Chapter 18: Familiarity (Nathan's POV)

"And they're leaving," she said as we watched both of them drive off in Brandon's car. 

"Yeah, leaving us to pay the bill," I said, pulling out my wallet and paying for everything. 

"We can split it," she said, taking out her wallet as well. 

"It's fine, I got it," I said, standing up. She stepped out of the booth, carrying the empty cup with her. 

She's gonna call him, isn't she? 

When we got outside, she turned to me. "Is he looking?" 

"Who? Micah?" She nodded. I glanced around and inside as if I were looking for something. "No, he's taking orders," I answered. 

She shrugged before walking to the closest trash can and throwing the cup away. "I'll see you... on Monday?" she asked, walking to her car and I walked with her cause mine wasn't too far from hers. 

"Uh, maybe tonight," I said, scratching the back of my head out of anxiousness. 

She didn't question it. "Okay," she nodded. She halted at her car and turned to me, "Actually, why don't all of you come over? My mom has a late shift tonight at the restaurant. You guys can come by, stay the night or leave, up to you." 

"I'll text Brandon and let him know," I nodded. 

"I'll tell Kendall," she smiled. "See you later, mango," she grinned, climbing into her car. She rolled her window down, looking at me. She was going to say something but decided against it. "Bye," she chuckled. 

"Bye," I smiled. She drove off and I continued walking to my car. I slipped inside and then drove home, not too far behind her car. I stopped at my house, I could see her car stopping at hers. I went inside, heading straight to my room. I went to the bathroom first and when I stepped out, I heard the doorbell ringing. Nobody ever comes over and rings the bell. 

I frowned in confusion, going downstairs and answering it, seeing Emma standing there. "Hi," she chuckled. 

"Hi?" I asked. 

"I'm really bored, do you just wanna come over now? I don't think the other two will be there until later," she said, scratching her brow. 

"Now?" I asked. 

"Yeah," she shrugged, "You and me." 

I get a sense of familiarity when I look at her, it's intensified when I'm alone with her. Like... it's gonna be her. 

"Uh, sure, let me grab my stuff," I said, "Come on in." 

She stepped inside, looking around while following me up to my room. "Is this you?" she asked, looking at a baby picture I had put up. We were at the beach, I had a bucket hat on, I was around 3 years old. 

"No," I cleared my throat. 

"You look so cute," she cooed, leaning against my door. I walked over to her and took the picture out of her hands, putting it back on the shelf. She rolled her eyes but she was smiling. She stood there in silence while I grabbed a bag and threw some clothes and stuff in there. "I'm hiding you in my attic," she said in realization. 

"Congratulations, you're living in a movie," I said sarcastically. 

"Can I snoop around?" she questioned. I shrugged in response. She started looking around at more photos, the books on my bookcase, the stuff on my nightstand. She walked over to the bookcase, pointing to one photo. "Who is that?" she asked. I followed her gaze, noticing a picture of me, Brandon, Chloe, and one of her cousin brothers. 

"Nobody," I said, my throat closing up as I said that. I hope she doesn't question it. 

"Okay," she nodded. 

I sighed in relief, zipping up my bag. "Let's go?" She followed me out and then we walked to her house in a somewhat awkward silence. Hopefully, we can just ignore it till it goes away. 

"My mom's room is downstairs, so she probably won't hear you coming in and out of the attic," she said while pulling the ladder out of the ceiling. "You can leave your stuff up there and you already know where my room is, so just um, come down there if you need anything. The guest bathroom is down the left, mine is in my room, whichever you prefer," she smiled. 

"Thanks," I said, climbing up and noticing a spare mattress on one side with a few pillows and a blanket on it. 

"We got a spare," she said, climbing up behind me. "Don't want you sleeping on the floor. Again," she chuckled. I smiled, putting my bag down on the mattress, pulling the light on with the chain. "I'll go order the food and stuff, feel free to go wherever you want," she said before leaving. I went downstairs too and settled on the couch while she ordered some pizza and then started making popcorn and whatnot. 

