“Quit fooling around you maggot!” Nate had always loved Penny for being too mean and controlling. Never did it cross his mind to fire back since it’s pretty obvious how Penny would react in such a thing. He was glad she became a part of his life. Even for a mere year, it had been the best thing that ever happened to him. And he would never regret every bit of detail in their time together. But as time changes, people change as well. They went their separate ways and hoped for nothing else but to move on. However in this case, Nate is pretty much hung over on what happened. It’s summer so he should rest from all the crapiness. He grew more sleep-deprived, drinking endlessly in his insomniac nights and pretty much the worst of all, not at all did he ever think of letting love come to him again.. even show a beacon of hope for finding love again. With his closest friend Isobel back from Rome? Chance upon some hottie on the road? Oh really??Chapter 1: City District Park. London. “Nate, could you be yourself now and get on with it? Kevin nudged him in his side, trying to persuade him to buy him a drink. “You know, we don’t have all day for this.” An impatient Carter proclaimed. “Nate.” Kevin nudged him again. “Sod off. I’m in the middle of my bizarre day dream.” Nate tiredly shoved him towards Carter. He handed out of his pocket a few bucks. “Here, go suit yourselves. Don’t come back yelling and all. I’m not drinking. And I’m resting.”Kevin lets out an angry sigh, trying to get Carter pissed as well. “You should have just given the bills. You are insanely and provocatively….kind.” He scoffed and cursed as he headed towards the street, down to the store with Carter.Nate chuckled then put his head down the table again. “They just can’t live without me.” Nate said dreamily, playing with an abandoned fry. “Get over it, they just long for the fortune. Surprise, I do too! So better expect we’ll leave pretty soon.” Isobel said, showing a serious face at him.”You just came back. Don’t leave me.” Both of them laughed. “So.. Natey.. What have you been doing? I missed those party-cuckeroos we used to hang out with. Are you still going out with those bombshells?” she said as she sipped from a bottle of water. “I’ve never gone out with them, Isobel.” He looked away, nervous that she brought it up. “Oh! You’re not over her, are you? Damn!” She said, with a subtle tease in what she said. “Whatever.” he said, shaking his head giving her a thwarted look. “I’m completely over her. She’s not the reason I didn’t go out with any of them.” He stood up situating himself, trying to ignore Isobel.Isobel raised her eyebrow. “So why not?” She asked curiously, standing up as well.There was a long pause. Desperate to find an excuse to go, he mockingly answered “The other one looked like Ms. Piggy, the blondie was too slutty..” Isobel chortled as he described each of the girls. “Oh, and darn! The feisty sock fiend brunette looked like you. Augh, there need be an explanation?” he sarcastically said. A sinister smile crept up his face.Isobel’s mouth was hanging half open. “You bast---.” She reminded herself to act proper and refined so she walked out and made her way to the store.Isobel held up a bad sign. He smiled at the thought of Isobel annoyed. “Pick me up later 8. Dylan will be early. Got that twerp?” Isobel reminded him and went on her way.Nate stopped smiling when she left and was dumbfounded for a short while, thinking deeply. Good thing he came back to his senses and followed her with his hands deeply buried under his pockets. Isobel’s right. Penny seems to be constantly running in his head. Oh, enough of her already.Chapter 2: Nate’s beerNate bought a beer on his way to his place but as luck have it, a dog has rammed him the minute he was about to take a swig of the alcohol causing it to mess his shirt. What made it worse, the dog unconsciously recognized his dark gray pants as a post, making it the perfect spot for its..yeah, pee. “Great. Well, isn’t it my lucky day?” He disgustedly wiped his shirt with his bare hand and thumped his right leg onto the ground, heaving a distressed sigh. “Gavin! Come here,boy!” Nate turned around to see a fine woman heading towards him. But as cold and abrasive as he is, he failed to notice. Instead, he silently cursed both the woman and its pet. “Oh God.” The woman put her hands over her mouth surprised.“I’m terribly sorry--.” “Yeah? I bet you are.” he said crossly. “Oh here..” the woman handed him her handkerchief. “Seriously? This is quite a mess to be taken care of by a small cloth. Besides, how could I know if you have used that already?” he groans, continually wiping the mess made. He added whispering, “manners,” “Augh. Excuse me?” the woman was noticeably insulted. “If you must.” Nate sneered at her.The woman’s body, morbid as it may sound, felt like its insides were about to explode. “I sincerely gave my apologies and even intended to help. I wasn’t aware that Gavin would be that strong to be capable of smacking the crap out of you. Didn’t you seem to realize--.”Nate cut in and sardonically said, “Oh madam, I did recognize your sympathy. Too bad, I don’t care, especially coming from a lady who can’t seem to shut herself up. Are you supposingly done sweetheart?”She knew it was stupid to fight back so she coolly replied, “I just assumed you were well-built enough to handle a poke.” She winked happily as if nothing bad happened. “By the way, name’s Charlie.” She said, reaching out her hand.Nate impassively looked at her. Completely amused with what she has done. “Right.” The woman’s hand was still left unshaken. He continued to wipe and curse silently. He glanced up to meet her eyes and said, “So, when’s the part where you curse for the last time and leave?” primping his self up, he added, “That’s what women do. They leave.” He held a cold gaze towards the ground. Charlie folded her hands as if she was entertained by how he talked. He suddenly felt the urge to stab himself for saying that. It crushed him whenever he thinks about it, especially for someone to notice that.Charlie seemed to have noticed the hurt in his amazing and shining light olives. “Yeah, I guess. But isn’t it that the guy left first, prompting a break up?” she said, zipping up her suede jacket, feeling colder by the minute.Nate frowned on, not nearly comprehending to what she blabbered. He stood stiffly, thinking of what she meant by that. “You still leave nonetheless.” He murmured, but loud enough for her to hear. He casually reached a pack of cigarettes, got one, lighted it up and took a puff.Charlie got a hold of Gavin, sat down at the concrete and lightly brushed her fingers through its fluffy fur. She looked up to him. For a minute, letting her eyes linger around Nate’s physical entirety. God, he’s hot. She thought to herself. She was brought back to reality when Gavin barked. “My aunt used to have this dog.” she said, looking gloomy as she played on the dog’s fur. “Her name’s Leila and my aunt loved her dearly. But when she had gone to Mississippi, the landlord of her apartment left her no choice but to get rid of Leila. I was left to take care of her. In truth, I really hated keeping pets inside my house. Often, I didn’t leave food on her bowl or water. Don’t get me wrong though. She was strangely obedient to me. She loved me despite of my hatred. Anyway, my cruelties got Leila to get sick one day. She sure looked to die very soon. I shooed her out of the house and yelled at her to stay outside and never enter. My extreme revulsion didn’t take pity, neither did my conscience. Three days went by, and that third day, something happened. I phoned a vet about Leila’s condition. I took pity, finally. That afternoon, I left to talk to the vet that Leila couldn’t move due to her condition. So I asked him to go to my house and check him there. We arrived late, around 9pm because I had to pick up some groceries and everything. It was raining heavily that time. When I came out of the car, it pierced my heart. I saw Leila, lifeless on the porch. She didn’t move even an inch. She stayed where she was. She did what I told her to. Despite of the rain killing her, she still stayed. Only then did I realize how lucky I was to have had her. I never saw the good in her.” She embraced Gavin as if he was about to be taken away from her. A tear fell and slid across her glowing cheek.
Nate obviously wasn’t buying any of these. He disrespectfully chuckled and shook his head. “Sad story. You going to lend your hanky?” He threw his cigarette at Gavin to which he received a threatening look from the dog. “So, your point being, you killed her.” He let out a sarcastic sigh.Charlie stood up, primping herself and holding Gavin’s leash. She shook her head and gloomily said, “My point is, Leila stayed. She shouldn’t have, so I’ll be holding her now instead of Gavin.” She quickly replaced it with a smile and momentarily looked at Gavin then back to Nate. “and you won’t look like you have just humped a bull.”She smiled and buried her other hand to her side pocket, turned her back from him and started walking away. Nate raised his eyebrow, completely frustrated of what had happened, who he met and what he had in mind. He looked down, visualizing Penny’s smile. It faded away as soon as Charlie looked back and shouted, “Anyway I’m Charlie.” She smiled sweetly, Gavin barked. “Oh! And Gavin too!” she cheery pranced as she went away.Nate, nonchalant about it, coughed a bit, combed his strawberry chestnut hair with his fingers and went back to the store he bought his beer. Unbelievable. Looks like he actually needed his turn for alcohol. Bleck.
