Please don't ever become a stranger (Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere)
He enjoyed the cold breeze that hit him as he sat on the balcony, his feet hanging off the balcony between the railing. Nat couldn't sleep, well he was able to for a bit. Then he woke up; and it was nice out. The sky was so clear, he could see the stars so clearly. So, he sat on the balcony staring up at the stars as his headphones blasted, ‘Fade Into You,’ by mazzy star.
You live your life, you go in shadows
It was such a beautiful night. And well they loved watching the stars. He didn't get to that much in Wiskayok because well, it felt like he couldn't actually admire the sky there; He felt trapped there. But not here. He was far away from his shitty trailer home that he lived in with all the horrible memories there. Here he felt free.
You'll come apart, and you'll go black
Some kind of night into your darkness
Colors your eyes with what's not there
They felt so at peace at that moment he didn't hear the footsteps behind him. He didn't hear the faint, ‘Nat?’ Then the music stopped due to the feeling of someone sliding the headphones off his ears. “What are you doing out here?” He didn't need to turn to know it was Lottie. They could remember that voice anywhere. “Couldn't sleep," It was a simple answer. Simple but, the truth. “It's pretty out tonight so… thought if I couldn't sleep, I could at least enjoy this.”
He saw Lottie nod her head out of the corner of his eyes. “Join me?” Now, he was looking at Lottie. Well, looking up at Lottie with Lottie staring down at him; Before letting out a sigh and sitting down next to him.
They sat in silence for a moment. Both staring up at the stars. Nat enjoyed the silence. Though he liked hearing Lottie’s voice. Then Lottie cleared her throat, saying her thoughts out loud. “Um, what song were you listening too?”
Nat took his time thinking about what he should say. “Wanna listen to it with me?” That's what he decided on as he turned to Lottie, who was already staring at them. Lottie took a bit to answer as her eyes darted everywhere on Nat's face; he saw it but didn't question it.
She nodded, quickly turning her face away. Nat smiled before turning to his phone, unplugging his headphones and starting the song over again. Then pressing play.
I want to hold the hand inside you
I want to take the breath that's true
I look to you, and I see nothing
Lottie watched Nat's face as he admired the stars, while she admired the look in his eyes. The way his eyes sparkled at the stars. She looked down to see how close their hands were. She hesitated at first but… slipped her hand into his, holding his hand; expecting him to pull away. Natalie didn't.
I look to you to see the truth
𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪
They were just walking around Paris today. They didn't have anything special planned. At first they all started off as a group. Then Laura Lee and Mari found a shop they wanted to look in and Laura Lee told them to go on without them, Tai and Van wandered off, Jackie dragged Shauna away. Saying she wanted to spend time with her girlfriend. Misty well, they didn't know where Misty went and Nat didn't care.
So now, it was just Nat and Lottie. Nat didn't mind that. He still hadn't gotten to help Lottie with French while they were here. “How about we go get some coffee and you practice French by ordering?” He questioned as he looked around for a cafe or something. His eyes stopped at a place called “Café de Flore.’
“What about there?” He poked at Lottie making her turn her head to the building they were looking at. The building was small and had tables outside to also eat at. He thought it was something Lottie would like. “Oh, I mean I can't promise I'll do a good job but–”
Lottie didn't even get to finish before Nat was dragging her into the building. There wasn't even a line. Even better. “You don't even like coffee. We really don't–” Nat shook their head, making Lottie pause. “Oh, I'm not getting anything. You are. Now, go on.” He slightly pushed her towards the cash register. It took Lottie a moment to walk up and start to order.
Nat was still at the front of the door. So he couldn't fully hear Lottie; it was more like a mumble to them. Her voice sounded beautiful from far away, just like it did when she wasn't far away. He watched as a smile worked its way onto Lottie’s face as her drink was handed to her. Watching as Lottie paid for it and quickly walking back over to him.
“Please, don't ever make me do that again. That was embarrassing Nat and by the end of it– she ended up telling me she speaks English and that my French wasn't even the best.” Lottie was covering her face with one of her left hand, her face a light shade of pink. Nat couldn't help but let out a tiny chuckle.
“It's not funny Natalie,” she muttered as she walked out of the cafe; Nat followed after her.
“Oh no, it's cute. Seeing you get all embarrassed over something like this. Who knew Charlotte Matthews got embarrassed over trying to speak French?” Nat teased her as they slowly walked next to each other.
“But seriously, you're doing better. Soon enough you won't need my help at all. And we can go back to just.. well not hanging around each other. You can go back to your friends. And I can go back to hanging out with Kevyn Tan.” It felt weird saying that. It felt wrong. Like it was just lies coming out. Like he didn't mean that.
But he ignored that feeling.
“Is that what you want?” Lottie stopped walking, making Nat stop and turn to her. “Well, I mean– we weren't really friends before I started tutoring you. We just would hang out together at parties. It was nothing more. Besides–” Nat's sentences were cut short at the sound of a ginger's voice.
“Lottie, Nat! There you two are, we've been looking for you forever!” Nat turned to see van rushing over and tai who looked slightly annoyed. “Well, here I am.” He shrugged and then van was pulling him away from Lottie.
Tai gave Lottie a sympathetic look but she shook her head. And the two followed after Van and Nat; As they did so, Lottie's mind was rushing with Nat's words.
“You can go back to your friends.”
“We just would hang out together at parties.”
“It was nothing more.”
And her mind faded back to all the times her and Nat would sneak off during parties. Getting high together and talking about how they hated each other's friends. Just joking around. But there was always a part in her that thought Nat wasn't joking.
That he did actually hate Lottie's friends. She never knew why. Sure her friends weren't the best but– still. It was stupid.
Lottie didn't want to go back to normal after this. She didn't want him to become a stranger to her. No, she didn't want that to ever happen. She'd been in love with Nat since sophomore year. Why would she want to go back to not being around Nat?
Why would Charlotte Matthews want to become a stranger to Natalie Scatorccio?