I just need help with this, or just read its ok i dont mind, comment or not.
“How could you do this to me?” Nadia asked her boyfriend Jason outside his house.
“It’s not my fault the condom broke.” He answered without any emotion in his dark brown eyes; his eyes used to sparkle when he looked at her, now they were just so lifeless orbs.
“You’re leaving me now?!” She asked incredulously.
“I’m not ready to be a father.” He shrugged walking away from her.
Nadia woke from her dream muttering heated words as she wiped her stray tears away. She had the same dream, memory rather, ever so often. She took it as a sign to never fall in love because guys will always screw you over in the end.
She grudgingly got out of bed and got around for her classes. She attended the University of Massachusetts to study Criminology and Psychology. Her first class she absolutely hated; it was Shakespearian the study of love. She didn’t understand why it was required to take the class for psychology but she dealt with it. Plus there was a guy who always decided to debate with her over everything! She sighed as she sat next to Minerva.
“You know if you brighten up a little this class wouldn’t be so bad.” Minerva, her best friend laughed. She was studying to be an obstetrician but a minor in Psychology.
“Why? This whole class is based on the one thing I can’t stand.” Nadia sighed again.
“Oh come on, I know why you don’t like it, but it can’t be that bad.” She smiled.
“Alright class today I want to discuss basically what this class is about. What is love?” Professor Tilson asked.
“Give me a break?!” Nadia mumbled while Minerva laughed.
“Anyone care to enlighten us?” He asked as a young man a few rows away from Nadia and Minerva raised his hand.
“Alright, Mr. Shola go ahead.”
“Um love is unexplainable. It comes in many ways and can happen to anyone at anytime. It’s the most wonderful and fears emotion there is.” He explained as all the girls sighed including Minerva. The girls all adored him, all except Nadia.
“Are you kidding me? Love is nothing like that. If love’s so wonderful why does it end, Mr. Shola?” Nadia smirked.
“It doesn’t just end, it’s always there people just don’t see it.”
“Looks like we have a debate going on.” Tilson smiled intrigued by his two top students. That’s right; Nadia was acing her love class.
“Love’s also explainable; it’s just an emotion that plays on certain feelings. It’s not always there either, if it was no one would be alone or getting hurt by their lover.”
“There’s more to love than just man to woman; there’s mother to child or father to child. It’s called unconditional love. Also I believe there is someone for everyone.”
“Someone for everyone, huh? There may be someone for everyone, but you may never find that someone, so in the end you’re left alone because you followed your faith in love. Is that how it works?” Nadia countered.
“Could be, I don’t know it can’t be explained.” Matt shrugged.
“Why believe in it then?”
“Why believe in God?”
“People have faith.”
“It’s the same thing.” Throughout the debate peoples’ heads would move back and forth between them. Their debate went on for the whole class and no one grew tied of hearing them. Mr. Tilson was so interested that he forgot the time.
“Alright class, that’s all for today. See you all tomorrow.” He said as everyone got up and left.
“See you later Nadia, call me tonight, okay?” Minerva said as she walked away to her other classes.
“See ya.” Nadia smiled.
“Nadia.” Matt called as he walked up to her.
“Go away, lover boy.” She smirked and kept walking.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“What?” She stopped and turned around to look up into the deepest blue eyes she’s ever seen. He was actually quite attractive, dark brown hair, tan, nice build, and tall. Get a hold of yourself! She screamed at herself.
“What’s up with you and that class?”
“Nothing, I just don’t like the idea of love.” She shrugged.
“Why’s that?”
“Why do you care?” She asked cocking an eyebrow.
“I just want to know why someone like you wouldn’t like it.”
“Someone like me?”
“You look like the romantic type.”
“Yeah well I’m not, so leave me alone.” She said walking away.
“Well what happened?” He asked catching up to her.
“What?” She asked stopping again.
“There’s no way you could have just started hating love?
“What’s up with you and love?”
“I’m a hopeless romantic I guess.” He smiled. Damn, killer smile, she thought. Focus! She yelled at herself.
“Hopeless is right. I’m not telling you about my story. So you might as well forget it. I don’t even know you.”
“You could get to know me.”
“No! I don’t want to know you.”
“Why not?
“Because I just don’t.” She said walking away back to her dorm.
The next day after Shakespearian class Minerva left Nadia to go to her other classes while Nadia walked back to her dorm.
“Nadia.” Matt called; she cringed and turned around.
“Matt.” She mocked.
“What are you doing right now?”
“Nothing, why?
“Would you like to come to breakfast with me?”
“Nope.”
“Come on, please?” He asked.
“No.”
“Pleassssse.” He pleaded with a slight whine.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to.” She shrugged.
“It’s just breakfast, please, it’ll be my treat.” He said flashing a dazzling smile. I’m not falling for that smile, she smirked to herself.
“Um…no.”
“I promise I won’t talk about anything that has to deal with love.” Hmmm…she thought.
“Alright.” She sighed as he broke into another smile, his blue yes dancing with joy.
“Thank you.” He smiled.
“Whatever.” She sighed as they walked to a diner across the street from the school. They sat across from each other in a small booth to make it easier to talk.
“So what year are you?” He asked.
“Second, you?”
“Third, how are you already taking your major classes?”
“I took college courses in high school.” She sighed.
“That’s cool, where are you from?”
“Connecticut, you?”
“New York.”
“My Dad was a senator in New York once; we used to live in Buffalo.”
“That’s cool; I’m from the Binghamton area.”
“I’ve been there.”
“Do you ever smile?” He asked.
“Um, I smile; I’m just not in the mood.” She shrugged.
“Fair enough, I guess.”
“What are you doing for Christmas?”
“Going to stay with friends of my mother.”
“That’s cool.”
“What are you doing?”
“Getting yelled at.” She sighed as he laughed.
“By who?”
“My mother and Grand mother.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t have a boyfriend or a fiancé.” She said rolling her eyes.
“Oh I see, my Grandma gives me the speech about how she’d like some grand children during her lifetime.” He laughed.
“Yeah it sucks, huh?” She smirked.
“Yep, so what do you have next?”
“Toxicology.”
“Oh really me too, I thought I saw you in there.” He smiled.
“Yeah, that’s cool.”
“It’s killing me that you don’t smile.” He said frustrated.
“Sorry, I don’t feel the need to right now.” She shrugged.
“You’re tough.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought I’d be able to figure you out.”
“Oh…so I get it. You take me out to breakfast to try and psycho-analyze me?” She asked feeling her anger and disappointment build up. She actually didn’t mind talking to him that much.
“No, that’s not it. I like talking to you. I didn’t mean for it to sound like that.” He explained, like she’d believe that.
“Yeah, okay.” She sighed getting up and leaving. He couldn’t believe she left him sitting there like that. She was a piece of work, he thought.
The next few days Nadia avoided Matt while she prepared to leave for her home in Connecticut.
“What happened to lover boy, Matt?” Minerva asked as she watched her pack.
“Um, he just wanted to figure me out, he’s a jerk.” She shrugged.
“Um, dear, I’m pretty sure he just wanted to get to know you.” She laughed.
“No, it wasn’t like that. It just seemed like he was trying to psycho-analyze me and that’s it.”
“When are you going to trust guys?” She asked.
“It’s going to take time.”
