Chapter 25: Clouds (Emma's POV)

I was currently walking out to my car with Kendall and the guys were supposed to meet us outside because they had some stuff to grab from the locker room. "Emma." I turned around when Nathan grabbed my arm and turned me to face him. 

"Hey," I smiled. 

"Hey, are you driving me back?" he asked while Brandon came and grabbed Kendall's hand, walking away with her. 

"Yeah, sure," I replied, unlocking my car. We climbed in and then I started driving us back. "Do you want me to drop you off or...?" I trailed off questioningly. 

"Uh, yeah, you can drop me off but um, can I swing by at around 6? We can hang out?" he asked. 

"Sure, I'll be waiting," I replied. 

"Okay, I'll see you then, bye," he grinned, stepping out and walking up to his front door, unlocking it and going inside. 

I went to my house, parked my car in the driveway, and then went inside. I took a shower first and then picked out an outfit for later today. I changed into pajamas for the time being and lay on my bed, scrolling through my phone, I later did a little bit of homework, and then at around 5:30 PM, I started getting ready. 

I grabbed a blue Betty Boop crewneck with a white tennis skirt and pulled those on. I left my hair down as it was but grabbed a plain white hairband and white sneakers. I was done getting ready by 5:50 ish and I didn't have anything to do to kill the remaining 10 minutes. 

Luckily, the doorbell rang. I grabbed my phone and then skipped downstairs and answered the door. Nathan stood there in a black full-sleeve shirt with a jacket on top and a pair of grey joggers. "Hey," he smiled. 

"Hi," I grinned. 

He looked really good. The shirt hugged him nicely, it was a nice skin fit one, a gym tee that showed off his body and the Nike jacket looked warm. I wanted to steal it. 

"Are we staying in or...?" I raised my eyebrows at him in question. 

"We're driving around," he sang, dangling his car keys in front of me. "I got it fixed," he nodded. 

"Okay," I chuckled, locking the house and getting in the car with him. We drove around for a long, long time and then we rounded off at the cafe to get milkshakes. We went inside and placed our orders, grabbing a table. The sun was starting to set, the sky was looking pretty and I was contemplating ruining everything. 

I really wanted to ask him to finish the story he started the night he stayed at my house. The one about Chloe. I wanted to know what happened to her, to them, why they broke up. 

I really liked him, but before I acted on it, I wanted to know how his past relationship went, I was hoping that would tell me a little about what kind of boyfriend he was but I was so scared to ask him. 

"Your milkshakes," a waitress delivered. We're lucky Micah isn't here. That could have been really awkward. 

We talked about a lot of random things, then he pulled out his phone and handed me an airpod and we listened to some music together. After finishing our milkshakes and paying, we walked out. I started to get into the car but it wouldn't open. I looked at him in confusion. 

"The sun's setting, let's just hang around for a minute," he said, smiling up at the sky. 

My gaze followed his and the sky looked freaking beautiful. Sunsets are beautiful here. He climbed onto the hood of his car and held a hand out for me. I grabbed it and slid up, sitting beside him. We both still had one earphone in and were staring at the sky. I lay down and then he laughed, lying down beside me. We both were just there in silence, admiring the sky. 

"Look at the clouds!" I exclaimed. "That one looks like a set of wings," I laughed. 

"What?" he chuckled. 

"That one, look, look, look!" I squealed, pointing at it. "I've always had a fascination for clouds looking things, you know? That one looks like a horse too," I said, pointing at another cloud. 

"You're into clouds?" he asked. 

"Yeah," I nodded. "And I'm also obsessed with the moon." 

"Then we're not leaving until we see the moon," he stated. 

I smiled to myself, closing my eyes before I turned to him and opened them. "Nathan," I mumbled. 

"Hmm?" he turned to me. 

We're so close. 

"Why are we here?" I asked. 

He cleared his throat, "We are here... on a date." 

"On a date?" I asked. He nodded slowly. "And why did you bring me on this date?" I questioned. 

"Just to get some time with you," he said, turning back to the sky. 

