chapter 24

Rita's POV

I sat in the toilet seat, yawning with the phone on my ear. Words surfed from one ear to another, seeping out of my head as I heard the love my life blabber about some of the most meaningless things about herself. Like right now, she's asking about the hair product she should be using. Do I look like a person who could tell you about the suitable hair product for you?! I can barely figure out mine!! But you know what? I love this woman no matter what her hair looks like, so my opinion here doesn't count. She looks beautiful whatsoever.

I yawned once again and I giggled as I read the words that are scrambled on the bathroom door. 'Don't force it.' I chuckled quietly at myself.

It's been 45 minutes since we arrived and after I saw that Nic is being occupied by a beautiful young lady, I decided to talk with Ashley since I missed her so much. Unfortunately, This bathroom was my only option to talk in as I couldn't find a quite place to go to.

"Hey, I got a question." I heard ashley's voice ringing through my ear as I got confused with what she's about to ask. Am I in trouble? Ugh fuck.

"What?" I asked, pretty anxious and nervous. I heard a loud bang from the stall next to me causing me to jump in my seat. "what the fuck....?" I took a sneak peck from under the stall and found two couple making out heavily in the stall next to me.

I shook my head at their horny asses and leaned back up on the toilet to hear what Ashley has to say. "I was fixing some of the boxes in nic's old room, you know the one we turned it to a storage room, and I found something strange." I hummed in response as she paused, for dramatic effect. "Why do you have a picture framed of Morgan freeman in one of your high school boxes?"

I chuckled, flashes from high school came back to me as I remembered Nic giving me a picture of Morgan freeman for my birthday. She laughed her ass off, thinking that she finally pranked my ass, but damn was she wrong. I smiled at her thankful, more like smugingly, and framing it afterwards, placing on my bedside table. The look on her face when she knew that she failed in the game she started, made me so happy for the next two weeks.

Months later when her birthday came, I gave Nic a picture of Simon cowell for her birthday. The blank look on her face afterwards killed me. What killed me even more was that she put in a frame and hanged it on the wall of her room. It's still up there actually, I think. I laughed at my old self. "Well, it was actually Nic's gift for my birthday. She tried pranking me but failed since I took the picture and framed it." I chuckled once again and I smiled, thinking about my best friend. I don't know what I would do without her.

I heard another bang from the stall next to me and I glared. "You two are hilarious. And I hope you're not staring at them horny bitches." She warned and I imagined her eyes, glaring holes at my own face. I shivered just the thought of it. I heard another bang from the stall next to me, causing me to jump the second time today. For fuckssake.

"No, I'm not. I'm in the damn bathroom talking to you. There's two annoying white couple having sex in the stall next to me." My voice drifted slowly as I heard the girl moaning the man's name. I gagged but that didn't stop me from looking. I mean, can you blame me? Two people are having sex next to you, wouldn't that get you curious? I smiled as I saw the girl slapping the guy hard on the face from banging her to hard. You go, girl.

A moment of silence has passed and I thought Ashley hang up but the line was still going. "You better not be sneaking any peaks on them, are you?" I immediately went up, knowing that I've got caught. "Whattt?! Hell no. Honey, why would you think that?" I tried to cover up but I know it's not easy especially with a girl like mine.

"Becuase I know you." She said in a duh tone and I sighed, giving in in the truth. I heard a loud bang in the stall next to me and I had enough. "Hold up, honey." I said to Ashley before turning to the two horny asses.

"Hey!!" I called them out as I stared at them from the gap between the floor and the stall. And this time, I am the one who jump scared them. "Yeah, I can hear and SEE the action." The guy immediately lifted his jeans up from his knees, covering his private parts and the woman started fixing her nude colored dress.

"Pervert." I heard the woman whisper to the man about me and I glared at her. Usually I would dismiss these comments specially after doing some yoga with Ashley as my trainer. It helped calm my nerves and put some sand on the anger fuel, but one comment ticked me off beyond measured and that's when she said "Such a creepy fag."

Those simple yet meaningful words have hurt millions of people around the world and I know how a lot of lgbt people despise and fear those words leaving people's judgmental lips. I sure as hell would not let people criticize me for being with the woman I love. "Listen whore!! I AM a 'fag' and a very happy one actually. In a stable relationship with a successful beautiful woman. Living a successful life and not fucking around with a person that looks like a damn druggie. Oh and by the way, you need to do some squats because that flat ass won't get you nowhere." I chuckled and returned back to the phone.