The next day Nadia left for home only to be greeted by her mother, grandma and six cousins. She sighed and greeted them all with warm hellos. She also made it around to see her aunts and uncles around the house. She went up to her room and unpacked her clothes and got ready for dinner. As she was leaving her room she mindlessly bumped into someone and nearly fell.
“Sorry.” She mumbled.
“Well, isn’t this a coincidence.” A young man laughed as Nadia’s head shot up in shock.
“Matt?! What are you doing here?” She asked
“This is where my mom said we were staying.” He smiled finding it amusing that she was so distraught that he was staying.
“Well fine then have a nice stay.” She said walking away determined not to have a conversation with him.
“Well thank you for being so kind as to show me the dining room, lovely Nadia.” He smirked out loud to himself.
“She’s just like that. She has horrible mood swings.” A young woman around Nadia’s age smiled walking up to him. She was a little taller than Nadia and had short dark brow hair with green eyes, unlike Nadia, this woman had fair skin instead of the chocolate complexion that Nadia had.
“Um, hello.” He smiled.
“I’m Clara, by the way. I’m guessing you’re Matt?” She smiled holding out her hand.
“Yeah that would be me.” He smiled shaking her hand.
“Well, I can show you down to dinner if you want.”
“Oh yeah, sure, thanks.” He smiled following her downstairs. He thought she was pretty okay; he found out she was a year older than Nadia and that she was Nadia’s cousin. When they got to the dinner table Nadia was already seated and mindlessly playing with her silverware. Matt just smiled watching her.
“Yeah, Nadia’s the anti-social if you hadn’t noticed. She’s just strange.” Clara told him.
“Nah, she’s not strange, just a lot on her mind.” He said in Nadia’s behalf.
“Yeah…well I’ll introduce you to our other cousins.” She smiled pulling him over to a group of girls talking and laughing.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Aunt Nala’s friend’s son, Matt.” Clara smiled introduced, all the girls smiled sweetly at him.
“I’m Halena.”
“Relina.”
“Raquel.”
“Marsela.”
“And I’m Anita.”
“It’s nice to meet all of you.” He smiled wondering how they all differed in ethnicities. He thought it was interesting. After the introductions they all sat down at the table. Matt purposely sat next to Nadia, which was on the other side of Clara.
“Hi.” He whispered.
“Hello.” She half smiled.
“What’s wrong?” He asked thinking that her usual pessimistic mood dropped slightly.
“What isn’t wrong?” She smirked.
Throughout dinner Nadia didn’t really say anything she just kept to herself while her mother talked her ear off. Matt figured she wasn’t even listening to her. Clara and the other girls kept him talking so he really didn’t get a chance to talk to Nadia.
“So when are you going to settle?” Nadia’s grandmother, Nalene, asked as Nadia looked up at her.
“Most likely never, you know that Grammie.” Nadia smiled.
“I know dear, but I want to see you happy someday.”
“I am happy.” She forced a smile.
“No you’re not, you were happy when Jason was around. You’re not happy like that anymore.” Her grandma said shaking her head. Nadia’s mother looked at Nadia who was gripping her glass like there was no tomorrow. Matt caught her tensed hand out of the corner of his eye and wondered why this Jason kid had such an affect on her.
“Mom, why don’t we drop that subject for now?” Nala, Nadia’s mother, smiled, Matt made a mental note to ask the cousins about it later. Nadia’s smile dimmed thanks to her mother.
“May I please be excused?” Nadia asked.
“Sure go ahead.” Nala smiled as Nadia got up and walked out.
“Oh I got her upset didn’t I?” Nalene asked.
“No, she’s fine.” Nala smiled.
“See what I mean about her being anti-social?” Clara told Matt.
“I think she likes the attention of everyone worrying about her.” Anita smirked.
“I don’t think Nadia honestly cares about attention.” Matt said defending Nadia again.
“Well whatever, she definitely has something seriously wrong with her.” Marsela said.
“Who’s this Jason guy her grandma was talking about?”
“Oh, well that was her old boyfriend like one or two years ago. They dated for like a year and they had sex one time and I guess the condom broke. She took a test and it said she was pregnant but she got checked out anyway and the doctor said she wasn’t.” Clara explained.
“Yeah but she told Jason she was pregnant before she went to the doctor and he broke up with her because he said it wasn’t his fault the condom broke.” Relina added. Matt finally understood where some of Nadia’s anger against love and guys came from. She didn’t trust them and honestly he couldn’t blame her. That was horrible what her ex did to her.
Nadia was in her room lying on her bed trying to fall asleep and forget about what her Grandma said. She knew she hadn’t been that happy since Jason broke up with her a long time ago. She was trying to act happier but she’d just become so pessimistic that she didn’t know how to change. The happy holidays weren’t helping any either. She just wanted to disappear; she really wished Matt wasn’t around either. She felt so uncomfortable around him; her heart would flutter all the time and she just couldn’t concentrate. Nadia finally fell asleep a few hours later.
The next morning Nadia got up and went down to the indoor pool to swim a few laps. After swimming for a while she got out and went into the sauna. She thought she was alone in the pool area but her cousins came down for a swim and locked her in the sauna.
“Come on you guys!” Nadia yelled trying to open the door.
“Nadia did you forget about our yearly prank?” Clara laughed.
“No, but don’t you think we’re a little old for this?” She asked.
“Nope.” Anita laughed as they all left her.
“Shit!” She yelled sitting on a bench. She figured no one would come and get her so she turned the sauna down so she wouldn’t burn up or something.
She sat in the sauna for about a half an hour before she spotted Matt swimming in the pool. She quickly got up and ran to the door and started banging on it. She’s never been this happy to see him before. Matt hurried out of the pool and to the sauna to open it for her.
“How the hell did you get locked in there?” He laughed.
“My cousins locked me in there.” She told him.
“Why’d they do that?”
“I’m the youngest out of all of them so they think it’s funny to prank me all the time.” She shrugged.
“Oh I get it. Well you could’ve died in there!”
“No I couldn’t, she laughed, just a little dehydrated.” She smiled; he wished she smiled a lot more than she did. She was gorgeous when she smiled.
“Are you okay? How long were you in there?”
“I’m fine; I was only in there for a half an hour.”
“What?! Nadia you’re dehydrated you need water!” He said alarmed taking her hand and dragging her to the kitchen.
“I’m fine! And how do you know you’re way around?” She asked.
“Clara showed me around.”
“Oh…Clara.” She said, he noticed a little something in her voice when she said it.
“You don’t like her do you?” He asked as they walked into the kitchen,
“She’s my cousin, of course I like her.” She smirked.
“Why don’t you like her?” He asked as she grabbed a bottle of water and a bowl of grapes and went back out to the dining room; Matt followed her and sat next to her.
“Because, she and all of my other cousins hate me” She shrugged.
“They don’t hate you; they said they think you’re strange and anti-social.” He told her.
“Oh that’s what they told you?
“Yeah, are they lying?”
“You believe whatever you like.” She smiled.
“I’d like to believe the truth.”
“The truth is they hate me.”
“But why?” He asked.
“I don’t know.” She sighed.
“They said you like attention and that’s why you act the way you do, but I said I didn’t think it was true and that you probably have a lot on your mind.” She looked up at him with surprise written all over it.
“You stuck up for me?”
“Yeah, you act like it’s strange to do that.” He laughed. Jason never stuck up for her, she thought.
