The Heaven I Found In Hell

by Ashley Andrews

  "So, we're back to step one?" I asked smiling innocently.

  "Maybe," he answered, a tint of mischief found in his voice and on his face.

  "So all the months of getting to know each other have been useless?"

  He ran a hand through his hair before he exhaled deeply and then smiled. He leaned down, closer to my face, his breath tickling my jaw, before he planted a soft kiss on my cheek. After that close proximity to each other, he stepped further away from me, but his grin was still in place.

  "No, those were the months I'd been smiling like the most optimistic person in the world," he said. "So you see they're not totally useless."

  "So if we do step one, what's the step after?" I asked.

  He smirked and was probably impatient now with my being indirect. I knew all he wanted was an answer, preferably a 'yes' of course, but I couldn't let him have it so easily. With the way he agitated and the way he looked confused and adorable, I wanted to prolong this moment, so sue me if I sound like I'm slightly making fun of the guy. I wasn't. Okay. Maybe just a little a bit.

  "Step two of course," he said intelligently.

  "And what's step two?"

  He grinned, flashing a genuine one at me. A housekeeper passed by right at that moment and she eyed us suspiciously as if we were doing something bad. Our bodies were close to one another, but we weren't even touching, so there was nothing to worry about. For now.

  "That, you have to find out and see."

  "So, I have no choice but to say 'yes'?

  "No, shit."

  I slapped his shoulder.

  "I told you, you don't have a choice," he said mischievously and teasingly and the more I grew suspicious of his plans.

  "Then yes it is."

  He smiled and then planted a soft kiss on my cheeks. After doing so, he turned, his back facing me now, and went off to fix himself. I stopped him in mid-way, and asked where he was taking me.

  "Dinner, duh."

  "Where?"

  "That's another thing you'll have to find out and see."

  * * *

  "Come on! Help me out here," I said to Riley who was just lazily lounging on the bed. "I have nothing to wear."

  After Nathan's invitation to dinner, I immediately went to her room and told her to come with me. She immediately knew something was up, and so, I narrated to her the events that made up my late afternoon even before she asked for info about it. By the end of my story, she was smiling from ear to ear, and I couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

  "You? Clueless about what to wear?" she asked, her laughter enveloping the whole room. "Who knew the world turned upside-down today."

  I opened my mouth and laughed lightheartedly, as I threw a pillow which was lethargically on the study desk at her. She caught it effortlessly with her hands before she put it on her lap.

  "No, seriously," I said, turning my 'serious' mode on. "I'm in deep shit."

  I opened my suitcase and took out my clothes in a messy fashion. I eyed them, unmoving in my place, before I held out a white kimono-inspired mini dress at Riley. She brightened up and nodded her head.

  "That's sexy, I must say."

  "Is this enough?" I asked her, surveying the dress.

  The garment was very high-fashion. It was made of one-hundred percent cotton with a few ruffles here and there to make it look less simplistic. I know people say simplicity is beauty, but there are times when being simplistic won't get you anywhere. It's always nice to make a good impression and clothes are a big factor when it came to that.

  "Where is he taking you anyway?" she then questioned. "It's cute, but it may be too formal."

  "He doesn't want to tell me," I said with a frown. "So now I feel lost and I have no plans on being underdressed or overdressed."

  She giggled again, her girly side getting the best of her before she went over to my side and examined the garments I had brought in from New York. In one second, her eyes shined and so, I followed her gaze which landed on a pair of black leggings. She pointed at it and opened her mouth to say, "Pair this with the dress and you'll be irresistible."

  "Honey, I'm irresistible no matter what I wear," I said teasingly before I winked at her in a playful manner.

  She slapped my arm and before I knew it, she pushed me into the bathroom and told me to go change already. I quickly obeyed and when I had locked the restroom door, I took off the current clothes I had on with the ones I had in hand. I put on the dress which landed at least four inches above the knees and after, I wore the leggings. I opened the door and then stepped out before I examined myself in front of the full-length mirror.

  "You look so cute!" she squealed and then giggled. "It's like we played dress-up!"

  I turned to her and then laughed.

  "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I said my eyes opened wide in shock. "Because it isn't, and I'm not taking it as a compliment."

  "Oh, don't worry," she returned soothingly but in a sarcastic voice. "All eyes will be on you with the way you'll stand out."

  "And again, not helping."

  "What am I supposed to say?" she said in agitation. "That you're the most gorgeous girl on the planter?"

  "Why not?" I said, sarcasm taking over my mind.

  I put on a pair of white heels, one which I had bought recently, and after, I grabbed my polka-dotted ivory and ebony pouch and went once again to the mirror to examine myself.

  "I think this will work," I said, proud of my selection which of course, Riley helped with.

