Chapter 17 Proper Table But No Manners

"What do you mean?" I asked with a confused look on my face and a tint of annoyance since he's blocking my way to heaven right now. Before I could protest at him, he took my plate out of my hand.

"Hey!"

"This plate is too full. I told you to only take what you can eat and not to fill your plate." He said and eyed the plate with distaste. 

"Give it back!" I yelled as I reached for it, but he held it over his head making it harder for me to reach it. "Nate! What's the deal?!"

He didn't respond to me and pointed to the table once again. "Go get another plate and fill it up. This time don't stuff it all up." He ordered. My jaw dropped at him.

He can't be serious right?

"But what about-"

"Start filling your plate up or else you won't get anything to eat." He said with finality.

"Ugh!" I glared at him as I stomped my way to the table and grabbed a new plate. I started to fill it in, but this time I only put some small portions in it. Nate came to my side and examined my plate.

"Mmhm. That'll do." He said in approval. "Now you can go and eat your lunch now." He ushered me to the table. I didn't move and looked at my poorly filled plate.

This won't do.

I looked at the tray beside me. Nate saw me and gave me a warning look. "No. Don't even think about it." He warned. I gave him my best pleading look and even went as far as biting my lip.

"Please? I'm so hungry. I didn't eat my breakfast this morning." I pleaded.

"Aw. Really?" I nodded. My mind was cheering in the thought that Nate might feel sorry for me and let me add more to my plate. "I'm sorry darling but I can't do that." At those words, my hope was completely crushed.

I started to feign crying. Nate looked surprised at me and I could tell that he was confused on what to do with me. "I-I just....want something to...e-eat."

"Err....umm.....W-why don't you go to your table and eat what you have? It might help." He said and looked away from me as he said it.

I started to hiccup for more effect. "I-I'm gonna tell everyone what a big bully you are for starving a girl like me. I'll make sure to tell the twins to tell Fred to tell the Queen to tell the King to tell the-"

"N-No! Don't do that!"

"To tell your mom to tell your dad-"

"Fine! Just a little so shut up!!" He said in an annoyed voice, but you could tell that he was about to lose it. Heck, he might want to kill me right now.

I lifted my eyes at him. "Really?" I asked. His response was a weak nod, telling me that he was either forced to say that or was unsure of his answer. I took that as my signal and grinned widely at him. All my acting completely vanished as I cheered.

"Thanks Natie poo!" I squealed and added the food to my plate before I hopped towards the table. I sat on the chair happily and licked my lips in anticipation.

Nate joined me at the table with his own plate. I grabbed her spoon and fork and was about to dig in when he cleared his throat loudly. "Ehem!"

I stared back at me in confusion. "What?" I asked. "You're not gonna take my food now, are you?" I made a protective circle around my plate.

He chuckled. "No, sweetheart but I think you are forgetting something." When I tilted my head in confusion yet again, he turned his gaze at the napkin at the side of my plate to give me a hint. My mouth formed an 'O' in understanding.

I gave him a sheepish smile as I draped the napkin on my lap before I started to devour the food, but when I saw him giving her a disapproving look I eased my pace in eating.

"I can't see the reason why the boys were a tad bit stressed when they trained you. You're very cooperative." He commented.

"Yeah..." I looked away guiltily. "I wonder why."

A few minutes later and he got bored so I started to flirt with me again. "You know Rose? I'm kinda hungry. Aren't you gonna share?" he said and gave me a pouty look.

"No," I said flatly. Suddenly, he became very quiet. I looked at him to see that he was staring at his plate blankly. "Nate?" I called out. No response.

I tried again. Louder this time. "NATE!!"

He snapped my attention back at me. A moment later and he smirked.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Huh? Yes, I'm fine. Why'd you asked?"

"You kept on staring at an empty space for quite a while now. I was worried that you might not be feeling ill." His smile widened. "Aww. You do care!" He exclaimed. "Don't worry about me, love. Knowing that you care, it makes me feel better in an instant."

"Okay" I shrugged.

