Chapter 5 “Natalie if you aren’t downstairs within two seconds I’m going to leave without you!” AJ yelled up the stairs. They were supposed to meet the rest of the guys and their girlfriends at a local club. Natalie finally came flying down the stairs and almost fell on top of AJ, but he caught her, their faces were within inches. AJ tried moving in closer but Natalie got out of his grasp and went to the front door. “Ok Mr. Pushy let’s go.” She joked and walked outside. AJ groaned and followed behind her, making sure that he closed and locked the front door. Then they got into AJ’s car and drove down the road towards the club. AJ and Natalie saw the rest of their group out on the dance floor and decided to go out there too. After about five or six songs they decided to find a table and get a few drinks. “Did you want anything?” AJ asked Natalie. “Yeah I’ll just have some water.” She answered him. The guys went off to the bar and left the girls at the table. Tiffany was sitting at Natalie’s left, then there was Robin, who was Kevin’s girlfriend, Stephanie who was just a friend of Nick’s, and then Carrie who was Howie’s girlfriend, who she already knew. “So how long are you going to be in town?” Stephanie asked, trying to make conversation. “Actually I’m moving here. I’ve lived here my whole life except for these past two years because of college.” Natalie answered. “And I’m glad you’re back girl. I’ve really missed you.” Said Carrie. The guys finally came back with the drinks and stood by the table because there were only five seats. “Why don’t you sit down.” Natalie suggested as she started to stand up. “No no, you sit I’m just fine.” AJ assured her. They all talked to each other over the loud music and a slow song came on so they others hit the dance floor again. “Nat, do you uh, do you want to dance?” AJ asked. “Sure.” She answered. The found a spot on the floor and he brought her closer to him and they swayed to The Dance by Garth Brooks. “This is an old song.” Natalie commented. AJ didn’t seem to be paying much attention to her even though he was staring straight at her. “What do I have something on my face?” she joked. He didn’t answer her. There was something different about him at that moment. He was looking at her differently than he had their whole lives. His eyes were softer and she could see signs of a deeper love in them. She cold also tell that he was a little nervous. He stared straight into her eyes and she felt like she was going to melt into his arms. “We can make this work.” He whispered into her ear. “I just don’t know.” She replied. “We’ve known each other so long. What if it doesn’t work? Then where will we be? You’re my best friend I don’t want to lose that.” “We just have to take a chance.” He said. “I know how you feel about me. You’re forgetting that I know you all too well. And the same goes for me with you. We’ll just take it one step at a time.” He pulled away from her ear and moved to meet her eyes. Very slowly he moved in closer and finally their lips touched and kissed. Brian took a peak over at Natalie and AJ to see that they were kissing. A smile crept across his face. “What is it?” Tiffany asked. “Look behind you.” She did as she was told and turned back to Brian, with the same smile on her face as Brian had. “Why do you have to be so difficult?” Natalie asked AJ as she pulled away from him. “Because that’s the only way I can ever get through to you.” He answered. “So what do you say?” “Ok.” She answered. He smiled and then kissed her again. “You won’t be sorry. I think we can really make this work.” Chapter 6 *Three months later* Natalie moved down to Florida about two weeks after that night at the club. Neither families were all the surprised that she and AJ started dating. Natalie’s brothers, Tim and Dylin gave AJ the ‘so you’re going to date our sister’ speech which pretty much said ‘if you hurt her we’ll kill you’. AJ just shook it off though because he knew them just as well as he knew Natalie and knew that he wouldn’t have any problem with them at all. Natalie moved into a small one bedroom apartment that was about ten minutes away from AJ’s house and ten minutes from her parent’s house so she was really happy with that even though she was hardly there. “So what would you like to do today?” Natalie asked as she sat down on her couch next to AJ. “Well it’s your last day of freedom before you go back to school why don’t you pick.” AJ replied. “Ok why don’t we do some shopping?” “Sounds good to me.” “Great I just need to go the bank and get out some money.” “I can buy whatever you want.” Natalie took AJ’s