“Um, well I don’t like attention, that’s why I left dinner, and why I try to do things alone. I just don’t like it.” She explained to him.
“That makes sense.” He nodded popping a grape into his mouth. They sat in silence for a while eating grapes not really knowing what to say.
“Are you enjoying your stay?” She asked.
“Yeah, but I haven’t seen my mom since dinner last night.” He laughed.
“She’s probably with my mom.”
“That’s true. Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“What happened with Jason?” He asked noticing how tense she became.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Your cousins were talking about it last night.”
“And they told you everything right?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry but you know not all-
“Don’t start please.”
“It happened two years ago. You don’t have to condemn the whole male race for what one guy did.”
“Yes I do. I don’t have to trust any of them.”
“But we’re not all bad.”
“Stop trying to counsel me, I don’t need it.”
“I’m not trying to counsel you. I’m just trying to help.” He said touching her hand she quickly yanked it away.
“I don’t need your help! So stop trying to help me!” She said getting up and hurrying away.
“Good job, Matt.” He sighed. He decided to leave that subject alone until she wanted to tell him. So he’d just try to be her friend judging by how she didn’t mind talking to him before he said anything about Jason.
While Nadia was walking up to her room her cousins passed her in the hall.
“Hey, how’d you get out?” Clara asked.
“Matt helped me.”
“What’d he help you for?” Anita asked rudely.
“Oh I don’t know, Maybe he should’ve left me in there to dehydrate. I couldn’t tell you really.” She said sarcastically.
“Knowing you, you probably made it a big deal that you were stuck in there.” Halena said rolling her eyes. Where do they get this stuff from? Nadia thought.
“Um, yep that’s what I did.”
“Well just so you know; Matt is mine.” Clara said pushing pass her.
“Yes Queen Sheba.” Nadia mumbled walking back to her room.
Matt was still sitting in the dining room eating grapes when Clara and the other girls came and sat down next to him.
“Hello.” He said.
“Hey.” Clara smiled.
“What are you girls up to?” He asked.
“Nothing.” Marsela smiled.
“Why’d you guys lock Nadia in the sauna?” He asked.
“Friendly prank is all. We do it every year.” Halena smiled.
“Yeah but she could’ve been hurt.”
“She’s alright now though.” Clara smiled. Matt was slowly starting to dislike them.
“Sure whatever.” He said taking a drink of water.
Nadia was looking out her bedroom window and spotted Matt and Clara walking around heading towards one of the walking trails. She felt a tinge of jealousy wash over her and she didn’t like it. She didn’t want to like him! She wasn’t supposed to! She saw Clara turn around smile and wave at her and then grab Matt’s arm. He turned around to see who Clara was looking at and spotted Nadia. He smiled waving to her while taking his arm away from Clara. Nadia laughed and waved back. Matt thought that was a good sign.
“You think they’ll get together?” Carol, Matt’s mother, asked Nala.
“I think he’ll end up growing on Nadia. I see the way she looked at him. She’s just afraid of trusting guys.” Nala explained as they watched Matt wave to Nadia.
“Well I can understand from what she’s been through. It’d be wonderful if they got together.”
“I know.” Nala smiled.
The next morning Nadia woke up to a loud knock on her door. She grudgingly got up and moseyed to the door.
“Good morning!” Matt smiled as she cocked an eyebrow up at him.
“Go away.” She said closing her door.
“I’ll walk down to breakfast with you.” Clara smiled.
“Actually, Nadia was going to walk down with me. She’s just changing.” He smiled.
“Oh okay.” She smiled and continued to walk downstairs.
“Nadia open the door.” He said knocking again.
“No.” She mumbled as all of her cousins came by.
“Nadia please!” He said as she sighed and walked back to her door and opened it.
“Come in, damn!” She grumbled going back to bed. He closed the door quickly before her cousins wanted to talk.
“Thank you.” He sighed,
“Whatever.” She mumbled pulling the covers over her head.
“Um, aren’t you going to breakfast?” He asked.
“No.”
“Why not?” He asked sitting on her bed and pulling the covers back from her head.
“Because…I’m just not.”
“That’s not a good reason.” He laughed as she turned over to face him and sighed,
“Yes it is. I’m not leaving my room all day.”
“Why? What’s the matter with you?” He asked started to get concerned.
“It’s my birthday,” She mumbled.
“What was that?
“It’s my birthday!” She sighed.
“Nadia?!” He yelled.
“What?”
“It’s your birthday? Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked.
“Because, I don’t like people knowing and if I go downstairs everyone will want to sing happy birthday to me and I don’t want them to. And my mother will invite the whole entire state of Connecticut over here tonight. It was cool when I was younger but I don’t want to share it with the whole world, I just want a small party or no party at all.” She sighed. Matt had an idea that he hoped she’d go for.
“Well…would you like to get out of here then?” He asked as she cocked an eyebrow up at him.
“What do you mean? There’s no getting out of here we’re stuck here all Christmas. We’re in prison.” She told him as he laughed.
“That’s what you think; I’m here on vacation so I’ll leave whenever I feel like it. So you’re going to get up and put some clothes on so that we can leave.” He smiled getting off her bed and pulling her out.
“You were being serious?” She asked.
“Of course I was being serious. Get ready!” He told her pushing her towards her closet while he went outside of her room so she could change. She thought it was odd he actually wanted to take her out and not stay with Clara or something all day. Honestly she was glad he was taking her she really appreciated it. She smiled as she finished putting on her clothes and went in the bathroom to do her hair. She didn’t know why she was so excited about going out with him, she didn’t need to be and she didn’t want to be happy about it. She was going crazy, she thought, as she walked out of her room into the hall.
“You ready?” He asked as she nodded.
“How can we get out of here without everyone seeing us?” He asked.
“We can go this way.” She said walking the opposite way of the stairs to the other end of the hall where there was another set of stairs. The stairs lead to a door that was close to the front entrance but almost looked under ground. There were stairs leading up to the front lawn for people to take.
“That was pretty cool.” He said as they walked to his sleek black car.
“Nice car.”
“Thanks.” He smiled as they got in.
“So, what are we doing?” She asked as he started the car and drove off.
“I don’t really know.” He laughed as he drove into a small coffee shop. They walked inside, Nadia grabbed them a table while Matt ordered. He came back with two cups of coffee. Nadia almost started drooling, she loved coffee.
“Oh…I can’t drink this.” She sighed.
“Why not?” He laughed.
“You don’t want me to drink coffee.”
“Are you allergic to it?”
“No, I love coffee it’s just that you don’t want me on a caffeine high.”
“Oh just drink it.” He laughed.
“Okay but I warned you.” She shrugged and started drinking. They sat in silence for a while until Nadia began to talk.
“So, you’re always talking about me, when’s your birthday?” She asked.
“March seventh.”
“Oh that’s cool, so how old will you be turning?”
“Twenty one.” He smiled.
“Oh! You can buy beer!” She smiled.
“Yeah.” He smiled.
“We should throw you a big party, and you can buy all the beer, but we’ll pay you back of course. And you can take your twenty-one shots of whatever. Oh ya know what I’ll take them with you. I’m a light drinker though so I don’t really think I’ll make it to twenty-one. Are you a big drinker?” She asked, Matt’s jaw almost dropped she was talking so much.
“I don’t drink that much.” He laughed.
“Oh…well that’s okay we can both not make it to twenty-one together.” She smiled as he laughed.
