You might think that I'm just like you. A 16 year old girl going to high school, getting A's in all her classes. You might look at me and wonder. Am I a good a good kid, am I part of the "cool" group. Do I have a wonderful life at home, where both of my parents give me unconditional love everyday. Well let me tell you something, you're wrong if you really thought about that.
I've never met my real dad, and my mom won't talk about him with me. The only words that came out of my moms mouth about my dad were "he's dead for me". My mom felt deeply in love with this dude that she met at the night club she works at. And no, she's not a stripper or anything like that, she's a waitress. The first time she brought him home he transmitted that finally we were going to be a happy family for once, all three of us. At first he used to take me to the park every afternoon and play with me in the swings, we used to laugh together, and my mom would stay at home cooking and cleaning the house, like always.
The months passed by, and we moved. My step dad (my mom wasn't really married to him, it just seemed easier to call him step dad then "my moms boyfriend") assumed that moving out of a house where another man had been near my mom was going to bring bad luck if we were going to start a new family. We didn't moved very far away, just a few hours from our old house. I have to say, the new house was just beautiful. It was yellow, it had a front and back garden full of flowers and a swimming pool. The house was huge, it has 2 floors plus the inside garage. I went to check out my new room. It was big, but the walls were dark colors. Not like black, it as more like a really dark gray that made that room transmit sadness. I looked out the window, we were out of the middle of nowhere, so there wasn't much to look at besides trees, and more trees, and more trees. I wondered, if living in the middle of nothing I was going to make new friends or not, even though the house was beautiful in the outside, the inside looked a little creepy. While I was staring at the window thinking of my future, somebody knocked on my door. I jumped and turned around. It was Mark, my step dad.
-Liking the view? - he asked me while he came closer and looked through my window as well.
-Yeah, I guess - I said looking out the window once again - but, I think this is a creepy house.
-Oh, trust me, if you think the house is creepy, just wait until you meet me living under the same roof as you.
I looked at him questioning myself, "what is that suppose to mean?" "was that a compliment or a threat?". He looked at me with a serious face and walked out my room, without saying anything else. I actually felt scared, I had never seen him with such a serious face before. Then after he left, I heard my mom walking towards my room. I sat on the floor in the middle of my room just staring at the wall.
-What are you doing? - my mom questioned.
-Just feeling the floor looking at the wall. I'm thinking what color to paint my room. It can be any color I want, right mom?
Sure, I guess so. I just hope it isn't one of those crazy colors that teenagers like now a days. Make sure you get all your belongings out of the car and start preparing your room if you want to sleep in here tonight with a bed and not downstairs in the couch. Dinner will be ready in 30 minutes. In the meanwhile, I'm going to clean up everywhere, nobody has been here in ages and it's just full of dust. Disgusting.
-Okay mom.
My mom was weird. I really wondered sometimes if she was my real mom. We were too different. She hated the fact of the rooms being messy, or the whole house being uncleaned. She was cleaning 24/7. Me in the other hand, I really didn't mind my room messy at all. At least I knew where everything was because I was the one that created the own mess. My mom never wanted to leave the house, the only times she would go out would be to go to work, or to go grocery shopping. For clothes and all these other stuff she would buy it online. Me in the other hand, the only thing I want to do is to be outside. I love the outdoors, being by myself or in company. Not only to go to school or to go to any stores, just to walk around the streets, parks, or forests.
My mom suddenly yelled at me. "Niki! Time for dinner! Come downstairs now!". I got up the floor and went down to the kitchen to eat. When I got there, my mom and step dad were already sat at the table waiting for me. I sat down, and my step dad keep looking at me seriously. Then he opened his mouth.
-Do you like this house, Niki?
-Yes, I do.
-Would you like to live here?
-Sure, why not. -I asked myself, where do all these questions come from?
-Well then, since I bought this house and allowed for your mom and you to live here, you're going to have to follow some rules.
-Okay? - rules? Are you kidding me?
-From now on, once you are called for dinner, you are not going to take forever to come down from that room and make your mom and I wait for you to eat. After dinner, you are going to clean all the dishes and go to your room and not come out 'til the next day. You will be waking up at 6 o'clock in the morning to get ready for school. Your bus will come and pick you up at 7 o'clock. On the weekends, you will wake up at 9 o'clock in the morning and the first thing you will do would be making your bed. Your room will be tidy everyday, no messiness, and...
-Are you kidding me? What kind of rules are those?
-And obviously you will not talk hen I'm talking. I don't allow rude little girls like you in this house. Disrespectful.
-Mom, say something! He isn't the boss of me!
My mom stood there quietly, without saying a work. She looked at her food, felt her fork on the table, and looked at me. Thinking she was going to defend me like a regular mom would do, the only words that came out of her mouth were:
-Well, Niki... It is his house after all, and he's the man of my life. You're day didn't give a crap about you or me when he left. Just follow Mark's rules and that's it.
-And if you don't, they will be consequences. - Mark replied, adding, - since it's our first night in this house, you don't have to do dishes. But you will go up to your room and stay there tidying everything up 'til tomorrow.
I got up mad, went up the stairs and slammed my door behind me. I was mad, furious. He wasn't anybody to be the boss of me, being my moms boyfriend or not. And my mom, she didn't even bother to just even say "well, Mark. Don't you think that is too many rules? Just let her be free just a little." No, she has to go ahead and agree with him. While I was opening one of my boxes, that included the woods for my bed, somebody opened the door. I thought it was my mom, so I didn't turn around to speak to her. Until I heard the manly voice.
-When somebody comes in your room, you must turn around and speak, you understand?
-What if I don't want to?
And out of the blue, he walked up to me, grabbed my arm really hard in such a way that it hurt. He threw me in the floor and kicked me in my stomach over, and over, and over again. I cried loudly, thinking that if my mom heard it she would come running up the stairs and would caught him kicking me in the ribs and have this huge fight with him. But as soon as Mark heard my mom coming up the stairs, he stopped. And he knelled on the floor next to me.
-What happened?! -my mom asked Mark.
-I don't know, she must of feel from that chair and hurt herself. When I came inside her room she was in the floor crying.
I was crying too much to even talk and tell the truth to my mom. My mom left, and my dad got up.
-Next time, don't cry so loud so your mom can hear you.
- She'll f...f...f...find ou....out that you... you are a mons...monster. -I said, not being able to talk right because of the pain.
-Who do you think she's going to believe first, huh? You, or me? You little brat.
And he left my room, closing the door. I cried more, but in silence. My ribs were hurting so much, it even burned. I knew, sadly, that that was only the beginning. The beginning of Hell.
Alex
Siting on a hill, just thinking. Thinking about life, thinking about me. About my safety. I knew that the new house idea was all a big mistake, and I never imagined that someone like him would do such a thing. But outside was too beautiful to even think about such a thing. I could just lay down in the grass and stare at the sky for hours, contemplating the big bright moon with all the stars surrounding it. I always thought that each star was someone that had died and that it was looking down at someone taking care of them. I used to feel like my grandpa was a star taking care of me from up there. But my mom always told me that it was stupid, and he was more than buried underground living eternal darkness. But I never listen to my mom. I knew it wasn't true, until I got laughed at school about it. "How can you think such a thing, Niki? That is so lame!" "Niki, I think you should see a doctor, and not any kind of doctor, if you know what I mean!" - everyone used to say to me. At first I didn't care, because I had faith in such a thing. But now I look back and I wonder, is it really true? Is my grandpa looking after me from the sky, or is he living eternal darkness like my mom says? Suddenly, I heard the bushes move. I got up quickly, I was scared.
- How's there?! Show yourself!
Without realizing it, a boy came out behind the bushes. I stared at him, what was he doing behind the bushes?
- Don't be afraid! I was going to go up to you and say hi, I realized that you are new around here. But when I saw you, you seemed too much in your thoughts, so I didn't want to bother. I'm sorry If I scared you, I didn't mean to.
Sure he didn't, whatever. He was possibly stalking me, just didn't want to admit it. But I have to say, he was pretty cute. Even seen a boy like him before. His hair was as black as the night sky, he had intense green eyes. He was tall and skinny. He seemed the guy that every girl would fall for. But not me.