hand. “You aren’t going to buy me anything. I can buy it myself.” She got up off the couch and dragged him behind her, almost tripping on her dog Magi, a little yorky. They apologized to the dog and then walked out of the door. “Who’s driving?” Natalie asked. “I will.” They both got into his car and drove down the road heading toward the bank. Once in the parking lot, they both got out of the car and walked to the front door. “You don’t have to come in with me.” Said Natalie. “You know I can’t be away from you that long. I want to spend as much time with you as I can cause you’re going to school and then I won’t get to see you as much.” Natalie just shook her head and AJ opened the door for her and they both walked in. There was a small line to wait for a teller so Natalie decided just to use the ATM that was just inside the door. Before she could even slide her car through a man in a ski mask came running through the doors screaming, “Nobody move! Give me all your money!” He pointed at one of the tellers and she frantically started shoving money into a bag. AJ, wanting to protect Natalie, slowly started to move in front of her. What he didn’t know was that there was a second guy standing behind them. “Hey don’t move!” he yelled. Guy number one quickly turned around and pointed the gun at both of them and shot. Natalie jumped in front of AJ and they both fell to the ground. Both men ran out of the building as soon as they got the money. “I’ll call an ambulance!” AJ could hear a woman say. “Look at all that blood!” another woman said. “Someone try and get something to stop the bleeding.” Said a man who was behind the counter. AJ held Natalie in his arms in shock. Her eyes were open and looking at him while she was gasping for air. “Natalie why did you do that?” AJ asked her while tears were streaming down his cheeks. He was so scared that he was going to lose her. She was shot in the chest and bleeding heavily. “I…I love you..AJ.” she managed to choke out. It was the first time she had ever said it to him. “Hold on. Help’s on it’s way Nat. Just hold on a little while longer. Please.” “I love you.” She mouthed. She took one big deep breath and then she was gone. Chapter 7 *Three days later* ~*~ AJ found himself walking through a white room with fog only on the ground. He searched the room for any way out and then he saw her. “Natalie.” He choked out. “Is that you?” “Hi AJ.” She said. Once he reached her, he slowly reached his hand to her cheek to see if she was really there, and he could touch her. “Natalie.” He said again and pulled her in for a hug. He could hear a song in the background, it was The Dance by Garth Brooks. “Dance with me.” She whispered. They started swaying to the music and he pulled back just a little to look at her face. “I miss you.” He said. “I miss you too.” “I wish it were me and not you.” Tears started forming in his eyes. “Don’t say that. God thought it was my time. I’ll see you again.” She leaned in and kissed him. It was long and sweet. “When it’s your time, I’ll be the first one you see.” “But when will that be?” “Not for a long time.” She answered. “You have a long future ahead of you.” She started backing away from him. “Don’t go just yet.” He pleaded. “Stay here.” “I wish I could.” Tears started falling down her cheeks now. “I don’t know if you heard me before, but I love you.” “I heard you.” He replied. “I love you too Natalie. I always will.” She smiled and gave him a wave, and she was gone, and he was alone once again. ~*~ AJ woke up to the sound of his alarm clock. He beat on it until it stopped and he laid there thinking about the dream he just had. “Was it a dream?” he asked himself. “It seemed so real.” He got out of bed once he saw that he had been lying there for an hour. It was already eleven o’clock and Natalie’s funeral was at twelve. He quickly pulled on some clothes and combed through his hair. Before he walked out the door he noticed a few pictures of them together. One was when they were five. They were playing in the mud and had the greatest time. There was also one from when they were in junior high, and the other was taken just a few weeks ago. “Are you ready to go?” Brian asked as he peeked in the door. “Yeah.” He answered, taking his eyes off of the pictures, and looking at Brian. “I’ll drive you there ok?” AJ just nodded and walked with Brian to his car. His eyes were glued out the window the whole way to the church. “I decided that I’m going to give a speech.” AJ said as Brian parked the car in the parking lot. “Are you sure?” Brian asked. “No one knew her like I did. I just think it’s best.” Brian