“If you say so.”
“This coffee is good. Am I talking too much because I told you that you didn’t want me on a caffeine high?”
“At least you’re talking, and actually smiling!” He laughed.
“Oh, yeah. Sometimes I just don’t feel the need to talk or smile. What’s the point sometimes? Why do I have to act happy just so people won’t worry about me?” She asked.
“You don’t have to. You don’t have to isolate yourself either.”
“It’s easier that way, no one has to see my bad attitude and no one has to worry.” She smiled.
“Or, you could get over whatever’s bothering you.” He suggested.
“That would take time and tons of convincing.” She sighed.
“Can I help convince you?”
“Nope.” She said shaking her head.
“Why not?”
“I don’t want you to.”
“That’s fair.” He sighed.
“You want to get going? You know there’s a winter fair going on we should go.” She smiled changing the subject.
“Sure.” He smiled as they got up and walked back out to his car.
They ended up spending the whole day at the fair. Riding the wacky carnie rides and playing games. They competed with each other on the free throw and Nadia ended up winning. Matt won a big tiger for her. She was really enjoying herself for the first time in a long time. Matt was glad she actually agreed to spending the day with him, he was also having a great time. Towards the end of the day Matt and Nadia walked around the park one more time eating cotton candy.
“I’m sorry.” Nadia said out of the blue.
“For what?” He laughed.
“For being so mean to you the other day. I didn’t mean to get so angry with you.” She apologized.
“It’s okay, I understand. It was my fault for trying to press the issue.”
“Jason meant everything to me at the time. I thought I loved him and I thought we’d be together forever. When I told him I was pregnant and he walked away from me I thought my life was going to end. I didn’t know what to do. Even after the doctor told me I wasn’t pregnant I was still heart broken over Jason. I didn’t want to go back and tell him I wasn’t pregnant anymore so he’d take me back. I think I just ended up dwelling on it and I haven’t been able to trust guys after that. I know it’s wrong not to trust any of them, but it’s hard to let myself trust. I want to so bad sometimes, but I just can’t.” She explained to him finally. He was just about shocked that she opened up to him.
“I totally understand where you’re coming from, but I think if you just start small and work your way up into trusting guys you’ll be okay. I mean you just did it.” He smiled as she looked up at him.
“That’s because I think you’re my friend.” She smiled.
“Oh, I’m your friend now, huh?” He asked cocking an eyebrow. He couldn’t believe this, she wanted him as friend.
“Yeah, if you don’t mind? Any one that can take me being horrible to them and still defends me is any friend of mine.” She smiled.
“Well thank you, Nadia.” He smiled. They walked around the fair a little more before walking back to his car and going back home. Nadia really had a great time with him surprisingly, she also surprised herself by opening up to him but she felt he needed to know and she was being really mean to him and she felt he needed to understand more. He enjoyed taking her out, and was really beginning to like her; which he knew was a huge “no, no”. He couldn’t help it though, and when she opened up to him and told him how she felt and everything he started to like her even more.
They walked through the front doors instead of the side doors this time where Nadia’s mother and Matt’s mother were sitting there waiting for them.
“Where have you two been?!” Nala yelled standing up, Carol following.
“We were worried sick about you two!” Carol yelled.
“I took her out for her birthday because she didn’t want to be here.” Matt explained.
“We were just at the fair. I really didn’t want to be here and we didn’t think it would be a problem, since I live here and we wouldn’t get lost.” Nadia told them.
“You have a point, young lady.” An older man of African heritage smiled walking into the front foyer.
“Daddy!!” Nadia smiled running and jumping into his arms.
“How are you?” He laughed.
“I’m good! When did you get here?” She smiled.
“This morning, I came home for your birthday.” He smiled.
“Oh, I’m sorry I wasn’t here.” She apologized.
“That’s okay, I forgive you. So I see you’ve been with Matt all day. Is he your new boyfriend?” He asked as Nadia and Matt both blushed.
“Um, no.” Nadia laughed.
“Oh, well that’s okay. It’s nice to meet you Matt; you’re mother talks a lot about you.”
“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Coleman.” He smiled.
“Call me Alex.”
“Well you know it’s really late. I think I’m going to head to bed.” Nadia said walking towards the stairs.
“Yeah, I think I’ll go too.” Matt said following Nadia.
Over the next few weeks Nadia was getting used to trusting Matt little by little. She was starting to come to terms with the fact that she actually might like him and that she liked him being around her. Clara and her cousins were having a fit about it; mostly Clara was raising holy hell about it.
“She’s probably forcing him to hang out with her anyway.” Marsela told Clara.
“Yeah, he probably feels bad for her.” Anita assured her.
“You know what you guys are right.” Clara smiled as they walked into the living room where Matt and Nadia were watching a movie.
“Can we join you two?” Clara smiled as they looked up at her.
“Sure.” Matt said as Clara sat next to him purposely because Nadia was on the other side of him. Of course her cousins found other seats around the room.
“Oh Bed of Roses this is such a cute movie.” Clara smiled getting comfortable next to Matt. Nadia just rolled her eyes and continued watching the movie. During the movie the guy was proposing to his girlfriend and she was shocked but told him she couldn’t marry him. Nadia was trying so hard not to cry at this part, because she knew exactly how the woman felt. Matt put his arm around Nadia and leaned over to whisper in her ear.
“Kinda reminds me of someone I know.” He whispered and wiped a tear that escaped her eyes. She sighed and leaned into his arms while he rubbed his hand up and down her arm. Clara was about ready to deck her. It felt so nice to be in his arms, Nadia thought. Matt wished so much that they could be more than friends, but he knew that she was only acting this way towards him because she had a certain sense of trust in him. As the movie played on Nadia heard the doorbell ring, she checked her watch and jumped up and ran to the door. Matt was so confused, while everyone else in the room rolled their eyes.
“Christiana!” Nadia screamed happily.
“Who’s that?” Matt asked.
“Another cousin and her husband.” Relina sighed as Matt got up and walked to the door to find Nadia talking to a woman her height with long brown hair and hazel green eyes with a slightly lighter skin tone than Nadia’s. Standing next to her was a young man his height with light brown hair and deep green eyes.
“Who’s this guy?” Christiana asked as Nadia turned around to see who she was talking about.
“This is Matt, he’s my friend. Matt this is Christiana and her husband Marc.” Nadia introduced.
“Nice to meet you.” He smiled.
“Nice to meet you too.” They smiled shaking his hand.
“It’s nice to finally see another guy around here for once.” Marc laughed.
“Yeah I know what you mean.” Matt laughed with him as all the other cousins came out into the foyer.
“Hello…Christiana.” Clara smiled sickening sweet.
“Hey hoe.” She smiled sarcastically as Clara gave her the death glare.
“Bitch…” Clara mumbled walking away with everyone else.
“I love you, Christiana.” Nadia smiled.
Nadia and Christiana went into Christiana’s room to catch up while Matt and Marc got to know each other. Nadia explained to Christiana about Matt and how she could trust him and she felt perfectly fine with it. Christiana told Nadia about her marriage with Marc for the past year. They decided on double “dating” the following night so they could all get out of the house.
After the double dating the foursome was inseparable; they hung out with each other all the time. Christiana kept trying to tell Nadia that she thought Matt liked her more than a friend, but Nadia shrugged it off as her cousin trying to hook her up. She knew Matt didn’t like her that way and he was just being a good friend. She wouldn’t mind if he liked her more but she didn’t know if she was ready for anything like that anyway.
