Chapter 47: Chapter 47:

Nicole POV:

"So  let's say the initial velocity of the cliff diver is five metres per second... So please take note! Your exams will be due next two weeks......now let's look for the horizontal distance" our physics tutor says and I can barely  pay attention even though exams is due next two weeks.

Melissa is sitting next to me with Claire behind me sitting next to a nerd. My mind was just wandering on what Kate said to me and the sentence on that piece of paper that fell from my locker. No one can overthrow me! It cannot happen! I have to do something!

"Nikki!" Melissa says unexpectedly and I could swear I suffered a convulsion.

"Yeah I'm here" I say snapping back to reality.

"You weren't paying attention were you? Cause everyone is gone and class is over but you didn't seem to notice" she says worried and I look around. The class was empty alright.

"Oh!" I say and take my books

"What were you thinking about?" Melissa demands.

"Stuff" I shrug with a heavy sigh.

"Is it your sister?" Melissa asks.

"Its part of the whole puzzle I'm trying to put together"I explain to her a bit sad tucking a loose strand of my raven black hair behind my ear.

She sighs.

" I know how you feel! You feel guilty right? "She asks and I nod.

" Get it off your chest will you? What matters is that she wasn't hurt " Melissa convinces.

"I can't! Its entirely my fault! I should have been there for her"

"Maybe I can help her with her condition" Melissa offers.

"No need Melissa! My dad found her a therapist and she will be undergoing psychotherapy soon" I reply with a heavy sigh.

"I can still help. I'll come over to your house tomorrow probably after school. Maybe, I can help cure her too" Melissa says sweetly. I never thought Melissa could be so nice and thoughtful.

"Thanks Melissa! I really appreciate it" I reply nonchalantly and she smiles.

I spot Aaron walking towards us.

"Hey Melissa! Nikki!" He greets us and we wave him.

"What are you guys up to?"

"We were on our way to the cafeteria" Melissa replies.

"Have you heard the rumours going around?" Aaron asks us.

"No! What rumours?" I ask

"It concerns you Nikki! Its going round that you are going to be overthrown by Jake. He has his gang ready and Kate is included"Aaron spits and a lump forms in my throat.

" That is outrageous "Melissa spits but we hear cheers down the hall and we turn to see Jake in front. His hair is tousled and he winks at a few people and laughs wickedly.

Kate was at his right side, her ginger red hair was tied in a ponytail and she strides alongside him wearing an evil smirk with mischief written all over her plastic face.

There were two guys behind them. They both had a mischievous smile etched on their faces and  they were twins having raven black hair and amber eyes.

" that's the new gang! So I heard"Aaron says with a shrug and I scoff.

"They are only four and we are five Aaron" I state.

"You need to be afraid of little things Nikki! Don't belittle small things" Melissa warns.

Jake's eyes land on me and he raises an eyebrow as if to say I told you so. I wanted to hit him so hard.

"Have you guys heard the rumours?" Troy asks out of nowhere followed by Kimberly and Danny. Claire and Jenna follow close behind.

"Yes we have" Melissa replies.

"I found this poster on my locker concerning the rumours going around" Jenna says and hands me the poster. I look on it and the title on it was , Another Election Is In The Pipeline. Then there was our picture. Me and my gang on the left side then Jake and his gang on the right! So he was really bent on overthrowing me!

"The news is everywhere! Different posters with different titles" Claire gushes.

"Yeah. I remember I saw a title like, A battle for the Throne"Danny adds up.

"Yeah I also saw a title like Jake and Nikki, battle of the titans" Troy announces proudly.

"Yeah I also saw that" Kimberly interjects.

"We are going to fight this battle people! We would make sure not leave any stone unturned!" I state trying to muster confidence but they have skeptical looks on their faces and I sigh.

🌹🌹🌹

I slam my car door completely agitated. School is over and I'm more than ecstatic that I left that scene of Jake's new gang. I enter the house and its like its on fire.

"I DON'T WANT A FUCKING THERAPIST DAD! I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF" I hear Trina yell making the whole house shake. That depression was getting the best of her.

"You need one sweetheart! You are not well" Dad convinces.

"I AM PERFECTLY OKAY! THIS IS ALL ABSURD!!!" Trina yells back and slams her bedroom door in frustration.