just nodded and got out of the car and waited for AJ to get to the other side. Other people were arriving at the same time and they slowly made their way inside. Once they were in the front door, AJ’s face went even paler than it was. He wasn’t sure if he could go all the way inside or not. Brian gave him a slight push and AJ moved, walking the rest of the way inside. At the moment, people were giving their last respects before the closed the casket. “Um, AJ, they’re going to be closing the casket soon.” Nick said softly. AJ nodded and looked over to Brian who was standing next to him. Brian nodded to him, saying go ahead. AJ started down the aisle, with Nick and Brian on both sides of him. She looked like she was sleeping. Just like he could reach in there and wake her up. AJ had brought a rose with him, and he put it on top of her, tears rolling down his cheeks. He had lost the best friend he ever had, and girlfriend at that. “I love you Nat. Always.” He said softly. Nick put his arm around his shoulder, and all three of them walked away. They saw Natalie’s mother, Lisa and went to talk to her. “AJ it’s so good to see you.” She said while wiping her eyes with a Kleenex. “I just wish it were on better terms.” AJ went to hug her, tears still streaming down his face. When they pulled apart, she went to sit down next to her husband. “Come on it’s going to start.” Brian said. They went and sat down near the front, and watched as casket was being closed, knowing that it would be the last time that they’d ever see her. The priest gave his speech her and then asked if anyone else would like to add. AJ raised his hand and then walked up to the podium. “I’ve known Natalie my whole life. She was the most caring, understanding, and sweetest woman, I’ve ever known. I decided to give this speech because I know of side of her that I don’t think anyone has known. There’re so many memories that I will keep with me forever. Like the time when we were at least five and played with playdough, or at least tried to because she would eat almost all of it. Or the time we played truth or dare and she walked up to a guy on the streets asking him to marry her.” There were a few snickers and giggles from the crowd and AJ smiled, then turned serious again. “If I could go back three months, to when we started dating I would be grateful. Just to have her here again would make my world turn right side up again. Even if I couldn’t change what happened, I would do it all over again. And I’m glad I didn’t know it was going to happen because those three months of was the best part of my life. It’s just like the song The Dance, My life is better left to chance, I could have missed the pain, but I’d of had to miss the dance. Even though it didn’t fit us at the time, or so we thought, in a way it was our song. If you don’t mind, I’d like to sing some of it.” He took a deep breath and started singing. Looking back on the memory of The dance we shared 'neath the stars alone For a moment all the world was right How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye And now I'm glad I didn't know The way it all would end the way it all would go Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain But I'd of had to miss the dance Holding you I held everything For a moment wasn't I a king But if I'd only known how the king would fall Hey who's to say you know I might have chanced it all And now I'm glad I didn't know The way it all would end the way it all would go Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain But I'd of had to miss the dance He couldn’t speak any more. The singing was hard enough. He felt like he was just going to burst into tears so he walked down the aisle, seeing almost the whole place in tears and walked out of the room and cried. He cried out all of the frustration and he cried because he lost someone he’d known for so long. Then he just got angry because she was taken away from him so quickly. Tiffany came outside to see how he was doing. She had gotten there a little late and he didn’t even know she was there. “It’s not fare.” He said when he saw her. “I know.” She said. She went to him and hugged him, letting him cry on her shoulder. Brian and Nick walked out to check on AJ. AJ looked up and pulled away from Tiffany. “Thanks for coming guys.” He said softly. “She’ll always be with you.” Brian said to him. Then he saw Natalie, dressed in white, standing in the doorway. She smiled at him and disappeared. AJ looked back to the other three and said, “And a part of me will always be with her.” The End Chapters 1-4 Back to Fanfic Back to Main Page