And that stress was building due to approaching deadlines. Nathaniel requested two more study sessions, and I had an investigation report for another subject that was due by the end of the week, and I’d only gotten through the introduction. De-stressing seemed nearly impossible.
I must have resembled death when Nathaniel came to pick me up, for he immediately bombarded me with questions about my health.
“You’re not a licensed medical professional yet,” I pointed out tiredly.
“I am a First Aid Officer, though,” he argued.
I shot him a look.
Nathaniel returned the look as he pulled up at the traffic lights. “I know something is wrong.”
Feeling cornered, I opened the window and let out a long sigh of relief as the cool air kissed my skin. “I’m fine. I’m just stressed.”
“With assignments?”
I nodded.
“Let’s do something fun, then,” Nathaniel suggested when the traffic light turned green, attention back on the road, “to de-stress and take your mind off things.”
“What? No! We have to work on our assignment…you know, one of the thingsstressingme out,” I said, exasperated.
“You’re working withme, Augustus, we’re going to get it done. Don’t worry. We can afford to take some time off to relax,” he said calmly.
“I’m not thrilled about this,” I mumbled, head nearly all the way out the window to chase the wind.
“Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t want to go anywhere.”
“You have to choose.”
“Nathaniel–“
“Choose!”
“I don’t care, anywhere, just…” I let my eyelids flutter shut against the wind, “...just don’t stop the car yet.”
“Shall I play some music?”
I slowly opened my eyes, head turning to give Nathaniel my best ‘are you fucking kidding’ glare. He grinned, dimpled cheeks glaring back. It was hard to hate him when he smiled—the promise of Heaven in his eyes.
He connected his phone to the Bluetooth and turned up the music as he began to sing, voice cracking at the high notes.
“What the hell are you singing?”
Nathaniel raised his voice louder, body swaying from side to side as he continued to sing. “But we’ll get together then!” He finished the chorus with a cheer. “You know we’ll have a good time then!”
My lips betrayed me, spreading into a small smile as my hand shot out to nudge him.
“What?” Nathaniel laughed. “Don’t tell me you don’t know this song! It’s in Shrek!”
“I never watched Shrek.”
Nathaniel gasped and almost ran the car off the road. “WHAT?”
“Kidding,” I smirked, just as the chorus started up again.
We sang for a while until Nathaniel pulled up in front of an art gallery.