- My name is Alex. - said the mysterious boy. - Yours?
I didn't know if I should answer to him. What if he was that kind of boy from the movies that tries to be best friends with the girl, tells her to hangout, and the girl is violently kidnapped and raped and never seen again? I could I know that I could trust him? He hides behind the bushes and excepts me to tell him my name like nothing? But, I guess I had to be nice about it, after all, I needed to make new friends. I needed to make them.
- Niki... What do you want? - I said, in a rude tone.
- Well, Niki. - he replied nicely, even though I was being mean to him. - I just wanted to say hi and be able to meet you. I heard my parents talk in the kitchen that this new family had moved in to this house, and that there was a girl about my age that lived here as well. So I wanted to check out for myself and see. Apparently they weren't wrong.
- Well, yeah. We moved in this morning, not very far from our old house though.
- We moved in about two months ago. But far way from our old house. My real parents got into a bad car accident that killed them both, and so Maria and Andrew gave me the opportunity to live with them and be my guardians. But I consider them my parents, I never really had that much of a communication with my real parents. Don't take me wrong, I do miss them. But I know that they are up there looking after me and my new parents. - He pointed out, looking at the stars.
- I really don't remember my real dad... And my mom doesn't want to talk about him, apparently she says that he as a bad man, but I don't believe her. After all, she says a lot of lies.
Alex came closer to me, so close that I got nervous. I was shaking a little. He better not be thinking about making a move, because then we are going to have issues. His lips though, they were so perfect...
- Do you mind if I lay down with you?- pointed out Alex, sitting in the grass.
- Uhm, sure. Why not. - I replied, while I was laying down next to him.
We both got quiet. Extremely quiet. So quiet that it was disturbing me, that's how bad it was. And I thought to myself, I just met this really cute guy, that claims to say that he is my neighbor, and instead of knocking on the door when it was sunny outside to come present himself, he decides to hide behind a bunch of bushes in the middle of the night. Then, suddenly, Alex opened his mouth.
- Niki, wake up. Niki, wake up. Niki... Niki... - he said looking at me. I was confused. - Niki, open your eyes, hurry. Open your eyes.
Suddenly, my alarm went off. And I jumped on my bed. It was all a dream. The hill, the sky... The boy. It was all a dream. Alex was just a dream. I looked at my clock, it was 9:30 a.m. Mark had told me the day before that I had to wake up at 9 a.m. on the weekends, but he never came to check on me. I knew that I had to make my bed quick before he decided to walk up the stairs and check on me. I did my bed as fast as I could. I was crappy at making my bed, but it seemed made for me. I went downstairs to the kitchen and get my breakfast. I as so hungry, I was hoping my mom had made me the typical chocolate milk with my toast with melted butter, but I was wrong. When I went downstairs, there was nothing there. And Mark was sitting in his chair reading the newspaper drinking his hot coffee. He didn't even the newspaper down on the table when he knowledge me.
- Well, aren't you going to say good morning to me?
- Good morning, Mark. - I said, with a sarcastic voice.
- What time did you get up?
- At 9 a.m. like you told me to do yesterday. I was cleaning a little my room, that's why I got down here half-an-hour later.
- Now, you can't lie to me, Niki. I know for a fact that you didn't wake up at 9. I went to your room at 9 and you were still asleep. The only reason I didn't wake you up is because yesterday was a long day with the unpacking. So I was the one that set up your alarm clock to 9:30. You just woke up.
Okay? Is he now going to stalk at me, come in to my room whenever he wants and stare at me while I sleep? Then Mark talked again.
- And from no on, you ill make the breakfast yourself. I think you are old enough to do it. You don't need your mom to do it. She is not your slave to be doing all these stuff for you. - pause.- Oh, and the neighbors that live in the other street came by. Apparently they had sa us moving the boxes inside the house and decided to give us the "welcome" thing. There was a boy as well, about your age.
- Ah. Cool. - I didn't know what to say. I was freaked out the fact that there was a boy living in the other side of the street. Just like the boy of my dreams had said. The last thing that I needed to know as that his name was Alex.
- He has black hair, and green eyes. I think he might be 17. He's tall and skinny. I guess he looks like a good kid. Quiet though. His name is Alex. If you want you can go over there and make friends with this kid, but I want you back home in an hour. You have to get ready in order to get ready to do chores around the house and getting to bed early for tomorrow. I remind you, tomorrow is your first day at school.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. It can't be. It was just like my dreams. He had described it exactly like the boy of my dream. And his name was Alex.
- I guess I can go and say hi, I do need to make at least one new friend in order to not feel weird tomorrow at school. - I said, going towards the stairs to get ready and leave. A half an hour later, I left, without making my toast, not even my chocolate milk.
I walked through the woods towards the house, sweat was going down my forehead. I was nervous, I still questioned myself about the dream that I had the night before. It seemed so real, like it actually happened before.
While I was walking over there, I could see the house between the trees. I felt like turning around and going back home. Suddenly, I heard a voice, such a familiar voice.
- Hey! Are you the neighbor?
- Yes...
- Hi, I'm Alex. My parents and I went over to your house to welcome you all, and your dad opened the door. He seems cool.
- Sure...
- I'm sorry, so rude of me. What's your name again?
- Niki...
- Well, nice to meet you Niki. - he said, with a smile on his face. - I'm glad we met. There isn't much people around to hang with, and now finally there's a girl my age living next door.
- Yeah... - I said looking down on the ground, I was really embarrassed. - I'm sorry, I usually talk more. It's just, it's really hard for me to make new friends.
- It's completely okay, I understand. It was hard for me to make new friends when I first started to go to school. Are you going to go to Michigan High School?
- Yeah, I guess so. I'm not really excited about it though. Like, who am I going to sit with on the bus? I'm possibly going to get lost trying to look for my classes, what if I have to sit my myself at lunch... I think about all this stuff, you know?
- I understand, but there is no reason to be so paranoid about it. Everything will be okay, I'm here for you. We're friends, right? Besides, I won't leave your sight on the first day of school, if that's what you want of course.
I thought of it, over and over again. I can't believe he is being so nice to me. He was just like in my dream. His hair was as black as the night sky, he had intense green eyes. He was tall and skinny. He was even cuter in real life. He transmitted this kind of security that I had never felt before. I wanted to be friends with him. I felt needed to be friends with Alex.
- Well, I have to go home, my step dad wants me in about 5 minutes. I don't want to be late... - I told him finally.
- Oh, sure. Well, if you ever want to hang out, you are more than welcome to come over here.
- Thank you. Well, goodbye.
- Bye, Niki. - he said smiling, and out of the blue, he got closer to me and gave me a hug. It wasn't just the typical regular, quick hug. It was a long, arm hug. It feel so good, but so wrong. He seemed like the typical guy that every girl would fall for him and that would die to be with him, I didn't want to be part of that. I refuse.
I walked back home. I walked fast home, but not as fast as I should have. I arrived home a minute late. And Mark as sitting on the stairs, looking at his watch. I stand on the door without making a single move, It wasn't that I was scared, it's just I didn't want to deal with what I had to the night before. He looked at me intensely.
- Did you have fun?
- Yeah.
- Did you talk to that boy?
- Alex, yes.
- What did you talk about?
- Nothing, just about school and stuff. - what did he care?
- Well, go to your room. Your mom is out buying from groceries. I don't want you out of there until it's dinner time. Clean your room. - he stated, while getting up from the stares to let me pass.
I closed the door, still opened while Mark was talking to me. I went up the stairs, and went to my room. For once, I had the need to get out of the house and go to Alex. Even though I didn't know him good enough to just pop in his house and be like "hey, I came to hang with you". Like, imagine for a sec that I did that. What if he thought I as this kind of creep and he doesn't want to be my friend. But what if he's using me. to go to school and act all "look since this girl is new and has no friends I hang around her". You never know, boys now a days are... Weird.