On Christmas day Nadia woke up feeling overjoyed for Christmas; a feeling she hadn’t had in a very long time. She walked out of her room and went downstairs where she knew everyone would be sitting at the table, she was right. Everyone was sitting at the table; she was the last one to make it down.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” She whispered smacking Matt playfully on the leg.
“I tried to, I knocked three times and you locked your door, so I just left.” He laughed.
“Oh.” She blushed.
“Nadia.” Nalene, her grandmother called to her.
“Yeah?”
“The present I got for you is waiting at the door, would you go get it?” She asked.
“Can’t I eat first and then go get it?” She asked.
“No! You have to get it now!” She told her.
“Alright, alright.” She laughed getting up and walking to the door. She sighed as she opened the door to come face to face with the one and only…Jason Nix, her ex-boyfriend.
“Hello, Nadia.” He smiled. She wanted to cry, this just ruined her Christmas.
“J…Jason?” She stammered and just stared at him.
“Hey Matt, why don’t you go check on her, see if the gift’s not too heavy.” Alex told him.
“Sure.” He smiled.
“NO!” Nalene yelled.
“Why not?” Nala asked.
“Because it will ruin the moment.” She told them as they all sighed.
“Matt go ahead.” Nala laughed as he got up and walked to the front door to see Nadia standing there staring at someone.
“Hey are you okay?” He asked walking up next to her.
“Who is this?” Jason asked looking him up and down.
“This is Matt. Matt this is Jason…my ex-boyfriend.” Nadia introduced. Matt cocked an eyebrow up at him wondering why the hell he was there. He could feel the tension between them build up; well he could feel his tension build up at least.
“Oh…this is Jason.” He said nonchalantly.
“Yeah, who are you to her?” Jason asked getting annoyed and jealous.
“Her friend.” He smiled as everyone else came out to the front door wondering why they were taking so long.
“What the hell are YOU doing here?!” Christiana yelled.
“MOM! Why would you invite him here?!” Nala whispered harshly to her mother.
“I thought it was a good idea.” She shrugged. Clara was grinning from ear to ear.
“Well why don’t you let him in?” Clara smiled pulling him inside. Nadia really wanted to cry, she almost broke down before Christiana grabbed her arm and took her upstairs.
“Well…hello everyone. It’s nice to see you all again.” Jason smiled.
“Hi.” Everyone said.
“Um, I’ll show you to your room.” Clara smiled taking his arm and walking upstairs.
“What’s up with that other guy, Matt?” Jason asked.
“He’s Aunt Nala’s friend’s son. She and Matt are really close and I think he likes her but I’m not sure. So if you’re here to win her back you have some competition.” Clara explained to him.
“No worries, Nadia will want me back in a heart beat. I’ll just remind her of all the good times we had.” He smiled as Clara opened a door to a room.
“Sure, do what you can. I’ll leave you to unpack your stuff.” Clara grinned evilly.
Nadia was pacing back and forth in her room; she didn’t know what to do! Why was he there, why did her grandma invite him here?! Christiana was watching her pace back and forth and finally she stood up to stop her.
“What is your problem?” She asked sitting Nadia down on the bed.
“What do you mean, what’s my problem?! Do you not see that JASON NIX is in the house?!” She practically yelled.
“Yes I see that, but I also see MATT SHOLA in this house as well.” Christiana mocked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Why are you so worried that Jason’s here when you’re clearly ready to move on with Matt?”
“Who said that?” Nadia blushed.
“I can tell the way you act with him. You like him, so don’t pay Jason any mind.”
“Jason’s going to ruin everything though. I’m not leaving my room. I’m staying in here until Jason leaves.” She huffed.
“Fine, if that’s what you think will solve your problem.” Christiana shrugged.
“I don’t know what to do. I know it’s stupid that I’m making a big deal about this, but I feel so weird that he’s even here. It’s been two years since I’ve seen him and now he just shows up because my Grandma invited him over? Then there’s Matt…I do like him, but he’s just my friend and I don’t want to have a relationship not yet. Not because Jason’s here and I feel like I have to say that we’re involved because I don’t want anything to do with Jason.” Nadia explained.
“I see where you’re coming from. You can’t lock yourself in your room because of it.”
“Oh yes I can. I’m not leaving my room, at least not today.” She sighed.
“But it’s Christmas!”
“No, I’m sorry Christiana I don’t want to. Don’t make me, please.” She said tears coming to her eyes.
“Okay, I’ll tell everyone that you’re not feeling well.” Christiana smiled.
“Thank you.” She smiled. She and Christiana were like sisters, they both were only children and when they met one summer they were inseparable.
Christiana went back downstairs to find everyone in the lounge around the Christmas tree. She sat down next Marc and Matt while everyone looked at her wondering where Nadia was.
“She’s sick at the moment. When I left her she was in the bathroom and it didn’t sound too pretty.” She explained.
“Oh, that poor thing.” Nalene said shaking her head. No one else really believed what Christiana said they knew she wasn’t coming down because of Jason. They left Nadia’s presents under the tree for when she decided to come out of her room and open them. After the gift opening Nala, Nalene and Carol all went to go tart the dinner. Jason and the other cousins went to the pool and Matt, Marc and Christiana went into the living room.
“So is she okay?” Matt asked as they sat down.
“She’s just really upset. She’s not coming out of her room today so good luck trying to talk to her.”
“I don’t like that Jason guy, why’d she even date him?” Marc asked he was like an older brother to Nadia, so he always looked out for her.
“I don’t know, she claims she had tons of feelings for him but I knew better he was a sneaky little shit from the beginning.” Christiana said shaking her head.
Nadia was in her room the whole day; she wasn’t lying when she said she wouldn’t leave her room. Luckily no one really came around to ask her how she was; she had lots of time to think about her plan not to get caught up in Jason’s lies. It was around seven o’clock when someone knocked on her door. She was extremely skeptical about who it was. She slowly went to the door trying to calm her nerves.
“Who is it?” She asked.
“It’s Jason; can I come in so we can talk?” He asked.
“No, go away. I’m not coming out and you are NOT coming in.” She told him planning on standing her ground.
“Come on, Nadia, I came here for you and you can’t even talk to me.” He whined in one of his playful tones.
“No I can’t. Go away.”
“Fine, that’s okay. We’ll talk later.” He sighed walking away as Matt walked down the hall towards Nadia’s room. Jason smirked rudely at him and kept walking. Matt just shook his head and went up to her door and knocked.
“Who is it?” She asked again praying it wasn’t Jason.
“It’s Matt, your Mom asked me to bring you up some food.” He said as she cracked the door open to see if it really was him. When she saw his face she opened it wider and let him in.
“Thank you.” She smiled taking the plate from him.
“Sure, no problem, he smiled back, well I’ll go since you want to be alone.” He said walking back to the door.
“No! Please stay. Talk to me.” She pleaded.
“Okay.” He smiled as they sat on her bed. He sat at the end of her bed and she sat at the head.
“So that’s Jason huh?” Matt asked.
“Yes, she sighed, I know you’re probably wondering why I even dated him, he’s not very caring at all.”
“Well he did come to see you.” He said trying to make her feel better about Jason, although, he didn’t know why.