As he made his way out of the store, he caught a disturbing sight. Behind the lime curtains of the coffee shop, stood a pretty young girl whom he swore not want to see again. Yes, indeed it was…Penny. She glanced outside and met Nate’s eyes. As if being heard, she mumbled, “It’s you.” And threw a gracious smile at Nate. As if also understood, he replied with a big sigh, “No.” He detached his gaze from Penny and walked wordlessly.Chapter 3: Bigley’s ApartmentNate fidgeted as he walked past the corridors of the apartment. “Darn!” Nate cursed, realizing he had left the key inside the room before he went out. It came to him that he had hidden a key just right above his doorstep. Boorish as he was, ill-words came out from his mouth, a seeming multitude of mixed emotions that he kept bottling up. He held his hand up, trying to feel the key with a hope to locate it somewhere but failed to find it. He sat down jadedly.He heaved a worn-out sigh and checked his watch for the time. Just as he was about to look up, a middle-aged man, roughly a 48 year old towering above him, smiled menacingly.”You know, Only ex-druggie washouts leave their keys either there..” pointing inwardly at the spot where he hid his room key. “..or under that lame rug of yours.. which, frankly, smells like poop.” The man said, scrunching up his nose. “I think I’ve given you enough money to afford a maid.”Nate nearly choked. It was Stan. The one he blamed for all the loneliness and misery that ate up his life. The one he hated so much. The one he wished was long gone. The one he once called dad.He stood up stiffly and nodded in a falsely casual manner. “Well, only screwed-up morons with a great need of life, actually waste time stealing keys under the rugs or above the door from strangers. Give it back.”The only reaction he got from Stan was a lazy raised eyebrow. “Your life or the key?” Nate cackled unappreciatively. “So much for, like father like son eh?” he said, reaching in his pockets and holding out in front of his face a somewhat familiar key.Stan unlocked the door. He cavorted his way inside and settled in Nate’s couch. “Oohh.. nothing like a good ‘ol night with my son. Do you have any ice wine or beer?” Nate was still standing at the door. Stan could tell how furious he was but disregarded the thought nonetheless. He couldn’t change his past. He knows he couldn’t change their past. “What do you want?” Nate said calmly yet heated in a sense. He finally decided to go inside his room and shut the door. “Why the hell are you here?” He couldn’t help but shout and release all his anger. It’s been 5 years since his mom had left the both of them. He believed his dad caused every wretchedness that destroyed their family.Stan was practically ignoring his somewhat ‘whines’. He held up his hand and said, “I don’t want to be a bothersome, so just give me whatever you have.” He plopped back into the couch. “Perhaps, you have a chicken leftover in the fridge? I’m hungry real bad!” he chuckled, turning on the television. He glanced at Nate and added a cheeky “Pretty please” which made Nate even more irritated. Couldn’t Stan be more sensitive of the situation here? “There must be something you want. That’s why you’re here.” He folded his arms not in a defensive way but in a what-do-you-have-to-say way. “I believe I told you just earlier that I would want to put something in my mouth!” Stan threw the white pillow he hugged at the moss green-colored wall, acting like a child having tantrums.Stan stood up, and raided the contents of Nate’s muddled kitchen which looked like the area where the Japanese soldiers took their shit out. Eeeww.He found nothing, but a can full of tuna. He hates tuna but he took it anyway and went back to the living room. Stan swallowed at what he saw. Nate’s cat, Mr. Lenny, purred around his legs ever-so softly and seemed to have loved Stan’s warmth. He stopped still and almost drooled. “Isn’t he just delectable?” he sheepishly commented.Nate, thankfully, walked towards the television set to turn it off which startled the cat by the sudden silence. Weird, I know. Nate scooped Mr. Lenny up and settled him on the basket which looked like the basket kids use to dump their Easter candy eggs. “Stan is hungry. God.Stan made his way to the couch and sat down once again, eating this time. And silent. Phew. Good heavens.Nate scratched his head and grinned, “Imagine that.””What? Can’t an old man eat in silence?” Stan shoved a forkful of tuna shreds into his mouth.Nate quickly was zapped back into the real condition of the situation. He shook his head and got up. He rudely snatched the can of tuna from Stan’s hand and gave him a get-out look. “I see.” Stan shook his head and stood up slowly. “Wow, we have too much things in common.” He tilted his head. “Son..” “I don’t have a father or a mother.” Nate motioned for him to get out.Stan laughed and said, “I thought you would’ve said, ‘I don’t know a screwed-up moron. Nor a selfish bitch, in this case.’ ”Nate grunted, “That’s exactly why mom left you.”Stan could feel Nate’s seriousness. He always does, but he believes nothing would come out from his nonsense hiss. “Left us, Nate. Left the both of us.” He said, serious-looking now.He gazed around the entirety of Nate’s room in the apartment, wobbling his head. “I hope you’re happy.” He said as if sounding pitiful, still studying the room.He coughed a bit then started to walk away. “But..” he stopped and took the can out of Nate’s hand quickly. He shoved another forkful of tuna inside his mouth and said, “I believe this is mine now.” He smiled sweetly at his son, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. He walked out deeply absorbed in finishing his can of tuna. Nate couldn’t help but give a huge grin. He knows his dad loves him. He wasn’t just as sure that he loves him enough. Like a real son, he wanted Stan to treat him. Not just any guy he happens to bump on the streets of New York which he adopts eventually. Just like Withshed, his adopted brother. The only difference between them is that Stan seems to love him even more than Nate. Well..Withshed, sure was kind, accepting and family-oriented, but Stan holds Nate so dear in his heart that Nate can’t even see that. Poor him..and Stan.Chapter 4: Kalyeero BarNate looked at the clock. It was,“8 o clock! Crap.” he zoomed into his room, merely thinking of how he’ll get at Isobel’s fast enough. He changed into his basic hang-out look:A blue t-shirt, low-cut jeans and his pique-lapel blazer. Yeap, that’s his ORDINARY look. Top that. “Darn. And this leads to my damnation.” he glanced intermittently at his Philip Stine wristwatch, looking a bit anxious. It was 8:30 and he was still on the road with his white Mercedes. Tsk. Boys. “This will sure leave an endearing memory.” Isobel said as she clenched her fist. “That twerp,”Just as she was about to go in, a car swooshed right in front of her gate. “Sorry.” a perfect soul stepped out of the car. It looked like a Greek god trapped in someone wearing ratty sneakers, gray blazer, a simple tee..with strawberry chestnut hair, olive green eyes and a muscular entirety. wait..Bloody hell..It’s NATE. uh-oh.He closed the car door and stood stiffly with his hands hid inside his pockets, as always, leaving our little stunned Isobel more reasons to drool. “Sorry to be late. I got harassed by some shit at Bigley’s.” He said, momentarily looking at his watch. He brushed off his dazzling chestnut stray hair covering his olive eye. “Uh..Isobel? What’s wrong? Was I that late?” Nate said sarcastically. “I still have,” he looked at his watch and continued, “8 seconds. Don’t be harsh.” Isobel came back from candy land. She went closer to the gate and opened it, nervous every time he catches her looking at him. What is with Isobel?? “Are you okay? Do you like, need to skip the night—.” Isobel cut him out with a scream-my-lungs-out.. “NO!” she got him wide-eyed. “O..kaaay..” he backed away a little. “No harm done. I’m innocent. Anyway, weren’t there bars at Rome? Perhaps, some fun to ease the burden of being bored? Or you’re just plain boring?” Nate teased. “Oh gosh Nate, I don’t know. I can think of a million reasons I should overstay at Rome instead of talking to you.” She said with a flippant wave of her hand. “You don’t need to be that bitchy. Geez.” He said, to which he received a hard punch in the arm. He dug deep down his pockets due to the not-helping temperature, getting lower by the minute. “What’s with the blazer? Your shoulders seem too broad to even distinguish where you positioned your arms.” She bit her lip as she studied him up and down. “You need a feminine touch.” She rested her hand softly at his shoulder.Nate laughed hysterically. “Well not from you.” He started. “At least I look like a man. Unlike you..” checking her from top to bottom. “Tell me, are those manly hips? Even a flabby skirt can’t hide!” he exclaimed. “Or perhaps, that’s how you define sexy in Rome.” He teasingly commented.Isobel exploded in a big O shape. “I do not have manly hips!” she slowly tapped her hips, feeling a bit of shame.Nate snorted when he saw her turn her side, muttering under her breath, “Wait till you see my manly fists you bastard.” “Okay, hush. Let’s kill each other later.” He said fiddling with his car keys . “The bar isn’t going to wait for your hips!” He ran to the car’s door and gently opened it. “Inside, you go.” He said, motioning for her to get inside the car.Nate raised his eyebrow. “What? Oh come on. It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked.” Nate still holding the door for her. “We were 6, idiot!” she reasoned and dragged herself into the car.Nate let out a huge grin and positioned himself at the driver’s seat. “Too bad, I wasn’t thinking 6.”There was a deafening silence inside the vehicle. “Isobel?” “You know how repugnant you sound?” She said rather windy. “Yes. And you still love me.He left her stunned again and quiet the rest of the ride. Who knows? Maybe he was right after all. Righhhhttt..
