Chapter 59: Chapter 59

Nate's POV

" Why are they h..here ?", I asked tilting my head and frowning at Grace. We were at the nearby McDonald's. Grace wanted to have lunch from outside and I agreed to  go out since by now I also hate the lunch from our mess. When I asked whether Gavin is coming, she said he went out with his friends. So I didn't expect to see Gavin and Ethan sitting here sipping on lemonade.

" Coincidence ??", Grace said.

I deepened my frown a bit more. " This isn't a c..coincidence."

"Okay, c'mon..let's go sit and talk ", she said and grabbed my hands.

" I don't want to. Can we go s..somewhere else?", I asked.

" Don't start behaving childish. Ethan wants to talk to you. And we are talking and solving your problem today.", She said.

" He isn't gonna understand. I already t..talked to him a lot of times. It's better I s..stay away from him.", I said and quickly glanced at the table they were sitting. Ethan was looking at me but he quickly averted his gaze as I looked at him.

" C'mon..this is the last time. And we already talked to Ethan and he promised he won't disturb you again. And he is sorry. Let's hear what he has to say.", She said and already started walking, holding my hands. I had no other way than walking along with her.

Grace sat down on the chair opposite to Gavin and naturally I had to sit down opposite Ethan. I just kept my gaze down on the table.

" Let's order then ?", Gavin asked.

" Yeah..okay.", Grace nodded. Gavin then called the waiter. It took some time to place our order since Grace was debating whether to order chicken sandwich or cheese burger. At last she ended up ordering burger along with fries and chicken nuggets.

" Ethan, talk then..", she said once the waiter left.

" Ahmm...yeah..", Ethan said awkwardly and rubbed on the side of his neck. " Nate..", he called and I finally looked up at his face. " I'm sorry. I was forcing myself on you. I behaved immature and didn't stop even after you said 'No'. I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry. I promise I won't repeat it again. ", he sad rather nonchalantly. There was no expression on his face.

I nodded my head after a moment.

" So problem solved ?", Gavin asked as I didn't reply anything even after a minute.

" Yeah..it's solved. Now give each other a shakehand. ", Grace said.

" Wait..no need of that. He might be uncomfortable. ", Ethan said in a rather cold tone. " And Nate, are you okay with me sitting with you guys for lunch like earlier ?"

" Oh C'mon Ethan, what is this ? ", Grace groaned. I too was a bit taken aback at is cold demeanour. He was talking like he now hates me. Maybe it's because I danced with Andrea.  But then what did he do ? He was kissing and fucking chicks at the party.

" Nate..", Ethan called. " Please give a reply. I'm ready to stay away from you if you want me to do that."

Grace and Gavin looked at each other uncomfortably and then averted their gaze to me.

" Ahm..I- I don't have any p..problem. Yes..you can sit with us. And I didn't actually mean the things I s..said last day. I was angry then. I'm sorry.", I replied.

" No need to be sorry. I understand.", he nodded to me. His face still was blank and his whole aura today was different.

" So friends ??", Grace asked. I nodded. Ethan nodded after me.

Before we could speak anything more, the waiter arrived with our order and we averted our attention to the food. Grace and Gavin chatted whilst eating but the whole thing was awkward between me and Ethan. I was keeping my gaze low the whole time.

Once I finished my plate, I felt relieved that I can finally leave and escape out of this awkward situation. But then Gavin announced that we are going to a game arcade nearby.

" I have w..works to do for tomorrow.", I immediately said.

" What works ? ", Grace frowned. " You had yesterday whole day, right ? So no excuse. You are coming."

"Grace, no need to force him if he doesn't want to come.", Ethan said. " Nate, you may leave if you want."

I couldn't help but feel a little pain somewhere in my heart. He sounded like he don't want me to accompany them.

" Nate, we can return by 4. Are you coming ?", Gavin asked.

" Uhm..okay.", I nodded. Gavin gave me a smile in reply. There was no expression on Ethan's face.

So we placed the bill and walked out of the Mc Donald's. Gavin said the game arcade is only five minutes away. So we decided to walk. Gavin and Grace walked in the front and I and Ethan behind them. We walked with a little gap in between us. Still there was that awkward air surrounding us and we didn't talk anything.

When we reached the arcade, Gavin and Grace excitedly went and started playing a racing game. I and Ethan stood behind them watching for sometime. Once Grace lost to Gavin, Ethan started playing with him and Grace started cheering and clapping for Ethan. But Gavin soon beat him too and Ethan stood up laughing and patting on his back saying he is great at that game. Ethan seemed really happy and least affected by what happened last day. Grace then made me sit in the game seat saying I would beat Gavin. But I was out in less than a minute.

Then we went to play skee-Ball. We all tried and Ethan was able to jump the ball into the hole on the upper most corner. He was able to win three coupons from the game. I and Grace also won a coupon while Gavin was extremely bad at the game.

After that we went to play many other games. The arcade was pretty big. The whole time I and Ethan didn't talk. He didn't even look at me properly. It really seemed like he didn't want me to accompany them.

Finally we were standing at the claw crane and Gavin was trying hard to get a particular unicorn plushie out. Grace was standing beside him with a half open mouth, anxiously waiting to get the plushie. And every time Gavin drops it, she leaves a sigh.

" Ahh..he is gonna shell out all his money here.", Ethan sighed. He said it to himself but I decided to take it as an opportunity to talk something to him as I was feeling suffocated not being able to talk to him once. Also I was tired and frustrated with his whole new attitude today. I don't actually know why. I agree I was the one trying to ignore him last two days but now, he ignoring me is making me feel angry and upset.

" He isn't giving up until he g..gets that unicorn for Grace.", I said. He didn't reply or even tilt his head to look at me. But I was not ready to give up yet

" Why don't you try this game once, Ethan ?", I asked.

" I don't want any plushies. Why would I waste my money?", he finally opened his mouth. However he didn't look at me and his tone was cold.

" Ahm...you have a little s..sister.", I said.

" I'd rather buy her a toy than wasting money like this. And she has enough toys already", he said.

"Oh..", I hummed. I was trying to come up with something but then he moved away from me and went and stood watching a girl at the pin ball machine nearby.

Now he doesn't even want to listen to me. He was the only person after Alex who looked at me fondly and listened to me patiently as I talked.

" Hey Ethan..", someone suddenly called from behind me and Ethan turned to look. It was a girl's voice. And the next moment, Ethan was smiling widely after standing surprised for a second.

" Hey Gabriel ! ", he said enthusiastically and I tilted my head to look at the person who made Ethan smile so broadly all of a sudden.

I was taken aback for a moment. It was an extremely pretty girl with dark green eyes and long golden blonde curly hair. She was waving her hands at Ethan and smiling at him showing a perfect row of white teeth beneath her thin cherry red lips. Her skinny knee length dress was also green and matched with her eye colour, revealing her long beautiful legs. She looked like a Barbie doll.