Chapter 32: Carolina (Nathan's POV)

"Why doesn't he just get his own board?" Charlie asked as I skated around the ramp and he sat with Emma and Carolina. His girlfriend. The boy did it. 

Nobody answered him. 

"How is he so good at skating?" Carolina asked. As fun as it is skating around a 4-foot ramp, it's a little boring when I have to do it by myself. Carolina has a skateboard. Charlie's teaching her how to skate. That's how he asked her out, or so the story goes. But she's still a little hesitant in going all the way on the ramp. 

And Emma? She's more hesitant than the 15-year-old. 

"He's okay," Charlie shrugged. Emma let out a laugh while looking at me. 

"He's better than you," Carolina retorted. 

"I doubt that," Emma cut in. I stared at her, acting offended. 

"Give me your board," Charlie stood up. Carolina handed it to him and he stood up and stood beside me, where I stopped on top of the ramp. 

"What are we doing?" I asked, raising my brows at him. 

"Nothing. I just wanted to skate," he shrugged, going up and down the ramp. 

I shook my head and skated with him for a while, seeing that Emma was chatting with Carolina. "How did you ask her out?" I asked him. Just out of curiosity, the last time I saw him single, he seemed like the kid that flirted with his babysitter. 

"I just asked her out to ice cream. Then while we were eating ice cream, I asked her if she'll be my girlfriend." 

"Just like that?" I chuckled. 

"Yeah," he shrugged. "And she said yes." 

"You've probably liked her a while then," I nodded. 

"I guess. A couple of months. But she never liked me. She does now because I took her out. Something about the little things being important," he explained. 

"The little things are important, keep that in mind," I replied. 

"You're one to talk," he scoffed. 

"Excuse me?" 

He hesitated to say the next words, but he did anyway. "You've been hanging around with her since she came into town, haven't you? She's the new girl?" 

"Yeah," I said slowly. 

"You've probably liked her since... like her first week here?" Silence. "But look at you, you haven't asked her out but oh, 'the little things matter.'" He rolled his eyes. 

"I haven't asked her out on a date but that doesn't mean we're not going out," I replied. 

"Point being, you're not her boyfriend." 

"Yet." 

He raised his brows at me questioningly. "Oh," he nodded, "You've kissed her, haven't you?" he taunted. 

"I'm not discussing my love life with a 15-year-old." 

"Oh, so it's a love life now," he laughed. I rolled my eyes, smacking the back of his head before pushing myself off the board and skating ahead of him. "You're in love with her," he teased, skating beside me. 

"I'm not in love with her," I denied. 

"But you have feelings for her?" I didn't answer him and kept skating. "Why don't you just ask her out?" 

"I need a good first-date idea. Ice cream doesn't count," I smirked. 

"It does, but okay. I'll help you out," he chuckled, "Take her on a picnic," he shrugged. 

"On a picnic? No way." 

"Why not? Can you cook?" 

"Yes, but-" 

"Can you be organized?" 

"Sometimes, but-" 

"Can you make a picnic basket and take her to a viewpoint to see the setting sun? The answer is yes. Just take her and if she doesn't like it, say it isn't a date and you're just hanging out." 

"Who told you this?" I chuckled. 

"Emma." No way. "She's the one who told me if you take a girl on a date but she doesn't seem to be enjoying it if you can then take her somewhere else, but if you can't do that then just tell her 'I'm sorry, but this isn't our first date, I'll make that more special.'" 

I stared at him in utter confusion. That doesn't sound like it would work. "And have you tried this?" 

"Yes," he nodded. 

"God, poor Caroline," I sighed. 

He rolled his eyes and explained, "I took her ice skating. She hated every bit of it, but she didn't say that. I could just tell. So, I told her 'I'm sorry you're not having fun, but this isn't our first date, that'll be better, I promise' and then she started enjoying it a little more." 

"She doesn't like ice skating?" I chuckled. 

"She gets too cold." 

I glanced at Emma and Caroline. Emma's said the same thing to me before. She prefers roller skating. Ice skating makes her too cold. "That makes two of them." 

"See? They have similar... opinions? Just take her on a picnic. If she doesn't like it then... keep my board." 