‘Yeah of course, you’re my best friend.’ She whispered to herself.The moon was full. Nate opened the door for her once again. “Aww..thank you sweetness. Without you, I could have long stayed and cried inside this car being unable to pull my teeny-weeny, helpless self out.” She smirked. “What am I for?” he winked mockingly. “Funny.” Isobel said vacantly. By the second she got out, she pulled him as to run with her inside. Both laughed at this. And that was all about??? “Oh! Isobel!” Both of them looked awkwardly at each other and looked over their shoulders. Over the high division at the center, a Johnny-depp looking man with a Mohawk came poking his head out and waved incessantly. “Dylan Ford? Is that you?” Isobel leered. Dylan stood up and moved closer to her. “The world missed you, darling.” He said, giving her a peck on the cheek. “You must taste this incredible blessing.” He sweetly handed her a glass of champagne, ‘MIRACLE’.Isobel gulped all the liquid down in a second since they ran from the entrance to reach Dylan’s table. “Wow. MIRACLE speaks for itself.” Dylan commented as his mouth opened in awe.They all laughed and continued on to finally sit down. “How did Rome treat you?” Dylan asked, as he sipped from his glass of wine.Isobel swallowed. “Well, for one fact, it was truly heaven.” She smiled and poured herself another nip of the champagne.Dylan chortled, “Really? Last time I was there, I thought it was a hell full of girls.” he put down his glass and added, “You were simply the angel that made it heavenly.” “You never changed, Dylan.” She said as she jabbed his arm gently.Dylan snickered. “Oh true. I haven’t forgotten our deal, Arganzen.” He said with a devilish wink. “What deal?” Isobel merely grunted.Dylan raised his eyebrow, mouthing ‘kiss finale’. “Those were grade school times. Oh come on!” She said with utter annoyance. “You have to keep your promise!” Dylan grabbed his chest as if she had just poked his heart with a dagger. “Come on darling.” He said, pointing to his lips. “Some other lifetime, Ford.” Isobel smiled menacingly as she nudged Nate’s elbow, forgetting that he was part of that deal. “Oh. Still doesn’t change the fact that you so want me. I’m handsome. I’m so hot that I have to grab my own ass. You told the whole school that.” Dylan was smirking madly at her.“Because that was the time the only guy I knew was you.”
“You sure?”
“You’re hopeless.”
“And you still want me.”There it is again. Why do guys have to shut Isobel every time? It’s not that Isobel wasn’t attracted. Believe me, Dylan is one hottie. It was true when he said that Isobel likes him. Well, back then, yeah. But based on what happened earlier, she has completely gotten over Dylan. Go Nate?
“Maybe not.”
“Say something stupid. I have to get out of here.” Isobel anxiously whispered near Nate’s ear.He looked at her fixedly. “You are the hopeless one.” He turned to look at Dylan, heaving a distressed sigh.Dylan continues to blabber while obviously, Nate and Isobel are too annoyed to even bother listening to him. “And you my dear friend Nate Somerhalder. You have lost all your baby fats! You look hot, though not as hot as I am. Too bad, Isobel’s mine.” Dylan said dramatically as he punched Nate’s arm.
“Oh you can have her.”
“Do you think if we stab him with the heels of your stilettos, he’ll die?” Nate whispered near Isobel’s ear. “Yea, but it’ll ruin my stilettos.” she answered sheepishly. Fact is, she was disturbed by what Nate told Dylan. Aww, what’s with that Isobel? “Fair enough.”Isobel then quickly added, “But..” she glanced upon Dylan and smiled at him. “there’s a reason women love buying Jimmy Choo’s.”Without anymore further fuss, Isobel introduced Nate to her STILETTOS. STOMP! “Isobel fucking Arganzen! What the hell did I do?” Nate leaped from his seat and felt like his toe was bleeding. “What happened? Is everything all right?” Dylan stood up and helped poor Nate stand. “On your toes now, buddy.” He said as he helped him situate himself on the leather seat. “Oh god Nate?” Isobel said as if she didn’t know what caused his shrill cry. “Dylan we have to go.” “What happened to you?” Dylan said pretending to look concerned. He reached over the table and slid an ice over his forehead. “You dumb ass. It’s his foot not his head.” Isobel blurted out, holding onto Nate as they both stood up. “I’ll take it from here. He’ll be fine.” She said, making her way towards the exit, leaving our Johnny depp behind. Awww.Nate met Isobel’s eyes as their faces almost touching each other’s. Isobel was on it again. She rubbed his back trying to give comfort as she murmured apologetic words which sounded rather I-told-you-so’s. She grabbed his brawny, perfect-tanned arms and let it surround her neck. Nate unconsciously rubbed her nape with his oh-so delicate innocent fingers which caused goose bumps to rise from her nape.Isobel shuddered with his soft touch. She tried as hard as she could to fight back her emotions but she can’t seem to know how. She led him towards the exit. As much to her surprise, Nate suddenly laughed and jumped out of her grasp. Tsk. We all know how Isobel felt, now don’t we? “Am I a great actor or what?” he said shooting her that smoldering look again which makes her weak in her knees.She could still smell the pungent, strawberry scent of his hair. His fragrance that lingered around her petite body which almost made her smell the same as Nate does. It’s not that she would mind that possibility.Nate finished up putting his lapels in place as it began scrunching as he was dragged out by Isobel. “You did well there. This..” he turned to his shoe “is as hard as metal.” He buried his hands in his pockets again as he continued, “I still don’t know why women literally die for Jimmy Choo’s.” He pointed towards her stilettos. “That can’t even pass up as a toothpick. You suck.” He laughed preposterously summoning the beast out of our dear Isobel. “Yeah actually, you are a great actor. Bet you can’t fake these.” She smiled for a moment then without anymore ado, kicked his *toot* as incredibly hard as she could with her precious stilettos giving our Natey a night he would always remember. “I had that coming. Sick bi--” He smirked, speaking between restrained breaths. “Sick bitch, my ass.” She muttered enigmatically, turning her back from him. “Don’t you follow me, dimwit. I’ve already warned you once.”Nate sniggered. He had always thought it was cute whenever Isobel’s mad. Oh! Let’s not go there, Natey. You can’t possibly. Gah.Chapter 5: MInutes “525,600 minutes. 525,000 moments so dear, how do you measure a year in the life? How about love?” The song continued to play on Nate’s head as it was endlessly redundant on the radio. “Darn. How many more bloody minutes are there till you crap the whole song out?” he smacked the radio onto the floor before picking up his ringing black cordless phone from under his bed. Under? How did it get beneath his bed?He stood at his usual spot on the wall, beside the window, with his back leaning on it. “Yeap. Nate Somerhalder still sleeping, though more likely, it seems I’m rather sleepwalking since I’m here speaking unconsciously right now, but alas, I’m still here seemingly awake, probably going to regret it later when I’m not disturbed by some psycho who can’t seem to have a life of his own. Or preferably, her, since only women desperately phone me during 3 am...WHO is calling?” he said the last bit with a high pitched, sarcastic tone. Too indolent to even bother knowing who’s at the other line. “You are one fucked-up shit. I am Isobel, your worst nightmare. Now get up sleepy crap.” Isobel demanded quietly. Her voice low, appeared to have been tormented with hours of screaming. She sounded as if she was holding back her tears. Tears? Why would she want to cry?Nate pulled himself together now, aware that Isobel’s threat isn’t far-fetched from becoming a reality. “At 3 am? What is with you? Your recent stunt last night nearly ended my manhood.” he grumbled, lying down on his bed, plopping his pillow just to give enough comfort for his head. “Cut the crap and go over here asap!” she hurriedly muttered with seeming depression. “Why?” he asked, shifting his body to the other side. “You understand it is 3 ri--.”He was cut off short by a loud bang on the other line, which caused him to be flabbergasted. “AH!” Isobel sobbed as gently as she could. Something isn’t right.“Isobel!” he stiffly sat up with his charming eyes all popped out. “Are you ok? What’s happening?” Nate got off his bed and grabbed his keys. “Stay where you are. I’m coming.” He hung up and ran to his car. He couldn’t gather his thoughts. He has no clue what could have been happening. All he knows is he has to get his ass at Isobel’s fast.“Please. Dad, please. I didn’t kill Rob! You did! You got drunk. It wasn’t me!” Isobel trembled with fear as she looked at a poor dog’s cadaver lying on their Persian rug.
“You don’t have the right to kill off Rob! You of all, should have been killed beforehand! You are the black sheep of this family! You were meant to be aborted when you were a frigging scum baby! Your idiotic mother chose you rather than me. Who in her right mind would keep a shitty wanker like you?!” Clyde held up his fist and threatened Isobel with it. “You should friggin die you bitch!”“No! Stop!” she tried to convince him into stopping but her tirade of explanations got interrupted by a fist crashing into her stomach with great cruelty, making her double over the pain which she felt when she was scared.Blood sprinkled on their lavender curtain as she pulled it over her as to cover up her poor form. Isobel wiped the blood that tainted her shirt as well as her mouth.“Get your dirty stubby hands off of me, you asshole! Wait till I get your sorry ass bashed down into pieces with..” she snapped when she saw Clyde beam a gun at her.“With what?” he moved in closer with the gun still in his hands. “Don’t you realize that with one pull of this,” he said shifting his gaze at the trigger. “You’re no longer an Arganzen?” he tittered, tracing the gun along her chest to her forehead. “Dad..” she called softly. Isobel felt emptiness and numbness take over her. She couldn’t make sense of what’s happening. For all she wants was that miracle to happen, that perfect soul to step in and save her.Nate arrived irately. He got out of the car, took out his baseball bat frantically running and stopped at what he saw. A gun so close Isobel’s face that it seemed it was planted on her forehead. He felt an impulse to go and help her. He went through the back door just to be safe. “Isobel, you’ve been a bad girl.” Clyde pouted playfully as he said it. “As you know, bad girls go to hell. I’ll make your trip a little sooner, darling.” He laughed menacingly.Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Nate kicked his stomach and knocked him down with his baseball bat leaving a blood-spattered Clyde unconscious down on the floor, or so he thought.Clyde looked horrible. He quickly crashed his stomach with immense strength. They fought for about 15 minutes. Finally, he grabbed him down and jabbed his face protected by his shivering hands. Nate got a jolt when he felt something pierce his right shoulder. He reached out to his side and grabbed the bat he brought and banged it onto Clyde’s head leaving him knocked down, real unconscious this time.Nate weakly got up and looked at Isobel.
