How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is a 2003 romantic comedy film directed by Donald Petrie, starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey.  In the film, advertising executive Benjamin Barry makes a bet that he can make any woman fall in love with him, while women's magazine writer Andie Anderson plans to write an article about how she led a man to dump her. [Source: Wikipedia]

*****

Fun fact: it’s been 18 days since Emily realized Nathan knew who she was.

*****

Chapter Twenty Nine: How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days

We were out of school. Nathan and I had slipped out of the gym, in a silent agreement. Now, as we sauntered around in our expensive clothes, I felt the happiest I had felt in ages.

“I always wanted to do this,” I turned to him as I walked, holding up my dress.

“Walk around at night in a prom dress?” Nathan asked, cocking his head, watching me.

“Yes,” I smiled, “and have a burger and fries in a good place, being messy and everything.”

Nathan was carrying his tux over his shoulder with his index finger, “Where’d you get your ideas?”

His tie hung loose from his collar. His hair was rumpled at the sides, messier than it had been earlier. He looked a little rugged. I loved that just as much as I loved him looking perfect and put-together.

I turned away from him because I couldn’t even look in the eyes. If I did, I might scream at him how much I loved him.

“Yes, absolutely. That is why we are here! Ta-da!”

I gestured to the diner we had in town called “Krabby Patty”. They had the best burgers and fries—greasy and properly seasoned, just the way I liked them. The fries were always crispy and came with their own special sauce. As I stood there, the aroma from the shop reached my nose, I immediately salivated.

“Nice choice,” Nathan said. He pushed open the door for me. I stared at the muscles in his forearm.

“Yep, I also know a few good restaurants,” I replied distractedly, while thinking why forearms had to be so sexy.

He gave me a mock salute as we entered. The place was small, with sticky tables and old chairs. We took our seats across from each other and looked at the menu.

There were only a few items; the crispy chicken burger, beef bomb burger, chicken tenders, chicken wings, cheesy blast burger, onion fries, curly fries, and regular french fries. The drinks included cream soda, diet coke, beer, and fizzy lemonade.

“Such a shame the menu doesn't have you,” I muttered to myself, thinking of the ‘me-n-u’ joke.

“Did you just say something?” Nathan said, looking up from his.

“Nope.” I shook my head.

Nathan raised an eyebrow and went back to eviscerating the list of foods with his eyes. No wonder, he was a food critic of sorts.

“I’m getting the beef bomb burger,” I announced to him, “and curly fries.”

“I will have the crispy chicken, I think,” Nathan said, still weighing his options, “French fries and soda.”

“Good,” I nodded, “Let's order.”

We walked up to the front, after ordering and paying for the food, we returned to our table. Then we were looking at our surroundings, not meeting each other’s eyes. 

“Umm, it’s kinda hot here,” Nathan commented.

“This is a new low for us,” I said, “After the temperature, we might have to talk about the weather next.”

Nathan laughed at that. “Yeah, well. Not my fault.”

“How is that my fault?” I said, leaning forward with my elbow on the table.

Our knees bumped into each other. None of us moved away.

He was looking down at the table instead of looking at me. “Yes, for looking too pretty.”

I needed to run to cool off, I thought to myself. Then he continued.

“To be honest, I keep thinking,” he started, “if you told me at the beginning of the year, I’d be here with you, I would have never believed you.”

I smiled. “Me neither.”

We waited for our food. Nathan’s eyes jumping from one thing to another, but never landing on mine. I gazed at him expectantly, wondering what he was thinking of so much.

“I ran into Simon today,” I said.

Nathan pursed his lips, “Simon who?”

I smiled a little, “Wallberg.”

“Oh,” Nathan nodded, “What did he say?”

“How some violent guy had threatened him to delete a comment,” I said, leaning my chin into my palm as I watched his reaction.

“Huh,” Nathan shrugged.

“Do you know the violent guy?” I asked, hiding my smile.

“Honestly?” Nathan made a face, “Why would I know anything about Wallberg? Or anyone else he knows.”

I nodded in agreement, “Yeah.”

“Hm,” Nathan turned away, his gaze slid towards the register as if urging them to give us our order asap.

“Except,” I said, “the comment was about me, that he was made to delete.”

Nathan stilled. His shoulder stiffened, and he cleared his throat, “Oh. Weird.”

“Isn’t it?” I said, leaning forward, “I wonder who’d care so much about me to make Simon delete a comment.”

Nathan turned to me slowly and laughed, “I know, right? Maybe someone has a crush on you or something.”

I looked at him pointedly, “Does he, now?”

We stared at each other for a moment. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. Our number were called as our orders were ready.

I didn’t stop giving him side–eye as we walked up and got our food. As we sat back into our seats, Nathan unwrapped the paper around my burger for me, opened the can of soda and put the straw into it, then pushed my tray towards me. I sat there, watching him do all that. And thought to myself, boyfriend behavior.

I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, so I hid it, trying to take a sip of my soda.