Nightmare
I was tired of being in my room. It felt like being in a prison, that you had to be in your cell until they allowed you to leave for a certain amount of time. At least, I had nice things in my room that a prison wouldn't have. I finally had painted my room, blue. Not a baby blue, nor a dark blackish blue. It was the color of the sea, with a little mix of white. I thought it was a nice color, I felt pretty creative about it. In one wall it was full of pictures of my family and I, of myself with a couple of old friends from my previous school. And some of me and my best friend. Yes, even though I am so paranoid about me making new friends, I had a best friend. He was amazing, the most wonderful person I've ever met. People used to think we were a couple, but we never even thought the fact of dating, our friendship was too strong to mess that up. You might wonder, if he was so important for me, why am I talking in past tense? No, we never stopped being best friends. He died last year, at the age of 18. He was a senior in high school, and I was a freshmen. He as about to graduate, and him and some of his classmates decided to live the few weeks that they had left in Italy before the big event of graduation. Before he left, I told him "please be careful, I want you back safe and in pieces," with his reply of "I promise," giving a soft kiss on the forehead and a big long hug before he left to the airport. What I never thought of was that it was the last time he would be able to kiss me in the forehead and to give him a hug ever again. I won't talk about his death right now, but I will say that in that moment it was the last time I cried as much as I did. When I was looking trough our pictures, somebody knocked on the door. Thinking that it would be Mark, I decided to act like I was doing something around my room. I wanted to be left alone, and I didn't want to deal with him. But I was wrong.
- Are you hungry?
- No, mom. But thanks.
- Okay, well I'm going to my room and watch TV. Mark left to the bar and watch soccer with his friends today.
- Okay, mom. Goodnight.
Mark had left to the bar, finally I could leave my room and do whatever I wanted, but in that moment I just didn't feel like getting out of my room, I felt safer and better in there. But as soon my mom closed my door, something hit my window. I stared at the window for the longest time, waiting for the same thing to happen again. And it did, someone was throwing rocks at my window. Slowly, I walked towards it. When I did, there he was, Alex.
- What are you doing throwing rocks at my window at this time at night?
- Just making sure you're okay, I thought you were going to come over to my house to come spend time with me, but you didn't.
- I'm sorry, I had stuff to do today.
- Well, that's why I came to see you. So, if you could help me make it to your window, that would help me a lot more.
- How am I suppose to do that?
- Well, you don't have Repunzel hair, so obviously you can't throw your hair for me to get there. You can always throw your bed covers so I can climb.
He really just said that? He wanted me to throw my bed covers, tie it to my bed, throw them out the window so he could climb to my room? At least I knew that he made pretty good use of his brain. So I did, and he climbed perfectly to my bedroom. I was nervous, having a boy in my room with the door closed, by ourselves. I was more nervous knowing that the boy was someone like him.
- Neat room! - he said, looking around - You were very creative with the walls, I like it. I wish I had a room like this, my room is just plain dark green, my favorite color. Is your favorite color blue?
- Yeah..
- I figured, usually when people paint their room is usually their favorite color. If the parents aren't the ones painting the room of course, then it would be a boring color. - he went towards the wall with all the pictures, and he pointed and me and my best friends picture - Who is this? You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend.
- Because he isn't my boyfriend. People used to ask the same exact question as you, but no. We were just best friends.
- "Were"? Did you guys like split up or something after you moving to here?
- ... He died, last year.
- Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry - he said, coming closer to me giving me a hug - I shouldn't have said what I said. I'm sorry. But don't worry, we'll end up being best friends, I know that for a fact.
- Thanks.
The hug was so long, and soft. I felt like I never wanted to let him go, but at some point I had to. When I let go of him, we were close to each other. Too close to be honest. We looked at each other in the eyes, he had such beautiful, intense green eyes. They were hypnotizing. He looked at me back, and he smiled at me. I smiled back. Suddenly, I felt his body coming closer to mine, and his lips were coming slowly closer to mine. I wanted to kiss him so bad, but I felt like it wasn't the right thing, nor moment. I backed off before he could reach to my lips.
- I'm sorry. My step dad will be coming home soon, and I really don't think he will like the idea that you've been in my room in the first place, specially with the door closed.
- Yeah, I better be getting home anyways, it's late.
- Yeah, super late. I think we should both head home. Well, you should head home obviously, I'm already at my house, lol. But I will be getting to bed, as soon as I have my bed sheets back from the window, still there.
I was so stupid, and so nervous. I didn't even know what I was saying. But he smiled, I think he realized that I was nervous. I did want to kiss him, I'm not going to lie. But it's been only a day since I met him. I don't know anything about him. He doesn't know anything about me. When he went down the window, I watched him while he was walking towards the woods to head to his house. He disappeared between the trees. I grabbed my covers, but them back on my bed, and felt asleep.
"Worthless. You're worthless". I was hearing voices. I opened my eyes, I was chained up to a chair. I couldn't move. I looked around me, it was all darkness, besides the spot light towards me. I started to sweat, I did I end up like this? I yelled for help, yelled to see who was there. There was no reply from any direction, 'til I saw him.
- No matter how loud you yell, I don't think anybody can hear you, brat. - Mark had said, with shorts and a white t-shirt on, it was his PJ's.
- What are you doing?
- I think you know why you are chained up to the chair Niki, I don't need to tell you. You know, for once that I leave the house, trusting that you wouldn't disobey any of my rules... You did. - He had a remote control on his hand, and when he pressed the only red button that there was, another spot light turned on. When I looked, Alex was chained up as well in a chair, with a cloth in his house. His face as full of scars, bruises, and blood. It looked like he was beaten up pretty badly.
- What have you done to him?!
- Well, he shouldn't have gone near our house without any permission, and especially go up your room by the window. He needed a little lesson. Didn't you, Alex? - he said, looking at Alex with his fake smile. Alex just turned away from him, he wouldn't stop looking at me.
- Take the cloth out of his mouth.
- Oh, really, you want me to take that cloth out of his mouth? Since when do you give me orders, huh Niki? - and he punched me in the left cheek with all his strength. It really hurt, I bit the inside of my cheek, making me bleed out. - You don't tell me what to do, you're nobody for me, nor your mother. You're worthless.
- No... No I'm not... - I replied, barely could talk because of the punch. I didn't care, I had to defend myself from his discussing words.
He punched me again, this time on my right cheek, knocking me out to the floor. As soon as I felt, he came close to me. He looked at me while crying, his last words were "remember this, Niki?", kicking me on the side once again, same place. I stared to bleed out of my mouth, I was in so much pain I couldn't talk at all. I wanted to cry for help, but I couldn't. Alex was trying to scream, but because of the cloth he couldn't as much as he wished.
- Now, you two will be sleeping here tonight, and in the morning I'll come back and clean both of you up. Like that when you get back home, nobody will even notice what happened here, nor they will know. Otherwise, both of you will be going through some serious consequences.
When he said that, he put his hand in his pocket, taking out the remote. As soon as he pressed the red button, the lights were off. It as darkness after that.
I woke up once again, on a jump. Not that kind of jump of when you dream that you are falling down a mountain and as soon as you feel like you are reaching to the floor you jump out of bed. No, this was the kind of jump that you get after a nightmare. My side hurt like it was real that I received that kick. When I looked at my side, it was all bruised. Was that a nightmare or an actual reality one? I didn't want to take my chances. I got up of bed, it was about 3 a.m., I put some jeans and a hoodie and sneaked out the house towards Alex's. I was worried and nervous, if the dream was an actual thing. Plus, I had to make sure he was okay. When I arrived to his house, the light of his room was still on. I threw a couple of rocks on his window, and he realized. He looked out the window and smiled. I smiled back. He opened his window and said?
- What are you doing throwing rocks at my window at this time at night?
- Just making sure you're okay - knowing that he was repeating what I said when he came a threw the rocks to my window, - well, that's why I came to see you. So, if you could help me make it to your window, that would help me a lot more.
- How am I suppose to do that? - he said, smiling waiting to see what as my response.
- Well, you don't have Repunzel hair, so obviously you can't throw your hair for me to get there. You can always throw your bed covers so I can climb?