“Nate?” Isobel felt too weak to even bother figuring who it was. But she was right. It was Nate.Nate no longer thought of what to do with Clyde. He tenderly scooped Isobel up and carried her to his car. He leaned her nimble body on the hood while he fumbled for his keys in his pockets. He guided Isobel in and strapped the seatbelt across her lap before he settled himself in the driver’s seat. For a minute, he merely leaned back his seat, blaming himself for taking so much time before saving her. Not even bothering cleaning up himself from all the bruises. He then started the engine and drove silently.Nate pulled in front of his apartment. He turned to her and with eyes of pity he whispered almost to himself, “You’re home.”It’s as if Isobel heard it. She nodded weakly but he had already gotten out of the car to have noticed. He opened the door and grabbed her with utter care.They got inside and went straight to his room. He helped her to bed and once she was lying straight down, proceeded to take her shoes off. He washed her up with a white cloth and cleansed her slash marks. He walked blankly into his bathroom, facing the mirror with extreme confusion.“Nate..” she whispered blustery. He heard it due to the constant silence between them.
“Yeah?”She smiled knowing that it was Nate. “Come here.”Without any inquiry or complaint, he got up and faced her. “Why? Do you need something?”She smiled once more and motioned for him to lie down beside her. “Here.” she uttered feebly.He got into the bed next to her, slipped an arm around her waist while his other hand stroked her hair lovingly. He let himself drift to the nice moment they were sharing. Needless to say, he was as tired as she was.“Thanks.” she whispered near his ear. She looked upon his dazzling olive green eyes. At the same time, Nate met her misty hazel eyes. They didn’t know what happened but their lips somehow found their way to each other’s. And it cured the both of them.They drifted to sleep but Nate was gone before she could even stir in the morning light.Chapter 6: BreakShe got up feeling like the world was turning wildly. The mirror showed a wretched young woman, with deplorable swollen eyes, pale and bleach-like in color. She was the very image of newly starched bed covers. Yet she’s still beautiful. Her scrawny exterior beckoned a cry from her, overshadowing what was truly stunning. She was too weak to even bother.She wanted to clench up her fist but felt too frail to even try. Guilt, confusion and self-pity were swimming in her head. She then lay down on Nate’s bed, her eyes bulging open. She turned to her side and saw a plate of blueberry bagel with cream cheese slathered on it. As if zapped by lightning, she sat up hastily and shoved practically the whole bagel into her mouth. “Yum.” She said with sheer delight.She finished up and looked for a napkin on the table. “My worst nightmare..” She looked closer and saw something written on the tissue laid down beside the plate. She grabbed and read it aloud:My worst nightmare,Blueberry bagel topped with deelish cream cheese at your service.I know it’s just a small thing but I figured it was your favorite. See you later =)P.SI didn’t know you’re a good kisser.--NateHer mouth opened in shock as she tapped her lips. Last night, he saved her. Last night, he tucked her in bed. Last night, she asked him to lie down beside her. Last night, they KISSED! “Shit.” She glanced at the clock revealing it was 10pm already. Her hands shuddered with panic. “Why? Oh shitty Isobel, why the heck did you let it happen?” with that she zoomed out of his apartment, feeling her lively self again.“Nate, you did what?” Kevin was left bowled over. He sat up slowly and darted his eyes over Nate’s dreadfully.
“So you have the hots for Isobel? Which is rather tolerable since there’s no doubt she is hot. Not to mention, hot-headed as well! Are you kidding me? She’s like your sister, man.” He kept shooting Nate that you-must-be-kidding look, as he plunked himself again in his bean bag. “No you idiot! Nowhere close to be a fact.” he assured him defensively. “It was a one-time thing. We were both not ourselves that moment. Besides, it’s ISOBEL, for Christ’s sake.”“Oh come on! You’ve been known as to drag chicks to your home, force of habit remember?” Kevin said in one breath.Nate threw the nearest thing he could grab, a magazine. He rolled his eyes.“What? You are one fucked-up shit.” His arms folded. “You came here in the first place spilling out all this crap to me!” He looked up to him disbelievingly.“Sorry man, just a little high strung.” He apologized almost to himself.“Just..just.” He said dumbly. “Anyway... So, what are you planning to do?” finally giving up of hitting him back. “I have no idea. I left her a blueberry bagel with a note earlier this morning.” he said expressionlessly.He stood up with utter disbelief in his face. “A bagel? A blueberry of your choice? Crap, Nate. And you didn’t even bring me some. How typical of a friend. You knocked on my door furiously, woke me up at 4 am.” He complained, pointing towards the wall clock. “Didn’t even bother that I could die without eating. That’s strike 2! You call yourself my friend?” He pouted and slouched against his bean bag again.Nate glanced over his watch. “You mean 4 in the afternoon. It’s after brunch. You haven’t eaten and it’s your fault. I never wanted you to be my friend anyway. Carter introduced you to me and we hanged out since then on, so we desist the issue and rest this case.” He informed him in one breath.A displeased Kevin checked his Nike wrist watch which he never took off, ever I say, and mouthed a silent, “Oh yea.”“Anyway, Nate, it’s just a girl. Don’t worry about it. Everything will fall back to place. It’s not like she’ll kill you for it. I bet she didn’t sleep thinking of how luscious and tender your lips were.” He said giving him a seducing wink.Nate picked up the magazine and threw at him again. “Jerk.” “Yeah, like you haven’t told me that yet. There are other hot girls out there anyway, Nate. Olivia’s looking fine. She is va va voom-ly mouthwatering after those 3 years of working out.” He said pensively, trying to visualize her. “You sick dope-fiend. Olivia’s my cousin.” “No shit?” he asked shockingly with his right hand covering up his mouth with utter humiliation. “I can’t believe I was the one popping Ritalin when I was 9.” He shook his head with a grin. “Why are you so irksome?” Kevin asked wrathfully. “Who the fuck makes use of the word irksome?” “Will you stop changing the subject? This is crazy. Talking to you gives me a headache. Out!” He walked briskly towards the door and opened it with great force, tightening his grip on the doorknob. Nate is in for some punching again if he doesn’t quit being an ass.Nate heaved a troubled, sarcastic sigh and walked his way out. “By the way..” he stopped at his door and continued. “We are 1st cousins, making Olivia your cousin as well.” He hastily ran his fingers through his striking gold- splashed chestnut hair which it probably got from the sun’s light. “You disgust me.” With that, he dashed out of the house laughing. Definitely, out of threat of getting dust in his perfectly fixed hair. Kevin leaned on the door and withdrew a sigh. “Isobel.”