"What? That's it! That's your reaction!?" This girl amazes me all the time.

"Oh and, Nate?" His head perked up. "Please stop calling me with strange nicknames. You sound like a creep."

"Aw....but that'll be boring if I don't call you something, love." He said. "Oh and by the way, you got a little something on your upper lip." He reached out and tried to wipe it away with his thumb. I flinched at the gesture before moving out of his reach. Then I used my napkin to wipe the dirt off my face.

"Are you really not attracted to my face?"

I snapped my eyes at him. "What?" That was such a random question.

"Sorry, let me rephrase it. Is something wrong with the way I look?" I asked again. This time, she understood it.

"Oh." I set the napkin back on the table. "Hmn..I think I already told you that your attitude bothers me."

"Yes you said that, but why?" I pressed on and leaned on the table.

I thought about it for quite a while before saying. "I hate flirts." Nate started laughing.

"What's so funny?" I asked him. He's going crazy. Should I leave?

When he was finally able to catch his breath, he rearranged his posture and wiped some tears from his eyes. "You said that you hated flirts. That's not enough of a reason you know. There must be something more, right?" He said and rested his chin on his knuckles.

"Hmm..." I put a finger to my chin as I thought about it. "I think what I'm really looking for is personality."

"Oh really? Then why are you talking to me right now? I thought you hated flirts."

"Actually. You're not that bad. Sure, you annoy me to my core with your stupid nicknames, but I don't think that flirting realty is your game." I noticed that Nate isn't like any other flirts out there. It's because he always has this look of doubt in his eyes like he is unsure of what he's doing. "While you were explaining some stuff to me a while ago you didn't flirt with me or call me with strange nicknames. I think that side of you is the real you....I think."

He scoffed. "Really huh."

"Yes. Really, Nate." I insisted. "Any woman would be lucky to have you."

"Ha! Woman. I don't even think that I'll be able to settle down with one. They would either ditch me or find a new lover."

Wow. So bitter

"How can you say that, you idiot! You can settle down if you want to." I stopped. "Why are we even talking about settling down?"

He grinned. "Because I am 20 and I do not have a fiancé yet."

"Nate." I warned him since I know where this conversation was headed.

"Why don't you marry me instead? That way I can really settle down." He smirked.

"You know what? I think I'm gonna go and get some dessert." I began to stand up.

"Oh great. Get me some choco-"

"You have two hands and two legs so why don't you get them yourself." I retorted.

"You also have them too so why not get me some." He answered back and smirked when I marched towards the dessert table and mumbled some profanities along the way. I heard him chuckled as I continued to mumble about what a big jerk he is. I faintly saw him drape something at the back of his chair.

"Nate! What kind of dessert do you want!? Hurry up or I might change my mind!"

"I'll get one of each!" He said. I clicked my tongue together before getting another plate and filling it up. A few seconds later and I was back with two plates. I dropped his plate in front of him and grumpily sat in my chair. He laughed a little.

And just like what he had taught me, I took the desert spoon and started to eat. I heard him tsk. "Smaller bites." He said and reached out and started to wipe the chocolate off of my face again, this time I didn't move away since I was busy eating. The desserts are so good. The chocolate simply melts in your mouth.

"There." He said after wiping it all off. I grinned at him and muttered a thanks before shoving another bite into my mouth.

"Hey, Nate. If you're just gonna sit there and stare at me, then I might as well eat your plate of desserts." I said. He chuckled at my comment.

"No way. I haven't eaten anything yet and you're gonna take this away from me? Not fair!" He whined.

He kept staring at me as we ate. "Am I doing something wrong?" I asked. He looked at me and smirked. "Stop looking at me like that, Nate. You look like an old pervert."

"What? This face? An old pervert? Love, I think something is wrong with your vision there. And I prefer you to call me a YOUNG pervert." He said. I rolled her eyes at me and continued to eat.

"Seriously, Nate! Eat your food you creep!" I threw my napkin at him, which I easily dodged. He laughed.