"TRINA!!" Mom shouts and goes to her door.

Dad stood in the hall with the therapist he hired having disappointed looks on their faces.

"I'm so  sorry! She's just angry and sad and I don't know how to describe it! My daughter wasn't like this! I know her" my dad apologises to the therapist.

"Its fine! I have been handling these kind of cases. I understand her condition perfectly and I may be able to help." She says with a small smile.

"Can you come tomorrow then? Maybe she would be willing to undergo the therapy" My dad says.

"Sure!" She says

My dad notices me at the door.

"Nicole! You're back!" He greets. My brain was going through hell right now. I just nod.

"This is Nicole, my daughter" my dad introduces.

The female therapist smiles at me. She had short blonde hair.

"Hi!" I say politely to her.

"Hi Nicole! I'm Stephanie, your sister's personal therapist" she greets

"Nice to meet you Stephanie" I reply.

"You can call me Steph!" She pipes up sweetly and I flash her a smile.

"Stephanie will be here tomorrow to take care of Trina" my dad says and I nod.

"I will be leaving now but I promise to be here early at five" Steph says and leaves as dad shuts the door behind her and sighs.

"I need to talk to you dad" I tell him.

"Let's go to my study" he says and we walk together into his small study

"Okay talk" he says when we were alone.

"I know you are concerned about Trina. I have a friend who wants to help in her treatment" I state clearly

"What qualifications does she have?" My dad asks.

"She may not have qualifications dad but she has experienced that kind of condition and she is determined to help"

Dad is silent. He finally sighs and looks at me.

"Steph is the best psychotherapist in the country! She has been in the profession for twenty five years now and she's good in it. I know with her, Trina will be cured in a few weeks time. But if your friend is determined to help, I can give her a chance too. The faster the treatment, the better!" My dad assures and I smile.

"Thanks Dad! I'm happy you accepted her! I want to be part of this you know?" I say.

"I understand dear. I'm also afraid she is gonna kill herself. She hasn't eaten since morning"

"Since morning?" I blurt

He nods.

"I need to go dad" l say and excuse  myself to my room. I dump my satchel on the bed and release a heavy sigh.

I can't stand everything I'm going through right now. Trina's condition plus what is happening in school. I feel exhausted!

My phone rings distracting me. I pick up.

"I heard my stepbrother wants to overthrow you and he has his own gang now" Alec spits

"Yes! That's correct"

Alec chuckles

"He cannot be the next alpha! He isn't your match"

"How are you so sure?"

"I observe Nikki!"

"Maybe, but I'm more than ready for him!" I state

"Have you forgotten about the agreement? Don't do something crazy" Alec warns and I swallow hard. I forgot about the agreement. He was right

"I'll be careful Alec" I assure him.

"Okay! I'll see you tomorrow" he says and I hang up.

°~•~•~°

"Nicole!" Someone calls and I grunt.

"Nicole!! Wake up!!!" The voice comes again and I get hit with something. I open my eyes to see the damn intruder who was interrupting my beauty sleep right now. It was the last thing I wanted after an exhausting day.

Trina stands there. Her hair is messy. She was wearing her fuzzy yellow pants and a blue tank top.

"Trina! What's wrong?" I ask worried. On a normal day, I would have scolded her for waking me up late at dawn and driven her out of my room but here I was being concerned.

She looks at me with sadness and misery brimmed in her brown irises.

"I can't sleep Nicole" she says and tears fall on her pale cheeks.

I stand up and get her to sit on the bed.

"You can't sleep?" I repeat and she nods wiping tears from her face.

"I couldn't sleep last night too after the incident. It....it haunts me! I always see the face of that guy in my dreams and it scares me to death" Trina says and releases fresh tears whiles hugging her knees.

"Oh Trina!" I say sympathetically and hug her tight.

"Try to forget about it" I mouth in her hair.

"I try Nicole! But it doesn't go away! I'm scared it will happen again! It was horrible"

"Shhh! Calm down Trina!" I say soothingly.

"Don't worry, that monster will be sent to jail" I assure her and she gulps.

"I heard you and dad arguing about the therapy. Why wouldn't you take it?"

"I'm not depressed! I don't need a fucking therapy!" Trina yells annoyed and I sigh.