-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`He stopped for a moment, letting the cool breeze soothingly waft him. He could still remember Isobel’s warm face with her lips crashing into his. Unbelievable as it was, it still happened. And there’s no way he could erase that moment. Gah. The sun’s a bit magenta-colored. Everything seems weird.He went back to his apartment seeing only his cat Mr. Lenny. Isobel had obviously left earlier that morning. “Unfixed bed. That’s her all right.” He grinned, moving towards his bed to get the covers.He finished cleaning his room and finally plopped down his couch, with his hands beneath his head. “Mr. Lenny, how do you manage to sleep all day long? Without worries and anxieties to block your view? That must be relaxing.” He snapped at the cat sullenly.Just as he was about to rest his eyes, his kitchen phone rang piercingly. “Hell. People seem to love calling me.” He stood up hauling a cynical sigh and caught the phone sluggishly. “Yeap? Nate here.”“Somerhalder, right?” the person from the receiver questioned. “Uh yeah. Who’s this?” He narrowed his alluring olive eyes, trying to detect the person who owns the voice. “The dog killer.” She blatantly introduced.Nate groaned and wobbled his head. “Oh, the hanky lady.” He briefly took the phone away from him and took a smoke. “This better be good. Why call? And how did you know my number?” he patted Mr.Lenny’s furry head, sitting at his pale-blue kitchen counter.There was some silence before she answered. “You threw your license at my dog and pocketed your joint. Come on, you must be better than that.” She sniggered. “I went to a friend and had you tracked down, thinking, I’ve got to find this guy because he could actually make use of the license. Do you even have a car?” Her voice overwhelmed with disdain.Nate laughed incredulously. “Wow. That actually worked!” he said with amusement, aiming at the trash can then threw his joint. “Pardon?” her voice sounding a bit husky and out of the blue curious. “I throw my license, mistaking it for a smoke, I go home nonchalantly, some God-knows-who girl calls me to return it. Pretty neat for picking up ladies, eh?” He gushed, trying to sound comedic. But he is psycho-stoned..Yet ridiculously hot. Gah. “You’re one fucked-up shit.” She disgustingly responded. Somehow, people love calling him fucked-up. Even worse, a shit to add more. Poor Natey. Come to me, I would never call you crap.He headed to the fridge and took out a cold, half-drained bottle of Bloody Mary. He gulped with extreme thirst and took the phone back near his ears. “So I’ve been told. But you managed to have time for an obnoxious..” he started, guzzling another of the wine. “Fucked-up shit, eh?” “I’m an angel.” He heard her chortle wittily. “Straight answer, dufus. Do you want your dirty little card back or not?” “At Asteroid, 6pm.” He piped up. “It wouldn’t be hard to find me, now would it?” He said with a wink, imagining she was there in front of him being shot with his persuasive flash. He hung up and slumped back on his couch.Mr. Lenny sauntered towards him and settled on his lap. Before he could even mumble anything, a soft tingling purr broke the silence. “Meow.”Chapter 7: AsteroidHe woke up seeing he has fallen from the couch. Upon reaching his watch, Mr. Lenny purred ever so softly. “How long have I been sleeping?” he asked the cat, his eyes still squinting, adjusting from the harsh light from his magenta-colored lamp. “I must have overslept.” He muttered darkly, glancing down at his watch, his head still feeling heavy. “She might be dancing on the table already.” With that, he stood up and grabbed his jacket.He entered the car with much annoyance, hoping she wouldn’t show up so he’ll just grab a drink for himself. He could get a license anytime he wants. He inserted the key to the ignition and drove wordlessly. “ASTEROID” His mischievous eyes fixed on the big wooden sign above a seeming skyscraper, only to think it was a bar.His gaze dropped down enough to face the entrance. Dragging his feet, he made his way into the bar.“What does she look like?” His head turned wildly, probably because of the 4 bloody Mary’s he consumed in a span of 20 minutes. When we thought he only drank a half-drained bottle? Looks like he is instinctively guzzling over alcohol whether he fancies it or not.He plunked himself onto one of the stools. Perched at the bar and waved for a bartender to attend to him. “Two Corzo,sir.” He said sluggishly with the slightest smirk he pulled off. Has he been not satisfied from all the drinks? Someone call 911 if he passes out.The bartender rolled his eyes and fixed the drinks right away. A little clip on his shirt told him his name was Tony.He waited for a good 2 minutes before scanning the crowd, gulping his drinks in one take-in. Under a turquoise light, a gorgeous woman gracefully heading towards his direction was wearing a velvet green dress slightly covered with an haute nude coat, completing her look with silver flats. Almost every guy in the bar were drooling their asses off, taking time to appreciate the woman’s irresistible features. “Drunkard dufus?” she settled next to him. The guys on the table almost died in envy. He let out a huge grin. Before she could even call the bartender, he has prepared her a drink already. “Lemony as you wanted it, honey pot.” Tony playfully flirted. He winked her goodbye and turned to another customer. “I’m a regular.” She explained defensively, sipping her Martini with a straw. “Looking at those drooling ducklings..” he said eyeing the guys continually checking her out. “you don’t look regular to me.” With a bit of flirty feel creeping up the atmosphere as he told her it.She broke into a derisive smile, setting her gaze on his roguish eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re one of them.” “Don’t worry. I’ve graduated from petty little girls who like to play ‘dress and make-up’.” A devilish smirk crept up his face, as he signaled Tony for another drink. Easy there, buddy. “Oh really now, smartass?” the hair cascading down her shoulder fluttered to the back by her tan hand. “I’m not trying to be a smartass. I’m trying to subconsciously get my license from you. After all, you haven’t changed. You still don’t know when to shut up.” He picked up his Corzo before smiling at her.Around them, teetering in tables, were groups of college students just like them, having the time of their life. The brightly lit candles surrounding the vicinity freshened up the maladroit ambiance produced by different personalities crashing the place.“I thought you could actually try being human, having a social life.” She rolled her eyes, scrabbling for the license inside her magenta handbag.“Right. Educate me with that twaddle, social..fuck, what is it again? Pardon for such lack of incompetence. I just don’t have that..” he griped, rudely snatched Charlie’s half-drained glass and drank its contents. “Come on, help me now.” He sarcastically pleaded. He clunked his glass onto the wooden counter.Her eyes rolled ever so beautifully. But of course, he hadn’t notice. Duh. “Social life. But since your current mental state is frightful, I advise that you get a LIFE.” Opening her tote, she realized she have forgotten to bring along his license.“Ohh.” A silence descended between the two. Nate shook his head. “Knew it. ” He stood up clumsily and headed towards the door.She eyed him as he went out. “You’ll be back.” She gave in a soft smile which produced a vibrant glow on her face that made the ducklings drool once more. Yeap, that’s how blind Nate is. “Yo!” Tony the bartender jumped over the table and ran towards Nate’s direction. “Don’t you run off like that you son of a bi—.” “Oh shit.” Nate for a while stood frozen then turned around to go back. Too late though.Tony’s eyes were burning with utter displeasure. “I’m sorr--.” Just as Nate was about to hand him the bills, he received a solid punch in the face. Oops.He felt his head was cracked badly. The light pierced his eyes as he squinted. “Don’t mind. I already got the money from your wallet.” Tony turned away, grumbling in an annoyed tone. “College kids..”He closed his eyes for a second and opened it to see an angel-like woman with light brown hair smiling at him. Of course again, he hadn’t really noticed. “Knew you’d be back.” He felt her warm finger tap his forehead. “Come on.” She slowly put his arms around her neck and helped him stand up. “Upsy-daisy, dufus.” Her breath smelled peppermint. Finally, he noticed something.The moon was shining bright and the wind definitely was chilly; he could almost feel winter coming. Nate looked at Charlie; her head tilted upwards, her hands buried in her coat pockets and appeared to be gazing absorbedly at some heavenly body. No, her face is heavenly. He thought to himself. Wow, Nate I’m impressed. But hold on, he brushed off the thought and is now gone. Told you to lay off the wine Nate.She detached her gaze from the sky and looked at him. “Does it still hurt?” she asked with a concerned tone evident on her voice. A convincing smile formed on her face. Alas, it wasn’t convincing enough.He refused to be nice and mockingly replied, “Apparently, your voice seemed to have brought more pain. Shut it.” He wondered whether he was about to be thrown into a near garbage bin by what he just said to her. Surprisingly, as he slyly turned to look at her a smile never left her face. “Why can’t you just be like other men?” she asked sarcastically with an over-done tone of her voice, as she glanced with her pretty hazel eyes. Just like Isobel’s.He gave a wicked chuckle and sardonically replied, “Maybe I’m not a man.” Giving emphasis on the ‘im not’ phrase he continued, “and I’m picky.” Her glance seemed to have given an incredible effect on his body. Tapping his lower lip, suddenly no pain seemed to have been beyond agonizing compared earlier. She smiled and let out a barely audible laugh.They let the time pass by without talking to each other. Charlie knew how incompetent Nate could get if they continue with the conversation. Especially, considering he is a bit tipsy. Right, just a bit, huh?An empty can rolled in front of them. Her reflexes did a great job making her stop; however Nate looked like he was sleeping already, just with his eyes slightly open. “Careful there!” Charlie quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him to straighten up. “I might’ve been nice but I’m not about to look after you, dufus.” She couldn’t help but smile at Nate looking all blank and deadpan yet still so hot. Told you he wasn’t just a bit tipsy.“Hands off me, missy. You didn’t have to make excuses to touch my irresistible muscular frame. Just by looking at the way you look at me, you could’ve melted on your spot.” He said narrowing his eyes as tried to stop the world from turning. No honey, you’re just too drunk. He coughed a bit and continued, “Seriously, stop taking advantage of my poor innocence.” She drew closer and flapped his stray hair away from his eye.