The bell rang and I answered the door because she asked me to and let them in. "Hey," I nodded. Kendall went into the kitchen and we all know it's because she needs to tell Emma about what happened with her and Brandon. Brandon and I settled on the couch, hearing 'Are You Bored Yet?' by Wallows playing through one of their phones. 

"How long have you been here?" he asked. 

"Not that long," I shrugged, glancing at the kitchen where they were. I'm not gonna ask Brandon about him and Kendall cause I know he doesn't like talking about his love life and relationships with people, he knows I don't either, but he keeps trying whereas I'm nice enough not to push his button repeatedly. 

"What's going on with you two?" he asked. 

"What two?" 

"You and Emma." 

I shrugged, "There's nothing going on, we're friends." 

He rolled his eyes, "You're still telling yourself that?" 

"I'm still telling myself the truth? Yes," I nodded. 

"You know it's not true. You also know that after spending time with her, she's nothing like Chloe," he lowered his voice, "But you feel the same way around her." 

"What are you talking about?" I huffed. 

He rolled his eyes, "There's a sense of familiarity between you two. You know it's gonna be her, why are you fighting it?" 

"It's gonna be her? To do what?" 

"To make you fall in love." He shot me a pointed look. 

I shook my head, "I'm not falling in love with anyone. Not her, or anyone else, okay?" 

He sighed, "Keep telling yourself that, but you know it's gonna happen. You're familiar with her, even though you've never known her before this. But Nathan, you like yourself when you're around her. I see it. You know it. You change yourself around her, and you like yourself better that way." 

"I can't be selfish when it comes to things like this, okay? I can't keep her with me just because she makes me better." 

"She likes you, why are you pushing her away?" he questioned. 

"Cause I'm horrible for her, don't you get it?" 

He shook his head, "It's only been a week. Give it time. And keep an open mind, okay? You both might be really good for each other," he said as they came in with a bunch of snacks. "You really love hosting, don't you?" Brandon asked her. "Notice how different her answer is about to be from Chloe's," he mumbled to me. 

"Yes, I love hosting. It's fun making sure people are enjoying themselves," she said while sitting down. 

Chloe hated hosting. She hated putting in work for other people, especially when she didn't know those people well. 

"Even for strangers? Like parties and all?" he asked while elbowing my ribs. 

"Yeah, it doesn't matter who it is. It's just fun seeing people having fun, is that weird?" Her nose scrunched up in confusion. 

"No, it's not weird," I shook my head. 

"Okay, you guys wanna watch a movie? Who's picking?" she asked. Brandon took the remote out of her hands before she could even say anything. "I'm getting a blanket, oh, pick a scary one!" she called out. 

"Chloe hated scary movies," Kendall and Brandon said in sync. She knows so much because she was dating Brandon when Chloe was there. 

"Why are we comparing? Chloe was Chloe, Emma is Emma," I groaned. 

"Because one of them makes you feel better about yourself than the other did, and you're not paying enough attention to that," Kendall said, squeezing in between me and Brandon. I got up and took the other side of the 'L' shaped couch. I shook my head, propping my elbow up and holding my head while Emma came back in, tossing one blanket to Brandon and Kendall. 

"I thought I was sitting with Kendall," she frowned in confusion. 

"Why? You don't wanna share a blanket with him?" Brandon asked. 

I looked up at her, she looked down at me. "I don't mind," she shrugged, sitting beside me, handing me half the blanket. "What are we watching?" she asked. 

"The Shining," Brandon replied, clicking play. 

"Do you like scary movies?" she asked, looking up at me, her head resting on my arm. 

She's so close. We're so close. 

"Yeah, I like scary movies," I said, lifting my head to look at the TV instead of her. 

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Chapter 18

some people wanted me to give Wattpad recs

you can actually just go through my reading list, those are my favorites but my top three would be:

1. Bad Boy's Game by beautifultragedies

2. Breaking The Bad Boy by kaddydee

3. Caffeine by meddlingkids 

If you want more, check out my reading list

next chapter: clarity