"And why do you want time with me?" I asked, brushing my hair away when the wind picked up. I crossed one leg over the other. Don't want any skirts flying up here. 

"To know you," he glanced at me, "And for you to know me." 

"If I ask you a question will you answer it?" I asked. 

He sighed, "I know you want to ask me about Chloe. But I can't tell you that yet, I'm really sorry." 

"Hmm," I nodded. "Okay, if I ask you anything other than a question about Chloe, will you answer that?" 

"Yes, I'll answer that." 

I thought for a moment, staring at the sky. "Why don't you tell someone about what goes on at home?" I asked hesitantly. 

"Cause within a year, I'll be gone from that house and I'll be away from my dad. I don't want to make a big deal when I know I won't have to deal with it later. I'd rather just get through it and then leave it all behind," he explained, turning to me. "I know it's abusive. But he doesn't hurt me that bad," he mumbled. 

"The fact that he hurts you is what makes this a huge deal in the first place. I feel scared for you, I worry," I sighed, turning to the sky. It's easier to admit that when I'm not looking straight at him. 

"Why do you worry so much about me?" he asked. 

"Cause I care about you," I answered. 

"And why do you care about me?" I turned to him with a glare but it faded when I saw the smile on his face. He wants me to say it. He wants me to admit that I like him. 

I shook my head, laughing, catching onto his plan. "No," I chuckled, "I won't say it." I locked eyes with him. 

"You will," he nodded, "Eventually." 

"No, I won't," I repeated. 

"You'll say it before I drop you back home tonight, I know you will." 

"Aren't you a little overconfident?" I scoffed. 

"You're lying here with me on top of my car, watching the sunset, listening to music, and you're so close that with one move, I can kiss you. I think I have every right to be confident," he said, looking between my eyes and lips. "And you still won't pull away. You should run while you can, I'm trouble," he stated. 

"I've known that since day one, I surprisingly, don't care," I replied, "And I won't say it." 

"You won't say what?" 

"Nice try," I rolled my eyes. 

He chuckled, both of us turning back to the sky. We talked some more, I asked him some more questions about his childhood and he got to know me a little better this time since last time he did more talking when we went to the park. "Why don't you just say it? Just admit it," he chuckled. 

"I'm not going to say it! Stop trying to get it out of me," I laughed, elbowing his ribs gently. 

"No, I'll keep asking till you blurt it out. Say it," he whispered. 

"No," I chuckled, turning to him. "You say it." 

"Say what?" he asked. 

"That you like me," I said, stabbing his chest with my pointer finger accusingly. 

"Nah," he shook his head, rolling his eyes, and smiling. 

"You like me, Nathan," I sang. 

"No, I don't," he clicked his tongue. 

"If you won't say it, I won't either." 

"You won't say what?" he smirked. 

"That I..." He raised his brows at me. "Like... nevermind," I shrugged. 

He sighed, turning his head to the clouds that were concealed by the orange sky now slowly turning purple. We fell into silence. He was staring at the slowly darkening sky but I was staring at him. 

"I'll never admit that I like you," I said. He turned to me in surprise. "A lot," I added. 

He smiled, turning to the sky with his eyes closed. "I'll never admit that I want to kiss you... a lot," he said, not looking at me. 

"I'll never admit that you can't... because we don't know each other that well yet," I sighed. 

"Things like that take time, don't they?" he asked me. 

I nodded, "They do." 

"We've got time, haven't we?" 

I nodded again, "We do." 

"But we just... know until then that we like each other?" 

"Something like that," I shrugged. 

"I should get you home before I lose control and kiss you," he mumbled, sitting up. 

"You should get me home before I let you do that," I chuckled, sliding off the car and straightening out my clothes. 

It's serious now. Let's crack the code that is Nathan Sterling.

So that I can kiss him.

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Chapter 25

I wanna know how many of ya'll think they're ready for their first kiss.

cause I know some of you think she should know about Chloe first, but I feel like ya'll are just saying that cause you guy wanna know about Chloe lmao

but fr, do you think they're ready for their first kiss or should they know each other a little more?

next chapter: stage one