Nicole POV
A yawn escapes my lips as I descend the staircase leading to the hall. Today's Saturday. I will be having my fancy date with Aaron tonight at seven. I'm clad in blue denim shorts, a navy one sleeved blouse and white sneakers with blue streaks on it. My hair was curled and held in a high ponytail.
"Good morning" I greet mom and Trina but they do not respond.
"You better finish up your food Trina!" Mom scolds before leaving for the kitchen and Trina groans. I guess the atmosphere wasn't conducive for a cheery greeting. All the same, I sat in the chair next to Trina. She had three sausages on her plate which she had barely taken a bite of. I understand mom's frustration. I notice her outfit. She is wearing a blue dress which had no style on it and was kind of baggy. Her hair was still neck length and was very messy. Her face has no light in it. Still the dull uninspiring face that I've been seeing after the night of that ....that...thing. I miss the old Trina. The nosy one, the talkative one, the one who wants me to associate! Not the one who doesn't inspire me in any way.
"How are you feeling today?" I ask hopefully
"Worse" Trina replies and I sigh
I wanted to tell her what Randy told me but I wonder how she will take it. She still hadn't pierced her sausages
"Won't you eat your sausages? Its gonna get cold" I tell her and she huffs
"I'm not hungry!" She says annoyed
"You are! Just take a bite okay? And you will realise how tasty they are" I convince her and she sighs
Mom brings me a plate of freshly fried sausages and bacon.
"Thanks mom!" I say gratefully and begin to guzzle my breakfast.
"Hello my ladies" Dad greets and sits down.
"Hello dad!" I greet and Trina is silent.
"Trina? Are you okay?" Dad enquires.
She nods and dad sighs looking at me. Mom joins us and begins to eat. Trina too has began to eat.
"Nicole! Your mom and I talked about what you told me" dad spoke up and I sit upright.
"We have made a decision. But we want Trina to a make hers as well" Mom continues
"What decision?" Trina asks scrunching her eyebrows.
"Trina! We don't know how you will take it but we found your rapist. Nicole did actually" Dad says and Trina gulps knowing where this is heading to.
"He talked with Nicole and he said it wasn't his intention to rape a random girl like you" mom adds up and I see tears brim in Trina's brown irises.
"But he tried to!" Trina snaps
"Calm down sister! Just listen"
She relaxes and wipes a few tears off her face.
Dad continues with the rest of the story of how Randy thought Trina was his girlfriend,he was drunk and all that stuff.
"So you see? It wasn't his intention" dad explains
"What if he is not telling the truth?" Trina spits
"He was sincere Trina! I can tell when someone is being honest. He even said he wanted to apologise to you but I told him you will freak out if you see him" I convince her.
"He also showed your sister a picture of his girlfriend and according to Nikki, you two look so much alike" Mom adds up.
Trina ruffles her hair up.
"Maybe I can tell him to come over so that you both can talk" I suggest.
"No! I don't want to see him!" Trina yells at me.
"But now its up to you to make your decision Trina! Are you still going to press charges or let him do some community service?" Dad asks.
Trina looks at dad thinking aloud probably. The door bell rings and I wonder who it is.
"I'll get it" I tell mom and dad. I stand up from my seat and walk towards the front door. I hear mom and dad talking to Trina but I was still wondering who was at the door.
I open it to reveal Steph and Melissa behind.
"Good morning Nicole" Steph greets
"Morning Steph. Hey Melissa!"
"Your dad texted me. He said you found Trina" Steph explains and I nod with a smile.
"We came to check on her" Melissa states and I open the door wider. They step into the house. I was about to close the door when I saw Randy walking up to me. I was astounded to see him. I've never seen him around this neighborhood.
"What are you doing here?" I snap
"I came to see if your sister is back and apologise to your parents for what I did" he says sincerely brushing a few strands of dark hair from his face.
"My sister is back alright! But she doesn't want to see you"
"Please! Tell her I have to speak to her"
I sigh.
"How did you even know where I live?" I ask him and he chuckles.
