01. Chasing Nikki (6 page)

“How do you
figure?”

“You don’t
let anyone forget it.  You’re always talking to others about it.”

“I wouldn’t
say always.  Besides, I’m just being honest.  Don’t want people to think I’m
trying to hide who I really am.”

“Is that who
you are, Chase?  A convicted underage drinker?”

“You tell
me.  You’re the one who won’t go out with me because of my reputation.” I was
beginning to feel a little angry.  “Wait.  I don’t even think it’s
my
reputation that’s stopping you.  It’s your ex-boyfriend’s, isn’t it?  What was
his name again … Jeremy Winters?”

“I don’t
want to talk about him,” she replied shortly.

“Fine.  When
you’re ready to reveal everything about Mr. Winters, and why I must pay for his
mistakes, then I’ll tell you who I really am.”

The only
noises in the room were from both of us furiously grabbing papers and slamming
them with the stapler.  I was fuming, but I couldn’t exactly place my finger on
why.  I just knew this whole situation irritated me. 

I’d seen
Jeremy and his entourage floating around at the school.  He was a pompous jerk
as far as I was concerned, but I played it cool around him because I was easily
fitting into his crowd, hanging with the football friends we had in common. 
He’d be graduating in a few weeks, and I’d be taking his place on the team if I
had anything to say about it.  I’d prove then, just how much better I was than
him.

I heard
Nikki make a sound, and I looked up to see thin, wet trails streaming down her
face. 

Oh no. 
Not tears,
I thought. 
I don’t know what to do with this.

I stopped
what I was doing and slipped my hand around her upper arm, directing her to the
soft couch in the room.

She sat, and
I went over to the cooler to get her a glass of water, snagging a box of
tissues off the desk on my way past.

I handed her
the items, and she took them without speaking.

“Spill it,”
I said, flopping onto the couch next to her.

“Wh … What?”
she stuttered, looking confused.

“Tell me
what’s wrong.”

“It’s
nothing.”

“It’s not
nothing, or you wouldn’t be crying.  You can talk to me about it.”

“I can’t.”

“Listen,
Nikki, there isn’t anything you can say to me that’ll make me think any less of
you.  I’ve been through it all—heck, I’ve done it all.  I’m not the person
who’s going to pass judgment on you.  If you want to tell me to go to hell,
then do it.  I can take it.  It won’t be the worst thing someone has said to
me.” I paused.  “I’m sorry if I offended you, by the way.”

“I’m not mad
at you.” She pulled a tissue out of the box and wiped at her eyes, smearing her
mascara.

“Here, let
me help.” I sat up and took a new tissue, dabbing at her face as I attempted to
fix her makeup.  The more I tried, the worse I seemed to make it, but it didn’t
matter when I realized she was watching me with a look of wonder.

I froze,
looking back into her big brown eyes, unable to move.  Wow … she was so
beautiful.  I wished I could lean over and kiss her, but she was too vulnerable
right now.

My thumbs
replaced the tissue, wiping away new tears that leaked from her eyes.  “What’s
wrong?” I encouraged her to talk again, loving the feel of her silky skin
beneath my fingers.

She stared
at me for several moments, struggling with whatever was bothering her.  “He attacked
me.  I’ve never told anyone about it.”

Ice ran
through my veins at her words, and I leaned back.  “He what?”

“I caught
him with a girl in his car.  We had a big fight, and he tried to tell me she
was just a fling, that he had needs.  I told him to get lost, and I broke up
with him.  He followed me home and burst into the house.  He threw me on the
couch and he … he … he would’ve succeeded if he hadn’t heard the bus pull up to
drop off my little brother and sister.  He threatened me—said if I ever told he
would come back and make sure to finish what he started.  Then he ran out.”

“Where were
your parents?” I asked, floored with what she’d just revealed.

“My mom
works.  My dad died from cancer a few years ago.”

I silently
kicked myself for adding to the burdens of this girl and the heartache she had
been going through in her life. 

“Nikki, I’m
so sorry.  You need to tell someone.  This guy needs to pay for what he did to
you.  It’s illegal.”