“I know I didn’t stand up for myself as I should have,” I said, “I totally should’ve called him out and made him delete his comment.”

“Mhm,” Nathan said, his eyes focused on his food.

“I would like to fight my own battles, you know,” I commented, “I hate confrontation. I hate communicating my feelings, especially when I’m upset. So, I pretended nothing had happened.”

“I guess,” Nathan took a bite of his crispy chicken burger.

“But it’s nice having someone in my corner,” I whispered.

He paused mid–bite, “Oh.”

“Anyway,” I said, after taking a big bite of my own burger, “Will you teach me how to throw the perfect punch?”

Nathan was sipping his soda, and as I said what I said, it seemed like he had gotten it down the wrong hole. He coughed and sputtered, “What?”

I fisted my left hand, “How to throw a punch?”

There was a twinkle, a glint in his green eyes that had gone missing sometime during the night, gleaming once again, “I thought you’d never ask.”

*****

“Come on, now,” Nathan said, urging me, “Do it.”

We were at the long sidewalk leading to the school parking lot, where his 1963 Cadillac convertible was parked.

Nathan was standing there, his arms outstretched, his tux jacket hanging from one of his biceps. He had taken off his tie and pocketed it some time ago. Two of the buttons of his dress shirt were open. I could see the hollow of his throat, his skin gleaming in the moonlight. The silver chain, carefully tucked beneath his shirt, gleamed too. I had almost forgotten about it.

I was getting ready to punch him.

“Arrogance,” I said as I fisted my hands, “is the roof of all downfall.”

Nathan smirked, “Did you just make up a saying?”

“I can also make you cry,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

His smirk widened.

I took a deep breath and looked at him standing in front of me, as if offering himself as my punching bag, “This is going to hurt, Callahan.”

“I hope so,” he said, pressing his lips together.

“You’re mocking me,” I glared at him, dropping my arm.

“And you’re so scared you won't even throw-”

“Ow! Ow, ow, ow,” I was going in circles, shaking my fingers. My thumb hurt. How could I hurt myself trying to punch him? It was humiliating. I had punched his stomach and ended up hurting myself instead. I must have tucked my thumb inside.

“Did you actually punch me?” Nathan blinked, “Swear to God, I felt nothing.”

“Screw you,” I said, looking down at my throbbing fingers. “Screw your freaking abs.”

“I literally just had dinner, and you came after my stomach.”

I rolled my eyes.

Nathan dropped his arms, his jacket sliding to his palm, and came towards me. “Did you tuck your thumb inside?”

I took a step back, “I am not that stupid.”

He nodded, “Okay. Lemme just show you, give me your hands.”

“I know how to—”

He grabbed my palm either way, he curled my fingers one by one, then curled my thumb over my index and middle finger. “Wrap your fingers tightly.”

I watched him in amusement.

“Then, since you are right-handed, put your left foot forwa—OW!”

I smirked after I had thrown the punch, this time going for his chest, over his heart. He glared at me, his hand closing around my wrist.

“It was you who threatened Simon,” I said, “and we weren’t friends back then. I remember you laughing at me.”

Nathan shrugged.

I rubbed my knuckles over his chest, “What were you thinking?”

He looked at me, “Nothing, really.”

“You are distracted,” I said.

“Do you think we should check on our friends or go straight home?” he asked, letting go of my hand and stepping back.

I raised my eyebrow but didn’t press him further, “Home.”

We resumed walking side by side. After no attempt at conversation from Nathan, I started talking again.

“So, Nathan,” I said.

“Yes,” he answered.

“Who is your first love?”

Nathan blinked, then gave me a side glance, “My what?”

“You know, not really first love as in, like, first crush?” I said, “Sexual awakening?”

Nathan’s lip twitched, “We really are gonna go there, are we, Em?”

I laughed, “You bet.”

“Let me think,” Nathan said, looking forward, as if he were critically contemplating the answer, “Hmm, I think, it was Nala from Lion King.”

I burst out laughing. “What?”

“What?” he said, “You asked my first crush.”

“She is an animated lion.”

Nathan shrugged, “She has beautiful eyelashes.”

The laugh bubbled out of me, “Beautiful eyelashes.”

“You go on crushing on an animated thief,” Nathan remarked, “Why can’t I like a lioness?”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he was faster.

“Do you like Nick?” Nathan asked, his chin towards me, his eyes on the sidewalk, “From Zootopia?”

That shut me up for good. “Well-”

“Thought so,” Nathan said, as if he was satisfied.

“Alright, better be it a lioness than anything else,” I said, “as for any human girl?”

The phrasing made him smile, “I have to think harder.”

“Think away, Mr. Lion,” I said.

He shook his head, “Never should have told you.”

“It’s alright. We stan a lioness,” I said.

“Stop,” Nathan shoved me with his free hand as I started laughing again, “What about you?”

“If we are thinking movie stars,” I said, my thoughts running, “then, I guess it’s Draco Malfoy.”

“Oh?”

