IT WOULD ONLY TAKE ONE PUSH. ALL SHE HAD TO DO WAS GET UP FROM THAT CHAIR, WALK TO THE EDGE OF THE POOL AND PUSH LYDIA'S CHEAT AND DIRTY ASS SO SHE WOULD FALL ON THE WATER. HOPEFULLY THAT DUMB ASS EXCUSE SHE HAD BEEN TELLING EVERYBODY FOR HOURS ABOUT NOT KNOWING HOW TO SWIM WOULD BE TRUE. NATALIA SAT ON A CHAIR THINKING IF SHE SHOULD LISTEN TO HER IMPULSES OR JUST CALM DOWN. WHILE MARIAM, JT, DJ AND LYDIA WERE BY THE POOL AND LYNN AND DOMINICK'S MOTHER WERE INSIDE MAKING THE DINNER, NATALIA WAS TRYING TO STOP HERSELF FROM DOING SOMETHING STUPID. OF COURSE LYDIA WAS BEING HER USUAL SELF. FLIRTING NONSTOP AND BEING A WHORE.
Mariam: hey are you ok?
Natalia: why. Why. Don't I look ok? I'm fine.
Mariam: oooookk.
Natalia: ok fine. I'm annoyed. I mean can she be any more of a whore?? The reason why she is not offering herself to Justin is because he is her cousin otherwise she be all over him. And of course the only one left is Dominick.
Mariam: why do you care? He is single, she is single and you are engaged to another man
Natalia: oh I really don't care. It really doesn't bother me. I promise
Mariam: right. anyway. Why aren't over there with us?
Natalia: hello?!?! Did you not listen to a word I said?
Mariam: so you are jealous. Big deal. Pretend you like her. It's not gonna kill you
Natalia: I am not jealous!! And she and everybody in Memphis knows that I can't stand her so why fake it
Mariam: fine
NATALIA STOOD UP TO GO INSIDE. SHE ENTERED THE KITCHEN AND THERE WAS NOBODY THERE. LYNN AND MRS. JOHNSON WERE PROBABLY IN THE LIVING ROOM WATCHING TV OR SOMETHING. SHE OPENED THE REFRIGERATOR AND WAS ABOUT TO GET A DIET PEPSI WHEN SHE FELT DOMINICK'S HAND ON HER WAIST
Natalia: get your dirty ass hands off me now
SHE TURNED AROUND AND LOOKED AT HIM LIKE SHE WAS GONNA KILL HIM
Dominick: why are you mad?
Natalia: I'm not mad. Just want you to leave me alone
Dominick: ok. Are you sure you ok?
Natalia: I'm fine. Go and ask Lydia maybe she is not
Dominick: oh I get it now.
Natalia: you get what?
Dominick: you are jealous
Natalia: go to hell
NATALIA LEFT DJ IN THE KITCHEN BY HIMSELF AND MADE HER WAY TO HER ROOM
2 HOURS LATER LYDIA INVITED EVERYBODY TO GO DOWNTOWN. JUSTIN AND MARIAM DECIDED TO STAY HOME SO DOMINICK WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO ENDED UP AGREEING TO GO WITH HER.
Lydia: ok so I guess it's just you and me handsome. Let me change clothes and I'll meet you here
Dominick: ok
NATALIA DECIDED TO HELP MRS. JOHNSON MAKE AN APPLE PIE, WHILE MARIAM AND JUSTIN STAYED IN THE POOL
Mrs. Johnson: so how is life treating beautiful?
Natalia: life is ok. Nothing great just plain ok
Mrs. Johnson: you sound like there is something on that head of yours
WHEN DJ'S MOM SAW THAT NATALIA WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING SO SHE KEPT TALKING
Mrs. Johnson: you know I remember the first time Dominick met you and Justin. Boy did he said a lot of things. I remember he kept saying that Justin was really cool and that you were the prettiest girl he had ever seen
Natalia: he said that?
Mrs. Johnson: yeah and then you guys started the whole fighting all the time situation and he would come home every single day and complain about you for hours
Natalia: Mrs. Johnson are you trying to tell me something?
Mrs. Johnson: what I'm trying to say is that you have been his obsession for years
Natalia: um. I don't think so. We used to hate each other. You just said it. he used to complain about me all the time
Mrs. Johnson: the point is not that he complained, that was his excuse to talk about you 24 hours a day
Natalia: look I don't know why you are telling me all of this
Mrs. Johnson: you know if you have any doubts I can assure you he cares, and he cares a lot, more than you'll ever know, more than he is willing to show
Natalia: how do you know that?
Mrs. Johnson: he is my son. Nobody knows him like I do. I also know you since you were 6 years old and I can tell you care about him plus you made it obvious this afternoon.
