the next generation

Monica

A few days went by since I had seen Mary. Time felt like a blur to me. I tried to stay as much in 'my' room as possible, since I did not yet know what to say to the whole Bellator family. Yesterday evening I could hear them talk about me. Nate wanted to see me but his father was telling him that he shouldn't. I don't know why Oliver would want to try to keep us seperated, but it seemed to work. I could hear Nate being angry and impatient, but still he listened to his father. Josh and Matthew seemed to feel a lot better than Nate. Gertrude told me that Monica, Matthews girlfriend, would come today so the boys were excited to finally see her again. Matthew once told me that she is really nice, so I felt a bit happier when I woke up today. Monica is not yet a Bellator, so maybe she does not believe in Oliver's stories as well. I wonder if she ever heared them at all. Maybe Matthew never let Oliver tell Monica, afraid that she might leave him? I still had to go to the library as I promised Mary I would do. It's just that something within me was holding me back. I guess  I am afraid that I really might find something that I do not want to find. I don't want to believe in such stories. It would turn my whole world up side down. Maybe Nate wants to see me to tell me his father is crazy, and is that the reason why Oliver will not have it? One can only guess... 

To make sure I'd make a good first impression on Monica, I decided to dress up a bit. I put on one of my favorite summer dresses, a lilac one, which suited my brown hair and long legs. I put on some make up but did not over due it. The boys would notice immediaty notice otherwise and that was the last thing I wanted to do. The clothes I lend from Monica, without her knowing, were already washed and back in Matthews room. 

At noon Josh suddently ran out of the house, followed by an over exicted Matthew, I had never seen him this happy. I loved how he missed her so much. Someday I wish I could have the same kind of love for someone. I went outside myself, my curiousity to great to stay in my room. Also, the brothers would be to occupied with Monica to care about my thoughts and ideas. As I walked outside, just out of the front door, I could see Monica being lifted in the air by Matthews huge arms. She was screaming in excitement and they started kissing each other. 

"You could not even say hello to me  before you started sucking each others face of!?", Josh shouted excited. 

They looked up and started to laugh. Monica walked towards Josh and give him a kiss on the cheek.

"You big baby. Missed me that much huh?", she said winking at Josh. 

Suddenly out of the border of the woods Nate appeared. He was wearing jeans with a tight black T-shirt. He sneaked up behind Monica and before he could grab her from behind she turned around and hugged him. While looking at them I felt like an outsider. Who am I to judge these people? This family? They all are so happy and they love each other so dearly. I never saw a family so close that you could feel the love coming off of them. If I would believe Olivers story, I could swear this was the kind packfamily he was talking about, only smaller in size. At least, for as far as I know of right now. Monica was looking radiant. She has big brown eyes and fiery red hair. From the look of it, it is her own natural hair colour. I never seen anyone like her before. Her smile was big and wide and her nose was covered with little freckles. Matthew is a lucky man, that one thing for certain. While analysing her I did not even notice that she was coming towards me.

"Hi! I'm Monica!", her big smile showed her sincere interest in me. 

"Oh, hi, yes I know. I mean, sorry. I'm Elisabeth, but call me Liz.", I mumbled. Why am I such a fool when I'm off guard? 

"Liz, nice to meet you. Are you a friend of Josh?". I guess she really did not know who I was. Matthew appearently did not tell her about me. I didn't know what to say so I just smiled a bit. Before I could answer, some one already did it for me.

"No. She is living with me.", Nate blurred out. Monica seemed suprised as she looked over her shoulder to Nate, probably trying to read what he ment exactly. Then she turned her attention back to me.

"Seems like we are going to see each other a lot then! We girls need to stick together, else these wolves behind me will eat us alive!", she winked again and lightly touched my shoulder before walking further in to the house, followed by an overexcited Matthew and a jumpy happy Josh. 

Nate walked towards me and stopped right in front of me. he was standing a little to close. If he was anyone else I would ask them to give me some space. His presence alone was enough for my body to heat up, begging to be even closer. 

"Elisabeth". His voice gentle as he stretched out my name. His eyes pearcing into mine. "I haven't seen you in a while", he stated. 

"I.. uh.. I have been quite occupied with your fathers lessons and tales.". I looked down, his gaze was to intense to hold. He placed his left hand under my chin and gently forced it up so I would meet his eyes again.

"As I told Monica, you are living with me. You should not avoid me. It is not polite". He was trying to sound unbothered but deeply hidden in his voice I could hear some frustration. He must be starting to get impatient with me. He would not throw me out right? s**t, I never even thought of the possibility that he would not want me near anymore. I was so occupied with my opinion about them, that I did not even think about the impression I was leaving behind. 

"I will try to be better company. I'm sorry Nate". I meant what I said. I should try to be better company. Even if everything is a lie, they are still keeping me safe, offering me a home. I should be more grateful. Nate grinned and winked at me. He led go of me and walked into the house as well. My body neutrallised again and I followed him shortly. Everybody was already talking in the livingroom, while Monica was telling stories about her trip to Oliver. Everyone was listening to her. I placed myself next to Josh on the couch and started to listen as well.

The day went fast with all the excitement. For a moment I forgot about everything that was happening in my life right now and could enjoy the day again, with the Bellator family. We dined together and drank wiskey and red wine. Monica was trying her best to be nice with me. She kept bugging the brothers to tell me stories of when they were little. Especially Josh was the subject of embarresing memories. As I looked towards Nate, I noticed that he was fully of guard. He was telling a story about him and his father searching for a lost Josh in the middle of nowhere. The whole family was listening to him and were laughing at his jokes. Nate could frighten me sometimes, his aura being so.. big? But looking at him like this.. He was more than a rough handsome face an a develish good body. He was a family man, a leader and an entertainer. My eyes could not stop looking at him. After he while he noticed my stare and gazed back, his eyes tender and full of warmth. I felt my heart longing for him, to be near him. He was seated in a huge chaise longue. 

As his story was finished, the attention was towards Matthew, telling another memory about him and Monica. Nate was texing on his phone when I felt my mobile buzz. 

Nate: U look cold. 

Liz: Do I now? 

Nate: Yes. You should join me.

My cheeks turned red in exactly 0.1 milisecond and I looked at him with an awkward, yet happy stare.

Liz: Everybody will look at me weird. Im not getting up.

Nate: Come here in 2 minutes, or Imma grab u. 

I'm not sure if my cheeks could get any more red than they already are, but it sure as hell felt like they did. I know Nate will really come grab me, which is even more awkward. So I stood up, walked to the table to pour me a new glas of wine and instead of walking back towards my seat, I walked over to Nate. He was already spreading his arms towards me with a big grin on his face. He was practically laying on the chaise longue. As I was close enough he pulled me in his arms, forcing me to lay before him, with my head resting on his arm. Nate sipped of his wiskey and looked at me satified of my obedience. The rest of the room went still for a brief moment, but Josh could not be bothered and went back to his conversation. Nates body felt warm and nice against mine. I already felt home today but in this position I could only feel love and warmth and protection. Nate did not try anything or made me uncomfortable, he just sat with me, holding me. 

The evening went on and as the clock striked twelve everybody went seperated ways to their bedroom.