“There was this scene in Half-blood Prince, Draco in the bathroom, leaning over the sink, looking into the mirror. He knew whatever he was doing was horrible, but he hated it too,” I sighed, “as much as he was afraid of his own death, he hated doing all of it. I don’t know, I felt oddly moved? I guess.”

“And that was the story of you falling in love with Draco Malfoy?” Nathan commented.

I smiled, “Not falling in love per se, realizing I will like the villains, the morally gray characters more than the straight-laced hero?”

Nathan gave me a sidelong glance.

“Heroes are kinda boring,” I shrugged.

“I guess,” he agreed in the same distracted tone.

We trudged along in silence once again, until I remembered something.

I started, “Oh, I should totally tell you about the time I got lost.”

We had reached the parking lot by then. We found his car, and got into our seats. He pulled the top-up and started the engine.

“The time you got lost?” He asked, putting the key in the ignition.

“Yup, I was six, I think. Mom’s college had a day-out with families. As far as I remember, there were lots of flowers and gardens where the venue was. I didn’t know any other kids. Mom was talking with one of her colleagues. I got really bored,” I shrugged, “And I thought I’d look around.”

Nathan gave me a side-eye.

“I kept walking around, chasing butterflies and looking at flowers, I think. The place was heavenly. Then I don’t know how, I was inside this small garden, with a gate. When I was done checking that out, I got out and there was literally no one around, and suddenly I was alone.”

Nathan shook his head, “Of course.”

“And I was so puzzled. I couldn’t find my way. So I sat in the grass and started crying,” I said, leaning against the seat, looking at him. “And there comes a boy, kicking a soccer ball.”

“Your knight in shining armor,” Nathan deadpanned.

I laughed, “Well, he saw me crying, and he was so uncomfortable.”

“No wonder,” he said.

“So uncomfortable that he ran away,” I said.

Nathan chuckled, “And you didn’t follow him?”

“I was still wondering if he was a ghost, probably,” I shrugged. “All I remember is, later, he came back and asked me what’s wrong.”

“Naturally,” he replied.

“Then he ran away again,” I said.

“No!” Nathan said, smiling slightly.

“I was starting to think he would save me, but he just kept abandoning me.”

“Poor guy, if he only knew how much depended on him.”

“Yeah, totally,” I looked out through the window.

“What happened next?” he asked, his voice not above a whisper.

“I was found, of course,” I said, “considering the fact that I still live with my mom.”

“You don’t remember?” Nathan asked, like he was offended. “You only remember him running away?”

I nodded, “I did remember his face for a while. I would think about him a lot. But yeah, anything beyond that, my memory fails.”

He gave me a look, “Is that the story of your first crush?”

“I was six, so of course not,” I said.

“I doubt that,” Nathan said. He knew me too well.

I shrugged. Then we sat in silence as we got nearer to my house. Nathan didn’t open his mouth. I kept watching him, the streetlights passing over his face, illuminating it, then casting it in shadows as we passed.

He drove with his eyes always on the road, not sparing me a glance. Something about his demeanor was different; distracted, anxious, and so far away from me, like he was slipping through my fingers, like he had put up a wall I couldn’t break through.

We reached my house. He stopped the engine. His knuckles were white, gripping the steering wheel. He was still looking at the road. I turned his way, in my seat.

“Prom is over, huh?” Nathan commented.

“I guess,” I said.

Nathan swallowed, “So–umm–did you have a good time?”

“If you are asking,” I said, “about your promise, then yes, you were the best date.”

He huffed a breath through his mouth, “Good.”

I stared at him in silence. Nathan drummed his fingers on his knee as if waiting for something.

“I thought you said,” I said, “you wanted to tell me something.”

Nathan visibly winced. He fisted one of his hands, “No.”

“No?” I watched his every movement. He still wouldn’t look at me.

“No. I have nothing to say,” Nathan said, “nothing, really.”

“You said I don’t have to wait anymore,” I said, clasping the seatbelt.

“I don’t know,” Nathan said slowly, “what that means.”

I stared at him in surprise. “Why don’t you look at me?”

“Emily, I think,” Nathan said, “we should end the night here. We are tired and it’s been a long night.”

Everything inside me recoiled. “Oh?”

Nathan finally looked at me and then smiled. It looked so fake, I winced, “Goodnight.”

I needed to get out of his car. So I unclasped the seat belt. He was looking outside. When I was about to get out of the car, he cleared his throat, “And uh–”

Hope flared up inside me despite my wishes. I turned around almost too quickly. He was looking at his shoes, “I am sorry, but can we get a rain check on this week’s chem session?”

“But that’s,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, “next Friday.”

“Yeah,” Nathan said, “I’d be busy, so we probably wouldn’t be able to meet up.”

I sat there motionless. This was starting to feel a lot like a breakup, except he was only my prom date, and my study partner. “Okay.”

And I was in love with him.

“Okay,” Nathan mumbled.

“Thanks for taking me to prom,” I mumbled, before I closed the door. “Goodnight.”

*****

A/N: stop. Let me cook, alr