Natalia: how did I make it obvious?
Mrs. Johnson: just be glad looks can't kill a person otherwise you would be convicted of murdering Lydia
NATALIA FINALLY GAVE UP. WHAT ELSE WAS SHE SUPPOSED TO DO. WELL SHE GUESSED THE WHOLE FAMILY KNEW BECAUSE SHE HAD IN FACT BEEN LOOKING AT LYDIA REALLY DIRTY. SO NO MORE HIDING, NO MORE DENYING HER FEELINGS
Natalia: Catherine I would really appreciate it if you didn't tell him anything yet because I'm still a little confused myself
Mrs. Johnson: don't worry sweetheart I won't say a word
Natalia: thanks
Mrs. Johnson: ok so you see those boxes over there by the door? Lynn asked me to store them in my house for awhile so how about you help me bring them to my house
Natalia: no problem
CATHERINE WAS CARRYING ONE BOX WHILE NATALIA WAS CARRYING TWO. DJ SAW THEM AND DECIDED TO HELP THEM
Dominick: where are we taking these mom?
Mrs. Johnson: to my house. They belong to Lynn. She asked me to put them in my house for a little while so I figured I put them in your room.
Dominick: why my room?
Mrs. Johnson: because your ass don't use that room anymore.
LUCKILY THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO WALK MUCH BECAUSE DOMINICK'S MOTHER LIVED TWO HOUSES AFTER LYNN'S HOUSE
Mrs. Johnson: ok so take those boxes up to your room
Dominick: ok
THEY BOTH WENT UPSTAIRS TO DJ's ROOM AND AFTER PUTTING THE 3 BOXES IN THE CLOSET, NATALIA STARTED LOOKING AROUND
Natalia: it's weird how the last time we were here was about 6 years ago
Dominick: I know
Natalia: everything looks the same.
Dominick: places stay the same nata. people are the ones who change
NATALIA TURNED AROUND TO FACE DOMINICK
Natalia: not necessary. You and I haven't change, and Justin hasn't either. Remember when we used to stay up late talking and talking and Justin used to fall asleep on the floor and
Dominick: it would be too late for you to go home so you would call your mom and she would let you sleep over
Natalia: and you and I would sleep on your bed while Justin would freeze to death because he would always fall asleep on the damn floor
Dominick: that was a long time ago
Natalia: we were 15
Dominick: I bet we can't do that anymore
Natalia: of course we can!
Dominick: stay up late talking we can do forever beautiful but not sleeping in the same bed just you and me
DOMINICK WALKED CLOSER TO NATALIA
Natalia: you are right. I guess people change
Dominick: maybe you are right. maybe it's not the people who change maybe it's the situation. If we were to do that now
Natalia: I know
NATALIA FELT DOMINICK'S HAND TOUCH HERS BUT SHE DIDN'T STOP IT. HIS OTHER HAND MADE HER WAY TO NATALIA'S FACE
Dominick: do you have any idea how beautiful you are?
Natalia: I don't have money DJ
Dominick: what?
NATALIA SMILED AT HIM
Natalia: remember how you used to say that to me every time you wanted me to let you borrow some money?
DOMINICK SMILED AND GOT CLOSER TO HER
Dominick: yeah I remember.but you must know that every single time I said that I meant it.
BEFORE THEY COULD DO OR SAY ANYTHING ELSE, LYDIA APPEARED
Lydia: am I interrupting something? your mother told me you were here dominick
Natalia: no. of course not.
Lydia: well are we going or what Dominick
Dominick: yeah of course. Bye
Natalia: bye
MARIAM HAD GOTTTEN OUT OF THE POOL AND WAS NOW LAYING ON THE EDGE OF THE POOL TRYING TO GET A TAN. JUSTIN WAS SITTING NEXT TO HER
Justin: a penny for your thoughts?
Mariam: if you would have met me and I was sick like I had cancer or something, do you think you still would have taken the chance of being with me even though you knew you could get hurt?
Justin: no doubt
Mariam: you would still be with me
Justin: till the end
Mariam: why? Why get hurt like that. Why open yourself to pain? Why being with somebody when you know they are going to leave you sooner than later
Justin: I know it's going to sounds really corny but it's better to have love and lost then not love at all
Mariam: you are right. it sounds corny
THEY BOTH SMILED AND MARIAM SAT UP BESIDE HIM
Justin: the truth is it's sad when you lose somebody you love but you always take those amazing and perfect experiences. Those that make you smile by just remembering them. Those stay with you forever
Mariam: yes they do
Justin: why were you asking that?