I heard Ashley gasp through the phone and I knew immediately that she heard everything I just said. Which means one thing; trouble. "Did you just bully that girl?" She asked with a hint of anger in her tone. Oh oh.

"No. That's me taking my revenge." I replied, grunting. She can't seriously think I won't say anything to that homophobic hoe?!

"How many times should I tell to be the bigger one in every situation?"

"Oh my god, you sound like my mama." I whined and slumped my shoulders. I should seriously get out of this bathroom because it stinks in here.

"Well, you do call me mama in bed." I gasped as she sassed at me and a part of me felt proud, embarrassed but proud since she seem genuinely happy after saying that. Now, I'm sure she likes it when I do call her mama. A subtle smirk appeared on my face when I thought of my next words very careful. "Well, mama you know we could do some fun stuff when I get home..." I played with the toilet papers, rolling them up and down while I waited the long pause to pass. I know she is still there since I could hear her shallow breaths and I knew she's getting excited, nervous but surely growing excited.

"You come home right now. I don't care about you and Nic having a night out. You come home now and bring nic if she wants to stay and watch some t.v. on the couch." I heard the line

go off and I laughed at her eagerness. I stood up, sliding my phone into my jeans pocket and leaving the bathroom to find Nic.

It's been an hour since we came and I'm still conflicted on taking ashley's offer or not. I guess I'm gonna have to ask Nic and see what she thinks about it. That is if I find her first. She wasn't where she was the last time I've seen here with the beautiful mysterious stranger.

I sighed as I pushed between the crowd to find the tall black haired woman. It would've been easier if the place wasn't so dim with neon pink lights flashing on my eyes every damn second.

After over 15 minutes of looking I gave up and sat on an empty chair, sighing. Where the fuck did she go?

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Nic's POV

I groaned as I laid on the hard concrete staring at the ceiling. A part of me wanted to move but my body was drained and didn't have much strength to do so. Another part of me wanted to stay like this and hope all of my problems would go away. But that's not how it works, isn't it? Wishful thinking won't get us nowhere. I stared at the ceiling long hard and a thought came up to my head; where am I?

And that's when I felt it, pain on my back, stinging like needles digging their way into my skin, muscles to bones. Half of my face felt numb for some reason and when I lifted my hand to touch it, I gasped as pain spreading their way into my entire face. I turned to lay on my right side as I'll no longer stay on my back and I could rest my head on the floor with the better side of my face.

I closed my eyes, wishing for comfort but when I opened them, I noticed the mirror in front of me. A small whispered gasp escaped my dry lips and I couldn't recognize myself. Is this me?.... Half of my face was bruised and bloody. Purple, red and yellow line and circles were visible around my eyes, cheeks, chin, jawline and on my forehead. It's like I fell from the top floor building and landed on half of my face causing this deadly colourful pain on my face. My clothes were drenched in blood and the floor had pile of blood on it. I don't understand, is this my blood? It does feel like it.

I tried to move my arm but a slight move caused pain to shot through my ribs. I knew immediately that I fractured my ribs. I tried to feel where my phone is and felt a heavy weight on my front pocket jeans. It took me at least 7 to 10 minutes to take them out. I placed the phone on the ground and focused on just moving my fingers. It took a lot of effort to call Rita and when she picked up, she started cursing and yelling about my ass.

I yelped as I moved my arm and that's shut Rita up. "Nic, are you alright?" Her voice softened and I heard worry in them.

I couldn't respond. It felt like I lost my voice and strength to do so. My eyes growing are heavy and I wanted to shut down. To fall in an endless asleep and never wake up. Maybe it's better that way. My body is giving up on me and I don't think I can stand the pain no longer. But before I fully shut down, I managed to escape one word from my lips. "Help..."

Silence.

Darkness.

Peace.

Well, that's what I thought.....

I gasped, opening my eyes, hissing at the bright light. I felt air being sucked out of my lungs. For some reason, I wasn't able to breath. It felt like hands were wrapped strongly around my neck. I saw a man looking down at me with a woman by his side, their facial expression showed panic but fearless. I looked behind them and saw Rita with tears streaming down her face. I reached my arm out for her to grab and when she did. I said the only thing that came up to my mind. "Don't tell mom....." then I was gone.

