Chapter 3
"I am fortune's fool."
-Romeo; Romeo and Juliet
"Hey, whoa, you okay?" He let out a little laugh as kept me from tumbling to the ground. When I met his eyes, the strange look that flashed across his face matched the sudden pang which cut through my heart.
"It's you-" For a moment my brain froze. All I could do was stare at him. Then I snapped out of it. " I've gotta go. Sorry I ran into you." I turned around and ran down the hall. I had no idea where I was going. I was just going to leave.
"Wait, come back--" His voice followed after me, but I refused to stop. I turned around a corner, yet his voice still seemed close behind me. "Where are you going anyways?"
"Bathroom." I stopped and turned around to find him not far behind me. "Why are you following me?"
"Because that's not the way to the bathroom. " A hot flush crept up my cheek at his words. I turned and looked around. We were standing in a mainteinence hallway full of cleaning supplies, brooms and mops. I hadn't even noticed where I was going. "I already checked this way." He laughed and gave me a sweet smile. "Well, if we're both looking for the bathroom, we might as well look together."
"I suppose." My heart jumped. I was excited, and happy, but I knew that this was a bad idea. I was just beginning to move on, but being here with him brought back all that I had felt that night at the concert, plus even more. Now we would find the bathroom, and then he would leave and I would never see him ever again. It hurt too much.
We walked back down the hall and then turned right. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling and the paint along the walls was chipping to the point in which there was more bare wall than painted wall. I was glad for his company.
"I'm Nick Jonas, by the way."
"Natalie Springer." I flashed him my best smile. Just being near him I felt warm and happy. I felt as though I would never be sad or lonely ever again.
"So what brings you to Chicago, Natalie?" He made small talk as we walked down the shady hallway.
"Just going on a shopping trip with my friend." Because of you. I had wanted to say, but I didn't. Then a thought flashed into my head. "Emily! I left her up at the table! She's probably scared to death!"
"Do you want to head back up to the cafe?" Nick looked over at me, a careing look in his eyes. No, no, no, no. I thought. I lost you once. I don't want to loose you again. But I knew that I couldn't just leave Emily alone up in the cafe for so long, especially when we didn't even know where the bathroom was. I could just wait and use the bathroom in a different store.
"Yeah, I probably should." We turned around and walked the other way down the hall. After a long period of walking we came to another hallway. "Do we turn or do we keep going? I can't remember."
Nick looked down both hallways. " I can't remember either."
Both the hallways looked exactly the same to me. I followed my instinct and decided we should turn. "I think it's this way."
"Are you sure?" Nick looked at me skeptically.
"I just have a feeling this is the way."
" Okay, so now we're going to put our trust in a feeling you have?" His voice held teasing, and his eyes smiled at me. Half of me became irritated while the other half simply melted.
"Got any better ideas, 'oh wise one'?" I crossed my hands over my chest and shivered. "Come on, I want to get out of here. This place is kinda ghetto. It creeps me out."
He shrugged and started down the hallway. "Let's hope you're right then."
We walked down the hallway I had chosen and then turned down yet another hallway when we finally came to a dead end.
"A feeling, huh?"
"Oh, shut up. " I leaned against the wall. "Now we're really lost, and it's my fault." I slid down to the ground. I must have been walking around that crazy maze of hallways for at least forty five minutes.
Nick slid down opposite me."It's not your fault."
"What do you mean? If it wasn't for me we probably would have found the bathroom a long time ago and would be already back up in the cafe. Now we're underneath this building in the middle of God knows where.-"
"It's still just as much my fault as yours."
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. Placing blame won't get us out of here."
We sat in silence for a little bit. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the wall. I didn't even care how dirty it was anymore. When I opened them again I found Nick looking at me. "What?" I laughed uncomfortably under his steady gaze. I could feel my face growing hot. I bet I was as bright as a tomato. Wonderful.
