A week later, Chloe gets out of the appointment to see her counselor, and sees a tall handsome boy approach her. "Hey, Chlo, you ready?" Nathaniel ask.

"Yeah, sure! Ready for what though?" Chloe ask him in return.

"Oh, uh, I thought about the movies." Nathaniel says.

"Sure thing, but afterwards we go some where for Doritos!" Chloe says.

  "Doritos is it?  Fine, I make sure to get you some after the movie."  Nathaniel replies.

   "How do I know you will?"  Chole says with a bit of a small pout to her lip.

   "Goose, it is because when you are with me I aim to please."   Nathaniel says. He enters the theater with her.  When some other guy attempts to pull her away, Nathaniel holds her hand in his and says, "Sorry, but she already has a boyfriend!  So leave her be will ya?"

     The other boy nods his head and runs off.  Chloe can not believe her ears!  Did that just happen?  Did Nathaniel really call her his girlfriend?  Chloe shakes her head at the silly idea.  She blushes as well.

      Nathaniel orders the tickets for the latest romance movie, the remake of Aladdin.  Chloe is glad because this is the one she longs to see more than the other ones all together.  As Nathaniel holds her hand, Chloe thinks, what does this mean exactly?

      The two find a seat near the very back.  It is private enough for the privacy they need, but still cozy enough to view the film.  As the movie starts  Chloe finds it hard to relax when she has so much on her mind.  She thinks, does he like me or was the whole girlfriend excuse with the stranger just a reason to keep the unknown person from kidnapping me?  She supposes this is something she will not find out anytime soon. She turns her attention to the huge screen before her very eyes.

      Chloe and Nathaniel enjoy most of the movie together.  When it gets to the scene where Jafar exposes Aladdin for his lies Chole cries.  She has no idea why she is so sensitive to this part anyway?  It is just a movie after all.  

     Towards the end, when Aladdin admits he did all he did for love for the princess, Jasmine the two along with everyone else who views this movie sigh in approval.  Then, clap as the pair on the screen kisses.

      Nathaniel thinks, I wish I could kiss Chloe!  What would her lips feel like?  Would it be romantic or just a silly crush satisfication?  He thinks, wait, what?  Crush?  Since when have I  been one to crush on her?  He thinks, I know it is only been since the beginning, I suppose that I found myself  in awe and wonder when it comes to her.

      The movie ends, and as the end credits roll, Nathaniel turns to Chloe.   "Chlo, still want to get some Doritos?"  Nathaniel ask.

     "Yes,most definitely!"  Chole says.

   "Okay, then Doritos you shall have fair maiden!"  Nathaniel says.  

     Nathaniel and Chloe exit the theater together.  Chloe gets in the front passenger seat to his car once he unlocks it.  Nathaniel gets in the driver' s  side and drives to the store.  He parks the car, gets the keys out of the ignition, waits for Chloe, then walks with her into the supermarket.

    Once inside he finds the chip aisle.  "So which ones suit your fancy?  Is it the nacho cheese flavor?  Ranch?  Spicy?   Gucamole?  Hot?  Chilli flavor? what?"  Nathaniel ask her.  He does this in the hopes she will let him know soon.  It is not like he could know so soon into their relationship, right?

    "Uh, the Ranch ones are just fine!  They are my favorites."  Chloe says.

   "Then Ranch for you it shall be young lady.  Also, for me your fine knight, I shall have the Hot ones myself."  Nathaniel says.  He laughs at the funny look she gives him complete with a tongue roll.  

     "What is so funny?"  She ask with her hands on her hips.

     "Oh, nothing!  Nothing at all, Chloe."  Nathaniel says.  He pays for the snacks.  Then he drives the too of them to the beach.  He parks, gets out and grabs her hand.

     "What brings us here?"  Chloe ask.

     "You really want to know,huh?"  Nathaniel replies.

    "Yes, of course, I do."  Chloe says.

     "Well, then it is so we can make a sandcastle together, then a sand fort, and go play in the ocean.  We could use go for a walk if you rather do so instead."  Nathaniel remarks.

     "I think the sandcastle, fort and swim sounds like great fun!"  Chloe says. 

    "In that case, that is precisely what we shall do then."  Nathaniel tells her.

         The two build the sandcastle first.  Chloe takes some photos of it, Nathaniel and herself.  He does some of the same, but also manages to get a nice photo of both of them side by side on the shore with the ocean in the background behind them.

        Next they build the fort, tickle each other, and finally go for a dip in the ocean.  As a huge wave brushes past them, Nathaniel takes her in his arms, and stares into her eyes.  Chloe stares into his as well.  She feels like she could stay like this all day, if she could.  

      Nathaniel sees her about to step on a jellyfish.  He grabs her up bridal style and carries her as far away from it as he can.  He sets her down on her towel.   He sits down beside her on his own beach towel.   

     "Thanks for the save back there!  I  do not know what I would have done if you had not been her to keep me from that jellyfish!"  Chloe remarks.

      "Oh, it was nothing, really!"  Nathaniel says.  His face turns red when he notices how the sun makes her hair appear to glow.  To him it makes her look like an innocent angel before his very eyes.  Now where on earth did this thought come from anyway?

      "I will race you back to the car."  Nathaniel tells her.

     "Oh, yeah, I am gonna win!"  Chloe brags.

      "Well, then, if you win you get to decide what prize to claim.  However if I win, you have to try lemon ice-cream."  Nathaniel says.

     "Okay, sounds like a plan to me."  Chloe says.

     "Fine, then, on your mark, get seat, ready, go!"  Nathaniel calls out.  He starts to run, and Chloe passes him.  Just as she is about to reach the car, he tackles her to the ground!  
    

    "Hey, no fair you cheated!"   Chloe calls out.

     "Oh, yeah you can not prove it, goose!"  Nathaniel says.

     "Hmm, than I suppose you can forget your prize, cause I win!"  Chloe says.

      "Fine, you win fair and square."  Nathaniel says.  He wonders what prize she will claim.

          Turns out he does have to wait for long!  Chloe climbs into the driver's side and smirks at him when he looks at her in confusion.  "Wait, a minute!  It is my car!"  Nathaniel says.

      "Yeah so, I can drive to you know!"  Chloe says.

     "What does that have to do with it?"  Nathaniel ask.   

   "Plenty!  It means I am capable of  driving this car too."  Chloe says. She refuses to move from the seat.  Nathaniel rather let her drive than deal with a walk back, so he climbs into the passenger side seat, puts on the seat belt, closes the door and locks it.  

      Chloe drives in silence back to her place.  Once there, She smiles up at him. She grabs the bag of  Doritos.  "See you later, Nath!"  Chloe says. 

        "wait, just a minute here!"  Nathaniel calls out to her.

        "Wait, for what?  I am kinda busy you know."  Chloe says.

       "Thanks for the fun time!  I hope to see you more in the near future you know."  Nathaniel says.  He blushes when he realizes he almost gave her a confession when it comes to how he feelings about her.

        "No sweat!  Besides, you are the one who took me to the movies, and so on!"  Chloe says.

        "True that, but I will see ya around?"  Nathaniel says.

     "yes, sure'!"  Chole says. She watches him leave and thinks, Wow nice torso there!  She blushes at her thoughts as she heads inside.

    to be continued in Chapter  9  Bad Influence?