He laughed, while he was getting a rope. He threw the rope down, and I climbed up. When I got up his room, I looked around. His walls were plain green, there was nothing on the walls. He had a bed, a desk with a Mac laptop on it, and a closet. Nothing else.
- Nice room, - I said.
- Yeah, well like I said before, you're room is better than mine.
- Yeah, you did.
- Why are you over here, Niki? Is everything okay? - he said, while he was laying down on his bed, apparently he had been reading a "The Walking Dead" comic book.
I was afraid to tell him the reason why I came over, but I felt the need to tell him.
- I had a nightmare.
- Was I in your nightmare, - he questioned me, looking at me.
- Maybe...
- What was the dream about? Was it that bad?
- I... I can't tell you...
- Niki, come on. We're friends. You can tell me anything you want. Heck, who am I going to tell? Obviously not my parents nor yours if you don't want me to.
- You promise you won't say anything?
- I promise, - he said, trying to comforting me giving me a kiss in the forehead.
I pulled my hoodie up a bit, to allow him to see the bruise. He put a surprising face, and he asked me what had happened. I told him my nightmare, and he as extremely surprised then. Apparently, it was only a nightmare, it never happened.
- So you're telling me, that your step dad has done that to you?
- Yeah...
- What an a........ sorry, I almost said it. How could he? Does your mom know?
- He threaten me that they would be serious consequences if I ever told my mom, plus me and mom never had that kind of relationship. I don't think she would ever believe me nor care about it...
- Everything will be okay, I promise Niki. I won't allow that to happen to you. I don't know I will do it, but I will try my best. - while he was saying all that, his intense green eyes starred at me the whole time he was talking. I got lost in them, I couldn't even hear him at that point.
- Would you kiss me, Alex? - out of the blue, I said.
- What?
- Please kiss me, Alex.
We looked at each other, he grabbed me the my waist. He came closer to me, I didn't move a single move. This time I wasn't turning back. I wanted to feel his lips towards mine. Yes, it was wrong, because it was only two days since I met Alex. But there was something about him that made me feel like I knew him long before then. I felt his body touching mine, his head was closely getting towards mine, about for our lips to met. Suddenly, it happened. It felt like when a wave crashed a rock, when lighting hit on a thunder storm. It was instant. His lips were so soft, and never wanted to let that kiss go. It was a passionate, intimate kiss. It wasn't my first kiss with a boy before, but it almost felt like it was. I started to think, what if I was kissing bad, and he's continuing to kiss me to not let me find out? What if... There was no "what if", it wasn't a moment to be paranoid about. I just had to go with it. And it felt great. Finally, and sadly, our lips separated.
- You're a pretty good kisser, - he said, smiling.
- Whatever, don't lie to me. If I'm a bad kisser just tell me.
- Okay, you're a bad kisser.
- Am I really, seriously?... - I said, sad. as he being for real?
- Of course not, silly! - he replied, laughing, - I really liked it. I would like to kiss you again, but...
- But... what?
- I will only kiss those lovely, soft lips once again if I am allowed by the girl that owns them.
I reached out to him and kissed him, it was my turn to make the move. - Of course you can, any time you want.
He slowly moved me towards his bed, and laid me there. His bed was comfortable, but I was more worried about why he laid me down on his bed. I was hoping him not to make that kind of move, I wasn't ready for THAT move, not yet at least. Instead, he laid beside me, hugging me. And we both felt asleep. Together.
Characters
This is a little puase, for you readers to know more about the characters, and a little bit of their backgrounds, before continuing with the story. I hope you are liking how it's going, considering it's my first actual book that I've written. Here it is:
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Niki - 16 paranoid, low self-esteem, year old girl. Brown hair, blue eyes. She's a classy type of girl. She likes to dress up, but in here lazy days she just wears sweat pants and a hoodie. She's been living with her mom in a small apartment since her parents got separated. She doesn't remember her dad as much as she wanted to, but her mom makes him sound like a cruel, mean dad. When her mom meets someone, they move to the middle of nothing. At first, she had a good friendship with her mom's boyfriend, but as soon as they moved in, everything changed. Niki hated him. She's abused by him, making her have nightmares, or realities that make her feel like they are nightmares. She has a hard time thinking about making new friends, since of how she is. But her new neighbor, which they become close friends, and slowly lovers makes her feel like that it is possible.
Alex - 17 year old, handsome boy. Black hair, green intense eyes. You might of thought he was Gothic, but he's the typical classy boy that likes to dress up all the time no matter what. He's also Niki's new neighbor. He lives with both of his parents, well, not biological parents. They're his grandparents, but her mom died at birth, and his dad didn't want anything to do with him. He's never met his dad, and he's glad. The only reason why he knows his mom is because of pictures. What differentiates him from Niki in a way is that he has no hard times making new friends, and slowly he starts to realize that he is falling in love with Niki. He tries his best to impress Niki, and make her realize that he cares for her and that he will be beside her no matter what.
NIKI'S PARENTS:
Mark - Niki's step dad. At first he was a sweet, caring guy. Him and Niki used to have a great friendship, until he had the idea to move all together to start "new and fresh" to start a "new family". As soon as they arrived to the new house, he makes Niki's life miserable, with so many rules and abusing her, physically and mentally.. He starts to stalk Niki, after realizing that she hadn't been sleeping in her bed the night before. He discovers, before Niki realizes, Alex's feeling towards her, and he tries to destroy hat they have between them. But what he doesn't know is that, when two young people truly care and love each other, no matter what that love will never be destroyed.
Maria - Niki's mom. After Niki's dad leaving here, she falls in this some sort of depression. She ignores Niki and she's a little disgusted by her, because Niki looks a little like her dad, and Maria remembers him every time she looks at her own daughter. Sh let's Mike do whatever he wants rule wise about Niki, but she doesn't know what else he does to her. Also, she allows Niki to do whatever she wants, not caring at all for her.
-
There will obviously be more characters while the story goes on. Like for example when Niki and Alex start school, Niki gets a new job, etc. But that will come soon enough. Hope you continue to read, and that you are enjoying it.
The Dirty Reality
I realized that I had slept all night with Alex. It was 4 a.m. when I woke up, and he was sleeping. I tried to move without making too much noise, I didn't want to wake him up nor realize that I was leaving. The rope was still nodded to the window, so I went down without a problem. He never realized that I had left, and I was glad. It wasn't a mean "glad", it was just if he were awake and saw me leaving he wouldn't have allowed that, I never wanted to leave in the first place, but I had to. The problem was though, how was I going to get back inside the house without Mark finding out that I hadn't been sleeping in my bed the most of the night, instead, I had been sleeping in a boys bed. It was hard, but I knew that if I had left the window open, and the bed covers still where I had left them, it would be easy. But as soon as I got in the backyard, where my bedroom window is: the bed covers weren't there, and my window was closed. I was terrified, was it Mark? I went to the front door to see if it was locked, at it wasn't. I went inside the house, slowly, hoping that everyone was still asleep and I wouldn't get busted. But when I passed the kitchen, I heard a voice. The one that I didn't want to hear.
- Where have you been?
- Just walking around the property... - You could hear from my voice that I was nervous, and he had realized as well.
- Walking around the property, huh? Hmmm... Somehow I don't believe that. Let me ask again Niki, and this time you are going to tell me the truth: Where have you been?
- I am telling the truth, I was walking around the property. - I had lied once again.
- Sit down in this chair, Niki. - Pointing out the chair right by him.
- Can I sit in this one instead? - Pointing out the chair far away from him.
- No, here. Now.
I didn't want to at first, I just stood there looking at him. He wasn't happy about it, I could see in his eyes he was getting aggravated and mad about the fact that I wasn't sitting down where he had told me to when he had told me.
- NOW, NIKI. I AM NOT TELLING YOU AGAIN! SIT DOWN IN THIS CHAIR! - He shouted at me. His face turned red, almost purple. You could even see the veins on his neck.
I sat down where he told me to, I was scared. I was holding myself to not to cry. I was better than that.
- LIKE I HAD TOLD YOU, YOU DON'T LISTEN TO ME THE FIRST TIME THIS IS HOW I GET. DO YOU LIKE ME YELLING AT YOU, HUH? YOU BRAT?