“Seriously, you have to stop tempting me then.” She said with a wink, half- expecting him to smile but thought he was too weak to even bother.A flash of confusion shone through his eyes, but it was soon covered with resolve and a fake smile. “Right.”He was awoken by Charlie’s soft muttering. “Well, here I am.” She said with her eyes glistening as the moonlight reflected on it.He nodded and looked up to check where she has stopped. “Oh fu--.” His head cleared all of a sudden. The noises that came barging in his stoned mind suddenly stopped; pushing him though a bewildering scene. “You’ve got to be kidding” His eyes bulging open as he stared dumbly at the disturbing sight, Kevin’s house. Oh brother.Chapter 8: Marijuana“Here, birdy-birdy." Kevin eyed the bird carefully, tightening his grip on the Pellegrino he stole from his dad ship cabin. Yeah, they’re all über rich. “Say cheese for me, sweetheart.” He held his camera on the other hand ready, he took a few more silent, careful steps then he swiftly raised his camera to his eye. Swoosh!He glanced at his side, seeing he has fallen down. “Augh.” He sat up and saw a busted camera lying on the concrete. “Oh, you’ve got..Oh no,no,no. I’m in deep shit.” One thing I forgot, he stole his dad’s camera along with the Pellergrino. Yeah, he’s an über-moron. Someone stepped on the camera and left it bashed into pieces for him to show his dad. The trash can on the far end of the alley was whacked piercingly. He turned to look, and realized that the black man with the leather jacket was the one responsible for his broken camera. Make that his dad’s camera.“You are not going anywhere, shit head.” Seeing that he could still chase the man and punch the moron with all his might, he stood up heatedly. He heard muffled footsteps going to the direction towards him. He ignored it and prepared himself to run. But before he could do anything else, a good grip held his shoulder. “What?” he asked crossly. Just to see a horde of policemen heaving threatening groans behind like angry wolves. “Check him up.” One policeman demanded. What’s happening? He backed off a little. He never felt so confused in his life. “Here, sir.” The skinny bald-headed officer handed a small aluminum foil to the buff policeman who seemed fresh off from a wrestling match. “Look brothers, he is black. I’m white!” Kevin defended almost hysterically. The policeman gunned him with a terminating roar. “Shut up. I’ve heard that already.” “No running this time.” The seeming leader of the policemen sighed yet expressed a feeling of relief. “You’re under arrest, poncho.”~0oooooo0~Nate awoke after an alcohol- marathon he got busy with last night. He lifted up his gaze at the black, square wall clock blending with the wall’s mustard color, a present from Isobel last Christmas. Isobel, he thought. They have not seen each other for a day. He turned the blanket over his face again. “I badly need a coffee.” He muttered, calling to no one in particular, under the cover. A loud knock banged onto his door as if some metal that weighs a ton was thrown upon his door.“Go away.” He demanded almost a whisper to himself, with a bit of curiosity in his mind. He lied down still motionless with his eyes closed. The knock continued and this time constant. “Go away! Go away!” He said idly, reaching out his hand, making a flippant wave.“Nate! Open up! Wake up!” He recognized the voice behind the door. It was Carter’s. He never ever knocks that way. He’d always been polite when it comes to knocking, eating, even asking permission to go pee, you name it. It’s like he’s the baby of their circle. This surely brought him up.He dragged his feet to the door and opened it, much to his dismay. “What?”“Kevin.” He almost breathed out the name.He looked down and heaved a sarcastic sigh. “What about him? He’s dumped for the 100th time? His mother told him to run away? He’s a pain in the ass again?” He formed a subtle grin on his face, thinking there’s nothing new about Kevin, except for the fact that Charlie was his sister. Oh, enough.A sweat fell from his chin. “No.” he looked away momentarily, stuttering a bit. “He’s in jail.”They arrived at exactly 15 minutes, not looking at each other throughout the ride. Damn that Kevin. What did he do now? He asked himself quietly.He strided towards the entrance, being shot with a glance by a woman he badly wanted to see. Isobel, for Mr. Lenny’s sake, his bestfriend.He didn’t eagerly return the gaze, rather, asked with his head wandering around. “Where is he?” A debate to whether talk to her or not was going on inside his head.She led him, not talking, towards the receptionist. It’s as if she read his mind, she suddenly muttered, “Accused of possession of illegal drugs.” With that, she settled down beside Carter on the vomit-green leather couch near the access.“Drugs?” A seeming 100th time of sighing didn’t keep him from doing it once more.“So are we on Friday night?” Kevin asked flirtatiously, his eye wide and expectant mixed with a little bit of arrogance. Right, a little bit of conceit. Oh, to hell with him.He drew nearer to the gorgeous woman officer, tightening his grip on her arms as they strided towards the front desk.“Could you cut the semi-flirtatious crap?” she replied simply with disgust, pushing his hand away with much force to which he got shocked. Tough. Lady. Tough?“Oh come on, women find me irresistible.” He said with the slightest smirk. Most often than not, girls dump him the moment they lay eyes on Kevin. Not that he wasn’t hot enough to get a girl for himself, it’s just that you’d be getting more of the looks than the brains. Yeah. Enough Said. “Couldn’t you shut up?”“Say yes!” he exclaimed with delight as he finds something amiss about the police officer.“I guess a man like me couldn’t just find you attractive enough.” Came a muffled yet a very deep voice from the officer that made his insides explode. Could you say gay?Kevin stood frozen, speechless at his discovery. 2 hours of flirting devotedly led him to nothing. Why didn’t he notice it? Poor guy.“Meet at The Ivy’s, 9pm then?” she released his handcuffs, he rather, and pushed him harshly to the wooden chair.
“Shut up.” He stipulated quite politely. The man raised an eyebrow.“Tell me God! Could my luck get any worse?” A tear threatened to fall from his eyes as he sat. “Where’s my sister? She’s supposed to bail me out!”Nate looked over his shoulder to see a distraught look on Kevin’s face. “Guys.” He signaled Isobel and Carter before he walked to him. “I see you’re here. Care to share your story?” He challenged, folding his arms.Isobel sighed and drew him to a hug. “What happened? I know you could be an ass most of the time..” He looked at her disbelievingly while she continued. “But you’re a muffin. No way would you get into trouble this much.”“I didn’t do it. If I had done so, dad would’ve fumed with anger.”“What a shame that would have been, huh?” Nate interrupted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.“Oh shut up.” Isobel demanded, which made him do so. Astonishing how magical and miraculous her demands have been, she made him stop. Hmmm, not for long though.“It isn’t impossible for him to get his ass in jail. He’s enough trouble as he is.” Nate added quickly.Isobel gave him a scolding look. No literal scolding.He just rolled his eyes and glued his eyes on the Eiffel Tower picture hanging on the wall.She glanced down and met Kevin’s eyes. “Go on. Tell us what really happened. You know, this is not a simple matter to disregard.”“I didn’t know getting a picture of a stray bird would be so illegal.” He furiously glared at the officer who dragged him to the station.
“Stealing Pellegrino and your dad’s camera would be.” Nate added. Kevin bit his lip and felt furious.“Come on. Tell us everything.” Said Isobel, giving a soft smile to calm him down.Kevin grinned back. He likes how Isobel could be so sweet and involved so much in his life. “Well as I said,” he started calmly. “I was taking a picture of this particular bird when suddenly a black guy made me stumble onto the concrete causing my camera to break. He just, swooshed past me and before I could do anything else, a horde of policemen came behind me and this officer right here..” he eyed the officer again and pointed at his face. “Does this look like a criminal to you! Because you’ve been ignoring this charming face while you slapped the cuffs on me!” “I didn’t know how to react, or what to tell them.” He said a bit defiantly and continuing with his tale. “That guy pulled an aluminum foil out of my pocket and he gave it to another officer. Marijuana, I thought. What’s worse is they found it in my pocket. I don’t have a friggin clue how fast the black guy slipped it inside when I fell down.” He ducked his head and buried his head on the palms of his hands. Poor, poor, poor Kevin.“Kevin Stratta! Where’s my brother?” came a demanding yet warmly voice from the entrance. It was..“Charlie.” Nate whispered, fear and worry evident in his eyes.“Nate.” She whispered back. It’s almost impossible to actually be brought down by fate here with a guy he met by fate as well. Confusing. “Charlie!” Kevin merely shouted perkily, jumping from his seat, fear in his normally warm and mischievous blue eyes, “I swear, I..”She snickered and wrapped her arms around him. “What the hell did you do now?”He withdrew from the embrace slightly, sitting back again while Charlie stood beside Isobel. Not a good idea.He sprawled back on his seat sullenly and spun his daring tale once again. Charlie nodded in places, sighed in some parts and all throughout supportive by attending to his brother. “So what do we do now?” Carter asked no one in particular. “I know!” Kevin exclaimed full of sarcasm as the 2 words came out from his mouth. “Bail me out.” He said, looking serious now. “Or..We could let him sleep here over night. Could be fun! Lesson to be learned, I mean: Quit being sexually fond of stray birds, Kev. I thought you’ve given that up, bro?” Charlie mocked as she winked at Carter.Kevin stared at him in open-mouthed shock, his eyes wide and unbelieving. He shifted his wandering mind to the cageful of dopers, criminals, all collected there in the station resulting to a seeming stockpile of animals which he witnessed earlier during his little tour. Oh come on, Kevin wouldn’t last a day there.”Legally…essential.” He looked back at his friends and continued, “How about bail me out!” cried Kevin.“Shut up kid or we’ll have to cut your head off.” The officer on the front desk with a phone near her ear barked irately.
“Okay, let her chop it off, so we could all go home.” Nate put on a sinister smile and folded his arms when he saw Isobel beaming at her.
“Quit being an ass.” He fixed her eyes on Kevin, who is close to tears.
“Look Kevin, don’t worry. I’d settle it with them. I’m sure you didn’t do it so…It’ll be a piece of cake to bail you out. All we need is the release and uh, well, I’m pretty sure Uncle Sam wouldn’t be harsh on you.” She fidgeted, feeling the nervousness creep up her spine.
“Uncle Sam?” Kevin threw in a baffled look. “I have an Uncle Sam?”
“Yes. He went to your birthday when you were 8. You called him uncle once. At least, to my thinking.” She wasn’t sure either.
“You still remember that?”
“I don’t have a hard time remembering people unlike you. I know he’s a sergeant now.”
“Right.” All of them fell into a pool of silence until Isobel walked her noisy stilettos towards the new deputy stationed on the guard desk.
