Wondering Minds

Chapter 17

"Do you have a five?" Braden says holding up the cards to his face.

I looked down at my cards to see a two, six, seven, four, and a nine. "No, Go Fish."

Braden grabbed a card from the deck. I looked down at my cards thinking which number to say next.

"Um... Do you have a six?"

Braden looked down defeated as he handed me the six card.

Nathan comes out of his room and into the kitchen with Batman pajamas.

"Why are you wearing pajamas? It's 3 p.m.," Braden says to Nathan.

Nathan looked through the fridge, "First, it's a Sunday, and second, it's my day off."

Nathan continued to dig through the fridge, "Did you eat my Subway sandwich?"

Braden looked at me with a guilty expression, "No."

Nathan found an apple, walked over to the couch, and plopped down.

I made eye contact with him as my facial muscles ached from holding back a smile.

"What are y'all playing?" Nathan says crunching down on the apple.

"Gold Fish," I said.

Me and Braden continued the game, "When does Mom get home?" Nathan says.

"I think around six or seven. Is Dad coming home tonight?" Braden wins as he puts his last card match down.

"I don't think so, he might spend a night at the hospital again," Nathan says.

I start to put the cards away when I randomly get a text. I picked up my phone to see that Nathan texted me.

I looked up at him to see him put his phone down. I opened the text, "Are you free tonight?"

I quickly texted back, "Yes."

"Who are you texting?" Braden says scaring me.

"My Mom... She wants me home to help make dinner."

I get another text, "Can I use your bathroom right quick?"

Braden nodded.

I rushed to the bathroom and locked the door behind me. I opened the text, "I want to take you somewhere special tonight."

I texted back, "I would love that." I hit sent and then a few seconds later he responded, "Okay, I'll pick you up at seven p.m."

I giggled to myself as I sent back a heart emoji.

I flushed the toilet and then faked washed my hands by running the sink water.

I walked out of the bathroom, "Do you need a ride home?" Braden says.

"Yes," I looked around for Nathan but he was nowhere to be found. "Where's Nathan?" I asked.

Braden slides his shoes on, "He went into his room. Are you ready?"

I nodded and we headed out the door to his truck. He helped me into his truck and then walked to the other side and jumped in.

The truck rumbles when he starts it up. "Are you ready to graduate?" Braden says.

I looked out the window as he drove, "Yes, I'm ready. I'm also ready to move out of my Mom's house."

Braden giggles, "I feel the same." He pulled up into my driveway and then put the truck in park. Braden got out and went around the truck to open my door. I held his hand as I jumped out of the truck. "Have a good rest of your day," Braden says smiling.

"You too," I smiled and walked into the house. When I walked into the house I saw Mom sitting on the couch watching TV.

I dug into my purse and pulled out the two hundred dollars Braden gave me. "Here you go, Mom."

"Where did you get this from?" She says taking the money.

"Braden..."

Tears start to form in her eyes with joy, "Tell him I said thank you." I nodded and went into my room to get ready to hang out with Nathan. I plopped onto my bed and texted Nathan, "What should I wear?"

I laid my phone down on the bed as I waited for a text back.

I took a quick thirty-minute nap waking up to a notification sound from my phone. I took a look and saw the text from Nathan. "Something beautiful."

I smirked at the text as I got up to get ready. I took a hot shower and then took about an hour to put my makeup on.

I walked into my closet and found a red dress with a leg split, showing some of my left thigh.

I also slipped on red high heels and made sure I put on deodorant. Last but not least I sprayed watermelon perfume all over me.

By the time I was done Nathan called and was already outside waiting.

I grabbed my purse and slowly opened the door to see where my Mom was.

I turned my head to see she was on the couch sound asleep.

I quietly closed my room door and then quietly out the front door.

When I walked outside I saw Nathan standing next to his car with a black and white suit on. "Right on time." He grins as he opens up the door for me.

I get in the car and get a whiff of that same cherry scent. When I got into the car I smiled uncontrollably. "You look very handsome."

"Thanks and you look very sexy... I mean beautiful."

I laughed and blushed at the same time leaving me speechless. He drove up to a fancy restaurant that looked like Beyoncé would be inside.

He parked his car and then opened my door. I got out of the car in amazement as the restaurant was illuminated with light.

