Acquaintance

Chapter 14

My classes the next day were pretty difficult, so I was glad to finally go back to my dorm. I did my work within two hours and called up Sarah.

"Are you ready to hang?"

"I'm sorry Nicole, I can't."

"Why not?"

"I have a lot of work to do."

"Oh. That's okay. Maybe we can hang out another time?"

"Oh, yeah." I then called Hagen.

"Hi, Hagen."

"Well hey."

"Do you want to hang out now?"

"Like right now?"

"Yes, right now. Do you?"

"Yes. I can come to pick you up right now. I'm already in my car."

"Okay. I'll walk outside and wait." I didn't wait long. I had never been so happy to see someone. I ran over to him and gave him a hug. We got in his car and he started driving.

"So where are we going?"

"Someplace special. You'll like it." I nodded slightly and leaned my head to the right, staring out the window.

"Here we are." We both got out. Hagen had taken me to a field off the side of the road once more.

"I guess this is our thing?" He nodded and laid down. Of course, I laid down next to him. I liked spending time with Hagen. He made me happy and he made me forget everything else. I slowly leaned over to Hagen and laid my head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and we laid there, forgetting everything else that mattered. At the moment, we were it. We finally sat back up and talked.

"Nicole?"

"Yes?" I turned to look at him and saw his handsome features.

"I'm sorry for not sticking up for you." At first, I didn't realize what he was talking about, but I finally figured out it was about the dinner at his parents so long ago.

"Come with me." I took his hand and started running in the field. He followed behind me and we started laughing. I fell and Hagen tripped over me and also fell. We laughed even harder.

"Nicole?"

"Yes?"

"I'm going to go to the beach next weekend. I'm going to start driving after classes next Friday. Do you want to come along?"

"Are you serious?"

"Of course I'm serious."

"I'd love to go Hagen." Soon enough the week had passed and our Friday classes were over and we were at the beach. We only got to spend the remaining time Friday, Saturday, and half the day Sunday so we could make it back in time but it was a well-deserved break. I ran out onto the beach when we got there and jumped in the water. After a few minutes of taking in the view, we got something to eat and drink from the cooler. We basked in the sun and finally went to sleep. We got up early the next morning and ate. We waited about thirty minutes before jumping back in the water. It was cold at first and made us shiver, but we soon got used to it.

"Don't you just love this Nicole?"

"Yeah. This is the first time I've ever been to a beach."

"Are you serious right now?"

"Yes, why?"

"I find that hard to believe."

"Well, it's true." We laid on our beach towels for a while, basking in the sun some more.

"I'm glad you came with me, Nicole."

"Me, too." We talked for a little while longer before getting back in the water. We jumped in and Hagen caught me before I completely fell and made a fool of myself. We laughed and I remembered all the good times we shared together. I remembered how amazing he made me feel inside. We simultaneously leaned inward and kissed. I was surprised, but deep down inside, I knew this was bound to happen. Again. When we got back, Hagen and I were laughing nonstop. I didn't notice Tayte there until after I had given Hagen another hug.

"Where have you been Nicole? I've been looking for you since Friday."

"We went to the beach."

"Oh, I see."

"Tayte, why are you so mad?"

"Because he's not your boyfriend. I am!"

"Hey, there's no need to yell at her."

"Stay out of this!"

"Nicole, go inside. I'll be there in a minute."

"Hagen, just come with me now."

"Nicole, go!" Carrying my bags, I went to my dorm and put away my things. The door opened and Hagen walked in.

"Are you okay Hagen?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"I got all my stuff out of your car."

"Good. I'm sorry about that out there."

"It's not your fault Hagen. Can you give me a minute?"

"Yeah, sure." I went outside and Tayte was still there.

"Nice of you to..."

"No Tayte. Don't talk to me. We're over."

"We've been over for a while because all you ever want to do is hang around Hagen."

"He's my friend."

"Friend? You and I both know you see him more than just a friend. The last time we broke up, you told me that you still had feelings for him. You know that if you still do, all you would need to tell me is that you want to be with Hagen again, but you won't. You refuse to, time and time again. I just don't know you anymore Nicole."

"Tayte, I don't want this to be it for us."

"You said we're over."

"But why does that mean we can't be friends?"

"Because you lied. You should have said something to me about your feelings for Hagen, but you didn't."

"Tayte..."

"No. Goodbye Nicole. Have a nice life." I stood there for a minute and went back inside to Hagen.

"We're over?"

"What?"

"I told Tayte I want to be with you."

"You do?"

"You should know that because of our kiss."

"I'm just surprised, I guess. But I'm glad to hear it. I've wanted this for so long."

"And now you have it. We both have it. Now we both can be truly happy."