Chapter 49: Chapter 49:

Nicole POV:

"So what triggered the fight between you two?" I ask knowing it could be because of me. Who else?

Alec sighs deeply and avoids eye contact with me

"I told him to stop bothering you after eavesdropping on his conversation and he got mad saying that he does whatever he wants to do. And that's how it started I guess"

"I'm gonna teach that bastard a lesson for laying his filthy hands on you"

Alec grabs my hand.

"Don't go!" He commands but I wriggle out of his grasp and walk quickly as he chases me.

"You don't deserve this" I yell at him.

"Nikki no! He would take advantage of that!" Alec warns.

"I don't care!" I holler and spot Jake walking with Kate. The twins and the blue haired girl were no where in sight.

I strode towards Jake and Kate.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I yell at him and shove him but he doesn't fall. I realise he also has a purple eye and his knuckles are busted.

He chuckles at my reaction.

"Get back you slut!" Kate yells and shoves me too.

"Leave her alone Kate! Let her speak" Jake says with a smirk.

"You are so callous! I hate you!" I yell at him and hit his chest so hard.

His jaw clenches

"Oh is it because he beat up Prince Charming?" Kate taunts with a smirk.

"I can't believe you beat up your own brother! You are a scumbag! I regret ever knowing you! "

He remains quiet as I continue to yell at him.

"You are the worst thing that has ever happened to me! I HATE YOU!!!"

"Never lay your filthy hands on Alec again!!!"

His grey irises grow dark but he chuckles and I am perplexed. I thought I had wounded him with all that I've said.

"This is  how you treat someone who saved your sister from being raped?" Jake says and my face falls but I quickly retaliate.

"And this is how you treat someone who has done nothing but good to you"

He is angry now.

"Kate! Can you leave us alone?"

"Okay" Kate replies reluctantly and glares at me before leaving.

Jake grabs my arm forcefully.

"You drive me crazy you know!" He spits.

"Let go of me!"I yell at him and he leaves my hand.

" you drive me crazy too!"

"I know you saved my sister and am grateful for that but what you are doing is unfair! It hurts me! The truth is, Alec and I were in a fake relationship and we are over now because something came up!"

"Don't lie to me again Nicole!"

"I'm not lying to you! Its the exact truth! I wanted to tell you that night but you were not prepared to listen"

Jake looks appalled. He doesn't utter a word.

"Now you know the truth."

"Why were you two in a fake relationship? Why didn't you tell me about it?" Jake asks curiously.

"Cause it was complicated but he did it for his mother."

Jake looks convinced but he is doubtful at the same time.

"It still doesn't make sense Nikki! Cause you stood me up for him! Do you know how it hurt me? Do you know how I felt? Do you know how my heart bled? I hated my brother because of that! And you didn't confide in me Nikki!"

"I know and I'm sorry! But what you're doing now is pointless! Trying to overthrow me by setting traps for me"

Jake sighs heavily.

"I'm still hurt cause you stood me up on my special night! The night I got to meet my stepbrothers and stepmother! I needed you but you left me for him! And that alone angers me"

"It was for a reason!"

"What reason? I have had enough Nikki! I'm tired of your lies" he spits and walks out on me. I feel tears sting my eyes. He doesn't believe me. He will keep on pestering me until he sees me down.

"How'd it go?" Alec asks out of the blue.

"I made it clear to him not to lay his hands on you again"

"Thanks love but that wasn't necessary! I can face him"

💙💙💙

"I can't wait to help your sister! I'm enthused your dad accepted me" Melissa says as I drive on the road in the direction of Trina's school.

"I'm also pleased!" I say when I finally arrive at the parking lot. Trina stood there with arms folded and a frown etched on her face. I alighted from my car and walked up to her in smiles

"Hey sister! How was your day?"

"Took you long enough" she scoffs and my heart drops.

"Sorry, I just got occupied with a few things but we need to get going, your therapy starts at five! Melissa is waiting and Steph will be arriving soon"

She huffs and looks at Melissa.

"I shouldn't have come to school today! I knew everyone will know about it! You don't know how I felt Nicole! It was terrible! I don't even know what Mason thinks of me" Trina says at the brink of tears

"Its gonna be alright! The rumours will soon die out" I convince her.