- No, I don't.
- I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT YOU SAY, YOU'RE WORTHLESS. I'LL YELL AT YOU ALL I WANT AND MORE.
I was afraid, I kept thinking he was going to raise his hand on me, and I knew he was going to at some point. I kept thinking to myself that I should have stayed with Alex, leaving him and me being in this situation with my step dad I wished I hadn't had left.
- YOU ARE SO WORTHLESS, NIKI, NOBODY EVEN LIKES YOU. YOU ARE ALL BY YOURSELF. THE ONLY REASON WHY YOU ARE IN THIS HOUSE IS BECAUSE OF YOUR MOTHER. IF IT WERE FOR ME, YOU WOULD BE MORE THAN DEAD BY NOW.
And then, it happened. He had hit me in the head so hard, I blacked out. "Worthless. You're worthless". I was hearing voices. I opened my eyes, I was chained up to a chair. I couldn't move. I looked around me, it was all darkness, besides the spot light towards me. I couldn't believe it. I was living my nightmare. I didn't yell for help, I knew there was no purpose of it, I knew nobody was there. And I knew, he was going to come out sooner or later.
- No matter how loud you yell, I don't think anybody can hear you, brat. - Mark had said, with shorts and a white t-shirt on, it was his PJ's. Just like in my dream.
- What are you doing?
- I think you know why you are chained up to the chair Niki, I don't need to tell you. You know, for once that I leave the house, trusting that you wouldn't disobey any of my rules... You did. - He had a remote control on his hand, and when he pressed the only red button that there was, another spot light turned on. When I looked, Alex was chained up as well in a chair, with a cloth in his house. His face as full of scars, bruises, and blood. It looked like he was beaten up pretty badly. - I know you didn't go "for a walk around the property".
I didn't say anything, just looked at him.
- Well, he shouldn't have gone near our house without any permission, and especially go up your room by the window. And all the way around. He needed a little lesson. Didn't you, Alex? - he said, looking at Alex with his fake smile. Alex just turned away from him, he wouldn't stop looking at me. Alex tried to say something, but because of the cloth that he had in his mouth, full of blood, I couldn't understand what he was trying to say.
- Take the cloth out of his mouth.
- Oh, really, you want me to take that cloth out of his mouth? Since when do you give me orders, huh Niki? - and he punched me in the left cheek with all his strength. It really hurt, I bit the inside of my cheek, making me bleed out. - You don't tell me what to do, you're nobody for me, nor your mother. You're worthless.
- No... No I'm not... - I replied, barely could talk because of the punch. I didn't care, I had to defend myself from his discussing words.
He punched me again, this time on my right cheek, knocking me out to the floor. As soon as I felt, he came close to me. He looked at me while crying, his last words were "remember this, Niki?", kicking me on the side once again, same place. I stared to bleed out of my mouth, I was in so much pain I couldn't talk at all. I wanted to cry for help, but I couldn't. Alex was trying to scream, but because of the cloth he couldn't as much as he wished.
- Now, you two will be sleeping here tonight, and in the morning I'll come back and clean both of you up. Like that when you get back home, nobody will even notice what happened here, nor they will know. Otherwise, both of you will be going through some serious consequences.
When he said that, he put his hand in his pocket, taking out the remote. As soon as he pressed the red button, the lights were off. It as darkness after that.
* * * * * * * * *
There as complete silence. A silence that scared me. I couldn't see Alex, and I was worried about him. What if he had passed out from Mark? What if... Too many thoughts were going through my mind, things that I didn't want to even think about.
- Alex?... -complete silence, no answer. - Alex... Are you there?
-Hmmm... - I heard from right behind me, right at my hear. - hmmmmm...
- Are you behind me, Alex?
- Mhmmm... - as in, "yes".
- Are you okay? Are you too hurt? - I kept asking all these questions, worried about him. I couldn't see him, nor anything. It made it worse.
There was complete silence, I as waiting for an answer. But he wasn't saying anything. I heard movements though, like he was moving trying to get, or do something.
- Yeah, I'm okay... Are you okay? - he had taken off the cloth out of his mouth.
- Pffff... We shouldn't had been friends in the first place... All this is my fault... - I had said, blaming myself for what Alex as going through.
- Hey, this isn't your fault, okay? I choose to be your friend, well friends, friends with benefits. - he had said laughing. I smiled, but we couldn't see each other. - I just can't believe that you have to put up with that dude, you don't deserve it.
- No one deserves this... - I pointed out.
- I'm not leaving you Niki, I promise you. I will be with you all the way. No matter what.
- Promise me? - I asked him, with a voice that I was about to tear up. Which I was about to anyways.
- I promise. Tomorrow will be a better day.
And after that we both felt asleep, covered in the smell of blood. But we didn't care, we were just too tired and in pain to even care about such a thing. Tomorrow was going to be a better day, like Alex had said.
* * * * * * * * *
I had woken up in my bed. With my pajamas on. I was confused, how did I end up here? I guess that I was so tired that first thing in the morning Mark had cleaned me, changed my clothes, and took me to bed for my mom not to notice anything and that everything was normal. Still, I had the bruises all over me. Wait. And Alex? What had Mark done with him? I worried one again about Alex. But I got up of bed, made my bed, and went downstairs to the kitchen. Went I entered the kitchen, my mom was cooking some pancakes, and Mark was reading the newspaper with his cup of coffee like he did every morning. Alex wasn't there though.
- Good morning, Niki. - said mom. - I made you guys some pancakes.
- Thanks, mom. - I answered looking at the ground. - I'm just not hungry right now.
- I think you should eat, Niki. It's the most important meal of the day. - Suddenly said Mark. I just looked at him with a hatred look. I hated him.
- Okay. - and I sat down in my chair and hate the pancake that mom had prepared me.
- By the way, your friend neighbor came by earlier, wanted to see if you guys wanted to hang out later. - Said my mom. Alex came over? - What's that's boy name? Hmmm... Mark, dear, you know his name right?
- Alex, - I said before Mark had the chance to open his mouth. - His name is Alex.
- Oh, Alex. Well, you should go hangout with him. Me and your mother are going downtown to spend the day together. - said Mark.
- Okay. - I replied.
I went upstairs, and as soon I was closing my room, a foot stopped it.
- Now, you better be good. - said Mark, closing the door, - You and that boy, be careful on what you are doing. I have no problem to go through what we went through last night, clear?
- Clear.
- Okay. Bye.
- Bye.
Got dressed, and left the house to go see Alex. Now, more than ever I wanted to see Alex, to make sure if he was okay. I had that need to see him. Alex, I was just hoping for him to be at least fine...
The Day Before School
I arrived to his house, and there I saw him. He was outside cleaning the front porch. I was happy to see him, but at the same time I was scared. Yes, he might have said that he was going to be there for me through everything, but what if he had changed his mind? What if now he doesn't want to be my friend, or whatever he is, and ignores me when school begins and tells everybody how much of a freak I am. There was too many "what if", I decided to not loose my chances, maybe I was wrong or maybe I was right. But you never know 'til it happens. I ran towards him, and yelled his name. I saw a smile from a distance, and yes it was. He dropped the broom to the floor and ran towards me.
- Niki! God, Niki. You're okay. You're okay Niki... - he had said, with a sad voice.
- Alex... You're okay too. I was so worried about you... I don't remember what happened after we felt asleep... - I replied, with tears going down my cheeks.
- He woke me up first, he didn't want to wake you up. He gave me a bucket of water for me to clean all the blood I had. He looked at me and then he grabbed you, saying that he was going to take you to your room, and if by the time he came back I as still there they would be consequences. At first I was thinking about waiting for him to come back to give him a piece of my mind... But I didn't see it worth to such a thing.
- Oh Alex... I'm so sorry. I bet you don't want to be my friend anymore...
- Wait, - he said looking at me, with a face of confusion, - friends? We're just "friends"?
- What do you mean?
- Well, I was hoping that we were more than just friends, you know.
- Best friends? - okay, now I was acting like I was stupid.
- Dork... - he said smiling, coming closer to me, - are you saying that you don't want to be my girlfriend?
