chapter 6

Everyone knew Nate's family wasn't the wealthiest, and due to his interest and what I remember from that unmentionable night, I'd dared to believe he might need any help he could use. So I nodded eagerly.

"Of course. It would be like and essay of your career. I'll allow you to use it, I'll sign whatever you need. But please don't make me transcribe one of your games." I almost pleaded, thinking about Logan Dawson's usual works on the sport section.

Nate thought about it for some seconds, my fingers crossed under the table, and a wave of relief washed over me when he finally nodded. "Okay."

"Yes! You won't regret it. I would be ten thousand times better than a usual record."

I was so enthusiastic for a moment I forget I was mad at him and began writing notes on the corners of the page, organizing what will I ask. When I looked back up I was surprised to see him smiling and it took me a moment to realize it was matching mine.

I was quick in wiping it away. "Okay, so when did you first start playing?"

The sudden seriousness cut the air like painful tension, but I won't let my defenses down again. He didn't deserve my good mood, so yeah, maybe now the rude one was me. He recomposed quickly, tho, and soon enough the interview was rolling rather easily.

He answered obligingly almost everything, his dreams, aspirations, beginning... but then suddenly I asked for his parents and he shut down all at once.

"Pass."

"What?" my brows knitted together. Everyone knew his father had left them a while ago and ever since then his mother'd been with another man that the quarterback didn't like, but was it that much not to mention something so important in this? "Are you sure-"

"My family is off the board." he spat and I immediately leaned back, startled by this and sent him a wary look. His eyes widened, realizing his brusqueness and shook his head, leaning back as well, glancing around but no one seemed to have heard. "I'm sorry."

"Alright..." I glanced down at the paper, going over everything. "Then I guess we've gone through it all. I got no more questions that those. I guess I'll work on this between today and tomorrow and that'll be it."

"Tomorrow's the match against East Rober." I nodded absently, but at his pause, I glanced up at him, meeting his intense gaze instantly and feeling my stomach twitch. "You should come."

My heart hammered. "Oh, I..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know you said you didn't want to talk about the games, but it could be good if you see me play before writing."

"I've already seen you play."

Nate just shrugged. "Then what's one more time? You also could get a few pics."

I was confused. Go to his match? This was odd and I couldn't help but mistrust him. Either way, he did have a point, I could use it to write a better and more profound article amoung the interview. Mrs Glennsons's gonna be proud of me.

Hesitantly I nodded. "Alright. I guess it won't do us any damage."

He smiled at that and my chest constricted. Did he want me there? But as soon as I thought it, I detached it with an inward headshake.

You're delusional, Hails. Why would he? He'd already proved how little he care of me.

"Great," his brows lifted. "It's over then?"

"Yep." I began packing up my things, not believing I actually went through it without the massive urge to strangle him. I mean, he was infuriating, but not as much as I thought. "Nice, I guess I'll see you."

I hang my bag on my shoulder and went to exit the bar, but sighed when I realized the storm outside only had gotten worst. Just great. I halted by the doors, considering whether should I wait for it to pass or call someone.

"I'll take you home." Nate's sudden offer stunned me further than the unexpected weight of his arm on my shoulders, making me jump out of my skin.

I pulled away, taking off the still damp strands from my forehead. "Needless. If I call Taylor..."

"She surely will leave everything to come looking for you." he rolled his eyes. "But I'm already here. Do you really want to bother her?"

"And it doesn't bother you?" I asked in a low voice, struggling between self-consciousness and astonishment.

He smiled sideways and again his gaze went down below my neck. "Why would it bother me?" The green of his eyes seemed to burn and I furiously blushed again.

This close I could see where the awe came from. Under this orangish bar's light his usually dark hair look almost red and it was almost mesmerizing how every line of his face was perfectly dranw. His cheekbones, the sharp jawline, those green eyes... The only imperfection might be the slight tilt of his nose -from some old broke, I guess-, but if anything it only made him more interesting. More mundane and genuine. Such a shame.

Damn Nate.

I wrapped the jacket further around me, crossing my arms and ignoring the burning that left his gaze in his wake. My tongue was locked, but once I diverted my gaze I managed to slur out: "Don't say those things."

"Why not?"

"Because you make me feel uncomfortable. It's disgusting and I don't like those jokes."

"Who said it's a joke?" Ignoring the tickle for some sick reason his innuendo awoke in me, I fixed my eyes on the wall, away from him, so as not to see his bravado. I just wanted to go home without facing his cockiness. Was it so much to ask?