“Excuse me. I’m here to bail out a Kevin Stratta. He’s a friend of mine taken to police custody for questioning regarding the possession of illegal drugs which isn’t really true.”
The woman briefly detached her phone from her ear and turned to Isobel. “Have you got a release?” She sluggishly asked as she sat on her black leather-seat chair.
“The sergeant told us to wait for a few minutes and then he’ll be back to check it with him about that--.”
“Then wait.” She set the phone near her ear again and flipped some pages of their files.
Isobel, to accentuate her impatience and annoyance, rudely grabbed the phone from the woman and whacked it on the table in front of her and whispered her a threat. “Just so you know, with just one call, I could take that badge and throw it in the gutters. Your sergeant doesn’t have to know how incompetent his little bitch is, does he? So how’s it going to be, grandma? You call or I do?” Isobel straightened up and tucked her stray hair on her right ear.
The woman quivered under her stare. Isobel watched her dial on the phone as she reluctantly glanced at her with astonishment. “Sergeant Johansson, please.” Her hands trembling as she twirled the cord with her index finger. “Case of Stratta.”
“Okay, sir. Yes, sir. I’d inform them, sergeant.” She softly put down her phone and had a hard time looking at Isobel’s eyes. “He is free to leave on bail. They have detected the real suspect and had been caught already. Mr. Stratta would be notified of the date for his indictment.”
“That’s what I thought.” She defiantly proclaimed as she headed back to her friends.
“Isobel!” Kevin walked up to her. “What happened? I think I heard some banging.”
“You could leave. Let’s go.”
Kevin stared at her in amazement. “You mean, I’m free, free?”
“Yes, you are free, free. Now, let’s go before I change my mind.”
“But you said it was a serious one and--.” She cut her short.
“You stay or you go?”
Kevin dashed towards her and hugged her ever so tenderly. “Oh I’m so in love you, Isobel! I say chow down at Henry’s! My treat! And oh yeah, it won’t happen again!”
Isobel smiled genuinely and patted his shoulder. “There really wouldn’t be any ‘next time’ because I’d rather turn in myself as a prisoner than watch you be grateful for me saving your ass.”
He surprised her with a peck on the cheek. “Stratta, I demand you to stay in jail for as long as you live.” They all burst in laughter as they walked out of the station. At least to Kevin and Isobel’s thinking. Tsk.
Nate approached Kevin silently. “Man, I’m happy for you and shit but I’ve got some work to do. So if you don’t mind..”
Kevin patted his shoulder and chuckled almost thankfully. “Oh of course, you’ve got things to attend to.” And added a whisper, “will be lighter in the pocket too. We’ll see you then!” He walked happily and closer to Isobel who was a bit bothered with Nate withdrawing from the fun.
Nate buried his hands on his jacket’s pockets and walked the opposite direction.
“Hey!” a cheeky voice yet with a lovely tone called out to him from the back. He turned his head and saw Charlie approaching.
“You?” worry quite evident in his voice. “Aren’t you going to feast with your brother?” he asked curiously.
“Me? I’ve got some tedious things to attend to as well.” She winked and treaded beside Nate.
“Like?” he asked uninterestingly.
“Accompany a liar who wouldn’t really do anything besides moping around,” She smirked.
“You know it’s better that you tail along your brother than tail along a PHONY, or would be bad for you.” He responded drearily, carrying on in his walking.
“I’m afraid that you bump into another girl and this time, her dog will seriously gnaw you to death with that attitude, would be bad for you too.” She paused momentarily to bite back her laughter. “Consider me as your pacifier. You’ll thank me for it someday.” The both exchanged glances and Charlie grinned at him.
“Ha Ha, Stratta.” Nate said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. “Well not today.”
“So anyway, did you sleep well?” Charlie said, looking sincerely at his eyes.
“How about that?” Nate pretended to be amused.
“What?” She sneered, bowing her head down as they walked. “So did you?”
Nate chortled for a while before answering in a childish tone, “Nope.”
“I figured. 10 bottles of Bloody Mary bottomed you out. I thought you were superman but since that can-incident last night,”
“Seriously, go feast with your convict of a brother.” He finally barked.
Charlie drew into a mocking sigh. “See? That’s exactly what I mean. Come on, I know a fitting place for your kind of people. Let’s drive out the demon from you.” She clung on his brawny arms and forced him to follow her pace.
“Hey..Hey..” Nate lightly pushed Charlie’s strong hands. “Girl, I’m nowhere smiling!” Charlie broke into a derisive smile and shook her head.
Chapter 9: Withshed
Nate took a deep breath, inhaling the intoxicating aroma of Brazilian coffee existent on the shop he firmly set his foot in. His head barged with senses overdrive quickly cleared in a second. “Sweet.”
“Sweet?” Charlie interrupted his little trance, stunned. “Wow, it really worked.” She said proudly. “Now, if you aren’t turning yourself into a big door blockage, it would be much sweeter.”
Nate abruptly went inside and felt sheepish. “Better?” he said full of contempt.
“Thanks for asking.” She motioned him to a nearby table and sat down sluggishly.
“Ahhh. Amazingly suitable. I missed this.” Her feet wiggling swiftly and her head shaking in delight as she sunk on such blissful state.
“Hey, pace yourself. Don’t let people think I’m with a perky elementary student. Your looks say a lot about it already, so behave accordingly.” He scolded her coldly.
“Stop yapping, grandpa.” She teased, shooting him a scorning look.
“Hello there beauty.” A waiter approached their table, suspending their argument.
“So what would you like to order?”
“Let’s see,” Charlie scratched her head and said, “Oh I remember. I’d have the zeitgeist latte with vanilla ice cream and a mango crepe please.”
“Aha! Outstanding choice, pretty damsel.” The waiter said with glee.
Charlie softly kicked Nate’s leg and asked him his.
Nate cracked 3 words, “And I’ll have..”
CLASP. The waiter snapped close his little metal pad and bowed. “Princess, it won’t take long. Kindly wait for your order.” With that, he handed to his co-worker a little note and resumed his business in another table.
Charlie usually didn’t struggle too much to hold in her laughter, but it was impossible to hold back a loud moan—a long drawn out, “Uhhhhhhhhh …….” When Nate looked at her with dazed eyes, she hurried to add up, “Uhhh…sweet.” She released a silent laugh and got up.
Nate found himself pulling of a grin. “Where you going?”
Charlie put on a cheek-to-cheek smile. “You’re seriously asking me that?”
Suddenly hit by what he just said, he quickly replied, “What are the odds? You could have driven out the demon and possessed yourself with it. Who then would act as the pacifier, huh? I’m just handing you back your kindness so I wouldn’t have to thank you for it someday.” A sinister smile crept up his face.
“Wicked! That’s a good reasoning.” She said, overwhelming her face with mockery. As she sauntered towards the cashier, she called out, “Love!” and laughed.
Everyone in the shop set their gaze on Nate, who struggled to sit still, wishing Charlie was a boy and that he could strangle her at that very moment. He glanced at her to see her reaction—she was laughing with a sincere smile as she talked to the server. DAMN IT, was all he could repeat in his mind over and over.
He ignored the curious faces and went on nervously drumming his fingers on the edge of the table.
Charlie grabbed his shirt and whispered in his ear. “Love, do you feel like strangling me now?”
Nate sneered, “Actually, I was hoping to do that now but maybe later.”
Charlie pulled him up to her level and whispered once more. “Is that right?” She asked. “Perhaps I should be more careful that you don’t pounce on me and straight up rip my clothing.”
“Maybe when you’re not Charlie, I’d do that,” His voice dripping with sarcasm.
A buzzing cell phone ring broke off the humor-filled tension and prompted Charlie to get back to her seat.
She annoyingly tapped her pocket and took her phone out. “Hey, it’s not mine. Check yours.”
Nate felt his phone’s vibration and was therefore informed that his phone was responsible for ringing too loud. He took out his phone and answered it finally.
“Hello?” he idly greeted.
“Son..”
“Oh it’s not you again,” Stan cut him short and proceeded to talk.
“Hey Nate, before you send me to hell and hurl curses, please listen to what I need to tell you first. I know you don’t like the idea of me contacting you but I’ve got a problem. Look, I’ll make you a deal, if you do this one little favor I ask of you, I’d set you free and never ever call you again.”
Nate snickered. “Temptingly intriguing. Go to hell.” He hung up and trapped his cell phone inside his hand.
Charlie shook her head. “Trouble?”
Before Nate could answer, a server approached their table and graciously handed over their orders. He apologized to Nate. “I’m sorry on how I acted earlier. I have a problem dealing with first impressions.” He quickly gave a wry smile and left.
Charlie grabbed her drink and winked at Nate. “Don’t worry love. My first impression of you wasn’t that bad.” She added on a playful smirk and sipped her latte happily.
Another ring came in and yet Nate was pretending not to hear it. He continued to sip his drink and mellow out in Ray Charles goodness.
“Hey.” Charlie kicked his leg, while shoving a forkful of her crepe into her mouth. “You better get that.”
Nate looked at her. “Get what?”
She put down her fork. “Your phone, doofus.”
He shrugged. “It’s nothing. Just finish up your food so we could get the hell out of here already.”
