Dream Date (22 page)

“What do you plan on dressing up as for next Halloween?”

Kayla seemed taken by surprise by the question.

“I really haven’t thought about it. My family doesn’t celebrate Halloween.”

Nathan understood.

“Mine doesn’t celebrate it, either. I just like to use the occasion to dress up.”

“Nathan, besides, we’re juniors in college. I doubt anybody is going to dress up.”

Nathan narrowed his eyes, smiling.

“We had ice cream at the park, right?”

Kayla blinked.

“Yeah?”

“What did I say about staying in touch with your inner child? Anyway, it’s not like we’ll go Trick-or-Treating. We’re just dressing up.”

Kayla smiled, remembering something.

“I haven’t dressed for Halloween since my senior year in high school.”

Nathan found that curious.

“Your friends didn’t go to the same college?”

“No. I don’t have that many friends.” Kayla looked at Nathan, and shook her head. “I do fit the stereotypical recluse writer, don’t I?”

“Recluse? You hang out with me and my friends all the time!”

“I know, but you hardly ever see the few friends I have. Summer was the last time we saw them.”

Nathan remembered.

“Shawn and Delilah seemed great.”

“Yeah. They’re awesome friends.”

“They’re not a couple, right? I didn’t see them for long enough to figure that out.”

“No. Shawn is single. Delilah’s dating a guy who works at a Michael’s arts store.”

“When do you think we’ll see them next?”

“Maybe on Christmas break,” Kayla said.

Amanda walked distractedly to class with Hughes. She’d sat in the usual table she picked at Starbucks, part of her hoping she would see Nathan. Unfortunately, neither he nor his friends showed up. Amanda assumed he wasn’t happy with her after the way she treated him.

Taking her last chance before classes began, Amanda passed by the corridor perpendicular to the one where she knew Nathan had his first class. She peered around the corner. What she saw made her hopes fall.

Nathan was waiting outside with Kayla and Ashton. The first two looked only too happy. Amanda looked down and saw that Kayla and Nathan were holding hands. She said something to him, and then smiled.

Does Nathan really look happy, being with her? Or is he
trying
to look happy?

Hughes tapped Amanda on the shoulder. She turned to face him.

“Yes, Hugh…Kellan?” Amanda asked. They addressed each other by their first name at school to avoid drawing odd looks from the other students.

“You’ll run late.”

“I know,” said Amanda, looking back towards where Nathan and Kayla still stood. He had turned pensive, but looked up when the professor approached. He opened the door and let the students in. Kayla walked inside in front of Nathan, who had his hand in the small of her back.

“Amanda, if I may,” Kellan said. “I’m tasked to protect more than just your life. I’m also concerned about your emotional well-being. And what you’re doing right now—being masochistic—worries me.”

“What are you talking about?” Amanda asked in an attempt to throw him off. She started to walk back to class, and Kellan followed.

“I can see that you’re hurting because of that guy. And yet you pushed him away.”

“You did see he has a girlfriend, didn’t you?”

“Yes. Despite that, he’s still attracted to you. The way he saved you that day? That’s when I realized he feels something for you.”

“Back to my question.”

Kellan paused for a moment, thinking his next words thoroughly.

“My point is that I’m afraid you’re starting to hold out too much hope for what can’t be. And it hurts you.”

You’re damn right, you are. I have no idea what day I started to feel something for Nathan. It just bloomed out of nowhere. And I hate that. There can be no us.

“So?” was all Amanda could reply with.

“I don’t want to see anyone hurt you. You…you’ve grown on me. I care about your happiness.”

“Honestly, I’m okay, Kellan. I can deal with this.”

“Are you sure? Peering over corners, staring longingly at someone you can’t have isn’t exactly healthy.”

“I’ll keep it in check from now on, then. Now, if you excuse me, I have class.”

Kellan pursed his lips, still concerned. Amanda flashed him a smile to try to placate him. She then entered the classroom. Kellan turned and walked away.

Ashton found it tough to concentrate in class that day. He was thinking about Grecia, debating on whether he should let her have what she wanted. If she desired a serious relationship, Ashton was willing to try. He liked Grecia like no other woman.

