LOGINLater that day, Nathan came back from Ardor and took her out to a seaside restaurant for an early dinner. It was one of his favorite spot in the island where the sunset view was extraordinary and the coffee was excellent.
They sat facing each other enjoying a plate of oysters in garlic and lime for appetizers, ordered a grilled red snapper with mash potatoes and salad on the side for the main course. The ocean breeze blew out her hair and her light summer dress. The sunset reflected on her skin. They talked about the night before, all smiles and laughing.
"I feel like I could stay here for the long run," her eyes gazed at the ocean rolling it's waves towards the shores.
Nathan turned and looked at where she was looking. "It's beautiful, isn't it? That's why I chose this island for Ardor, I can see myself living here for good too ... it's like, you don't need a vacation to break away from your daily life."
"Exactly, everyday is like holiday," she agreed.
"So ... does that mean you'll continue working at Ardor after graduation?" he looked at her hopeful.
She smiled and turned to look at him, "I love Ardor ... do you think I'd make the cut? It's been a full month, you should evaluate me."
Nathan made a hand gesture as if he was blown away, "Pffft ... with flying colors ... I could use your help to set up everything else I'd like to start after this ... I'm pretty confident with the potential."
Julie smiled and nodded, "Me too ... I'd love to work for you here, and I get to go to The Rockabillies every now and then.."
He was beaming in delight, "I'd take you there anytime ... oh and that book shopping you requested, I can take you there this week, you need to fill those shelves I've prepared in your room"
She giggled, she hadn't had the time to read a single book since she got there, she knew it was time to buy some books. She took a bite on her chocolate cake dessert when a strand of hair blew over her face. Nathan reached for it and tucked them behind her ear. The look in his eyes made her look away, her heart pounded faster. The midnight kiss surfaced in her mind. It was suppose to be a friendly New Year's kiss, but it didn't feel like one. The warmth of his lips on hers, his thumb on her chin, she pretended it wasn't intimate. She felt his eyes looking at her even when she avoided them. He was starting to terrify her, not because of his gestures, but what she was starting to feel about him.
"She's cheating on me, isn't she?"
His question halted her train of thoughts, pulling her gaze back at him. "What?" She wasn't sure she heard correctly.
"With Zachary?" he added.
She froze. He wasn't backing out, he waited for an answer.
"Nathan!" somebody called his name.
They both looked for the source of the voice when a man came to their table.
"Hey man! Haven't seen you in awhile!" the man slapped his hand and Nathan stood up to hug him.
Lucas owned a high end restaurant in the island, they talked for awhile and Nathan introduced him to Julie. Nathan knew many people on the island, he was around a lot. Bhorma was a small island where you can bump into the same person twice in one day. She was saved by the encounter.
After they finish, they were silent. He asked her if she wanted to go home, she said 'yes'. They hopped on Nathan's motorbike and rode back to his villa without a single word exchanged. The day was almost dark, the long night before left them tired at the end of that day.
She was about to enter the front door when he stopped her.
"Julie ... if she is cheating on me, would you tell me?"
Julie fidgeted on her feet, she couldn't look at him in the eyes. "Why are you asking me this? I don't want to be in the middle of you two, you know that?"
"But you are in the middle of us ... more than you know," he said.
The fidgeting stopped, she wasn't sure what he meant by that. "You should take some time off and work things out with her, Nathan."
"You think so?"
His stare made her look away again. "It might answer your doubts and worries," she said.
"I have doubts ... but not worries ... I don't even know what that means," he furrowed his eyebrows, it was weighing in on him.
"She's my best friend in the whole world, we've been that way since we were four ... I love her ... very much," she cleared her throat, she felt the need to say it.
"I guess that answers my question?"
She didn't respond to that, she didn't know what Nathan made out of what she just said. All she knew, she didn't want to stay in that conversation a minute longer. "I think I'm going to sleep now ... I'll see you in the morning."
He nodded, "Good night."
There was a solemn look on his face. She couldn't bring herself to lie to him. The conversation left a bitter after taste. She had seen how Nathan worked so hard for his restaurant, he hardly had any time to do anything else. He was keeping his end of the bargain. She had seen him calling and texting Kelsey just to check in, most of the time he couldn't reach her. It felt so unfair, yet she couldn't tell him what was really going on. It was a simple 'yes' or 'no' question. In a way, she did answer his question.