Charlie playfully pouted. “You suck,”
Nate furrowed his eyebrow. “And you suck some more.” Charlie taunted in between food intakes. “You suck, and suck and haven’t I told you? YOU SUCK!” She sipped the remaining latte in her cup.
The phone began to ring again. Charlie couldn’t handle it any longer which made her jump off her feet and get a hold of Nate’s phone. “AHA!” she snickered with too much enthusiasm in her eyes, running off the shop.
“Hey, not funny! Give it back!” He furiously ran after her, feeling too embarrassed already.
Charlie smiled and answered the phone while running. “HELLO!”
“Hello? Nate?” Stan couldn’t figure out whose voice is it, merely hearing incoherent prattles and greetings from the other line. “Nate, son,”
Charlie made a full stop and took a deep breath. “No uncle, you got it wrong, I’m not Nate but I’m Charlie and,”
Stan broke into a belly laugh, something he has never done before via phone. “So that’s why my little seahorse has been giving me the cold shoulder. He’s in love and you’re the ill-fated girl.”
Charlie almost fell as Nate grabbed her arm, trying to retrieve his phone. “Hey!”
Charlie returned an eager laugh. “Perhaps.” She wasn’t actually bothered with fooling around with some stranger on the phone, neither with a man hopelessly thumping her to the ground. “So uncle,”
“Call me Uncle Stan, youngin,” He preferred. “Yes?”
“So Uncle Stan, why the ring?” She casually asked, as if she has known him too long already. “Will seahorse Nate be getting the spanking?” Stan was amused.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, he’s been showing me who the boss is and I can’t even pass up as an employee.” He sniffed sarcastically.
“Typical egocentric, merciless, purple-alien eater, eh?” she supported, as she tried to get the phone away from Nate as much as possible.
“Nice metaphor.” He replied and both gave in a laugh once more. “Anyway, uhm, wait, how do I put it? Getting him to do me a favor seems far-fetched.”
Charlie butted in. “Telling me wouldn’t be.” She winked at Nate whose face is already bright red from all the exerted effort in dealing with her. Poor Nate, did he really deserve this? YES. He stormed his way in the shop once more. Charlie couldn’t help but break into a heap of laughter as she saw Nate lose their battle.
Stan let out a relieved sigh. “Awesome. You see, my other son, Withshed is still at Avindreth Junior High. He’s ready to be picked up but I got my ass stuck in traffic. I’m telling you pumpkin, it’s not moving here in east!” He complained. “I don’t think I’ll get to him in time since I’m glued here and there’s a great chance my fat sister would give me a ring and tell me I need to unstuck my ass from my seat and get her a roast Turkey while I’m at it.” He informed her in one breath. “So, do you think you could pick him up and sort of take care of him while I’m still not home? I’d forever be grateful.”
Charlie let out a huge grin and nodded. “Hakuna Matata, uncle.” She shifted her gaze on the seemingly blood-tarnished glass door, looking for poor Nate.
“I love you already, sweetheart. I’ll see you tonight then. And oh, please tell Nate I would want to see him again, so he better come home too.” He closed his cell phone shut and Charlie took Nate’s phone away from her ear. Nate is so much different from his father, she thought.
She stealthily moseyed in the shop, but wasn’t successful enough. Nate has already shot her with a you’re-dead look.
Charlie leaned in and widened her eyes.
Nate freaked out a little and asked, “Oh God, kill me.”
She hastily wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. “Not yet, love. We’re going to pick up your brother and have a good time!”
Nate pulled her hands away from him but she gained control again. “Hey, stop. Charlie, I’m telling you,”
Without further ado, Charlie pulled him up and dragged him towards the exit.
One voice from the table near the door erupted, “Take it easy, lovebirds.”
Nate pushed Charlie’s arm away from his, trying to tell the man he’s got it wrong. Charlie on the other hand, gave a smirk and patted Nate’s shoulder, “Naughty, dude.” The man made a flippant wave and smiled, “Have fun!”
Nate gave a sheepish frown. He has never been this angry. “Let go, Charlie,”
“Uncle Frank said have fun. And when he said it, we should.” Charlie laughed, still holding on to his perfect, muscular arms. “Because I sure will.” She interjected with a whisper as Nate cursed her politely. YES, HE CURSES GIRLS POLITELY.
“So, how long have you known him then? If he doesn’t live with you, why is that? Don’t you talk to your father? I mean, he’s your father. Aren’t you sad for your relationship?” Charlie endlessly threw questions at Nate. No matter how grueling the experience is though, Nate seems not to mind her.
In the middle of her chattering, Nate grabbed her hand, seeing only with his peripheral vision. “I really wish you’re a guy right now and that I’d be granted with the right to throw you out of my car.” He glanced at her sullenly and looked straight back at the road.
From this seeming threat, Charlie threw him a baffled look, pretending to be panicky. After a few seconds, she somehow retreated from her somber pretense to being her frisky, good-natured self. She laughed heartily and spoke with sheer laxity. “Well, you could always wish!”
Nate felt like his head was throbbing in pain. Being laughed at by some outlandish girl felt somehow awkward. Imagine bringing such in a car. But as he glanced at his side, she didn’t see the annoying gal anymore but someone in high spirits. He couldn’t show tolerance as soon as possible, especially when basing everything with what he had been through for the first half of the day. Apparently, all he could do is smile inside and act cold on the outside.
On the way to Avindreth, Charlie moved about with compulsion in ragging the hell out of Nate. After all, he kept on ignoring her. Too bad he was leaning towards his own sensibility in times of taunting rather than to get a hold of himself and truly be uncouth. So much for the weeping part, he’ll love it anyway.
As they recoiled from their seats, Charlie held her gaze on the fresh leaf that just fell in front of Nate. “You guys close?”
She stepped closer to him and stridden along with him to the gate. Nate impassively took a good look at her. “What we are is none of your business.” He leaned back again and added on, “There’s always the car. You could take it and leave.”
Before another word came out from Nate’s mouth, the door in front of them swung open and out came a flushed boy running down the stairs hastily.
Charlie, noticing that it could be Withshed, ran after him and hugged him close. “Hey kid, are you okay? What’s wrong?”
The kid looked up at her angelic face and spun his tale, “I was in the bathroom and I saw this blonde wallop of a 6th grader who always finds time to bully me. How pathetic. I only wanted to wash my face and my hands and my shoddy sneakers and,”
Charlie smiled and patted this raven-haired boy’s head lightly. “Withshed?”
The boy withdrew a soft smile, closed his eyes and leaned on Charlie again. “You must be the angel dad sent for to pick me. Dear me.”
She smiled once more, “No I’m Charlie, but it’s actually your brother who was told to. He was just too selfish not to think of doing so.” She shifted her gaze on Nate wrathfully as Withshed grinned coldly at him.
Nate just stepped aside and buried his hands on his jacket pockets. “Yeah, yeah I get it. Later with the hateful slurs, get in.” He walked nonchalantly towards the vehicle.
“How old are you anyway?” She pondered on such peculiar approach and rationality.
“9 on the 5th of July. That makes me 8 then.” He gave a sweet toothless smile.
“Pretty clever for your age. You’ve got lure for language. I see where the difference is, crystal clear.” She snickered.
“We’ll get along in no time I suppose.” Withshed theoretically suggested, hailing along a flippant gesticulation as if to let his whole being agree. Perhaps a little pull from his dear old purple-alien-eater brother Nate.
“Hey, I have to ask,” Charlie looked at Withshed. “Is he really like that? Always giving others the cold shoulder and consistently dismisses them with wearisome revulsion? Haven’t anyone tried killing him yet? Haven’t you tried?” She grinned at him and looked back at Nate.
“I tell you though, we haven’t talked in a while, seems not to like me either.” Withshed disclosed the truth and walked despondently. “He hates playing with me and walking me to school. Only goes out with his friends, drinking and reluctantly embracing his multifaceted youth. Although I presume I sort of knew why the attitude. Anyway, well, at least his friends are nice. Especially that Isobel, I think his best friend. Yeah, that girl, she is a lot of fun.” He smiled momentarily and continued on his pace.
“He has a girl best friend?” She asked shockingly. Withshed released a quick nod and grinned. “Never thought? She works magic.” he explained in brief. “Possibly.” Charlie responded vacantly. She thought of Isobel, the one she was talking with a while ago in the station. So that is his weakness, Charlie thought. She then held Withshed’s hand. Nate called them over as he saw them taking too much time walking. “Lady in White and boy in Blue, you could now procure my vehicle, unfortunately.” He mockingly said as he stepped inside his car.
The dark clouds were getting brighter and released from the brought-about dizzying ambiance of the current weather.
Withshed looked out the window, silently hummed and closed his eyes. Charlie was a bit vexed. “Are you okay? Want to hit Wendy’s? I’m craving for their baked potato if you’re to ask me.” She reached for his shoulder and tapped it twice.
Nate interjected uninterestingly, “Do you think he’s asking you? Let him alone, Fairy Grandmother.”
Withshed turned to Charlie and sang softly as he gazed at the hazel-eyed. “I’m wild again, beguiled again, a simpering, whimpering child again. Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.”
Charlie’s eyes were bulged open. “Woah. You are awesome. How old did you say you were?” She clapped proudly and looked at him appallingly. “
