Nathaniel's  POV:

    He lets go of her hair. He does not want to mess this up.

     He thinks, what do I mean to you?

   Chole's  POV:

   "Why did you stop?"

    She blushes when she realizes what she just said.

     Great, now he is going to think I am weird.

     Nathaniel's POV:

    "I d-did not want to make you feel uncomfortable around m-me."

     He sees her cheeks turn red. He sighs. So cute, she is so cute.

      He leaves with some excuse that he has to go to the bathroom.      

    Mystery Man's POV:

     "So, what are you doing, right,  now?"

    Chole's POV:

   "I am hanging out with my  best friend, Nathaniel."

    Mystery Man's  POV:

    "Sounds like you are having fun."

    Chole's  POV:
     She thinks, why did he ask me?

     She feels confused now.

     She begins to wonder if he is Nathaniel or is he someone else?

       She starts to make a funny face.

   Mystery Man's  POV:

     "You alright?"

   Chole's  POV:

   "Yes, why?"

    Mystery Man's  POV:

    "You seem tense."

    " No need to be nervous."

   Chole's  POV:
     "Nervous, I am not nervous."

    "It is just Nathaniel is acting so strange."

     Mystery Man's  POV:

     "Strange, in what way?"

    Chole's POV:

    She thinks if  I tell him he will only laugh.

    If I do not tell him, he will think I am ignoring him.

       facepalms

    "He is acting like he is not sure how to behave around me."

    "He stood rather close and..."

      Nathaniel's  POV:

    Nathaniel sneaks up behind her.

        "Chole, why the grimace?"

         "Ah, you scared me!"

       "Ha, ha!"  He teases her.

    "Nathaniel, it  is not funny."

    "Oh, but it  is d-Chole!" He hopes she does not notice the slip-up.

    "Is not."

  "Come on, tell me, why the sullen look?"

   "Fine, it is just that you have been out of sorts lately." Chole remarks.

    "Out of sorts, how so?"

   Chole's  POV:
   "Well, it has been the first time we have hung out in years."

    "Now, you act so differently."

  She sees the gleam in his eyes as he steps closer to her.

     "Different, how so?" Nathaniel places a hand on her shoulder.

     "N-Nathaniel, you are so close."

   Chole closes her eyes. She is not sure what to expect.

     Nathaniel whispers in her ear, "Chole, do not be nervous. It is just me."

      Chole opens her eyes. She looks at him and feels like she might faint.

        "What are we?" She mumbles.

    Nathaniel's POV:

     He hears her.

    He thinks we are whatever you want us to be.

     "So beautiful," He mutters.

       "What?"

   "Chole, you are a very attractive person."

    He sees her pull out a fan.

    He watches as she uses the handheld fan to try to cool off.

     How ironic.  

   Chole's  POV:
     She holds onto the fan.

  She is taken aback by his words.

     Did he just call me beautiful?

     "N-Nathaniel, you must know."

    "Know, what is there to know, beautiful woman?"

        Chole thinks there he goes calling me beautiful again. She is flattered.

        "He still texts me. The mystery guy and I am to meet him at 4 this afternoon!" She blurts out.

           Nathaniel's  POV:
           "Chole, I know."

           "It is alright."

           "I have something to tell you."  He states.

        Chole's  POV:
           "What is it?"

          Nathaniel grabs her hand.

       Chole does not pull away. She thinks just tell me already.

     "Make sure to give him a fair chance."

        "I will but..."

       "D-darling, just trust me on this one."

          Chole nods her head. She does not correct him. 

           She reaches up and wipes a tear from his face.

         "Nathaniel, please do not be sad."

          Chole kisses him on the cheek. 

           "What am I to you?" He asks her.

      ...Later, that day, Nathaniel and Chole enjoy a nice lunch together.

      Chole pays for the meal.

       Nathaniel barely says much. He appears to have a far-off look in his eyes.

     Chole's  POV:

     "Does she know?"

   Nathaniel's POV:
    "What do you mean?"

Chole's  POV:
  "Whoever she is, does she know you love her?"

    Nathaniel's  POV:

    He shakes his head no.

   How can he tell her the truth now?

      Perhaps it is not too late too..No, he thinks he can not.   

        Chole's  POV:

     "Well, she is one lucky gal."

 Nathaniel's  POV:
   "Yes, she is."

 He walks her home.

  Once there, he turns to go. He rather not, but he has something to do.

    "See you, beautiful!" Nathaniel says as he kisses her forehead.

 Chole's  POV:

   Chole is too stunned for words as she waves bye to him.    

   Around 3:45 pm...

   Mystery Man's  POV:

    "Fifteen minutes, darling."

     Chole's  POV:

    "I know."

Mystery Man's  POV:

  "Chole, why are you so sad?"

Chole's  POV:

  "It is just that  when it comes to Nathaniel, I have begun to see him in a different light."

   Mystery Man's  POV:

   "I see."

  "Do not fret. I am sure all will be well."

 Chole's  POV:
  "How can you say that when you do not even know him?"

   "I mean for that matter, I do not even really know you."

 Mystery Man's  POV:
  "Ouch, your words wound me."

    "See you soon, love!"

Chole's  POV:
  "See you soon."

   Chole restyles her hair. She changes out of the yellow dress too.

     This time she wears a light blue pair of jeans, a yellow sleeveless shirt, the yellow sandals again, and ties a blue sweater around her waist.

     She does not bother with much make-up. She lightly puts on some mascara, and a touch of chapstick. She brushes her hair and adds a light yellow hairband to it. She wears daisy earrings and the matching necklace once more.

   She looks at the time, it is almost four. She takes a deep breath as she grabs her purse.

 Find out more as the story continues in Chapter 14

   Until then,

   bye-bye, little owlets!

-Summer out!

Published August 17, 2021

Edits made August 18, 2021