"Yesterday I was following your car and I saw you enter here so I took note and decided to come here today." He explains.
"My house is just three houses away from yours" he adds up and I smirk.
"Nikki! Who are you talking to?" Mom hollers and I swallow hard. Should I allow Randy into the house?
"Please Nikki! I don't want to go to jail" he begs and I open the door wider for him. He enters and I follow close behind.
"What are you doing here?" Trina barks as soon as she sees him.
"Who is this?" Mom asks
I clear my throat noisily.
"I'm Randy ma'am" he answers and my mom gasps gobsmacked
Dad is dumbfounded. Steph and Melissa are puzzled.
"Go away you monster! Go away" Trina barks at him. Her tone was an octave higher and I was worried she would lose her voice.
"Relax Trina! He wants to talk to you" I chide
"I don't want to talk!" She states.
"Trina! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do what I did! Please don't press charges" Randy begs and kneels. Trina's cheeks are wet.
"You hurt me! You scared the hell out of me!" Trina yells at him.
"I know! I'm a jackass! Please forgive me! I'm begging you! I was drunk! I didn't know what I was doing" Randy pleads.
Trina looks at him taking in ragged breaths
"My parents told me it wasn't your intention. I really wanted to see you behind bars" Trina states raucously.
"Fortunately for you, you were drunk and deceived. Unfortunately for me, I got beaten up and was almost raped." Trina adds up.
"Please, don't throw me behind bars! I don't want to go to jail"
"I forgive you!" Trina finally spits and Randy's eyes light up.
"Thank you!" Randy say gratefully
"Its okay! We all make mistakes" Trina says with a small smile
"Thank you! Can I hug you?" Randy asks and Trina nods. He runs to her and engulfs her in a bear hug thanking her profusely.
A smile creeps onto our faces as we watch the sight. I take a picture of it without them noticing it. They finally break apart and smile at each other.
"I would never hurt such a beautiful creature like you" Randy promises and Trina blushes.
"Okay this is good for the therapy!" Steph announces and we all chuckle.
"Next time, be careful Randy" Melissa warns him.
He nods with a smile.
"Thank you all for accepting my apology" Randy says and tears run down his cheeks.
"Oh Randy!" Mom says and goes to hug him.
"Its okay my boy! I really admire you for your courage" Dad spits making Randy smile.
"You also made our work easier! Now that she has forgiven you, it will be easier to cure her depression" Steph says referring to she and Melissa.
"I'm glad" Randy says after breaking apart from mom's tight hug.
"I hope you get well Trina. Soon" Randy tells her and she nods with a beam.
A phone rings and Randy picks up
"Hello mom" he says
We are all silent
"I would be there right away" Randy yells into the phone and bolts for the front door
"What happened?" Mom enquires.
"My mom is in the hospital! Gotta run" he says hurriedly and leaves.
"I guess he wasn't a monster after all" Trina says with a cheerful tone
"I hope his mom gets well" mom states
"Yeah me too" Dad adds up.
"Anyways, your mom a and I are going to visit a friend just a few blocks away, we will be back latest by three" Dad tells us.
"Sure dad" Trina replies. She is happy now.
"No problem dad" I add
Mom and dad say goodbye and leave the house.
"So let's get our therapy started shall we?" Steph announces and it begins
Trina laughed most of the time and I was ecstatic she was returning to her former self. I missed it so much. Randy also helped somehow.
"I'm gonna take a stroll around" I tell Steph, Trina and Melissa.
"Sure" Steph pipes up and I smirk leaving the house. I was getting used to walking nowadays. I just needed some air to think about things. Especially Aaron's date tonight.
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The warm breeze hits me as I get out. I sigh and inhale it.
I begin to walk taking powerful strides. A few guys wink at me and pass. I roll my eyes and think about Aaron. Oh God! What will I do now?
"Nikki!" Someone calls and I recognize the voice to belong to Jake. I turn around and it is him jogging towards me in a mauve tee shirt and tracksuit bottom.