“Yeah but, I feel weird that he’s in this house again and I feel like I have an obligation to give him another chance just because he’s here. I don’t know what to think, I’m just really confused.” She sighed tears coming to her eyes. Matt got up and sat next to her on her bed and wrapped his arm around her.
“Don’t cry Nadia, you don’t have an obligation to him at all.” He told her wiping her tears.
“Then why does it feel like I do?”
“Because your Grandma asked him to come here and he did and he’s acting like he wants to be with you again.” He explained.
“What should I do? I can’t just tell him to leave can I?” She asked.
“Um, that’s a hard one because your Grandma invited him here so it would seem mean if you asked him to leave. You don’t have to act like everything is back to normal with him either, but that’s not for me to decide how you feel about him because I don’t know.”
“I don’t feel anything towards him all I just feel hurt and confused.” She sighed.
“Well, maybe if you eat all your answers will come to you.” He smiled as she laughed.
“My food has all the answers, eh?” She laughed.
“Sure.” He smiled.
“I’m not hungry; you eat it and tell me all the answers.” She sighed handing him the food.
“You haven’t eaten all day are you sure you’re not hungry?” He asked.
“Yeah.” She sighed, picking up her T.V remote and turning on her T.V.
“Nadia, come on you have to eat.”
“No, I’m not hungry right now. I’ll eat later.”
“What’s later? It’s already seven-thirty.”
“Midnight is later.” She smiled as he sat the plate on one of her night stands and sat back against her head board with her.
“You promise?” Putting his arm around her.
“Yep.” She smiled as they watched the T.V. This is how Nadia liked feeling; warm, comfortable and protected. She liked being in Matt’s arms, so then why was it so hard for her to just admit to him that she did like him? She didn’t want to complicate things at least not now. After watching the T.V. for over three hours Nadia sighed and got up.
“What are ya doing?” Matt asked looking up at her.
“I’m hungry, come on.” She smiled holding out her hand, he smiled taking her hand and getting off the bed. They walked downstairs to the kitchen so Nadia could go through it and figure out something to eat. After she filled a plate full of food they went out into the living room.
“Maybe I should actually open my presents.” She laughed sitting on the floor next to the tree, Matt following her.
“Yeah, that might be nice.” He laughed with her. They sat there for a while, while Nadia opened her gifts and commented on a few of them. When she was all done opening her gifts she and Matt sat there talking about her gifts and Christmas in general.
“Well maybe you should open this one, since it’s the only one left under the tree and it has your name on it.” Matt laughed handing her the medium sized box.
“Hey, this is from you…Matt you didn’t have to get me a gift.” She laughed blushing slightly.
“I know, but I wanted to.” He smiled as she opened it and started laughing.
“Coffee! Thank you.” She smiled hugging him.
“You’re welcome, but there’s something else in there.” He smiled as she looked back in the box and found a beautiful silver necklace with Silver Star attached to it.
“Matt, it’s beautiful. You definitely didn’t have to get this for me.” She breathed.
“Yeah, I know, but I thought it was fitting.” He smiled putting it around her neck.
“Well, thank you again.” She smiled kissing his cheek.
“You’re welcome.” He blushed as she crawled underneath the tree and pulled out another box and handed it to him.
“What’s this?” He asked.
“You didn’t think I wouldn’t get you a gift, right? I’m not that heartless.” She laughed.
“Thanks, Nadia, you didn’t really have to.”
“I know this.” She smiled as he opened it. Inside was a Complete Shakespearian guide to Love, which he couldn’t help, but laugh at, a ticket for free breakfast on her, and a friendship bracelet.
“You may think the bracelet is weird…but I have a matching one!” She smiled holding out her wrist. He just laughed, thinking how amazing she was.
“Thanks, Nadia.” He smiled kissing her cheek.
“You’re welcome.” She blushed.
“Let’s go make coffee.” Nadia smiled getting up as Matt followed her.
“You know, it is one in the morning, right?” He asked as she pulled him into the kitchen.
“Yeah I know; we can do an all-nighter with this coffee. It’ll be fun I promise.” She smiled putting the coffee grinds in the coffee maker.
After the coffee was made they went back out on the couch and sat watching the Christmas lights blink on and off of the tree.
“So, Matt, you never talk about your Dad, where is he?” She asked turning to him.
“Well, he and my mother divorced when I was ten because he was never around and he was having an affair.” He explained.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She apologized, feeling bad for bringing it up.
“It’s okay, I never really felt anything towards him anyway, and he was never around for me to get attached to him.” He shrugged.
“Do you know why he was never around?”
“It was a combination of his affair and his job. At the time he was trying to become a CEO at some marketing firm, but now he and my Grandfather own Shola Enterprises and he’s also married to the woman he was having an affair with, who reminds me a lot of Clara.” He told her.
“Do you still talk to him?”
“Yeah, he’s the one putting me through college so I guess I have to talk to him. I really didn’t want him to help me at all, but my mom insisted she’d rather have him help me instead of me getting student loans.” He sighed.
“I’m really sorry about that.”
“It’s alright; it’s just how things happen.” He shrugged.
“Yeah, well you’re welcome to my Dad.” She smiled as he laughed.
“Thanks.” He smiled.
“So, wait a minute, you don’t like Clara?” She asked intrigued that he said she reminded him of his Stepmother.
“No, she’s too fake for me really.”
“Oh I thought you liked her.” She laughed.
“Nope, can’t say that I do. I know she likes me but I just don’t find her that attractive.” He shrugged as she cocked an eyebrow up at him.
“So if you don’t find Clara attractive, what do you find attractive?” She asked.
“Someone who’s real, someone I can’t see right through, someone who has a sense of humor, who isn’t overly concerned with their looks, yet is still unbelievably attractive and has a nice personality. Girls like Clara aren’t what every guy looks for, Nadia.” He laughed.
“Yeah, but there aren’t that many guys around that think like you.” She smirked.
“Sure there are, you’re just not looking in the right places.” He smiled.
“So, why don’t you have a girlfriend exactly?” She asked.
“I don’t know, haven’t found the right one yet I guess.”
“What about all the girls in our Shakespeare class? They all love you.” She smiled.
“None of them are who I want.” He shrugged.
“You’ve dated all of them to know?”
“No, he laughed, they just don’t stick out to me.”
“Oh.” She laughed.
“So are you going to come out of hiding tomorrow?” He laughed.
“Yeah I have to; my mother will probably force me out. She was only letting me stay in my room today out of sympathy.” She laughed.
“Are you okay with seeing Jason?”
“Not really, but I’ll be okay.” She smiled.
They stayed up talking until five in the morning before they both fell asleep on the couch. Nadia’s legs were draped over Matt’s lap as he rested his head against the couch.
“Nala look!” Carol whispered as they walked to the kitchen at seven in morning to make coffee.
“Oh they look so peaceful.” Nala smiled.
“Should we wake them up so they can go lay in their beds?” She asked.
“Yeah so they won’t be disturbed by everyone else coming downstairs.” Nala said as they walked in the living room and gently woke them up.
“Hey you two, go upstairs and go back to bed.” Carol smiled as they nodded and got up walking slowly upstairs. Matt naturally held Nadia around her waist and walked her to her room.
“Good night.” Matt said sleepily kissing her forehead absent mindedly.
“Good night.” Nadia smiled sleepily hugging him and kissing his chin before she walked into her room and fell back to sleep the minute she hit her bed. Matt walked the rest of the way down to his room and also fell asleep once he hit his bed.