- I never said I didn't want to be your girlfriend, - I said, smiling. He was approaching himself more and more towards my lips.
- Then it is settled, you're officially mine. - and then a kiss. A long, warm kiss. I missed his lips, I missed him.
His parents weren't home, and he invited me to enter his house. I only had been to his room and got in through the window, so I had never seen his house from the front door. Everything was so neat and clean, everything was wooden and decorated in such a way that transmitted comfort. It was smaller than my house, but I liked it more. He took me to the kitchen, and I sat down in the wooden chair.
- Are you hungry? - Alex asked.
- Not really... - I lied.
- Oh come on, I know you are hungry. I'll make you lunch. - He insisted with a smile. I couldn't say no.
- Sure, what is Mr. Alex gonna make?
- Well, I will make an egg-bacon-ham-and-cheese sandwich, would you like that Ms. Niki?
- I would love that. - and we both laughed.
There was silence for a little while. While Alex as cooking, I looked out the window. You could see a little bit of roof from my house. Then, suddenly, bushes were moving. I looked intensely at those bushes, to see what it was. I couldn't see anything, so I got up the chair and went closer to the window. I saw it. Between the bushes, there was a white man in a black shirt and black pants. He looked at me and hid in the bushes fast. It was Mark. I screamed and fell on the floor, crying.
- Niki, Niki! What's wrong? - Alex said shouting while he kneed on the floor grabbing me, and hugging me trying to calm me down.
- I saw... I saw... The bushes... Him...
- Who did you see Niki? Who?
- Him... Ma.... Mark...
Alex got up the floor and grabbed me, and took me to the couch and made me lay down.
- Noe, I don't want you to move not even an inch Niki. I'm going out side to see if I can find him - He ordered me while he was grabbing a little gun out of under the couch. - If you see him near the house, go and run to my room and lock the door and stay there 'til I come back. Promise me.
- Be careful Alex... I promise.
He left, but first he turned around and gave me a quick kiss, adding an "I love you, Niki".
I didn't reply, I didn't know what to say. I just looked at him while he walked outside to look for Mark. There I laid in the couch, scared. I was worried once again about Alex, wondering. Then, suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Thinking it was Alex, I got up and went towards the door, and opened it. It wasn't Alex.
- Hello, brat. - he said, staring at me with an evil smile.
I screamed, and closed the door. I ran to Alex's room as fast as I could, locked the door, and sat behind the door crying. What was he doing there? Why was he spying on me? I thought he had left with mom for the rest of the day...
*****
I woke up on Alex's room floor. I was 10 p.m. and I didn't know where Alex was, nor Mark. I was too afraid to come out that room though, not knowing hat as behind that door. It could be Mark quietly waiting for me to open the door and surprise me. Or it could be Alex waiting for me to be okay. I slowly opened the door, but no one was there. Quietly I came out, and went towards the stairs. I saw movement from the living room, but I couldn't see who it was. I slowly went downstairs, looking to see if I could see who was there, but I couldn't. A walked towards the living room, and then suddenly someone touched me from behind. Scared, I turned around. It was Alex. I hugged him, relieved to see him.
- Alex, it's you...
- Yes, it's me... You locked yourself in my room, and I tried to get in. But you wouldn't open the door, so I thought you had fallen asleep, so I let you rest and not bug you.
- I saw him... He was at the door. Someone had knocked on the door and I thought it was you coming back, but when I opened the door there he was. I screamed and went to your room just like you had told me.
- But I also told you not to move from the couch Niki, and you did.
He looked upset about the fact that I moved from the couch when he had told me not to.
- I'm sorry...
- And I forgive you, Niki - he said, giving me a kiss, - you should go back home. We have school tomorrow, it's late, and my parents ill be here any moment now. I'll see you tomorrow at the bus stop, okay?
- Walk me home?
- Sure.
We grabbed our coats, and walked in the darkness of the night, holding hands. I was afraid to go back home, but I knew that as soon as I walked through that door, the first thing I wanted to do was go straight to my room, not seeing anyone, and go to sleep. I didn't want anything bad happen to me, but I knew I as going to deal with him. When we got to the house, Alex turned around saying goodnight and giving me once again a kiss. When I lost him through the woods, I walked in the house. Both of my parents were in the kitchen.
- Where have you been, Niki?
- At Alex's... You already know that...
- I didn't know you were planning on staying there all day, me and your mother have been waiting for you for the past 4 hours.
- But you guys said that you were leaving for the rest of the day, plus you knew I was over there, you came for me.
- He did? - my mom had questioned.
- No I didn't. Don't lie to your mother Niki. I've been home.
- No you didn't.
- Calling me a liar, brat? Go to your room, it's late and you have school tomorrow. I don't want to see your face for the rest of the night. - he said, getting up from the chair pretty mad going towards his room, slamming the door afterwards.
- You know, you don't have to lie about Mark, - mom added when he left, - you might not like him, but he makes me happy. Because of him we are here Niki. He's a good man, not like your father. Don't ruin this for me.
- Whatever mom, night.
I ran to my room, locking my door. "Don't ruin this for me"? Seriously? Selfish. She only cares about how he treats her, and not the rest. She could care less about me. It was whatever, I laid and bed and felt asleep, waiting for tomorrow to come.
School
My alarm went off around 6:21. I didn't want to get up, but I had to. It was my first day of school, and I had to get ready to go to the school bus at 7:05. And Alex was coming to get me at 7. Apparently, on your first day of school everyone is suppose to look all cute and stuff.. Me, I just wanted to wear my favorite jeans and a hoodie. But instead I decided to wear my favorite jeans, with a black shirt and my jean jacket. I got all ready, and while I was straightening my hair, someone knocked my bathroom door.
- Is Alex here? - thinking he had arrived early.
- No, why? Is he suppose to come pick you up? - It was Mark. Yay.
- Yeah...
- Well, I was going to offer you to take you to school, but never mind. I'll just leave. Your lunch is in the kitchen, don't forget.
- Okay...
When Alex came, I put my combat boots on and left with him. Going towards the bus stop, I felt like someone was spying on us while we were walking. I had saw Mark leave in his Jaguar, so it couldn't be him again. At least, that was what I was expecting and hoping. But then, out in the trees, I saw the Jaguar parked. No...
- Alex... - I said in a low voice, letting is hand go.
- Yes? What's wrong?
- Do you see that over there?... - pointing out to the jaguar in the woods.
- Yes... I see it. That bastard. Do you think he's still in that car looking straight at us?
- I don't know...
- Let's go see.
- NO! Alex, please. No. Let's just go, I don't want to be late our first day of school... Come on.
- Okay, okay. Calm down, but if by the time we come back and it's still there, I'm going. - he said, holding my hand for comfort.
- Okay...
We ran to the bus stop, and there was the bus coming. The typical american-yellow bus. When we got on, everyone was looking at me. I felt embarrassed, ready to jump up a window. I felt like as everyone was looking at me. Was it because I was new? The way I was? Because Alex was holding my hand? Then suddenly a boy yelled at Alex.
- Alex! My man! Where have you been bro?
- Heeeeey Carson! Not much, just working out in the heat with my parents. I want you to met my girlfriend, Niki.
- Hey... - I said.
- Dang Alex, you do know how Clare is going to react when she sees you holding hands with another girl after all that happened.
- I could care less about her.
Clare? Ex girlfriend. I wonder, what happened between them for Carson to say that. Bad break up? Did they cheat on each other? I bet Clare was (and probably still is) the most popular girl at school dating the hot athlete Alex. Like "the perfect couple".
- You wonder who Clare is, don't you? - Alex asked while we sat down at the end of the bus. - I know that thinking face.
- Like, I was thinking about it. But if you don't want to tell me I'm fine with it.
- Clare is my ex girlfriend, - knew it. - we had been together for over a year. I never understood if it was an actual relationship or not though. It was before I became an athlete. She never wanted me around her friends but yet we would meet at places around the school where it was just me and her to be together. I felt like she was ashamed to be around me, since I wasn't "popular" at the time and she was. She's always been. But she would never come over to my house and I always had to sneak in to her room. I bet her parents didn't know about me. So one night, she text me saying that she was busy that night and that I couldn't go over. I didn't believe her, so I did. I went to her room, and there I saw her with my best friend at the time in her bed. So that's basically how it all ended.
