Chapter Three

NATASHA'S POV

I ignored Piper and Bart’s teasing looks as I pulled Peter to my room with me.

I let them know their lunch was in the kitchen. I noted they got back before mom today.

She must have some emergency in school again. Hopefully, it wasn't something serious like the last time.

Before Patty's death, she had been so absent minded a lot of times, and she seemed like something was bothering her.

She came home late and left even earlier the next day. At first, I thought she was sick or something.

Later, we found out it was a student at school…her best student, but apparently he was being abused at home by his step mom, not just physically…yep, sexually too.

It was so messy and Mom had been so worried, that's why she had looked so worried and out of touch with things.

It was sweet that she was that concerned about her students and I was relieved it wasn't something like her health.

The boy was fine now and was living with a good family and being taken care of.

“Your siblings are way too funny. They asked if we were dating.” Peter said chuckling as he took a seat on my bed.

I splashed the juice in my mouth out and started to cough. I had been lost in thoughts and his words caught me off guard.

God, I was going to strangle those two. They almost killed me. I glared at Peter.

And how could he just blurt that out!

“Hey, I'm sorry. Did I say something that has shocked you?” He asked, his tone teasing.

I frowned as I opened a drawer and took out wipes and wiped the floor where I had splashed juice.

I cleaned my mouth and threw the dirty wipes in the trash can.

“Why would you say something like that? You and my siblings are such clowns.” I murmured.

I took a bite of my sandwiches and avoided looking at him. I was nervous about being alone with him after our near kiss.

I was still wondering why he would kiss me. Me! Did he think I was someone else for a moment?

There was no way he liked me right? Or maybe it was a bet or something?

Steal the fat ugly girl's first kiss? I shook my head as I took another sip of my drink.

Peter wasn't like that. He was a nice person. Hasn't he proven so with everything he's done for me, how nice he's been and always sticking up for me?

He stalked closer to me, his eyes twinkling with bridling mischief.

“Why do you look so shaken up, Nat? Is something bothering you? What your siblings said or something else…”

He was definitely referring to earlier, in the kitchen. Thankfully, I wasn't about to take a sip.

I took a long sip then, trying to stop my thumping heart and hoping the juice would help steady my breathing somehow.

“Don't be silly, Pete. Why would you even date me? It's never going to happen. We live in different worlds and physically…we don't match.”

I got all that out in one breath and took another hurried, prolonged sip of my juice and bit off a huge chunk of my sandwich.

Damn, I just had to be too much of a blabbermouth, didn't I? What was he going to say now?

Would he laugh and ask where the hell I ever got the thought, how he had never dreamed of dating me?

Or worse…that he…

I heard him sigh and I peered up at him. He was mock glaring at me.

He hooked his finger and urged me to come closer.

I slid closer to him and he flicked my nose. My hand flew to my nose and I glared at him.

“Ouch.” I gasped in pain, as I rubbed my nose.

“What did you do that for?” I asked.

“What did I tell you about looking down on yourself you crybaby?” He asked, his voice hard.

I swallowed and grinned sheepishly.

“How? I don't see it, I was just…” I stopped talking when I saw the look he was giving me.

“Any guy would be lucky to date you, Nat. Trust me. I'm sure a lot of guys want to, but most of them might not have the courage to walk up to you or to be seen near you.” He said softly.

I scoffed before I could help myself.

“That's bullshit.” I snorted.

He laughed and nodded his head.

“Yeah? I think so too. It's a good thing I'm not like them.” He said.

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help the smile tugging at the corner of my lips and I emptied my glass.

“Yeah, you're not. You're an arrogant, pompous prick instead. Like that's better.” I teased.

He smirked.

“Please, I prefer the term confident. People who lack confidence see people like me as proud. But I'm just fucking confident in myself, sweetie.”

Unable to help myself, I started to cachinnate, he didn't say anything particularly funny, but I guess it was the look on his face.

And he was right anyway. He was confident in himself. How couldn't he? He looked like a fucking Greek god.

Someone who looked like me couldn't be confident.

He grinned and cocked his head to the side.

“You should always be this happy, melon.” He said softly.

I blushed and looked away from him, I raised my hand to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and he stopped me.

I looked up at him in surprise, my lips parting softly in surprise and also realizing I was still close to him.

I hadn't moved back after he asked me to come closer to him.

I started to move back but he halted my retreat with his hand around my waist, and pulled me even closer.

“What…what are you doing Peter?” I stuttered uselessly.

He smiled, God…this close, the smile hit me like a goddamn truck, his smile was doing things to me.

Unholy things…

He reached out with his other hand and touched my cheek, lightly, more like a feather like touch.

“Why are you running from me, melon? I don't bite…or maybe you feel it too.” He whispered, his eyes flitting down to my lips for a few seconds and back up again.

I laughed awkwardly and tried to look at everywhere else but him.

“I have no idea what you're talking about…”

I trailed off as he grabbed my chin and turned my face back to his.

I lost the ability to breathe at that moment.

“Oh, I think you do.” He murmured, and his head dipped.

Just when I thought his lips were finally going to touch mine, the sound of a ringing phone shattered the silence.

I pulled away first, startled and dazed.

It took Peter telling me for me to realize it was my phone ringing.

I blinked severally as I reached for my phone, and moved further away from Peter.

He gave me an amused look but I ignored him.

I was ashamed to say I was disappointed when I saw it was Layla calling me.