The Bad Boy's Attraction

"And X marks the spot." Natalie prances about in her room feeling elated after crossing out the first day on her calender. "Finally, finally, finally!" She does a small victory dance before crashing on her bed while she faces the ceiling. Her long brunette hair spreads out in all directions but she doesn't mind messing it up one bit. She is too excited about the beginning of her final year of high school and she has been up for hours getting ready just so that she isn't late. While she has been at Blackwood high her entire high school life, doing her senior year has got her more excited than any other year. And it's not because of the reasons that excite every typical senior year student. While everyone gets excited about partying, getting new boyfriends, hairdos and all sorts of exciting mischief, Natalie just wants one thing. Her eyes go to her notice board in her bedroom. For a moment she laughs when she remembers her best friend laughing at her for having a notice board in there like it was some office somewhere. But it is the only way she plans to clearly track her progress. She looks at her to do list for the year and there is only one item, well more like 10 in 1 item. She smiles when she sees all the A pluses next to each one of her subjects that she intends to bring to reality. For her coveted slot in her dream college, getting these are her goals for the year. To get the best grades for her college admission is all she cares about. "How is my little pumpkin this morning." A knock sounds on her door and she jumps up with a huge smile knowing very well who just came to see her. "Dad!" She lands in her father's arms almost knocking him out of excitement and her father ends up coughing. "I'm sorry ." "It's ok kiddo." As usual he tries to be the strong man that he has been for the both of them for a while now. Natalie can't help but be excited about seeing him each morning. It always feels like a miracle with each new day that comes. "So...senior now huh?" "Yep, soon I will be able to take care of you." She smiles proudly at him but he gives her a sad look. "How many times should I tell you that you don't have to do that?" Her father sighs. "As many times as you want if it makes you happy but that doesn't mean I should listen." She grins at him. "Natalie...You don't have to do that. Am the parent here. I will figure something out okay? So just go and have fun like any normal kid. "This dear old dad is the best fun for me." She wiggles her eyebrows at him and a smile tugs on his lips making her feel better. "I'm not old." His pout makes her laugh as she looks at him with warmth. "You'll always be old to me old man." She pinches his cheeks lightly and places a feather light kiss on his forehead. "Let me go!" Natalie shrieks when her father suddenly scoops her up and walks towards their kitchen. "Who is the baby now huh?" "Dad put me down! I...I.. I won't forgive you if you break your back again." She tries to threaten him to put her down but he just rolls his eyes at her. That has got to be the lamest threat she has thrown at him yet as she tries to get him to put her down everytime he does this. "I'm no baby, even mom would agree with me." She folds her arms with a pout on her lips but it quickly disappears when her father freezes right there in the kitchen. "I'm sorry?" She bites her lips when she realizes what she just said. "I didn't mean to talk about her." Her mother is still a sore subject for her dad even after 18 years. It was easier when she was younger or maybe she just never noticed it but now that she is older she can clearly see his reluctance to talk about her every time she brings her up. "Yes you definitely did and you know what? For once I agree with you totally this time." He drops her on their kitchen chair with a smirk on his face and she cries out pretending to be in pain from his action. "You are definitely not a baby so please go out, have fun and maybe possibly bring me back a son in law?" Her jaw drops instantly and her father bursts out laughing. "Got ya!" He exclaims as he pushes a plate of food before her. "Here is to a healthy senior student of our household." There is amusement in his eyes as he raises a fork with fruit on it in her face. "How about a grand daughter or better yet a bastard grand son that can take your name hmmmm?" Her father's smile disappears instantly and it's her turn to burst out laughing. "Got ya!" She winks at him before she stuffs a slice of her very delicious omelette in her mouth. "Not cool, that's so not cool." "You are not cool." She points at him grinning before a horn sounds outside. "That should be me." She jumps up and gives her father a hug before reaching for her bag and running out of the house. "Am not ready to be a grandfather!" Her father shouts after her and she just laughs to herself. It feels good to have the last laugh for a change. "Oh my God Natalie!" A very exasperated voice calls from the ride waiting outside her home and Natalie just rolls her eyes. She wonders what it is this time. Her best friend Ava never calls her full name for nothing. She takes a deep breath and gets ready for a full judgemental lecture early in the morning. "What in the world are you wearing?" Ava's voice sounds like she is about to explode and Natalie hugs her to keep her from doing exactly that. "Hi I'm Nat, good to see you too." She pats her friend's back before pulling back. "Didn't you get the memo?" Her friend's eyes are as wide as saucers making Natalie frown. "Memo what memo?" She asks confused wondering if she maybe missed some communication from school. "Helloooo, it's senior year, we are seniors!" Ava throws her hands in the air as if trying to drive a point across. "Yeah so?" "So, you can't just dress like a nun in a forgotten monastery hello." "What is wrong with my clothes?" Natalie frowns when she looks at her clothes and sees nothing wrong. "Firstly, black is so not your colour. And you...you can't just pair this with that..." she gets a hold of her comfortable oversized Tee that is hanging on top of her black jeans. "Oh God what am I going to do with you?" Ava gets hold of her head like Natalie's clothes were giving her a headache. "How am I supposed to get the hot guys to notice us when you insist on being so, so unnoticeable." She gives Natalie's Tee a gentle tug looking displeased. "I'm not looking for a guy." Natalie replies flatly. "Oh please which senior is not looking for a hot guy to excite their final yeah hmmm?" It's Ava's turn to roll her eyes. "Uh..me...?" Natalie says pointing to herself and Ava just looks at her with disbelief. "Sometimes I wonder how we are best friends." Ava rolls her eyes at her again. "Maybe because am the only one who can take your crap?" Ava stops in her tracks and looks back at her with a serious look. "You got a point there." She retorts and they both burst out laughing. "Oh well I guess I just got a new project on my hands now." Ava says excitedly. "What project are you on about now huh?" Natalie frowns.. "You of course, I can't have you dressing like that otherwise you will end up spending your days as an old maid that lives with her cats. "Oh please....Can we like just go now?" With Ava in her project mode they will end up late for sure. "As you wish." Ava replies sounding not so happy but she quickly grins at Natalie looking excited once more. "Let's kill this year babe!" Ava exclaims as they get into her car. "Hell yeah!" Natalie exclaims too. For someone who knows what she wants, Natalie knows she will definitely kill it.