Mariam: because I lost somebody I love and I lost myself in the process but it never occur to me that you find yourself again in those happy memories.
Justin: what do you mean you lost somebody
Mariam: nothing. I don't listen to me
Justin: can I tell you something?
Mariam: yeah
Justin: I love you
Mariam: can I tell you something?
Justin: sure
Mariam: I love more
IT WAS ABOUT 11:45 PM. DJ'S MOTHER HAD GONE BACK TO HER HOUSE. LYNN WAS ALREADY ASLEEP AND JUSTIN WAS WITH MARIAM IN HIS ROOM WHILE NATALIA WAS IN THE GUEST ROOM BY HERSELF.
Justin: where are you going?
Mariam: I'm gonna go talk to natalia
Justin: but
Mariam: Justin we spend a lot time together
Justin: but
Mariam: you'll be fine. I haven't talk to her lately. I'm sure you can be alone for one night.
Justin: ok. Fine. But I hope you know that tomorrow you are giving double action.
Mariam: goodnight JT
Justin: nite beautiful
MARIAM GRABBED HER FAVORITE PILLOW THAT WENT WITH HER EVERYWHERE, WENT TO THE KITCHEN AND AFTER GETTING WHAT SHE WANTED, SHE WALKED TOWARDS THE GUESTROOM
Natalia: so I thought you be doing Justin by now
Mariam: hey! Give me some credit. This is his mother's home
MARIAM WENT INSIDE THE ROOM AND CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND HER
Mariam: not that it would stop me but
Natalia: you are such a whore!!!!!!
MARIAM LAUGHED AND SAT DOWN ON THE BED NEXT TO NATALIA
Mariam: come on, you know I'm joking. Anyway tonight it's just you and me. We can spend the whole night talking
Natalia: or not!
Mariam: look what I got!
Natalia: nachos
Mariam: I also have salsa and cheese
Natalia: I don't eat my nachos with cheese
Mariam: the cheese is for me stupid and I like it warm so I'll be right back
AFTER 5 MINUTES, MARIAM CAME BACK TO THE ROOM AND FOUND NATALIA SITTING BY THE WINDOW WITH HER EYES FIXED ON THE CLOCK BY THE BED
Mariam: you ok?
Natalia: yeah. Why wouldn't I be ok?
Mariam: you know he called me
Natalia: who called you?
Mariam: he decided to stay at home with his mother. He was on his way back when he called my cell so he probably sleeping already
NATALIA FELT SO MUCH BETTER AND MARIAM KNEW IT. HER FACE SAID IT ALL. SHE KNEW HER FRIEND FELT A MIXTURE OF HAPPINESS, RELIEF AND NERVOUSNESS.
Natalia: I thought
Mariam: she wanted to go to a club but he wanted to come back home so she went clubbing and he came home
NATALIA STOOD UP, HIT MARIAM ON THE ARM AND THEM SAT DOWN NEXT TO HER
Mariam: ouch
Natalia: oh god. Why didn't you tell me???
Mariam: I didn't know you were so desperate to know
Natalia: right
Mariam: ok fine I did know but me and Justin thought you deserved to suffer a little bit for being in denial all this time
Natalia: I don't know what you are talking about
Mariam: don't you have anything to say?
NATALIA LOOKED AT HER FRIEND AND SMILED
Natalia: I don't think I need to say anything. I think you know
Mariam: of course I know
Natalia: so go ahead
Mariam: what
Natalia: I bet you can't wait to say I told you so
Mariam: no. I'm not you. I don't say that but I will say it's about damn time!
Natalia: but I don't know he is been so different lately.
Mariam: what do you mean?
Natalia: well he used to do things now he just stops himself before doing them
Mariam: things like what?? You know what? I don't think I want to know
Natalia: shut up. I mean simple things like kissing
Mariam: sweetheart he just wants you to know he won't do anything you don't want him to do. I mean you did tell him over and over again that you two couldn't be
Natalia: so do you think he stopped
Mariam: no. he probably just gave up so it's up to you to take him to that place again
Natalia: great. Just great. You know me. I don't do the romantic thing. I wasn't born to act the I love you and you love me Romeo and Juliet balcony scene. I hate being that stupid and corny
Mariam: no. it scares you to death not being in control and being that open but guess what? That scares every other person who has gotten hurt in the past. I know it's hard but you got to keep on trying and once you find that person then it's great
Natalia: I also hate this love lectures!
MARIAM LAUGHED AND THEN DIPPED HER NACHO IN THE CHEESE
Natalia: so what now?
Mariam: it's what you want
Natalia: I want him but I want to take things slow and I don't want to break Ethan's heart
Mariam: well you and Dominick will be fine but I'm not so sure about Ethan.