The problem was with him. Ashton felt that Grecia deserved someone better, someone more…stable? Well, someone more reliable.

The situation was almost funny. Ashton had been waiting for his Mary Jane Watson for years, and now that he had met her, he didn’t feel worthy of her.

As Ashton’s eyes skimmed over the pages of the textbook he was supposed to read, he reminisced about the first time he met Grecia. It was during the summer. She and Kayla had arrived in the same flight. Nathan drove to the airport alone to meet them. A few days later, Kayla and Grecia had taken a tour of Cornell University with Nathan. Ashton caught up with them shortly afterward. From the moment he laid eyes on Grecia, Ashton had never been the same.

At the first opportunity, Ashton had managed to find Grecia alone. He walked up to her and broke the ice.

“Hi. You’re Kayla’s friend, right?”

“Yeah. You’re Nathan’s friend.”

Ashton nodded.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Grecia. Grecia Nichols,” she replied, offering her hand. Ashton shook it. Grecia’s hand was surprisingly soft. He didn’t want to let go.

“And you are?”

“Ashton. Ashton Robards.”

“Nice to meet you, Ashton,” Grecia replied. One of her eyebrows arched.

“What?” he asked.

“I’m wondering about your name. Ashton. Isn’t it a girl’s name?”

“No, my lady. It’s a man’s name.”

Grecia couldn’t help smiling at the answer. Ashton’s gaze dropped to her mouth. He worked to remember that smile forever.

When the bell rang, Ashton shook his head to clear his thoughts. He put his stuff inside his backpack and left the classroom when the teacher dismissed the class. It was his free hour, so Ashton went to look for Grecia. They had coordinated the same lunch hour…which was odd considering Ashton hadn’t planned a serious relationship.

During his hour-long lunch break, Nathan went to the library. He needed to check out a few books to study for his classes.

Nathan walked by the shelves, searching the books. He found the first one he needed and pulled it out. Nathan then walked along to a different row.

Just as he was scanning the spines of the books, Nathan sensed someone approaching him. He turned, and saw Kayla.

“Hi, Nathan,” she greeted him, placing her arms around him from behind and planting a kiss on his cheek.

“Someone’s happy today.”

“With you, I always am.”

Nathan gave her a quick peck on the lips.

“Are you looking for books, too?”

“Actually, I was looking for you. Oswald said you would be here.”

“Yeah. I have quite a bunch of stuff to study. It’s my third year, after all.”

“We’re both in third year.”

Nathan grabbed another couple of books and went to sit at a table. Kayla followed him, sitting down.

“What are you going to do when you get your bachelor’s in English?”

Kayla thought for a moment.

“I’ve been thinking about becoming a literary agent, or an editor. I could work either solo, or apply for a job at a publishing company.”

“Haven’t you thought about teaching English?”

Kayla grimaced.

“I don’t want to have to wake up before eight in the morning. That’s part of why I’m an indie author in the first place. I get to set my own hours.”

“You know, you’re tempting me to switch my career to yours.”

Nathan and Kayla laughed together, and then they looked around and remembered they were at the library.

“Oops,” Kayla said, looking self-conscious. She cleared her throat. “Change of subject. When would you like to go see apartments with me?”

“Whenever you’d like. How about tomorrow, after I return from work?”

“Great. I’ll call you.”

“Sure.”

“I’ll let you study now. I’m going to check out some books myself.”

Kayla stood up and walked to the shelves. Nathan opened a book and started reading it.

Shortly after, an absentminded Nathan looked up and gazed towards some shelves to his right. He saw Amanda browsing through the books. She was alone.

Nathan looked towards where Kayla had gone. He wondered where she’d walked off to. Then he looked back towards Amanda. She was still scanning the shelves, oblivious to his presence.

After a few seconds, Amanda seemed to feel Nathan’s gaze on her. She looked around, and then her eyes locked with his.

Nathan felt a combination of desire and longing as he looked at Amanda. He had to admit that she was the cutest, most beautiful creature in the whole world.