  "Not if he's taking you to an arcade," she said, laughing like a maniac once more.

  I turned to her and gaped. Would Nathan really bring me to an arcade? He asked me on a date and was going to take me out to play…video games? If so, then my attire was extremely inappropriate. It was more likely of him to take me out on a formal dinner and not to a crowded place, especially if he was asking for a date.

  "So he invited me to play air hockey and basketball while I count my tickets in enthusiasm?" I asked, my facial expression, a mixture of confusion and uncertainty.

  "Maybe, maybe not," she returned, her eyes glinting with mischief.

  "I take the way your beady orbs are prying me as a 'yes,'" I said, entering the bathroom once more with a new selection in hand.

  * * *

  "You look beautiful," he said when we met at the entrance of his house.

  I decided to go dull and 'normal' by wearing a pair of my Lucky jeans and matching it with a yellow shirt with silver graphic designs printed on it. I completed the outfit with a pair of canary-colored flats which was so, I must say, usual, but still, Nathan found me, as I quote him, 'beautiful.' Well, he could have just been forced to say that.

  "Really?" I asked getting conscious. "It's so…ordinary."

  He laughed and then took my hand to lead me to the house's garage.

  "It looks chill, and..."

  "Yeah?"

  "You look cute that way," he said blushing for the nth time today.

  I squeezed his hand and in return, he held a firmer grip on mine. We had entered the garage now and I laughed when perplexity clouded his face. I asked why.

  "Why that face?" I asked. "It makes you look like an eight-year old."

  "And eight-year olds are cute, adorable and lovable," he said, grinning. "So I take what you said as something nice, so thank you."

  "No problem," I said, laughing a little bit. "But really, why do you look so…unsure?"

  "I'm confused," he answered, draping an arm around me. "About which car I should use."

  I laughed at how shallow he was being, which I admit, I found funny. I swatted his arm and then turned to him. He was looking back, which I didn't find surprising, I didn't know why, before he led me over to a silver Lexus which was the least pricey among all the vehicles.

  "I'm surprised you're not going for the Ferrari or Lamborghini," I said jokingly.

  "What? And get it scratched by some envious people?" he said, smirking. "No way."


  "Stop being egotistical before I shut you up," I said, enjoying the light air that surrounded us at the moment.

  This was what I missed, he being my best friend. I returned his smirk with a flashy grin, before I pulled him nearer to the car. The garage was an open garage so I could feel the winter air trying to fight my clothes which were currently very helpful insulators. I hated the cold even though I had lived in New York ever since mommy brought me into this world. I preferred beaches, but somehow, I had gotten used to low temperatures, but still, I did not enjoy them. He somehow realized that I was shivering with the thin cloth I called a shirt and so, he lent me his Adidas jacket. I felt the warmth the moment I put it on, and also, I smelled Nathan's scent. It was very fresh and I liked that. He wasn't going to make me dizzy with mind-hurting aromas.

  "After this, I won't have time to inflate my ego," he answered. "So let me enjoy it for the meantime."

  We entered the car, me being the first one, seeing as how he opened and closed the door for me. He then jogged over to the driver's side and sat comfortably on the leather seat of the Lexus. He turned on the engine and we took off. I turned on the radio and 'Stronger' by Kanye West played.

  "Why? Where are you taking me?"

  "Just wait and see," he said, taking his eyes away from the road to look at me. "For now let me enjoy it before I kill myself due to stupidity."

  "Then why are you taking me there where you don't want to go?" I asked, crossing my arms over his chest.

  I looked at him and he didn't seem to feel discomforted by the way I gazed at him. I wasn't staring, just looking. Where was I supposed to turn my eyes to? The road? I'm not even driving, so no thank you.

  "Liking what you see?" he asked laughing slightly.

  "Nah, not really," I answered lying. "You…your face…so ordinary."

  "Like your clothes?"

  I nodded.

  "Like my clothes."

  "Well, I told you I find your clothes cute, so I must be cute too," he said smiling now, and I couldn't help but let my heart do a giddy dance.

  I was so familiar with his face, his body and every part of him, but still his smile and every expression he made got to me, hitting my nerves and most especially my heart. His light brown hair was slightly fixed but still the out-of-bed look stuck to him and I wasn't going to complain. I completely adored his boyish and roguish charm. It made him look so easy to get along with despite his popularity and untouchable reputation in school. The times I spent with him, alone, made me see him as a little kid who was normal and just wanted to have fun in the shallowest of ways. These things, the way he teased, the way he hugged and the times he let me rest my head against his firm chest in comfort, these made me fall for him, and they still do. I was never going to be sick of him I realized.

