All that is skin-deep

11. One shot

Nat had both her hands hidden away in the pocket of her red hoodie as she walked down the sidewalk—a route she had known too well in the past month—all the familiar shops, lamp posts had been engraved in her head—she had been walking down this street every Saturday morning, whenever she could, it had been an accidental occurrence the first time but then it had become a routine.

And she actually enjoyed it.

A month ago, a Saturday just like this one—she went for a walk, not a run really just trying to familiarise herself with the area, it wasn’t a bad idea she never thought so but then it ended up raining— unexpected? Not really but she was unprepared.

Unfamiliar with most of the shops she ran into the first one she found open— clothes drenched, her hair dump—with the light ringing from the bell as she walked through, hurriedly trying to escape the rain.

Just like that—it, their treats had been an oasis whenever she returned from a run, that she barely did as she would just take a stroll—click a few pictures then grab a late hour breakfast.

The familiar ring of the bell alerting them of a customer, Nat pushed the door making her way in—being greeted by a familiar front person she lightly smiled back before taking a seat right by the window.

Her usual spot.

There wasn’t a need to order, she had the same thing every time she visited—a regular customer on the weekend, they had her order engraved in their heads.

“Good morning.”

Nat took her gaze away from the slightly busy sidewalk of people walking, some on bikes others on the road in their cars— to the source of voice, a bright smile on her face.

“Hello there.”

Taking the order out her hands she placed it down on the table. “And thank you.” Nat mumbled staring at Petra, a smile still present.

Unlike most times, Petra didn’t immediately leave to tend to the other customers. The girl pulled out a chair welcoming herself, not like she did mind it.

She did like Petra’s presence.

Arms resting on top of the table, Petra strangely stared at Nat—not breaking eye contact nor muttering a single thing, just tapping the surface with her index finger.

Weird and unusual of her to do.

But they stayed like that—staring into the others eyes, curiously trying to study the other and confusingly trying to shrink herself away from the situation.

It had been about two more minutes of staring before Petra broke the silence and Nat was thankful, she was growing impatient and very, very uncomfortable.

“I have to ask you something.” the girl spoke in a serious tone, not the cheerful voice she had used earlier.

“Sure go ahead.” with that said, Nat had herself taking a sip out of her warm drink—green tea.

“Do you have a crush on anyone?”

Unexpected wasn’t quite the word she would had used when Petra suddenly asked that, of course she expected something else and if hadn’t already swallowed the sip of tea she had in mouth—it would have been everywhere but her mouth.

Messy, she knows.

Clearing her throat then placing the mug down she stared at Petra—lingering on her before actually answering her. She noticed how agitated she was waiting for her response and her gaze kept on falling behind the counter, like she was expecting someone.

“It’s too early to tell if I do have a crush on someone.” Nat let out a sigh—it wasn’t because of Petra and her question, maybe her question but mostly how unsure she was about her feelings.

Was it really a crush or admiration—she did rarely talk to the person she had a crush on, it had to be the friendly affection she gave Nat that made her welcome and brought a warm feeling inside her—but regardless she knew nothing about her, barely knew anything apart from her name.

“But there is a man?”

Of course Petra didn’t know. Shaking her head no she opened her mouth to speak.

“Not a man.”

Simple and straight forward— relief did wash over Petra’s features but not completely, she was still bummed out?

She mumbled, “That’s great but not really though.” then later her lips were pursed as though she was thinking of something, but her gaze remained on Nat.

“Why?” she asked out of confusion than curiosity—Petra wasn’t really making much of sense today.

A few seconds Petra seemed to be contemplating, on either telling her or walking right to the kitchen and stopping her friend.

But the latter seemed better or she had time for that. “I came to tell you Frank likes you and is about to ask you. I should go stop him before he does.”

It was her responsibilities to stop him—she was the one that encouraged him to ask her out.

Nat just hummed before looking down to her tea then sighed. It wasn’t because he had a crush on her, he was a good guy it just wasn’t who she wanted to like her nor were they the words she hoped to hear from Petra.

Petra had already been standing when the said person she was trying to get to, stood right there— practically giving Nat heart eyes—the boy wore his heart on his sleeves too often.

His eyes did literally light up when Nat looked up at him noticing the presence beside her—it was really too late to stop him.

Even Petra trying to pull him away was to no success, man’s feet were glued to the floor.

“Nat would you go on a date with me?”

Hopeful—that’s how he sounded yet that wouldn’t last very long once Nat opened her mouth. Petra would definitely interrupt Nat before she would even voice out a response, which she clearly knew as a not.

So she spoke, “A double date with me and Otis tagging along.”

Frank gave her a puzzled look, confused. Nat was intrigued—but both had no second to respond or clear up anything as Petra spoke again.

“Like four friends hanging out.”

Friends, she had emphasize on that word clearly for Frank but Nat got the memo— just friends.

“I don’t see why not.”