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"Come on, wake up." I heard a soft familiar voice whispering in my ears. It seemed like I'm fragile to their mind that they want to speak quietly in my ear. I opened my eyes to welcome them. My eyes found Rita and she smiled at me. I smiled back with a lot of effort to do so since my face is still bruised.

"How are you feeling?" She asked and I shrugged and she smiled at me while resting her chin on my shoulder. I looked around and found myself alone in a hospital bed with Rita by my side. "Can you remember what happened?" I shook my head as my head couldn't remember anything but lying helplessly on the floor.

"How did you find me?" My voice was rough and it sounded like I haven't spoken in a long time. That's something I don't know; how long I've been here? What happened? I really don't know.

"I went to the police so they could track you down. It took a half hour to get their attention and a couple hours to find you but I'm glad you're here okay. They said you almost died from losing too much blood." She said, her voice cracked at the end but she held it together to stop herself from bursting out in tears.

I held her hand in mine and smiled at her to show her I'm still her. Alive. "Do you know where you were and how did you get there?" Rita asked and I shook my head. "No. The last thing I remember is dancing with Beth in the club and then, I can't remember anything. I didn't drink anything as I recall so I don't know." I tried to remember what happened but nothing came up to me.

"I know. There was no alcohol in your system. You were found in an abandoned building. I'm glad we got their in time." Rita kissed my forehead and sat on the chair next to me. A thought came into my head.

"Did you tell my mom?" I asked Rita and she shook her head no. I sighed in relief. She shouldn't know or else she would lose it. My parents wedding is in a week and I do not want to make them nervous and paranoid when they should be excited and happy that they're getting married again.

"Don't tell them, they shouldn't know." Rita looked at me like I'm crazy but nodded her head while looking down. "Does anyone else know?" I hope she hasn't said this to anyone; I don't want to be sympathized and treated like a fragile piece of art.

"No, I haven't told anyone. Only the police know and they're standing outside; they want to question you. They think someone beat you up as do I but it's your choice to open an investigation or not. Although, it would be better to say something so I could get my hand on the motherfucker." Rita said the last part quietly but I heard it. I want to file a report about this but a part of me feels like I know who did it. I have a great feeling it's the people who killed ryan. The people who threatened me, but I don't know. Maybe it's someone else but if it was them, then what do they want from me? Can't they just leave me alone?

"Bring them in." I told Rita to bring the police in and I told them everything I remember from last night. They said they'll try and find who that beth is even when I don't know her last name. I asked them why and they said she's the last person I was seen with so it's pretty clear they're suspecting her.

I just hope it's not them. If it were then I would lose it.

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A week has passed and today is my parents wedding. I was so worried I won't be able to make it to their wedding but I'm glad that I'm going to be released today. The doctor told me to be careful and to take a week off from work to rest myself.

Nobody knows about me except for Rita, Ashley and my boss. Rita took my stuff from my parents house to her apartment so my parents would think I moved back with her. They were suspicious on why they haven't seen me this long but Rita covered for me the entire time. Her main reason is that I'm busy in work. Well, it's technically true since I am in the hospital......except I'm not working.

I heard a knock from the door and Rita quickly went to check who is it. Ashley appeared from the door wearing a beautiful bright red dress matching her braided hair. We're still in the hospital and my parents are starting their wedding in less than an hour. We were definitely late. We decided to get me ready in the hospital to spare time. Rita already had her black dress on and her make up was done as well.

Ashley carried my suit towards me and I thanked her. I wore my upper clothes, taking my time to not hurt my ribs. I couldn't wear my pants since I couldn't bend over so Rita helped me with taking them on. Ashley tied my tie around my neck and smiled warmingly. I was kind of embarrassed but grateful to have them here.

"Come on, let's do your hair." Ashley sat me down and started combing my hair. Rita took her time dying my hair grey again so the black roots are gone. She cut it short as well, making me look decent. "I'm glad Rita did your hair." Ashley said as she finished with my hair so quickly.

"Okay now we need to cover your bruises." She sighed as she examined them. "I don't think the make up can cover all of them since they're huge and they literally cover half of your face. It's like you have a facial tattoo with all these colors." She giggled and I smiled at her. She gently applied some make up to cover the bruises and of course, I yelped after every five second.