“I won’t go
through the humiliation of dealing with him again.  I don’t even know why I
told you.  You were just being so nice, and all of a sudden I couldn’t hold it
in anymore.”

I pulled her
into my arms gently, hugging her.  “I’m glad you told me.  I promise I won’t
let him ever hurt you.”

She gave a
half chuckle against my shoulder.  “I wasn’t asking you to be my white knight
or anything.  I just needed to tell someone.  Have you ever had something you
wish you could talk to someone about, but it’s buried so deep you’re almost
afraid to give it a voice?”

I stared her
in the face and nodded.  “Every day, as a matter of fact.  I understand
completely.  I really do.”

“You don’t
have to share anything personal with me, just because I did.”  She stood and
walked over to the table.  “I guess we should get these packets made.”

I watched
her as she started working again, quickly moving about her task.  I didn’t want
her to feel even more awkward around me now.  That was exactly what would
happen if I didn’t tell her something about me too.

“My dad was
killed in a plane crash last year,” I said as I joined her.

She glanced
at me briefly and continued to work without speaking.  I did the same, letting
the silence hang in the air between us.

“Is that
when you started acting out?” she asked after a few moments.

I laughed
wryly.  “If that’s what you want to call it.  I didn’t do it on purpose.  I
just wanted to stop feeling what I was feeling.”

“How bad was
it?”

“Bad.  I was
willing to do, or try, anything to escape it—sleeping, drinking, partying …
girls.”

“Drugs?” she
asked point blank.

I sighed. 
“Yes, those too.”

“What
kinds?”

“Mostly
smoking marijuana, but there were a few pills here and there.  I never used
those enough to become addicted though.”

She turned
to face me.  “When was the last time you used?”

I swallowed
hard, gritting my teeth.  I didn’t want to answer her.  I wasn’t sure how I’d
started pouring my guts out to her, but I was pretty sure I needed to stop.  I
wasn’t ready for this dam to break. 

I continued
my work, not answering.  To her credit, she didn’t try to press, but I still
felt like a jerk after what she’d revealed to me.

“Last
night,” I finally replied.  I felt a little sick.  I could go to jail if she
told anyone about this.

She was
quiet for a couple of minutes before she spoke.  “You would probably get more
benefit from being out there with the group than being stuck in here with me.”

I chuckled
sarcastically.  “You’re kidding, right?  Nikki, you just got more out of me
than I’ve been able to share with anyone in months.  There’s no way I’m gonna
go out there and blab about myself to a bunch of strangers.  That’s not my
style.”

“You might
be surprised how much Maggie could help.”

“It isn’t
going to happen, so just drop it,” I snapped.

“I’m sorry. 
I didn’t mean to sound pushy,” she said softly.

I exhaled
loudly and leaned on the table, focusing on the stacks in front of me.  “You
aren’t pushy.  I’m touchy about everything.”  I didn’t know how to explain
things to her.

“Well, I’m
here.  If you ever need anything, all you have to do is ask.”

I shoved
away from the table and moved toward her.  She took a couple of steps backward
before standing firm.

“I did ask. 
I asked you to go out with me, and you said no.  I understand why now, and
you’re right.  He’s a jerk, and I’m a player just like he is, but I’ve never,
ever, forced myself on a girl, and I’m not about to start now.  I can’t promise
you I won’t do anything dumb, but I’ll promise to be honest with you if you’ll
do the same with me.”

She heard me
loud and clear, I knew she did, so I continued on.  “So here is what I need to
know, Nikki.  Do you
want
to go out with me?  Or are you saying no to me
because you’re afraid?”

She looked
like a cornered rabbit, and I felt horrible, but I wanted to know, once and for
all.

“Why do you
want to go out with me so badly?  It doesn’t make any sense.  I’m not the type
of girl you’re used to being with.” She swallowed nervously.

“I want to
date you because you’re the first person I’ve really noticed since my dad
died.  For the first time in a long time, I want to do something besides
getting completely hammered.  Is that so bad?  It’s just a date.  One date.  If
you like it, we’ll have more. If you don’t, we won’t.  I just want you to give
me a chance before you decide I’m not worth it.”

She walked
away from me over to the desk, running her fingers across the smooth surface.
“Will you let me pick the time and place?” she asked.