"When? Nicole I just.....just go okay? Leave me alone! I'll find a way to go home" Trina yells running  away.

"Trina! You'll get lost!" I holler after her as I chase her.

I finally catch up with her and grab her arm. Her face is soaked with tears.

"Trina......." I begin breathless.

"I know how you feel but please control yourself" I continue

"Control myself? I can't Nicole! The memories haunt me! The rumours make my heart bleed! And all of you think I'm suffering from depression just because of one night! It hurts! I want to go somewhere else! Far away from all these misery and be free! Just let me be please"

"I know how you feel. We are just worried about you! You are not the same Trina, I used to know. Its like you are an imposter who killed the old Trina"

She wipes her tears and sniffs.

"You think so? Cause I don't think  I've changed"

"I wouldn't lie to you about this! You know me well! You need to take the therapy! Its for your own good sugar!"

Trina nods.

"I just hope it helps me forget the memories haunting me"

"It will! I promise"

"Did you find her?" Melissa's voice booms from behind and I turn to look at her.

"Oh! You must be Trina! I know you don't know me very well but I'm your sister's friend. I'm Melissa"

Trina smiles.

"Nice to meet you Melissa" she said to her with a small smile.

"I would be helping with your psychotherapy. Starting from today"

"Thanks Melissa! I really appreciate it"

We all walk back to my glossy black Honda Civic and I drive back to the house. We file into the house and Steph was already in getting her equipment ready for work.

"Melissa?" Steph blurts as soon as her eyes land on her.

"Stephanie?" Melissa blurts too.

Okay do they know each other? Trina and I have puzzled looks on our faces.

"Oh my God! After all these years, look at you! All big and tall! You are a young lady now" Steph gushes with delight and Melissa smiles.

I cough exaggeratedly to get their attention.

"I'm sorry but we don't understand what is going on! You two know each other?" I ask

Steph smiles

"Yes! Its been long since I saw her! Melissa has been my patient before! She suffered from depression too"

"Oh" I say realising. So she wasn't telling me lies after all. She really had that condition.

"That's nice! Nicole's friend knows Steph already" Dad's voice comes out of nowhere. I didn't know he was listening to our conversation.

He walks towards us with mom at his side.

"You are welcome Melissa! " Dad says and she smiles

"Thank you for offering to help our daughter" mom follows

"Its my pleasure Mrs Anderson" Melissa replies.

"So let's get the show on the road shall we?" Steph says. I think I like her already. She's full of life and I believe Trina will be her usual self in no time.

I excuse myself and go to my room to change. After that I went back to the hall and watched how the therapy was going. Trina had begun to laugh already. They did many activities together and it was lots of fun. I was happy.

Finally, Steph and Melissa left at seven and Trina admitted at dinner that she had a fun time. She had begun to giggle more frequently and I knew she would be okay soon.

°~•~•°

Wednesday is finally here! I'm glad I made it through half of the week alive. It wasn't easy but I've got two days more to the weekend and what kills me is that Troy and Kimberly are pranking Jake today. I can't wait but I know I'll get my share at noon from Caden and I'm not ready. I sigh.

"Steph told me to take these drugs" Trina says and shows me some pills.

"You need to! So how are you feeling?"

"Much better than before! I felt worthless at first but now I'm fine"

"So how was the therapy?" I say whilst looking at the rear view mirror  concurrently to make sure I'm on the right path. I don't wanna smash my car now.

"I liked it! Steph and Melissa are really good. They helped cheer me up"

"That's great! I'll pick you up after school" I tell her as she gets down from my car.

"Bye Nicole!"

I drive in the direction of my school and park at the parking lot.

I wonder what Kimberly and Troy have for Jake. It hurt me he didn't believe me but he still had to pay for what he did to Claire. Actually, what he wanted to do to me!

I alight and walk into the building. I spot Melissa, Claire and Jenna in the hallway chatting.

"Hey girls" I greet and they smile at me.

"Thanks Melissa for yesterday! Trina is better now"

Melissa nods with a smile

"And Claire! Sorry about the slime" I apologise and Melissa giggles with Jenna.