She wouldn't let me take her out on a date. She wouldn't let me kiss her, or touch her. Three months after she came back to Ardor, she went island hopping with Kelsey on her 21st birthday. I wasn't invited, obviously. I couldn't sleep that night, wondering if she was going to get wasted and ended up with some strange guy, willingly or unwillingly. There's no other girl that have kept me up all night as often as she did. For all different kinds of reasons.But to end up with a strange guy was not the problem with her, it was only that one guy. I hate him. He calls her much too often for my liking. They would talk for hours, it burned me, and I couldn't do anything about it.The almost kisses we had was driving me insane, but I've promised her I'd wait however long it takes. I think she was torturing me on purpose.Six months after she was back, she finally let me in. We kissed. Every kiss was better than the last. I love
Her mom and dad came on her graduation day. They took pictures together, a pat on the back, a clumsy hug, a kiss on the cheeks, a congratulations. The three of them again after eight years. She was smiling the whole day.She told them about her plans, they told her how proud they were, shared one last hug and asked her to call them more often. That was pretty much the depth of their relationship.After her parents left, Kelsey was there. They shared a long hug, enough to replace a thousand words they wanted to say to each other.Kelsey tilted her toga hat with a smile, "I hope I'll look good in these next year." They laughed. "I guess this cause for a celebration ... let's go get some coffee, my treat," she added.They went to The Morning Brew, still in her toga and her diploma in her grip."I can't believe you're leaving in a few days ... do you realize we've never been apart si
Despite of making up at the end of their argument, Kelsey was distant. She kept to herself. Julie woke up the next morning feeling like a zombie, lost all sense of directions. She had to come up with a new plan for her future. There was no way she could go back to Ardor.She made the report and told the faculty that she had to finish early because of a family emergency. The only time her family was useful for her. She didn't have the courage to contact Nathan, but to her relief, the faculty informed her that he had turned in the assessment sheet for her internship. She passed with flying colors. She texted to thank him, he didn't reply.Two weeks in after she got back to Gastonburry, she started to prepare her final presentation. Finalized her internship report, created slide shows, crunching numbers, drew diagrams, and all the bits and details needed for the final show. She also submitted a new application through the University to find emp
She managed not to cry when she left his hotel room. She told him to take a shower as she left because she didn't want a sappy farewell that will make her weep the entire day. So they left it at that. The memory of their last day together was to be remembered as something extraordinary and beautiful.When she arrived in front of Nathan's villa, she took a long deep breath to ready her for what's waiting. She took long, slow and dragging steps toward the house, expecting to see both Nathan and Kelsey for another awkward social situation. The house was quiet, she opened the sliding door from the balcony and stepped into the kitchen. There was only Nathan."Where's everybody?"Nathan sat on the island stool, not looking his best. "Kelsey ... umm ... she left."She raised her eyebrows, put down her bags on the floor. "Left where?"He looked down on the kitchen counter, played with hi
Their silence speaks more volume that night. They poured drinks back in the room, browsed through the movie selections they wanted to see. They put on the one they agreed on, not really caring what it was because their minds were wandering to places that don't exist. A place where they would go through life without each other by their sides.She laid her head on his shoulder, stared blankly into the TV. He held her hand and played with her fingers, something he will miss terribly. He took a deep breath.She remembered when she first saw him, his smile, his cheeky comments. His playfulness, his laughs, his annoying ways to get her attention. Those dark blue eyes, and his beautiful face. She glanced over to the tattoo on his chest, and she touched that "J". He looked down and shivered from her gentle touch.He turned to look at her. That was when she pulled himgently and pressed her lips against his. She closed her e
It was a good night sleep she needed. Her sweet smile was back on her face the next morning. Her mood was lighter, and she couldn't wait to spend the day with Preston. He wanted to explore the island with her and end the day at The Rockabillies. She took him to her favorite beach, favorite hangouts, a cool vintage clothing shop that Preston would love. Nathan Sommers was not in her mind that day.He didn't want to ruin her mood, so he held it for awhile longer. The thing he was going to tell her will be hard to hear, as much as it was going to be hard for him to say. She was laughing at his jokes, mocked him as he was trying on funky clothes. Preston loved to shop. He had a wide collection of strange outfits that he can pull off easily. Julie was probably the only girl he knew who had the patience to wait on him while he shopped.She always chose the items for him, he always listened to her. She's the one he goes to for any advice, school, m