Nathan held out his hand and I took it, "Is this a date?" I said walking into the fancy red and black restaurant. Nathan smiles, "Maybe."

The waiter comes towards us, "How many?"

"Two," Nathan says.

The waiter walked us to a table of two and Nathan politely pulled out my chair for me. "Thank you." I looked around the charming restaurant.

Nathan sat down as the waiter handed us a menu, "I'll be back to get y'all drink orders."

Opened up my menu and Nathan did too. "So... Why did you decide to take me here?"

Nathan puts down his menu, "What? You don't like the restaurant."

"No, No... I love the restaurant... I meant a fancy restaurant like this. Why spend money on me when we could've hung out at the park or something?"

Nathan licked his lips, "I just... I really like you a lot and I wanted to take you somewhere special." His cheeks turn a bright red.

I smiled and held the menu up to my face. The waiter comes back to take our drink order, "What do you like to drink?" The waiter says to me.

"Um... I'll make lemonade." The waiter writes it down on a notepad and then looks towards Nathan. "And I'll take Sprite."

"Okay, I'll be back with the drinks." We start to look through the menu again. I see Nathan peeking around his menu to stare at me.

"What are you getting?" I asked.

"I'm not for sure, I'm still looking... What are you getting?"

I looked down at the menu and saw the classic cheeseburger and fries. "Uh... I might get the cheeseburger and fries."

Nathan laughs, "You're so boring." He says playfully.

"Maybe I am... I got to have my cheeseburger and fries." I laughed. The waiter comes back with our drinks, "Are y'all ready to order?"

Nathan spoke first before I could, "Yes... She would like the classic cheeseburger with fries and I would like the grilled salmon and mashed potatoes."

"Okay, I'll be back with the orders."

I took a sip of my lemonade as Nathan stared at me. "So... Do you have feelings for Braden?"

I looked at Nathan, "Um... I mean... I used to have feelings for him, but now I just want us to be friends."

Nathan's right leg started to shake, "Oh, okay... Are you talking to anyone?"

I started to get a little suspicious, "Nope, unless I count you."

We both started laughing as the waiter came back with our food. The waiter gently places our plates in front of us. "Y'all enjoy!" The waiter leaves leaving us to feast on our food.

I took a bite of my burger, "Mm... This is so good."

Nathan took a bite of his grilled salmon and I watched as he savored every bite.

"Do you want to try a bite of my grilled salmon?"

I nodded as he put a grilled salmon on his fork. I leaned in closely and took a bite.

I thought about the salmon as I chewed, "It was okay, I don't think I'm a seafood kind of gal." I said.

He smiled, "Wow! You don't like seafood or something."

"I don't really eat it so no."

Nathan shook his head in disbelief, "Well, at least you're still cute."

I start to smile uncontrollably, "Thanks."

We sat in silence for a few minutes as we enjoyed our food. I looked up at Nathan to see that he was in deep thought.

"Are you okay?"

Nathan looked up, "Yes, just a little nervous."

I ate the last fry on my plate, "Why?"

I could see the little glistening of sweat on his forehead. "I wanted to ask you something..."

"What did you want to ask me?" I said curious.

Nathan doesn't speak for a few seconds, "I really like you a lot and I can't go a day without thinking about you. You make me smile every time you're around. So, Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

My heart beats out of my chest as the question lingers in my mind. Excitement filled my body, "Yes!"

We both jumped out of our seats to hug each other. I looked into his eyes as he leaned forward to kiss me. Tingles and shivers go through and around my body.

I could hear a few people clapping in the distance, making me realize I was in a public place.

We sat back down speechless on what to say next. The waiter comes back with the check and Nathan pays.

Before leaving the restaurant Nathan handed me an envelope. "This is for you."

I opened the envelope with suspicion. Inside I see about ten hundred dollar bills. "Nathan..."

"I know you and your Mom needed some extra cash, so hopefully that'll hold y'all till your Mom come up with a plan."

I start to cry, "Thank you so much."

Nathan walked over to me and hugged me tight. "Come on, I'll take you home." He whispered in my ear.

We walked out of the restaurant happy and full of joy. On the way home I kept thinking over and over about how we're now together.

He dropped me off in front of my house and gave me a kiss goodnight.