Amanda looked away, shaking her head. Nathan looked down at the opened book on the table in front of him. He mentally chastised himself.

You and Amanda can’t be together. And you have Kayla, a perfectly beautiful and amazing woman. You can’t do this to her.

Nathan looked up and scanned the area where he’d spotted Amanda. He located her close by. She was at a table, putting away her stuff inside her messenger bag. Apparently, Amanda was leaving.

Nathan debated in his mind, weighing his options.

I don’t think I can live without Amanda. I love her too much. Even if I can’t be her boyfriend, at least I want her to be my friend.

Making his decision, Nathan put his stuff back into his backpack, leaving the library books behind. Without a second thought, Nathan followed Amanda outside. To his surprise, the sky was overcast. It looked like it was about to rain.

Amanda walked to the Libe Slope, where she sat down under a tree. When she saw Nathan approaching, she let out a gasp.

“Hi, Amanda. Can we talk?”

Amanda narrowed her eyes.

“I’m kind a busy right now,” she said, looking down at the couple of books on her lap.

“Just for a moment,” Nathan insisted.

Amanda pursed her lips, and then looked up. She put her books away inside her bag.

“You shouldn’t leave your girlfriend waiting.”

“Amanda, you don’t have to be so cold.”

“Why are you following me, then?”

“Just because I have a girlfriend doesn’t mean that I can’t talk to other women.”

“Talk is not all that you want to do with me. I’ve seen the way you check me out.”

“Can you blame me? Amanda, even though you told me you wanted nothing to do with me, I still want to be with you.”

“Nathan, you have a girlfriend!”

“I know! But I’m not married.”

Amanda looked at Nathan, her eyes trying to look into his mind. A drizzle was starting to fall around them.

“I’m not that kind of girl.”

“Fine. If you don’t want me around, tell me right now, and we’ll call this goodbye.”

Amanda closed her eyes, trying to conceal her feelings from Nathan. Then she looked up at him again.

“I never said anything about not wanting to be your friend. Just that you’d be better off if you didn’t take too much interest in me.”

Nathan’s heart sunk.

Okay, so those are her cards on the table? She doesn’t want more. And I thought she may have started to become attracted to me.

“What does that mean?”

That, although I shouldn’t, I do feel something for you
, Amanda thought to herself.

“That I do want to be your friend. I just want you to be prepared for what it entails.”

“What, do you have paparazzi following you all over the place? Or any jealous ex-boyfriends?”

“First, I’m not
that
famous. I have a small—but devoted—group of fans. As for the ex-boyfriends, you have nothing to worry about.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“But, guys pick on me all the time. They give me free drinks, and I’m handed cards or pieces of paper often.”

“I don’t see why I should be concerned about that. All you want is to be my friend, right?”

“Yeah. I’m telling you that because I have a request to make you.”

Nathan nodded, sighing.

“What is it?”

Amanda picked up her stuff and stood up, facing him. Her expression was serious, unperturbed by the rain that was pouring on them both. She brushed a wet lock of hair away from her face.

“We can only be friends. Nothing more.”

Damn. If only you knew that I love you.

“You’re a very beautiful woman, Amanda. Don’t ask me to make promises I can’t keep.”

Amanda’s eyes widened.

“You can’t say that, Nathan. If your girlfriend hears you, it could be hell for you.”

“I’m aware of that. It’s just…you are too tempting. I’m afraid I might lose yourself with you sooner or later.”

Nathan looked into Amanda’s eyes. He tried to read her expression, but couldn’t. She blinked, both from the water and from trying to avoid meeting his gaze.

“Are you saying you fancy me?”

Nathan scoffed.

“What guy who knows you exist doesn’t?” he asked, closing the distance between them. Amanda’s gaze dropped to his lips.

“Nathan,” she breathed, her heartbeat increasing.

“You want to be just friends?” he asked. His gaze dropped to her mesmerizing lips. “I definitely can’t pull that off.”

Amanda closed her eyes, wishing that she and Nathan could love each other freely. She had to face reality.

“Stop,” she said, taking a couple of steps back. “You can’t desire me. I won’t have you cheating on your girlfriend on my behalf.”