Chapter 11
"Let's grate that celeriac now."
"Okay."
Osmond releases Natalie. She takes a paper towel, blows her nose in it and throws it in the trash.
"You get the grater, I'll prepare the celeriac."
Natalie looks for the grater while Osmond peels the skin.
"Here."
She hands him the grater and he puts it on the counter
"Now heat up the leftovers in the microwave."
She puts the leftovers from lunch on a small plate, puts it in the microwave and sets the timer for 50 seconds. Osmond finishes peeling the celeriac. He looks at Natalie and smiles, to which she responds by coldly averting her gaze. Before the timer on the microwave reaches zero, Natalie stops it so it doesn't beep too much. She takes the plate out and puts it in front of Osmond.
"Thank you."
"Yeah."
While Osmond grates the celeriac, Natalie puts a bottle of sunflower oil within his reach.
"Could you juice half a lemon for me, please?"
She takes a lemon out of the fridge and puts it on the counter.
"We'll juice it right before eating."
"That's fine."
Soon enough, Osmond finishes grating most of the celeriac, with only a tiny chunk left.
He puts it in his mouth, then takes a wooden cooking spoon and presses a piece of potato against the side of the pot.
"It'sh shtill nyot donye."
He puts the spoon over the pot.
"Wanna eat the leftovers now and leave the soup for later?"
"Yeah, whatever."
Osmond hugs Natalie tightly for a few seconds, then moves back a bit.
"Cheer up!"
"I don't feel like it."
"C'mon! We're having leftovers and soup for dinner! What's better than that?"
"Dating you."
"Ah geez… Look, we're probably gonna start dating, and it probably won't take much longer, so please, cheer up! Let me see that smile!"
Natalie looks at him with a blank expression.
"Please?"
She forces the slightest smile out of the corners of her mouth.
"There you go! What a gorgeous smile you have! You should try becoming a model."
She smiles naturally. Osmond kisses her on the cheek and hugs her again.
"You know, when I say "I love you," I don't just mean "as my best friend." I also mean it as my future lover and wife and grave buddy."
"We're not gonna share a grave, Oz."
"Urn buddy?"
"I don't want my ashes to be a living room centerpiece."
"What do you want then?"
"A kiss, but this time from you."
Osmond sighs.
"Geez, you really are troublesome. Fine, I'll kiss you."
"Don't kiss me like you're doing your homework."
"Then how should I kiss you?"
"Make it super romantic, like the type of kiss you'd remember with a smile while you're skating in your midlife crisis."
"I can't skate, Natalie."
"Then just kiss me and mean it!"
"Fine!"
Osmond grabs Natalie's head and kisses her. He backs away after a few seconds.
"How's that?"
"Mmm… Not good enough."
"But I really meant it!"
"I'm not satisfied yet."
"Then let's move to the couch."
He takes her hand and leads her to the couch.
"Sit."
Natalie sits down. Osmonds sits in her lap, facing her.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm doing my best! I'm doing my best because I don't want you to feel bad anymore! I understand that it sucks when the person you love keeps saying "not now" and "not until we start dating" and all that jazz, but I can't not be careful when it comes to something this important! Even so, I'm willing to break my own rules just so you could feel better! So please accept my kiss, because I really do mean it!"
He then grabs her head and forcefully kisses her. He kisses her again in the same way. The third time he starts strong, but continues gently, and after a few seconds starts using his tongue. Tears start rolling down his cheeks. He lets go of her head and puts his arms around her neck, and Natalie puts her hands on his waist. Osmond moves away a bit, wipes his tears, and starts kissing her again. After a few seconds, Natalie moves away.
"Thank you, Osmond."
"You're welcome."
"You can get off if you want to."
"I wanna continue making out with you."
She smiles at him.
"You're the best. I love you, Oz."
"I love you too, Nat."
Osmond kisses her again, and they continue making out.