- You got that right bro! - Carson turned around from the seat with a big smile. - Problem is: Clare still wants Alex to herself, since now he's the "hot athlete". - looking at me.
- Well, if she wants him so bad she wouldn't have done what she did in the first place. People thinking they can have everything, but yet, they don't realize how much they lose. - I felt Alex smiling, looking at me.
- I like this girl already, - said Carson - welcome to our sucky school!
I looked out the window. There were so many kids... "Welcome to Michigan High School", the big sign basically translating to "Welcome to Hell Students". But eventually, I was already living the true hell, and Mark was Satan.
When we got off the bus, I looked around. It was a pretty big High School, bigger than the one I went before at least. Alex hold my hand and led me to the main doors, walking in. The main colors we blue, black and white. My favorite colors. There was a lot of students, happy to be back at school. Me in the other hand, I just wanted to go back home, but knowing that I was with Alex I felt more safer. Suddenly, a cheerleader and a few other girls approached us. Alex hold me and put me behind him, could it be?
- Well hello there handsome, missed me this summer? - long hair, blond, bright blue eyes. White teeth, big perfect smile.
- Go away Clare.
I knew it, popular Clare.
- Now, now. That's not a nice way to admit you missed me, - she looked at me, and suddenly her fake smile went to serious face - who's she?
- Leave her alone, Clare.
I stand next to Alex, and hold his hand.
- I'm his girlfriend, Niki.
- Girlfriend? You? Ha! Girl, you're nothing near his type. I was his perfect type, right Alex?
- No Clare, but just a ordinary bitch.
Clare, mad, huff puffing left with her two lost puppies, giving me the dirtiest look. I just made an enemy, great. And it was Alex's perfect popular ex. I looked down on the floor staring at my feet. Am I really not Alex's type?
- Now, I know that thinking look. Hey, look at me, - grabbed my chin and pulled my head up so I could look at him, and grabbed me by my arms - listen, don't listen to Clare. She's just mad that I don't want have nothing to do with her anymore. Promise me that you won't be upset because of what she said. She's just a typical liar.
- I promise. - and he kissed me. We walked together to our lockers, I didn't want first period to start. Biology, ugh. "Favorite subject" first thing in the morning. At least I had the same second period with Alex.
******
1st - Biology; 222
2nd - American History; 354
3rd - Art; 111
4th - Digital Design; 323
5th - English; 213
6th - Spanish; 333
7th - Math; 386
******
I hated my schedule, 3 floors: and I only have one class in the first floor, one class with Alex. If we don't have lunch together I'll just die. And I'm just hoping for the love of God that I don't have any classes with Clare.
And hell began.
I started off with biology. Yes, Clare wasn't in that class. Thank you Lord. But, there was a boy that kept looking at me. Blond, with blue dark eyes. He was tall and skinny, and was wearing everything black, from top to bottom. I'm assuming his underwear is black too at this point. But we kept looking at each other, and went up to the teacher getting my eyes off him.
- I'm assuming you must be the new student. What's your name?
- Niki...
- Okay, Niki. Well, welcome to Michigan High School. You're seat is over there, - crap, next to the boy.
I went up, and sat next to the boy, he stared at me for a few minutes, 'til I broke the ice with my rude comment.
- Why are you staring at me?
- Because I want to, - he replied. His voice was deep, and had a gorgeous smile.
- Well, you're kinda intimidating.
- Well, must because you're cuteness is intimidating me.
- Shus, dork, - I said with a smile, I felt like as I was turning red, - but I have a boyfriend, so you're flirting is invalid to me.
- Alexander Martinni? I saw you holding hands with him before class.
- Yes... problem?
- No, not really. But just saying. Clare isn't going to leave you alone until something bad happens between the both of you. Last time Alex tried to date another girl after Clare, the girl died.
She, what? Died?
- And you honestly thought it had to do with Clare?
- Not just me, but a lot of people. You should ask him for the name of Marie. He might tell you the truth, or he might not. By the way, I'm Matthew. You can call me Matt.
- I'm N, - he didn't let me finish.
- Niki, I know.
He was a weird boy. His eyes changed colors, from dark blue to the blue of the ocean. That creep me out, big time. What next? He was going to turn in a wolf like Jacob in the movie Twilight?
Finally it came to be second period, and there I saw Alex, with a big smile. He came towards me and gave me a kiss.
- How was first period? Made new friends?
I wanted to tell him about Matt, about how he mentioned that girl Marie, I was curious how he hasn't mentioned her since we met.
- Yeah, I sit next to this weird guy, he kept staring at me though.
- Oh, really, - he smiled, he sounded a little jealous - what's his name?
- Matthew.
- Matthew? As in, Matthew Montgomery?
- I don't know... Blond hair, blue eyes. Tall and skinny...
- Niki, - oh no, his serious face, I did something wrong - don't talk to him. He's an idiot. I thought he was suspended, crap.
- Who is he, Alex?
He grabbed my hand to the end of the class, he made me sit down and he sat down right in front of me. He really didn't seem happy me talking to Matt, or even knowing him.
- Matthew Montgomery was new two years ago. We used to be best friends, and he used to hang around me and Carson, we were like brothers. Until...
- He's the one you saw in Clare's bed, isn't it?
- Sadly, yes. The next day at school, we got in to it. He fought and not even teachers could stop us. So we both got suspended, but later he left and no one knew about him. And now...
- Hey bro, what's going on? - Carson had approached us, he had saw that Alex was upset and mad, and frighten, but why?
- Matthew is back, Carson.
- Matthew Montgomery? well shit bro... what are you gonna do?
- Well, he's in Niki's first period, and apparently the teacher put them together. And he tried to talk to her, - he looked at me - what did he say Niki?
Before I could tell him anything, the bell rang. Class was about to start. What was I suppose to do? "oh, he told me about this girl that you dated after Clare that apparently was killed and people think it was Clare who killed her", how was I meant to say that to him? What if it really wasn't true and he got mad at me "for believing others before him". I was over thinking the situation, once again. Typical Niki.
But, a few minutes later, after the teacher had closed the door, someone knocked. Late student probably, or maybe the principle. The teacher went to open the door.
- Well, first tardy of the year, and it's first day of school. You're never going to change aren't you Mr. Montgomery?
Shoot me. I grabbed Alex's shirt from behind, I knew he was getting heat up.
- Never Mr. C
Matt went and sat at the other side of the classroom, and suddenly he turned around and once again looked at me. Now, that was disturbing me.
He got up in the middle of the class, and went towards Matt. The teacher hadn't realized, but I knew what he was about to do. He stood in front of him, and gave the first punch. Matt fell off his seat. He got up and tried to hit Alex back. They started fighting, and no one moved. I was in shock and I didn't know what to do. Not even the teacher moved. We all just looked how Alex and Matt were beating themselves up to death. The teacher looked at me, 'Niki', 'Niki', 'hey, Niki!'
I had woken up, I had been daydreaming. Alex was right in front of me, and Matt was in his seat. None of them had blood on their faces, it was all back to reality.
- Miss Niki, could you answer my question?
- Hm, sorry... What question?
- What year did they make alcohol illegal.
- In the 1920's?
- Good job, - said Mr. C - pay more attention to class so like that you won't daydream.
Alex turned around when Mr. C continued the lesson.
- What were you daydreaming about?
- Nothing.
- Niki, don't lie to me, I know you daydream all the damn time. Tell me later?
- Maybe.
Alex seemed disturbed by the fact that I didn't want to tell him. I told him everything, but I felt like it was best if I didn't tell him this once. That "dream" felt so realistic, like it actually had happened.
Class had ended. Now it was time for some Art class, one of my favorite subjects. I liked art, and I could feel creative. Art and crafts was my thing. My mom had bought me a box full of three different kinds of paints, including 8 canvas, a notebook for drawings, and a notebook for watercolors.