When she was done, I looked better than I used to do. Some bruises will still visible like the one on my cheek and under my lower lips. "You look hot and with these bruises you look like a badass." Ashley said checking me out.

Rita nodded her head. "You look like a chick magnet." She paused as she looked at Ashley, who's still checking me out. "You ARE a chick magnet."

I smiled and took my phone and the clothes I came with, they're cleaned but faint stains of blood still look visible to me, and spoke to the beautiful couple. "Shall we?"

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"ARE YOU TRYING TO GET US KILLED?" Ashley yelled at Rita as she stopped the car right on the side road. Rita was driving like a maniac since the wedding has already began and my mom has called me several times 15 minutes ago.

I rushed out of the car, more like tried but failed as I held my ribs, whimpering in pain. I took deep slow breaths and walked to get to the ceremony. I saw the crowd of people, sitting in their seats and my parents standing in front of one another on the sand. They choose to have the wedding on the beach.

I saw how everyone froze and looked back to us as we walked to our places. I could feel people's eyes lingering on me and some girls were biting their lower lips. I don't if I should feel cocky or disgusted.

My parents glared at me as I slowly got closer to them. I stood beside dad and tried to laugh the awkwardness off.

I clenched my teeth as mom's glaring eyes turned into a deep frown; She noticed the bruises. She took a few steps forward and examined my face. "What happened?"

"I slipped in the kitchen and hit my head on the counter. I'm fine though." I told her the lie that I was thinking through in the car, on our way here. I felt eyes on me but not everyone, just one in particular. Lauren's. She was standing right besides the bridesmaid and the look of concern she had was making me nervous. I saw my mom nodding, still hesitate to leave me, but she smiled nonetheless and told me to be careful next time.

She went back, standing in front of dad and continued the ceremony. Everyone stopped staring at me but only one stayed on me; Lauren's.

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I washed my face in the bathroom and sighed, nervously. It's been a couple hours and my parents are having the time of their lives. Everyone was. Except me. It's crazy how everything changed in a matter of a few days. I was on top of the world 10 days ago and now I'm drowning in my own sorrows.

I walked out of the bathroom to see everyone's dancing. Laughing. Smiling. It made me sick to the stomach. I saw how my parents danced happily with one another. I saw Ashley and Rita munching on the cake. I saw Matthew showing his butt to grandma and she scolded him for doing so. I saw Jonathan dancing with Lauren. He finally had her. She was smiling. He was smiling. All of them were. Except me. I wanted to throw up.

I saw how dad and mom broke Lauren and Jonathan apart so mom could dance with Jonathan, and dad can dance with Lauren. They were talking with one another. Loving every moment. My eyes lingered on Lauren. She looked beautiful like always. I wanted to dance with her and kiss her and hold her. But she's no mine. She made that very clear.

I went out of the huge tent that everyone was in and I walked towards the road. I was done seeing everyone having fun except for me. I wanted to be happy and I pretend to be, for two fucking hours.

I stood in the parking lot and remembered that I came with Rita and Ashley. I decided to walk rather than disrupt their fun. A few minutes passed as I walked beside the buildings and was finally away from the noise the wedding has been causing. I didn't know where to go. I had no home. I don't live with Lauren anymore. I don't want to be back at my parents house, I'm no longer a kid and I don't want to be a disturbance. I don't have a place at Rita's because my room has become a storage room. I had no where to go and no one to go back to. It's sad. Upsetting. Even though I know I'm not alone but it does feel like it. It does feel like I'm alone fighting the demons in my head. How life was fighting against me.

I felt something strange. Like a weird vibe. And not the good kind. I turned around but found no one. Strange. I turned back front and saw someone, staring at me in the dark, smiling. But I recognize his face. The dim light the street lights are leaving gives me a prefect image of his face. He's the person from the Russian gang. The one who left the matryoshka doll and the same person who killed a very close friend of mine, Ryan.

A part of wanted to run away and escape because I know how bad they want to ruin my life but a bigger part of me says: your life can't get any worst, so what are you so scared off?

The man turned around and started to run away but I did the unthinkable; rather than taking the chance to ran away as well, I took the first material I could find on the floor, which turned out to be a heavy wooden stick and looked at him with so much fierce in my eyes before running towards him............. with a fractured rib and a bruised face.