Chapter 16 - Chapter 16

They get back home and take off their shoes.

"I feel like taking a shower, wanna join me?"

"No, it's too early for that."

"What are you talking about? The sun's still high."

"I meant regarding our relationship."

"Oh? So we're in a relationship now?"

"Just go take a shower already."

"Vacuum up the place while I'm showering, okay?"

"Your room as well?"

"Yeah."

"What if there's stuff on the floor?"

"Just put them on the bed, I'll change the sheets later."

"Alright."

Natalie goes to her room, gets a change of clothes, then locks herself in the bathroom. She unlocks the bathroom door.

"Oh, I hope no one will get in while I'm showering!"

"I'm not coming!"

Osmond changes his clothes, gets the vacuum cleaner and starts vacuuming. After a while, Natalie gets out of the shower wearing a tank top and some shorts, and goes to her room. Osmond is kneeling and vacuuming under her bed.

"Will you be done soon?"

Osmond turns around.

"What?"

"Will you be done soon?"

"Yeah."

He finishes vacuuming under her bed and turns off the vacuum cleaner.

"I'm done now."

"Good job."

Osmond returns the vacuum cleaner to its place, washes his hands in the bathroom and wipes them in his own room. He lies down on his bed. Natalie knocks on his door.

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah, what's up?"

She enters his room.

"I wanna play with you."

"I'm really not in the mood right now."

"Oh. Can I stay here anyway?"

"You've been spending a lot of time with me lately, don't you have your own stuff to do?"

"Not really, I only exercise a little bit in the evening. Am I bothering you?"

"No, I'm just a little tired."

"Wanna take a nap?"

"I don't wanna mess up my sleep cycle."

"Then set an alarm."

"I think I'd just turn it off and go back to sleep."

"How about I wake you up?"

"Don't push me off the bed again."

"I won't, I promise."

"Then wake me up in 20 minutes."

"Alright. Can I join you in bed?"

"I really don't feel like doing anything weird again."

"No, I just wanna cuddle a bit, you can think of me as a hug pillow."

"Fine then. Just don't start kissing me or feeling me up or anything."

"I won't."

Natalie climbs into his bed and snuggles up to Osmond.

"Hey, how are you gonna know when 20 minutes pass."

"Set an alarm and I'll wake you when it goes off."

"Alright."

Osmond sets an alarm on his phone and puts it on the nightstand.

"We should cover ourselves."

"Yeah, you're right."

They get under the blanket.

"Hug me, please."

Natalie embraces him. Soon, they both fall asleep. After a bit less than 20 minutes, the alarm rings and they both wake up.

"Are you awake?"

"Mmm."

"C'mon, wake up."

"Just a bit more."

"You said I should wake you up, so wake up."

Osmond opens his eyes, then turns to Natalie.

"I love you, Nat."

Natalie smiles.

"I love you too, Oz."

"I wanna start dating you soon."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I love waking up next to you."

"Me too."

"Hmm..."

"What's up?"

"But what about my pasta fetish?"

"What about it? It's been fine for these last few days, hasn't it?"

"Yeah, but what if something happens and you get mad again?"

"I still wouldn't hate you and I'd probably cool down soon enough."

"I don't know… What if you get really mad?"

"Then it would just take longer for me to cool off. Besides, I always forgive you. I love you a lot, so there's no way I could stay mad at you."

"I love you too."

"So… Are we gonna start dating now, or do you want some more time?"

"I don't know. I really want this pasta thing to stop."

"Yeah, me too."

"If it wasn't for that, I'd ask you to be my girlfriend right away."

"That makes me really happy."

"Yeah..."

"Hey."

"Hm?"

"Wanna… You know…"

"What?"

"Wanna do it?"

"No. No way. Absolutely not, I'm nowhere near ready for that, and there's no way we're doing it before we start dating."

"Alright, alright, I get it."

"Don't ask me stuff like that, it's way too early for me."

"Alright, I won't, I'm sorry."

"Seriously."

"Are you angry at me?"

"A little bit, yeah."

"Don't get mad at me..."

Natalie hugs him tightly, then kisses him on the cheek.

"Geez."

"I love you, Oz."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Say you love me too."

"I love you too, Natalie."

"Do you mean it?"

"I do."

"Are you still upset?"

"Mmm…"

She gets on top of him, then starts kissing him all over his face."

"Don't. Be. Angry. Ozzy."

She then hugs him again.

"How about now?"

"I'm not mad anymore."

"You don't look cheerful either."

"Sorry."

"Cheer up, Oz!"

"Maybe later."

"C'mon!"

"I really don't feel like it right now."

"How can I cheer you up?"

"Just stay here and leave me be."

"Will that cheer you up?"

"No, but I don't have to smile all the time. It's okay to be like this once in a while."

"I guess… Just don't fall asleep again."

"I won't."

"Okay."

"Can you get off?"

"Let me stay like this."

"Just move enough so all your weight doesn't fall on me."

"Are you saying I'm heavy?"

"A bit."

"Jerk."

Natalie slides off Osmond so her weight shifts to the bed.

"Is this better?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"Hey, Oz, do you think I'm sexy?"

"Yeah."

"Do you think I'm really sexy?"

"I think your body is very good looking."

"Do I turn you on?"

"Yeah."

"How much?"

"Why are you asking all this?"

"I just wanna know."

"You turn me on a lot, Natalie, and after we start dating and after I feel like I might be ready, I'd like to lose my virginity to you."

"You really mean that?"

"Yeah."

"So what's stopping you now?"

"Natalie, I'm not ready yet."

"Do you feel like I'm pushing you?"

"Kinda, yeah."

"I'll stop, I'm sorry. I'll wait until you're ready."

"Thank you."

"Did I make you angry again?"

"No."

"Good."

Natalie hugs him tightly for a bit, then kisses him on the cheek.

"I'm sorry for pushing you around so much."

"It's okay."

"Is it really?"

"Yeah, it's fun sometimes."

"Can I keep pushing you around?"

"Just don't go overboard."

"Okay. Put your arm around me."

"You're lying on it."

Natalie moves a bit and Osmond puts his arm around her. She snuggles up to him again.

"Mm. This is nice."

"Yeah."

"Let's just stay like this for a while."

"Sure."