But when I got in class, I realized Clare was in my art class, surrounded by all the boys. The typical blond with blue eyes, nice body cheerleader, the popular girl of Michigan High School. She was so popular that I doubted that someone would realize her stupidity. She saw me, and came up to me. Great, just what I needed.
- So, has Alex finally got tired of you?
- No.
- Well, I can't wait. After all, everyone knows he's going to come back to me.
- That's what you think.
- That's what everyone thinks, "Niki"
- He left you because you were being a complete bitch and found you and his best friend in your bed.
- I mean, - she seemed embarrassed somehow - can't you see I'm so irresistible? Everyone wished that they were Alex, or Benjamin.
Benjamin, that was Alex's best friend.
- But after you there was another girl, - I added.
- Yes, that bitch... what was her name?... - she paused - oh yes, Marie. Poor girl, she died last year. God knows what happened to her.
There was so much sarcasm in her voice. I wondered, did Clare actually do something to that girl? Most importantly, why didn't Alex tell me about this before? Fear maybe? Was Clare really going to try and hurt me just to get Alex back in her arms?
- FYI, you might want to be careful. We don't want anything bad to happen to precious Niki, right? - sarcasm again, with a fake smile on her face.
Like, are you kidding me? She doesn't even know what goes on at my house. I wish my step dad could beat her up and stalk her instead of me. She would know how it feels like to be me. The bell rang, and the teacher came up to me. A handsome, 20 year old teacher. Mr. Angelo.
- You must be the young new student. What's your name?
- Niki...
- What a beautiful name Niki, - his smile was so gorgeous, and his teeth were so white - tell me, would you like to sit with a partner today? Or would you rather sit with me instead?
- If you don't mind, may I sit with you? - I was being polite and nice, trying not to seem I was flirting with him. After all, I am with Alex, and Clare might open her big mouth and try to tell lies to him saying something about the teacher and I.
- You you may, sit over here please, - pointing out to his seat - I think you'll feel safer there for a little while.
- Thank you.
Clare keep giving me this dirty look while I was going towards Mr. Angelo's seat. Maybe she was jealous that "Ms. Perfect" didn't get to sit in the hot teacher's chair and didn't look at her.
- Okay class, here's the first project of the year. It has to be creative, arty. It has to be something that represents you. And yes, this project WILL last all year long, trust me. Then by the end of the year, you must present it in front of the class and talk about it. But obviously, first, we will present ourselves a little bit. For example, "Hello, I'm Mr. Angelo, I'm 20 years old and I'm an art teacher. I like to play video games, I have my own boat and I love sunsets." We'll start here, may you?, - pointing out at the girl on the far left. Brown hair, brown eyes, looked like my height. Gladly I was going to be the last girl to present myself.
- Sure, - she seemed nervous - my name is Mary, I'm 17 years old. I like dogs, I own one. I like photography, and art. I'm new this year too - the girl keep looking at me, like she was trying to get my attention.
- Thank you Mary, next.
And like that went throughout the whole class. I got to meet more people and their names. Then came Clare.
- Hi guys! My name is Clare, I'm 17, I love pink. And guys obviously. I own a cute dog myself. And I'm the popular girl, - she was messing with her hair looking at Mr. Angelo trying to impress him, but by the looks of it it really didn't work out of her.
Then came me.
- Hi, I'm Niki... I'm 17. I moved here in the summer. I like photography, art, and to travel. Sunsets are my thing as well...
- Well done Niki, - Mr. Angelo smiled at me - well class, tomorrow we will start brainstorming ideas for our project. Remember, this project is so important it' your whole grade. You don't do this project, you will be doing art with me next year.
The bell rang, that class went by fast. Clare shoulder hit me getting in front of me, I guess she really didn't like the fact that the teacher didn't notice her like she wanted him to, but I knew that during this school year she was going to try and not give up for him to see her, and God knows what she'll try to do next. Then, someone touched my shoulder from behind. I turned around.
- Wait a second, Niki.
- Yes, Mr. Angelo?
- Please, now that we're not in class you can call me David. Angelo is my middle name, I have no idea why teachers and students even call me Mr. Angelo, - he smiled.
His green-ish brown eyes were so big and hypnotizing, we just looked at each other for a couple of minutes. He smiled once again, and I couldn't resist to smile back.
Snap out of it Niki, he's your art teacher.
- I as wondering, what lunch do you have?
- 3rd.
- Perfect, my class has 3rd lunch too. Do you know anyone in your lunch that you would ant to sit with?
- No..., - Alex had 2nd lunch, with Clare apparently, - why?
- I mean, I'm just offering for you to stay in my class for lunch. I don't go down to the teacher's lunch room so I stay here by myself creating art most of the time. Teacher's here are too nosy. What do you think?
- Sure, why not, - I smiled.
- Great, see you later then, - he smiled back.
I mean, what am I actually thinking? He's my 20 year old art teacher, and what is he doing? Offering me to sit on his seat, offering me to eat lunch with him in his class. Is he really hitting on me, a student?
I was heading to Digital Design, another class that I had with Alex, and Carson. Sad part was, that Clare was in that class too, sadly. I really didn't want to know how that class is going to end up today, and the rest of the school year. I hope far away from her. I arrived. Late.
- You! New student!, - the teacher yelled staring at me, in a bad mood. - What's your name?
- Niki, - Clare said.
- Well Niki, there is a rule in my class: Never be late! Two more lates and you'll be meeting the principle, got it?
- Got it?, - I said ironically. What the heck?
I saw an empty seat between Alex and Carson, and I went towards them. But Clare beat me to it.
- So, when are you going to admit that you miss me?, - she said to Alex, putting her arms around him from behind.
- Get off, Clare, - Alex said to her, mad.
- Why? You don't want us talking in front of your girlfriend? I understand, we can always talk later.
I gave her a dirty look, thinking: Get off my boyfriend, bitch.
- Clare, get off of him, - Carson said, - Your lost, now he has Niki.
- Thank you, Carson. - I added.
- Whatever, see you later hunny, - and she gave Alex a kiss on the cheek. Alex cleaned it, disgusted.
- Sorry, - he said to me.
- Alex, it's fine. I trust you.
- I know, but she's been like this all day. She even try to tell me that apparently the art teacher said to sit on his chair and he stopped you after class.
- He did.
- He what? - he looked at me surprised. - Talk about what?
- Lunch...
- What about lunch.
He was getting disturbed because of the fact of my hot art teacher talking to me, should I tell him? Or should I not?
- He was just asking what lunch I had and if I had someone to sit with.
- Just that?
- I mean, he asked me if I wanted to eat lunch in his class. Alex, you have to understand. I'm new, I barely know people, and anybody that I know has my lunch. What do you want me to do, sit by myself? I prefer eating in a place where I feel fine and safe, and not feel stupid with people staring at me.
- But, that will change, right? I mean, when you get to meet people more that go to your lunch you'll be with them.
- Yes Alex, I promise.
******
After digital design, Alex walked me to my English class, he gave me a kiss and left. As soon as I got to class, I saw him. Matthew Montgomery. AKA Matt. Somehow I was waiting anxiously for lunch time, as if I really wanted to be in Art class with Mr. Angelo, AKA David. I was still wondering and asking myself, why would a teacher be so nice like David was with me? At first I thought, "maybe it's because I'm new". At the same time though, I was thinking that he was a perverted rapist teacher or something. As always, I was getting a little paranoid.
I went up to the teacher, Mrs. Johnson. After asking me my name and everything like every single teacher I had throughout the day, she actually let me decide where I wanted to sit. So I sat in the other side of the class away from Matt, I didn't need him near me. But as soon as I sat down, he came and changed seats.
- Trying to get away from me, gorgeous?
- Yes, actually, - I said - why are you following me?
- To be honest, I am not following you, - he smiled - I'm just looking after you.
- I think I can handle myself on my own, thank you very much. I don't need anyones help and specially I don't need yours.
I was getting mad, he wouldn't leave me alone and I felt being stalked. Why couldn't he leave me alone? Was he actually "worried" that Clare would do something to be like he claims that she did to Marie? Or he's actually trying to keep me away from Alex?