"Haha," I said sarcastically. 

"I'm serious. I'm getting a new one anyway," he shrugged. 

I rolled my eyes and shook my head at him, even though I was thinking about what he just said. Maybe a picnic isn't such a bad idea. 

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We were currently talking and walking home. Well, to her house. "What are you doing tomorrow?" she asked, linking her arm with mine. I love it when she does that. 

"I'm thinking of going to see the apartment with Brandon." 

She nodded, "You should do that." I looked at her weirdly before it clicked. 

"You know," I cleared my throat, "If you wanna talk to Kendall about me behind my back, then just say it." 

She laughed, pushing me around. "Since you already know, yes. That is exactly what I need to do. Can I tell her?" 

"Yeah," I shrugged, linking her arm with mine, pulling through. 

"And um, can I tell my mom?" she asked. 

I looked at her for a minute before answering. "You really tell her everything, don't you?" 

"Yeah, I do. Family is sort of the only constant in my life," she shrugged. "And anyway, then you won't have to sneak around at night to come to my room." 

I chuckled, "You can tell her. I don't mind." 

"Thanks," she smiled. "You can tell whoever you want, it's fair." 

"I don't really have anyone to tell apart from Brandon." 

"You have me. Pretend I'm not me. Pretend I'm your... friend. Which I was before... uh, whatever. You get what I'm saying. So, who's the girl you're seeing?" she asked, confused herself as to what the hell she's talking about. 

I shook my head, laughing. "I'm not pretending that you're someone else." 

"Okay..." she said slowly, "Then tell me how you'd tell your mom." She turned to me, "That doesn't mean pretend I'm your mom," she said. I laughed, running my hand over my face. "Just... what would you tell your mom when she asks about the girl you've been with?" 

"She wouldn't know I've been with a girl," I said, shooting her a pointed look. 

"But say she does. What would you tell her?" 

I shook my head slowly, "Emma. My mom isn't like yours. She never could be because she's never been here. I can't even pretend to talk to her like... like a son would talk to his mom." 

She eyed me for a moment before letting out a sigh. "You guys don't even speak anymore? On the phone?" 

I shook my head in response. "But that's my problem. Not yours." She nodded slowly, resting her head on my shoulder before pressing a kiss to my cheek as we got to her house. "Is your mom home yet?" I asked while she fished out her keys. 

"I don't think so, but she may not have a late shift tonight," she shrugged while unlocking the door and pushing it open. She stepped in first, facing me and her back towards the house. "What do you want for dinner? I was thinking I could order... what are you looking at?" she asked, pulling the keys out of the lock. 

I wasn't even thinking right now, I was zoned out and shellshocked. At Mr. Hayden who sat on the living room couch, flicking through a newspaper. 

"Emma," I mumbled. 

"What?" she laughed, walking up to me, putting her arms around my neck. 

"Uh, no," I chuckled, pulling her arms down. 

"Why?" she pouted, going on her toes to kiss me. 

"Maybe cause your dad's sitting right there," I mumbled, grabbing her face and turning it to the side while I leaned down to whisper in her ear. 

"No," she whispered, "That's not funny." 

"I'm not kidding, babe." 

She closed her eyes, cringing before she turned around. 

"Hey, honey," her dad sang. 

"Hi, dad. What a surprise," she chuckled, walking over as he stood up. "I missed you," she said while I hesitantly stepped inside and shut the door. 

"I missed you too," he said, hugging her tightly. She pulled away, tucking her hair behind her hair, standing there awkwardly. Great, she's not even gonna introduce me. "Strawberry? Mango? What was it? Nathan, correct?" he smiled. 

"Yes, sir, it's really nice to see you." 

"I'll decide if I feel the same in a little bit. I'm ordering dinner, what would you two like?" 

"Wait, dad, what are you doing home? I thought you'll be a few more weeks," Emma chuckled. 

"I missed you and your mother. So I flew in."

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Chapter 32

Harry got nominated for 3 Grammys. 

I'm dead.

ITS WHAT HE DESERVES OMG I'M SO PROUD OF MY BABYYYY

next chapter: father