I bit my tongue and clenched my fists. First of all I had been educated to be kind, and I was sure that throwing up the lady's coffee next to us did not fall into that category.

Breath deeply. Calm down, Hailey. It's only Nate's doing what he does best: making fun of people.

"Well," I muttered "Thanks for the..." compliment? mock? "Whatever this is." I summed up. "But seriously, I'll call Taylor."

And with that I shoved my hands into the pocket of my soaked backpack to get my phone, but Nate snorted and snatched it away from my grasp. Too incredulous to get angry I still reached out; but before I could recover it or protest, he smirked and slid in in his back pocket.

Seriously?

"I can take it back" I menaced, but his grin didn't falter.

"I dare you to."

My heart squeezed. "Okay, I was bullshiting." I forced out an innocent smile, handing out one hand. "Can you give it back please?"

Nate's grin shifted to a winning one and instead of placing the phone on my outstretched palm he took it in his. My eyes widened in bewilderment as chilling sparks climbed up my arm from where our skins met. "If you want it back, get in the car." he insisted and tugged me towards the door. "Run or get drenched. Your choice."

I casted one last quick look at Justin's table. Our eyes met but he quickly turned away from me and smiled adorably at his girlfriend. My insides plummeted, but Nate didn't give more time to concentrate on that shattering feeling in my chest when the next second he pulled us out and the rain poured over our heads.

I tripped over my feet as I tried to match his run. We slipped a few times and almost eat the floor a couple more.

I was laughing by the time we reached Letty. Don't ask me why, it was just... the situation was so unreal and abstract I couldn't but laughed, worst when we entered it and took in both our appearance. We look awful.

I couldn't control it, no matter how bad I wanted to stop it. The fact that his contagious chuckles were filling the place as well didn't exactly help.

"W-we... we look like tramps or something." I stuttered between breaths, willing myself to stop laughing for once. It wasn't right for me after everything. As I remembered, the humor was evaporated from my system, drop by drop. "My phone." he handed it over and once recovered I glared at him. "This is kidnapping."

Sensing my growing seriousness Nate, huffed, regaining his breath as well before turning the key making the engine roared under us as Letty came alive. "Why do you keep doing that?"

My eyes narrowed. What was he talking about? "Doing what?"

"This." he gave a swift side glance full of... disappointment? rage? "It's like you're forcing yourself to stay mad at me. I've apologized, can you just get over it? We both did things we-"

"We both?" my blood boiled. How dare he?! I never did anything! I let out a humorless laugh now. "That's why I can't get over. You... what you..." I couldn't even finish the sentence.

As that night came back to me, the feeling overwhelmed everything and I had to blink to prevent the sudden wetness in my eyes. I abruptly adverted my gaze out the window.

This is ridiculous.

"Hailey, I'm..."

"I don't wanna heard it." I hated how my voice broke in the end as my throat closed.

12

For the rest of the route no one said anything, and not even the radio was able to cut through this thick tension. I could sense he wanted to say something, but I was still looking out the window. The moment my family's farm appeared after we left the borders of the hometown I almost sighed in relief.

It was an eighteenth century farm my family owned for generations, and even though no one used it as one, we still called it farm. I'd always found it excessive, but right now its sight was like a blessing.

Letty stopped in front of the wooden porch and from the lack of lights on the windows I could tell no one was home yet. Great. I hated the huge place only for me.

As soon as the truck stop I unbuckled my belt, eager to get out the suffocating little space with Nate, but his voice stopped me: "Hailey."

I turned to face him and saw him debating with himself, he opened his mouth but then closed it again. Was he going to apologize for good? "What?"

His hand flew to scratch the back of his neck and he gave me an apologetic grin. "That's my jacket."

It felt as if someone had poured a buckled of freezing water over my head, and with that the anger ignited in my veins stronger than before.

Mortified and fuming with rage I lowered my gaze from his to realize he was right, I was still wearing his huge cloth. Suddenly it felt as if it stung against my skin and I almost ripped it out. "There." And opened my door hearing his voice behind me.

"See you in the match?"

I slammed the door shut, rain engulfing me completely and once again drenching me in a matter of seconds, but this time I was too enraged to feel the cold of it. I stomped towards the farm and only when I was inside I heard the roar of the engine grumbling again. Did he wait for me to get inside? As if I care!

The bubble in my chest only grew and I shook my head, grunting and going upstairs straight to the shower. I was so done with him and his egocentricity!