 I grinned
widely.  “Girl, you can do whatever you want as long as you say yes.”

“Then yes. 
I’ll go out with you.” She smiled.

“Finally,” I
said, looking toward the ceiling and mouthing a thank you.  I glanced back at
her and we both started laughing.

Chapter Six

I was still
blissfully asleep at eight o’clock the next morning when my phone started
buzzing.  I reached out to silence it, but when I saw the number I answered
right away.

“Hello?” I
tried to make my voice sound normal despite not having used it today.

“Are you
awake?” Nikki asked.

“Of course,”
I replied.

“You said
you would never lie to me remember?” She giggled.

“If I
weren’t awake, how could I be talking to you?”

“I woke you
up, didn’t I?”

“Yep, and
I’m thinking you should do it every morning from now on.” I couldn’t stop
grinning like a goof.  “What’s up?”

“I’m calling
in our date.  You said I could plan the time and place.  The time is in one
hour, and I will text you the address.  Can you make it?”

“I’ll be
there.” I hopped out of bed and hurried to my closet to pull out some clothes. 
“What are we doing?”

“Can’t tell
you.  It’ll ruin the surprise.” She sounded excited.

“Okay.  See
you in a bit.”  I hung up and grabbed a couple other items and headed for the
shower, passing my mom in the hall.

“Where are
you headed so early?” she asked.

“I have a
date,” I replied with a wink.

“A date?”
She smiled widely.  “This early? On a Sunday?  Must be a special girl.”

“I’m
thinking maybe so.  Is that okay with you?  I didn’t ask.  It was kind of spur
of the moment.”

“Who is
she?”

“Her name is
Nikki Wagner. She’s a sweet girl.  I guess she’s one of the cheerleaders.”

“Oh.  A
cheerleader,” she replied in a voice that made it sound like I’d just hit the
jackpot or something.  “Is she pretty?”

“Very.  I’m
in a bit of a hurry, Mom,” I added, knowing the clock was ticking and not
wanting to be late.

“Go on,
kiddo.  Have some fun for a change.”  She was humming to herself as she walked
away.

Thirty-five
minutes later, I was running out of the house as I scarfed down a piece of
toast with some jelly for breakfast.  I cursed the dirt road to the highway for
the bad condition it was in, causing me to drive slower.

When I got
to town, I rushed into the supermarket, over to the flower section.  They
didn’t have a whole lot to choose from, but there was a slender vase with three
decent looking roses in it.  There wasn’t time to hit up the florist, and I
wasn’t sure if they were even open today.  But I’d told Nikki I would bring her
flowers when I first asked her out, and I intended to keep my word.

I was very
antsy as I waited for the checkout line to move, knowing I was cutting it
severely close.  Thankfully, I sort of knew where I was going from the address
Nikki had sent, and it wasn’t far.

“Well,
well.  What have we here?”

I turned
around to find Brett and Brittney grinning in the line behind me.  They each
held a box of doughnuts.

“I think
someone has scored a date,” Brittney said, winking at me.  “Am I right?”

“I don’t
kiss and tell.” I smiled.

“Ooh, and
he’s already talking about kissing.  I think our little Rockstar thinks he’s
gonna get lucky today.  What do you think, Bro?”

“Did she
finally say yes?” Brett asked.

“Called me
this morning and told me where to meet her.” I glanced at my cell phone again. 
“And I’m going to be late if this line doesn’t get going any faster.  What are
you two up to?” I said, trying to redirect the conversation.

“Just out collecting
the breakfast of champions.” Brett gestured to the doughnuts.

“It’s kind
of a Sunday ritual with our family. Our parents started it before we were even
born,” Brittney added.

“That’s
cool,” I replied, happy to see it was my turn to check out.  I did so quickly,
grabbing the flowers and tossing a goodbye over my shoulder to the other two as
I headed out the door.

“Have fun!”
Brittney called after me.

“Absolutely.”

I arrived at
the location with one minute to spare.  However, I was a little confused since
I found myself sitting in the parking lot of a nursing home.

I checked
her text again.

 1225 E.
Hillside Ave. 

No, I was in
the right place—she must’ve given me the wrong address.