"Its okay! I actually had a fun time and I got a day off so...." Claire shrugs.

"Nikki!" Someone yells in the hallway and I spot Troy with Kimberly trudging towards us.

"Are you ready for the show of your lifetime?" Kimberly gushes with enthusiasm

"What show?" Jenna asks.

"You'll soon find out Jenna! Just observe" Troy says with a cackle.

"What did you guys do?"Melissa spits.

" Let's just say, its revenge on behalf of Claire!"I respond.

"Huh?" Claire asks confused.

"You'll understand later" I tell her and she shrugs.

"Now let's get to the VIP area! So that we can have a better view" Troy gushes and ushers us.

"You guys are behaving strangely! You definitely have something up your sleeves" Melissa snorts as we walk to the so called VIP area.

"Well it looks like the VIP area is around my locker" Jenna says worriedly

"Are you two going to do something to me?" She adds pointing to Troy and Kimberly

"No! Not you! But someone" Troy replies

"Oh! May I know who?" Jenna says.

"You'll see" Kimberly states simply.

"Hey buttercup!" Alec's voice interrupts and he pecks my cheek.

"How are you doing?" I ask him

"Just fine" he says with a smile.

"Hey Red!" Alec calls Melissa ruffling her hair up and I giggle.

"I said don't call me that!" Melissa snorts.

"But it suits you!" Alec says with a shrug.

"Shhh! The show is about to begin!" Troy alerts.

"What show?" Alec asks but we all shush him.

Jake is currently at his locker. He hasn't noticed us yet but he keys in his combination and grabs the handle but his hand slips away.

He tries opening it again and it slips again

Troy and Kimberly giggle.

"Okay! What did you do?" Melissa demands.

"We placed jelly on the doorknob of his locker" Kimberly says in a whisper and we all giggle.

Jake is frustrated.

"Okay who put jelly on my locker's doorknob?" He yells in the hall and everyone giggles.

"Sorry man" a guy hollers to him.

Jake sighs and tries again but it fails. He brings out a piece of paper and puts it around the knob and struggled to open it but the locker wouldn't budge.

"Fuck!" He yells frustratedly and grabs a tissue from his bag. He encircles it around the knob and wipes the jelly off it. He throws it into the nearest bin and wipes his hands with another. Then he grabs the door knob.

He finally opens it and his eyes grow wide when he looks inside.

"What did you put inside? He looks like he's gonna pass out" Alec says with a chuckle. I giggle too. This was exciting and entertaining.

"A rubber mouse" Troy says with a shrug.

"You are evil Troy!" Melissa compliments and Troy smiles proudly.

"I also added a couple of naked female dolls" Kimberly says and I gasp.

Alec chuckles

"Oh my Gosh! Kim you are bad"

Jake steps back

"Why is the mouse colossal?" Claire asks.

"Yeah" Kimberly confirms.

"There is  a mouse in my locker!" Jake yells

"Are you sure?" Someone asks

"Definitely sure" he replies.

"Someone should call the janitor or exterminator" a girl yells and everyone types furiously on their phones.

"Okay guys just hold your horses! Are you sure this is a real mouse Jake?" I spit confidently

"It is Nikki!" He replies.

I walk to his locker and peep in. The rubber mouse sat in. It looked real in a way. I put my hand in and take it carefully.

"But its a rubber mouse?" I say in my best 'duh' tone.

Everyone in the hallway breaks into fits of laughter.

"And what are two naked female dolls doing in your locker Jake?" Kimberly asks with a smirk and Jake is puzzled.

The laughter grows into full blow hysteria and Jake is dumbstruck.

"Damn it brother! I never knew you were afraid of mice! Also I never knew you play with dolls at your age" Alec says in a fake disgusted tone and I giggle.

"I didn't have those dolls in my locker! Someone must have put it there" Jake scowls at him and we laugh.

"But it was still found in your locker" Melissa shrugs and Jake turns red.

"You will all pay for this"Jake threatens

"You've been...." I trail off happily.

"PRANKED!!!" Troy and Kimberly complete for me and I smirk. His jaw nearly hits the floor.