Around eleven o’clock Matt and Nadia woke up and made their way downstairs when they were called down for lunch.
“Good morning.” They laughed as they went downstairs together and sat down at the dining room table.
“Well we have some late risers.” Alex laughed.
“We had a late night.” They laughed as Clara and Jason both cocked an eyebrow up at them.
“So, Nadia what are you doing today?” Jason asked smiling at her.
“Um nothing, why?” She asked.
“Well I was wondering if you’d like to spend the day with me?” He asked. Nadia didn’t know what to say.
“Um…” She stammered.
“Oh spend the day with him, girl, I didn’t invite him here for you to avoid him ya know.” Nalene laughed as Nadia sighed.
“Sure…why not.” She forced a smile.
“Great.” He smiled, Clara smiled along with him; she had planned on spending the day with Matt. Matt didn’t really like the idea of Nadia spending the day with Jason, even though he knew he was just feeling jealous and Nadia really didn’t have any feelings for Jason, or so he hoped, she was only going because her grandma did invite him there. He still couldn’t help being jealous.
“Hey, Matt, Marc and I are going to go to the mall or something would you like to come with us?” Christiana asked knowing what Clara was planning.
“Sure.” He smiled.
After lunch Nadia and Jason left to go spend the day with each other while, Marc, Christiana, and Matt left right after them. Jason took Nadia to a small little park where they sat on a blanket. He intended to just talk with her and remind her of all the good times they had together.
“We used to come here all the time, remember?” He smiled at her.
“Yeah I remember.”
“You used to tell me how wonderful it was to have me in your life.” He smiled.
“Yep I did.” She said as he moved closer to her.
“I miss that.” He sighed moving a piece of hair out of her face.
“Yeah I missed that a long time ago.”
“What do you mean?” He asked.
“I don’t understand how you can just show up at my house and think everything’s back to normal. Yes, I missed you a long time ago what we had was two years ago and you walked out on me.” She explained to him.
“I know, and since then I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and when your Grandma asked me to come here to see you, I thought I could make things right again.” He explained to her.
“Well, did it ever occur to you that I might be involved with someone?” She asked.
“No, not really. Why? Are you involved with that Matt guy?” He asked.
“No I’m not. Did you just think I was waiting around for you or something?” She asked getting angry.
“No, but it kinda seems like you are.” He smiled caressing her face. She hated his touch, it wasn’t right anymore, or maybe it was never right.
“Well, I’m not.”
“Are you sure about that?” He whispered slowly touching his lips to hers. Two years ago this kiss would’ve meant so much to her, but now all she found herself wondering what it would feel like if she were kissing Matt instead. She quickly pushed him off of her.
“No, Jason. We’re not going to do this. You left me, now you want to come back and I don’t want you. You can’t act like nothing ever happened, this was two years ago and I’m not that stupid high school girl anymore. Please take me home, now.” She said angrily standing up.
“Nadia, come on. I know this can work.” He pleaded with her.
“No, it can’t. We were over a long time ago.”
“It’s because of that Matt guy isn’t it?!” He said angrily getting up.
“No it’s not! I’m not in love with you anymore.” She told him.
“Fine, I’ll take you back.” He said as they walked to the car and drove back in silence. Once inside Jason grabbed her arm before she went to her room to whisper in her ear.
“I will win you back.” He said letting her go. Nadia quickly ran upstairs to her room and slammed the door. Jason was really starting to freak her out. She really couldn’t understand after two years why he would honestly want her back, and now he was getting all psycho about it.
“So when are you going to tell Nadia you like her?” Christiana asked Matt as the group walked around in the Mall.
“Probably never.” He smiled.
“Why not?” Marc asked.
“Because she just wants to be friends and I don’t want to make her feel weird about our relationship.” He shrugged.
“You know she says she just wants a friend but she really doesn’t mean it.” Christiana told him as Marc rolled his eyes.
“It’s that girl code crap.” Marc said as Matt laughed.
“It’s not exactly code; she’s making it pretty obvious.” Christiana said.
“How so?” Matt asked.
“She doesn’t let Jason touch her the way you do.”
“How do you know? She could’ve let him today.” He sighed.
“Nope, I highly doubt it. I bet when we get back they will be ten feet away from each other.” She smiled as they walked back to the car and drove back to the house. When they walked inside Nala was walking by.
“Hey Aunt Nala, where’s Nadia?” Christiana asked.
“She’s out on the ice, I don’t think her day with Jason went very well, well for him at least he’s been moping around ever since they came back.” She laughed as Christiana looked at Matt as if to say ‘I told you so.’
“If you guys want to skate the skates are by the back door.” Nala smiled walking away.
“Oh…who’s good? Come on, tell me who’s good?” Christiana smiled.
“You’re good.” Matt laughed.
“Why don’t we all go skate then?” Marc said as they went to the back door and threw on some skates and went outside to the frozen pond. Where Nadia was skating around oblivious they had even come outside.
“Yo, Nadia!” Marc yelled as she stopped and looked at them.
“Hey guys, how was the mall?” She smiled as they came out on the ice.
“It was alright, how was your day with Jason?” Christiana asked.
“I told him I wasn’t in love with him anymore and he got mad.” She laughed.
“Well that’s good at least you told him how you felt.” Christiana said.
“Yeah.” She smiled.
“Alright let’s skate.” Marc said taking Christiana’s hand and skating around the pond.
“So, how’d you like hanging out with my cousins?” Nadia asked Matt as they started skating.
“It was fun, they’re really cool.” He smiled as he struggled to stay balanced on his feet.
“Have you ever ice skated before?” She asked noticing how he was struggling.
“I have, but I don’t do it very often.” He laughed as she went in front of him and took his hands to help him.
“Well I guess I’ll just have to help you then.” She smiled.
“How long have you been skating?”
“Since I was like five, I used to be on a skating team a long time ago.”
“That’s pretty cool, so can you do tricks and stuff?”
“Not as well as I used to.”
“Can I see one?” He smiled.
“Sure, can you stand if I leave?” She laughed.
“Shut up, I’ll be fine.” He laughed as she went around the ice and did a few spins for his entertainment.
“Nadia that was really good.” He smiled as she took his hand and helped him skate along again.
“Thank you.” She smiled.
“So how come you’re not on the skating team at school?” He asked.
“I don’t know, I never really thought about joining.” She shrugged.
“Maybe you should.” He smiled.
“Maybe, so what did you and my cousins do?”
“We walked around the mall for a while, nothing too exciting, he laughed, what about you and Jason?”
“He took me to this park we used to hang out at all the time.” She shrugged.
“So his choice of scenery didn’t win your heart I take it?”
“I don’t want him to win my heart. He thought he’d try but I told him it would never happen again, I don’t think he believes me though.”
“I think he’ll get the picture some- Matt tried to explain before he took a spill on his bottom. Nadia ended up falling down on top of him because he held on to her hand while he fell.
“Are you okay?” She laughed.
“I’m fine.” He laughed embarrassed that he fell.
“You are the greatest skater I know.” She laughed as she got up and put her hand out to help him.
“Why, thank you.” He laughed pulling her back down on top of him. They laughed for a while and then just seemed to get lost in each other eyes.
“You two might want to get up, you could catch pneumonia.” Christiana said as she and Marc skated pass. They both blushed and snapped out of their Trans.