  "Is that a joke?" I asked and in reply, he nodded. "Well, do you see me laughing?"

  "No."

  "Then I guess your joke didn't get to me," I answered smiling. "Hah-hah."

  "We're here," he said, turning off the engine of the car. I looked at what was in front of me. Riley was right; he had brought me to an arcade.

  We got out of the car and on the way to the complex; he took hold of my hand and intertwined his finger with mine. I didn't look up in fear that I was going to blush in front of him which was in my part, embarrassing. We just simply walked together, hand-in-hand and entered the arcade.

  "I am so ready to play video games," I said in such a sarcastic tone I was scared that I might have offended him, but in response, he just laughed at what I said.

  "I asked you out for dinner, and I'm going to spend that time playing 'House of the Dead' or 'Time Crisis'?" he asked in disbelief.

  I opened my mouth to speak but what exited it were only a couple of vowels that even seemed inaudible.

  "We're in an arcade, isn't that what you do when you're in one?" I asked, and once again, he chuckled before he pulled me over to the place where the prizes were.

  "I made a reservation for the karaoke room," he said to the lady that stood behind the ledge. "Nathan Adams."

  I squealed with what he had said, and I couldn't help but smile so wide the end of my lips probably reached my ears. We were going to sing, and Nathan singing? He wouldn't do it unless I forced him, and right at the moment, he was doing it on his own accord. I really couldn't help but blush. This simple act of his made him so much more lovable.

  "Thank you," I said, and the smile still evident on my face.

  "Anytime."

  I looked at him and raised my eyebrow.

  "Okay, maybe not anytime," he said grinning. "But you're welcome."

  I reached up on my tiptoes to be able to give him a quick kiss on his cheek. In return, he wrapped my waist with one of his arms before we made our way to the singing booth. The place was bigger than I expected, and it could probably fit like fifteen people with enough space to stand and sing and be the center of all eyes. We sat on the seats and the door opened.

  "Do you guys want to order already?" a girl dressed in her work uniform asked. "My name's Tiffany by the way."

  "Heya Tiffany, we just need the menus and we'll be ready in five minutes," Nathan answered with a smile.

  She left closing the door silently and returned after a minute or so. She handed us the laminated menus and my mouth started to water. I felt like pigging out, but decided not to after my battle with myself. If ever I ate a lot, I'd need to burn the calories later, and I was too tired at the moment to exercise, so as always, a salad would suffice.

  "Here ya go, I'll be back in five," she said, leaving us once more.

  The room fell silent for a moment, and I swore I heard my heart beat when the realization came to me that it was only Nathan and me. We were alone, and for some unknown and alien reason, tonight felt like the night I should just tell him what I felt, that I wanted to be with him and that I still loved him. Wishing to get a clue, I looked at him and in return, he gazed right at me with a sweet smile on his face, but everyone smiled so the way his lips curved up, as adorable as it was, was useless. I shook my head and put my current thoughts at the back of my head. I should just enjoy tonight, and so, I got the song list that sat on the table in front of me and started to look at the selections.

  "What shall we sing first?" I asked, browsing through the songbook, when my eyes landed on a certain page.

  "Oh!" I said, immediately brightening up. "I want to sing 'I Will Survive'!"

  He could only laugh, and I did sing the song, and during my singing he was laughing his ass off. Not to sound arrogant or anything, but I had a nice voice, better than Nathan's anyway, but I wasn't going to sing like I was in American Idol or some talent show; I wanted tonight to be fun and memorable, and this could only be done if Nathan and me acted crazy, like we had no care in the world and the judgments that came with it.

  "And now you're back, from outer space!" I shouted thanking the architect of the arcade for the sound-proof walls.

  I started swaying my hips and before the song ended, I landed on my knees with my arms raised up in the air as if I had planned a grand finale. When the song stopped, Nathan clapped his hands in enthusiasm and before I could sit once more, he hugged me. I returned the embrace and was about to sit back down, but he didn't let me. We must have looked stupid just in each other's arms for more than a minute, but hey, no one was watching. I suddenly realized how wrong this was, and so, I told him to let go. He obliged without any questions and I thanked God for that.

  "That was some show you put for me," he said in mischief. "And now it's my turn."

  "I think it's a good time for me to listen to my iPod," I teased with an all-knowing smile.

  He turned to me, his facial expression asking me if I was serious, and I could only laugh at him before I shook my head.

  "I may be a bitch, but not right now, I'm having way too much fun."

  He smiled and then turned his back against me before he pressed the numbers of his song. A loud familiar beat played and
I soon figured out he was going to rap.

  "Rap huh?" I asked, and I knew I was going to enjoy this.

  "Well, God didn't gift me with a nice voice, so might as well sing a song where tone isn't so needed."