"You are not like this! You changed since the incident! You need it Trina"

"I haven't changed! I'm just upset and a bit sad! You are all behaving strangely" she protests.

"You are still gonna take it Trina. Your Therapist is called Stephanie, she will be here at five to take care of you and Melissa will be here too"

"Melissa?" She asks surprised and I nod with a small smile.

"Since when did she become a therapist?"

"She also suffered from your condition and she has knowledge about it" I state

"Did she face the same thing I faced?"

"No its different but she is okay now"

Trina sighs.

"So will you take the therapy?" I ask her.

She shrugs.

"I'll take the damn therapy" she admits unenthusiastically.

I smile and thank her.

"Can I stay here for the night?" She asks.

"Sure" I reply and she jumps onto my bed.

After some seconds, she was gone and I checked the time. It read 3:45am in the morning. I have an upcoming alarm at six. I shuffle in bed and finally fall asleep.

🌹🌹🌹

My alarm rings and I shut it down. I still feel stressed up and exhausted.

"Its morning already?" Trina grumbles from the other side of the bed with a yawn.

"Seems like it" I reply and open the curtains.

"Close it!" Trina yells

"Close what?" I ask confused

"The curtains!" She yells and I drape them. The room is dark.

"Better" She says delighted.

"Why don't you want light?" I ask surprised. I know Trina didn't really care about light but now she's upset about it.

"Its just that, I want to be in the night mode.....the daylight brings me memories. I just want to be in the dark, not noticed by anyone"

I hear a slight knock on the door and I go to open it.

"Nicole! Have you seen Trina? She's not in her room and I'm frightened. Maybe she run away or----" mom rattles but I cut her off.

"Its okay mother! She's here with me" I say and she puts her hand on her chest and heaves a sigh of relief.

"How is she? Is she okay?" Mom asks me. I spy on Trina and she's still hugging her knees on the bed. Her mind is not here. Looks like she is thinking about something.

"Not better. She couldn't sleep last night and the night before because the memories kept on haunting her and she doesn't want to see the light of day anymore! She prefers the dark"

"This is all a nightmare! I never dreamt that my little girl would be going through all this! Please convince her to take the therapy Nicole! I'm begging you!"

"I already did and she agreed" I say proudly and mom hugs me.

"Thanks sweetie!" She says joyfully.

"I would tell your daddy about all that you have told me" mom says and dashes into her room.

I shut the door. Trina is still lost in thoughts and I sigh.

"Trina!" I call but she doesn't hear me

"Trina!" I call again and there is no response.

I walk up to her and snap my fingers twice in her face. She goes through a convulsion and is snapped back to reality.

"Nicole" she says and rubs her face.

She seriously needs the therapy.

"What were you thinking about?" I demand.

She sighs.

"Nothing" she says and gets up.

"Will you go to school today?" I ask her.

"I don't know"

"I know you wouldn't be able to stand the stigma but be strong Trina!"

She nods.

"Okay. I'll go today"

I smile.

"I'm going to take a shower in my room. Thanks for letting me sleep here" Trina says with a small smile and I was ecstatic. She finally smiled!

She leaves my room for  hers and I get prepared for school.

°~•~•°

"Nicole, do you think it will be okay? I have a weird feeling in my gut" Trina says as we are locked up in a temporary traffic jam.

"It will be alright Trina! I don't think anyone heard of it" I say looking at her face. Most of her wounds had healed.

She sighs

"I don't know. I don't feel good about this" she says

"I'm glad you came out and faced the sun" I say honestly

"I don't like it the least bit!"she scoffs.

The cars move and I follow maneuvering my way through the fleet of cars going at snail's pace.

Trina got down when I got to her school and said goodbye to her. I headed to my own school. My breath hitches as I enter the parking lot and park. I get down and take powerful strides into the building inhaling the warm morning breeze.

I met Claire in the hallway and we began to chit chat. I finally get to my locker and there is something weird about it. I examined it carefully.

" Why? What's wrong?"Claire asks me worriedly.

"I don't know but there is something weird about my locker"I tell her

" I'm sure you are just imagining things"Claire says with an eye roll.

"I'm not Claire! Look!" I show her a bent part of my locker.

"This is absurd" Claire says and touches the bent part. The door of the locker opens automatically and slime gets spilled in Claire's face. I gasp in shock and step aside before I get sprayed with slime.