“Right.” Nadia laughed as she got up and helped him up too. They were both embarrassed that they could get so lost in each other’s eyes and forget where they were.
The days flew by until Nadia’s family’s traditional New Year’s Eve party where they once again invited the whole state of Connecticut to come. Nadia was kind of dreading the whole “get together”. One because Jason was still trying to win her over and this would be the perfect night for him to try again, two Matt has never seen her in any of her formal wear and she didn’t want him to. Three she was afraid Jason would try to kiss her again when the New Year came. She sighed and looked herself over in her full length mirror one more time. She wore a red satin dress with a white satin V cut in the middle of the top. Her hair was left down still loosely curled and she put two studded pins to add some classy style to it and her make up was light as to not over do it. She sighed again and walked out of her room hoping no one would see her, namely Matt or Jason.
When she walked into the Ball room she realized she was extremely late; like usual. She didn’t understand how she managed to be late she swore up and down she left her room at the right time. She just shrugged it off and went to find Christiana.
“Well look at you, sexy.” Christiana laughed.
“Shut up…”
“Matt is going to be all over you like butter on rice.” She smiled as Nadia blushed.
“Stop it! You know you don’t look bad yourself, the green really looks good.” Nadia smiled.
“Thank you, Marc likes it too; he says I look like a goddess.” She beamed.
“Where is he anyway?”
“He went to get drinks with Matt.”
“Oh God, Matt’s already down here?!”
“Yeah why wouldn’t he be?”
“I have to get away…I have to leave.” She said turning around and coming face to face with Matt.
“Too late.” Christiana laughed.
“Um…hello.” She blushed. Matt was f-l-o-o-r-e-d at the sight of her. She looked great in normal clothes but the dress…Oh my God the dress, he thought she looked absolutely stunning.
“Nadia…you look beautiful.” He smiled causing her to blush.
“Thanks, you look great yourself.” Sexy…she wanted to say. Sexy. The tuxedo…damn.
“I got you a drink.” He smiled handing her the punch.
“Thank you.” She smiled taking the glass.
“So Nadia, do happen to know what on time is?” Marc laughed.
“Shut up, okay. I thought I was on time and then I get here and the whole freaking town is here.” She said as everyone laughed. Clara was walking pass just then and took it upon herself to go up to Matt.
“Hello Matt.” She smiled.
“Hi.”
“Would you care to dance with me?” She asked catching a look at Nadia out of the corner of her eye. Even though Nadia knew Matt didn’t like her she still felt that wave of jealousy come over her.
“Um…okay.” He said as she took his hand and led him out to the dance floor. Oh, Nadia was heated.
“What does that mean?” She asked Christiana and Marc.
“He was being polite, Nadia. Don’t get your panties into a twist.” Christiana laughed.
“Who said I was even talking about Matt agreeing to dance with Clara?” She laughed.
“Yeah oookay.” Marc laughed.
Clara was trying to make conversation with Matt, but he couldn’t pay attention to what she was saying. He really didn’t know why he agreed to dance with her because he kept his eyes on Nadia the whole time. Clara must’ve realized he wasn’t listening to her because she tried to see who he was staring at and figured he was looking at Nadia, but smiled devilishly when Jason went over to Nadia and asked her to dance.
“Uh…I guess so.” She half smiled as he took her hand and led her to the dance floor. It was Matt’s turn to get jealous this time. He wanted to march over to them and pry Jason away from her.
“You look wonderful tonight, Nadia.” Jason smiled.
“Thank you.” She said trying to find Matt through the masses of people dancing.
“I’m sorry for the way I acted before, that was really rash of me.” He apologized.
“It’s okay.” She smiled.
“So will you reconsider me?”
“No, I meant what I said. I’m not in love with you anymore. We won’t get back together.”
“I don’t understand why you’re being like this. I really am sorry for walking out on you; I guess I was afraid of being a father and taking responsibility.” He explained.
“And I wasn’t scared? That’s no excuse. You and I just aren’t right anymore. I don’t understand why after two years you want me back anyway.”
“I just miss you.” He sighed.
“I’m sorry.” She told him as she finally found Matt and their gazes locked. She looked at him as if to say ‘Save me, please!’ He smiled and excused himself from Clara and walked over to Nadia.
“May I cut in?” He asked as Jason gave him the look of death, Matt didn’t feel threatened.
“Of course you can.” Nadia smiled letting go of Jason and going with Matt. Jason was glaring daggers at him as he walked away with “his” woman.
“Thank you.” She smiled up at him.
“You’re welcome; I needed a break from Clara anyway.” He smiled.
“Promise me something.” She said.
“What?”
“You won’t stop dancing with me tonight no matter what. I don’t care if you get sick of me, just don’t leave me alone. I’d rather be with you tonight than trying to run away from Jason.” She told him and then blushed. Matt was shocked she’d say something like that. He didn’t mind it though.
“I could promise you that, he smiled, I don’t really think I could get sick of you though.” He laughed.
“Well that’s good.” She smiled.
Nadia never had a better time with Matt all night. He was so interesting to talk to, not that she didn’t already know that; just dancing with him all night made her realize it all over again. She really enjoyed his company more than she ever thought she would’ve a month ago. She hated to admit it but she was starting to enjoy being around him too much, she really did like him and came to the decision that if they were ever to get together she would enjoy every minute of it. She only hoped he felt the same for her.
Everyone stopped dancing and waited for the New Year’s ball to drop. At ten seconds everyone started counting down. All of a sudden Nadia felt knots in her stomach as she realized that it was tradition to kiss your dancing partner or the nearest person of opposite sex once the ball dropped. She was going to have to kiss Matt for the first time and she was a nervous wreck.
“3…2…1…Happy New Year!” Everyone shouted and turned to their partner and kissed them. Nadia looked up at Matt and smiled, he did the same both blushing.
“Well…um…Happy New Year.” Matt smiled and leaned down and gently touched his lips to hers. It was supposed to be a small kiss, but accidentally grew into something more. Matt wrapped his arms around her waist just as she wrapped her arms around his neck. They kissed longer than what was expected, it was as if they forgot that any one else existed in the room. When the kiss ended they just looked each other.
“Happy New Year…” Nadia smiled as he laughed and kissed her one more time. She was in love with his kisses just as much as he loved kissing her. He didn’t know what they were to each other now, but as long as she let him kiss her he would be a happy camper.
Jason and Clara were livid; they had both hoped their partners would be the one’s they desired. Jason was sick and tired of watching Nadia walk away from him for Matt Shola. He walked right over to them and grabbed Nadia’s arm.
“We need to talk.” He said anger and jealousy coating his words.
“I don’t think we have anything to talk about.” She told him as his eyes grew dark.
“Why don’t you let her go?” Matt asked looking forcefully at Jason. He wasn’t going to stand there and let him touch her like that.
“Why don’t you back off? This has nothing to do with you.” Jason spit back at him.
“Just let her go.” Matt seethed. Nadia was kind of surprised he was getting so angry over it. Not that she didn’t mind him sticking up for her, she just didn’t realize he cared all that much.
“No, I won’t.” He said tighten
. So would you say like cutting my dialog in half and trying to describe more of the surroundings and whats going on around the characters? heh heh...this is already a re-write, you should've seen the first one it was horrible...but i know this one needs work, and ill continue to work on it.