me to skip with you when you have no idea who I am?"

He shrugged. "I'm getting to know you right now." It felt like he was dodging the question, why did he want me to come? Riley said he never really socialized with anyone other than his friends.

"We have around twenty more minutes to get back to class." He looked at his watch, then pushed one chicken wrap towards me and the fries in the middle.

"Why'd you get chicken nuggets?" I asked since he wasn't going to eat them, he pushed them to the side.

"For Ethan, he'd die for chicken nuggets." I smiled at how he looked at the box huffing.

"So new girl, how do you like it here?" He took a bite out of his wrap and waited patiently.

"It's okay, I guess. The teachers suck but that's no different from anywhere else, and besides Riley and now you, I haven't talked to anyone else."

He looked at me nodding and continued eating. Very soon we were dragged into a comfortable silence as we tried to finish our food in time to get back to school. I liked how he didn't mind the silence.

We left shortly after, walking to his car.

"Riley, she's that girl that Austin hit in the head with the spoon right?" I chuckled remembering how flustered she was when that happened.

"Yeah, that's her. She's been going to your school all throughout high school and you don't know her?" I questioned as we got to his car but didn't get in yet.

The wind picked up the pace but that didn't bother either one of us, as we talked.

"I'm never really around school unless I'm in class, I don't have time to really notice anyone." He looked at me and I desperately wanted to know what his story was but I shut that idea down.

"You noticed me though." I gently shoved him and he smiled nodding.

"That wasn't on purpose, you bumped into me at the game and then again in the hall." He said with a straight face but broke out into a grin as I swatted at him.

"No, you bumped into me at the game and technically we met at lunch on my first day."

"Oh right, the girl that was all over Austin." He teased.

"What? No, I tripped and hit him accidentally. Just shut up." I looked away and his laugh hit my ears once again.

"Whatever you say." The wind blew harder and I still remained unbothered. God, did I love the feeling fall gave me, it brought memories back and I wanted nothing more than to teleport back to when I first experienced this feeling.

As we moved to get into the car, I froze as I turned around.

"Nonna?" I exclaimed.

I'm so screwed.

—————
{ 100% probably not edited }

THIS CHAPTER WAS A STRUGGLE TO WRITE, ideas just weren't coming to me so I kept blanking. I hope it's not as horrible as I assume it is. I'm sorry that not much happened but hey, Nathan and Thalia are more acquainted now.

I'm so mad this chapter doesn't seem as good as the other chapters omfg.

Hope you liked it though!

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net