"Good morning" he says when he gets to me and I reply.
"How are things with your sister?" He asks
"She is recovering now and she already forgave her rapist"
"Her rapist? Why have you seen him?" Jake asks with his fists balled at his sides
"Relax okay? He apologised and explained everything. He is innocent but we thank you for saving the situation"
Jake smiles proudly.
"So what did he tell you?"
I narrate the story all over again and Jake gets it.
"That's why I don't get drunk at parties! Makes you do foolish stuff" Jake tells me when I'm done narrating the story.
"So what about you? How is your life going with Kate now" I state even though it pricks my heart.
"We are getting to know each other slowly" Jake says with a shrug.
"What about you? Now single? Or you are now back with Alec again?" He asks as we continue to walk together.
"Alec and I cannot be together." I say and he raises an eyebrow
"Why? What happened? Cause I see you two together most of the time"
"We are just friends now and I'm not in the right position to tell you what happened. I'm sure you will find out later. "
Jake shrugs his shoulders
"So you are now back to being single?" He asks
"No. Aaron and I are trying to start something" I say honestly and Jake is shocked
"Aaron?" He spits and I nod
"I've known him since 6th grade and we have been friends for a long time Jake. He likes me! There is no doubt"
"Do you like him?" Jake asks me and I sigh.
"Unfortunately someone else has stolen my heart. I didn't believe in love but I guess I got hit with a cupid arrow and got matched with him" I tell him without looking at him
"Who is it? Is it Alec?" Jake asks with a chuckle and I shake my head.
"Who is it then?" Jake asks desperately
"Why do you want to know?" I ask him
"Cause....cause I can't stand seeing you with another guy! I can't see you love someone else apart from me! I love you Nicole! I have never loved someone as much as I do for you! Kate doesn't even count! I..." I cut him off by crashing my lips against his. He is quick to respond and we are in perfect sync kissing each other with the same passion and desire. I missed his soft lips so much. We break apart for oxygen and smile at each other.
"Its you Jake! You stole my heart! And you said the sweetest thing to me" I say and he grins.
"I love you Nicole! I can't afford to lose you to any guy! You are my match! My perfect match" Jake admits and kisses my forehead making butterflies erupt in my stomach.
"So you admit you were jealous I was with Alec?" I say with a chuckle
"Yes I was! But I'm lucky to have you back" Jake says and I blush
"I bet you were jealous when I was with Kate as well" Jake taunts and I laugh
"Super jealous" I tell him and he chuckles.
"Nothing is going to separate us again. I promise" Jake tells me and I smile.
"What about the overthrowing thing?" I ask him
"We can just continue to play around as if we are still enemies. Just for fun" Jake taunts
"I like the idea. With loads of pranks!" I suggest
"Yeah!" He says with a chuckle.
"But I have one problem. I have to go on a date with Aaron tonight" I admit and Jake frowns.
"I don't wanna hurt him too " I add.
"You are not the only one in a fix right now! I am also in a fix. What do I tell Kate?"
I sigh.
"Aaron and Kate! How do we deal with them?" I ask having no clue
"Telling them the truth? That is the only way! We are in love with each other! We cannot live without each other! Can't you see? I missed you all those days when you were not around! I thought of you all the time even though I tried to hate you!" Jake rattles and my heart melts.
"I also felt the same way! I felt alone and rejected! I couldn't stop thinking about you Jake! I am overjoyed you finally forgave me and we are back together"
He smiles and our lips connect again. This time it goes in a more slower pace and I feel better now. I feel at peace with my soul
We break apart and I stare into Jake's beautiful grey eyes. He stares back.
"I love your eyes" I tell him sincerely
"Yours too" he says and pokes my cheek. I smile
"God! Its a long time I saw those cute dimples. I missed them so much. We were too busy frowning at each other" Jake says and I laugh.
We come across where Jake lives.
"Will you come with me to my apartment?" Jake asks
I shrug.
"I have nothing doing today so" I tell him and he smiles
We walk into the reception and take the elevator to where his room was located. Then we entered.