"Everyone from Warehouse A, you need to come to the house and see this." Dad's voice sounds over the intercom.
"You have an intercom?" Nat asks, "That's so cool!"
"I wonder what it could be?" I think out loud.
"Well, it's probably important." Bree gets up and heads down the path, then Nat and I follow her.
We exit Spring and walk through the warehouse.
"So, is this warehouse A?" Nat points to the ceiling.
"Yeah, this is Warehouse A. My dad and I own twenty-six warehouses throughout Manitoba. Each one is linked with Wi-Fi and satellite. So, what is said over the intercom is broadcast to each warehouse, unless you select a specific one to talk to."
"That's really cool," Nat says, then just as we are leaving, Dad's voice sounds again.
"Warehouse A on the double, please." The three of us race to the house and go inside.
"Come into the living room," Mom says. The TV is on as we enter, and breaking news is being broadcast from a hospital. Nat and I sit down on the couch next to each other, and Bree takes a different seat. We watch as a news anchor reports on the scene.
"Breaking news!" she begins, "An infected coronavirus patient has just bolted out of the hospital after biting and tearing the flesh of eight patients and two employees. Some witnesses claim he was rabid or insane. The police have arrived on the scene and are still trying to track down the infected man.
Health care officials are trying to figure out what went wrong. Some say that the virus is to blame, others think something else is at play here." She takes a pause so the camera can take in the scene. "People are being warned to stay home and limit public interaction as much as possible to reduce the spread of the virus. We will be back shortly with more, so please stay tuned." The newscast ends and switches to something else.
"How about that for an apocalypse?" Dad comments as if it's a joke.
"This is definitely not a joke," Mom says, and Dad's face becomes solemn.
"I know," he says, "but at least we're not panicking." He gives an apologetic smile.
We talk over brief survival plans, and when we are done, I go upstairs to my room. Bree notices Nat following me and grins after us. I leave the door open and grab my sweater that's hanging from it.
"There's going to be a light rain and some thunder if you wanna come." I look at Nat curiously.
"I'd love to join you," she says. Bree is still grinning at us as we leave. Nat holds my hand, and my whole arm tingles. She lets out a small laugh, like the kind of laugh when one discovers something they don't expect to be there.
"What?" I ask, smiling down at her. She holds up my hand, and I notice the number she had written on it two days ago.
"You haven't washed it off yet?"
"I guess not." We walk the rest of the way to Spring in silence, taking in each other's presence and enjoying it no less.
When we arrive, I push open the door, and we head down the path back to the bench we were sitting on earlier. I sit down, and she lies across my lap, and I hold her in my arms like one might hold a baby. My left arm supports her legs behind the knees, and my right arm wraps around her back and shoulders.
After a few minutes like this, it starts to drizzle. Nat sits up and leans her head back on my shoulder as rain falls into her mouth. She doesn't care what I think of her in this moment; she's just being herself. It shows me that I, too, can maybe just be myself around her. To be vulnerable and open. We can take care of each other.
Rain drips slowly down her neck and into her shirt, and Nat's hair is getting wet. She's sitting on my legs facing forward, so I wrap my arms around her waist.
"Want to go for a walk?" I ask softly into her ear. She tilts her head down and turns slightly to face me. I can feel her breath on my mouth.
"Sure. I'd like that." She stands up and offers her hand to me. I take it, and we begin further down the path. A faint boom sounds, implying that a thunderstorm is on its way.
"It's so amazing. This sounds so real," Nat says, looking up at the clouds. "I really love this type of weather. Soft rain, a warm breeze, the mighty sound of thunder." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. I can't help but stare, and my hand moves on its own, caressing her face. She is so beautiful.
Nat opens her eyes. "What?" she asks, smiling curiously.
"I just—you're very beautiful." I'm suddenly a bit flustered. She blushes and looks down at her feet as I withdraw my hand. There is an awkward moment that seems to last an eternity.
"You're very handsome." She doesn't look up at me, but I'm smiling.
"I really like this type of weather too," I say. She looks up.
"Do you really care that the world is ending?" Nat stares intently into my eyes as if to catch any lie I might let through. But I can't lie to her.
"No, actually. Not that much… no, not really. How about you?"
"I'm scared," she breathes. "The world might end before our relationship can get serious." I give her hand a reassuring and affectionate squeeze, then pull her in close. "I don't want to lose you to this virus thing," she says into my shoulder.
"I don't want to lose you either." I kiss the top of her head, and her hair smells of French vanilla and rose.
"You smell nice," I say, and nuzzle her neck. She giggles and draws my face to hers.
We inch closer till our lips are barely apart. Her mouth brushes against mine, and she wraps her arms around my neck. My heart rate increases, and we kiss again, more passionately this time. Her breath is warm, and she tastes like cinnamon. I want to do more. I want more of her, but I can sense that she isn't ready yet. A kiss is plenty for her, for now.
I have never been the romantic type, but after meeting Natasha, I feel like all of that is changing. She steps back to say something.
"You are a really good kisser."
"You're not so bad yourself—I mean, you're also really good, you taste good," I say, smiling. She smirks and leans in for more, and I let her kiss me again. This kiss is different; it's gentler, and something about it reminds me of a warm, kind summer day, or—the butterflies in my stomach? Then I realize that the butterflies in my stomach is Nat's left hand feeling my lower abdomen.
"You have nice abs," Nat says.
I don't know what Mom or Dad would think of this, or how they would react to me making out with a girl I've only known for three days. After a few moments, I voice my thoughts aloud.
"What do you think our parents would say about this?" I ask, hoping she doesn't care.
"My dad doesn't involve himself with who I see. Your parents might be stricter… But regardless, it doesn't matter what they think." Her hand slides further up, and she gently massages the right side of my chest. She kisses me again.
"Why aren't you touching me?" Nat is impatient.
"I really don't want to do anything you'll regret later," I say, staying in control.
"Then go further."
Hesitantly, I slide my right hand underneath her soaked sweater and shirt and rest it on her left hip. Then I slowly move it to the small of her back. I stop, making sure not to go too far, trying to keep my willpower in charge.
At this point, the rain is getting lighter, and the clouds are clearing to reveal a bit of sun. We are both soaking wet.
Our tongues mingle more furiously, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest.
I continue to move my hand underneath Nat's damp shirt, circling her belly button with my finger.
"That tickles!" Nat giggles excitedly.