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Chapter 20
~3 Weeks Later~
"What are
you doing for your birthday?" Steph asked as we walked
through the mall.
"I have no
idea. Kevin's birthday is the day before mine and they're
probably just gonna have a party for him." I replied as we took a ride
on
the escalator.
"I don't think so! I'm throwing you a party! You didn't even have a
sweet sixteen! This is gonna be better than that shindig Nick threw for
you a few years ago." Steph said. "Damn. Check out those boots. I'll
be
right back." She said walking into the shoe store. I couldn't help but
gag watching her look for boots with 4 inch heels. She insisted she was
short and always had to buy the chunky shoes so she could sprout a bit. I
sat on a bench across from the store waiting till she got back. Humming a
tune to myself, I could have sworn I saw Derrick. Blinking my eyes, I
looked again only to see him staring at me. Yep, it was that scuzzy
bastard from high school. I quickly left the bench and jetted into the
shoe store.
"We gotta go." I said as she paid the cashier. I grabbed her arm as
she took the bag from the cashier.
"Um, ok." I walked briskly to the car with Steph by my side.
Memories came rushing back to me. The club, the bruises, and that damned
tattoo. I jogged over to the driver's side when I heard someone call my
name. I looked up and there he was. Fumbling with my keys, I glanced at
Steph. She had no clue as to what was going on. Then, I dropped them. I'm
such a clutz! Perfect time to drop the keys, Lindsay. I said to myself. I
bent over trying to find the keys under the car, when I felt a hand on my
back. I grabbed the keys and bolted up looking at him. He had changed a
little. Aged well, but that didn't excuse the fact he was an asshole!
"Hi Lindsay." He said. I backed up against the car.
"Hi." I said as he looked me over. I felt like a piece of meat. "I
really need to go." I said realizing I was acting too timid. I stood up
a
little taller and searched for the correct key.
"I just wanted to say ‘hi'. Can I have a hug?" He asked nicely.
He
actually seemed like he may have changed. Without even answering his
question, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me against him
hard. He pushed the hair away from my ear and whispered to me. "I'm back,
baby." He said and licked my earlobe. I pushed him away with all my
strength and wound my fist up to punch him, but he grabbed my arm as I
was about to strike. "I don't think so, babe." He said and jogged
away.
He didn't even seem to care that Steph was there.
"No questions now. Just get in the car and I'll tell you when we get
home." I said unlocking the car doors.
When we got home, we went into my room and I explained everything to
Steph and she pretty much yelled at me for not telling her before.
"Well, are you gonna tell Nick?" She asked.
"What? Not unless I want him to shit a brick." I said as she laughed
at my facial expression. There was a knock on my door and Nick walked in.
"Hello ladies. Having a party without me?" He asked in a British
accent.
"Never, baby." I said looking back at him. He sat down on the bed
behind me and leaned his head over to kiss my lips. What began as a
simple kiss turned into a mini make out session.
"Ugh. I'm out." Steph announced leaving Nick and I and closing the
door. I leaned back on the bed as Nick moved on top of me. I ran my
fingers through his recently chopped locks and Nick looked up at me.
"We should stop, right?" He asked. I almost felt bad.
"Yeah, I think so." Nick sat up and ran a hand through his hair.
"You want me to order you a prostitute or something?" I asked seriously.
"Here, I'll give you money and everything." I said standing up and
walking to the dresser to get my wallet. Nick grabbed me by the waist and
practically threw me onto the bed.
"I don't want a prostitute. All I want is you...and I will wait as
long as you want me to." He kissed my cheek and left me there.
~October 3rd (7:30pm)~
"Hey Kev.
Happy birthday." I said walking into his house and giving
him a hug. Nick walked in behind me, but I immediately headed to the
kitchen to find Leighanne and Kristin chatting quietly.
"What's up, girls?" I asked setting down my purse on the table.
An hour later, I was in the bathroom just sitting on the floor. The
party was kinda boring and I wasn't feeling too well. I was feeling
really week from moving and working really hard in the studio. And to top
it off, that Derrick thing was really getting to me.All of a sudden, the
door opened. Damn it! I forgot to lock it!
"Linds, are you ok?" I looked up and saw AJ.
"Uh huh. I'm fine. Sorry. I'll leave now." I said and began to stand
up, but almost fell over in the process. I grabbed my head in my right
hand as AJ sat me down on the edge of the tub.
"Do you want me to take you home?" He asked. I looked up with a few
tears in my eyes. I nodded my head ‘yes'. He helped me up and when we
walked out of the room I saw Nick in the distance talking with Howie.
"Can we just go? I don't want to talk to Nick right now." AJ looked
at me
and sympathetically nodded his head ‘yes'. We walked out to his car and
the drive home was very quick. I slept a little bit of the way and was
woken up by Stephanie's loud voice.
"What the hell is wrong with her?" She asked as AJ carried me into
the house.
"Are you Stephanie?" He asked placing me down on the couch. He
looked up at her and that was it. ‘I remember him. The dj at that party
Nick threw for Linds.'
"Uh, yeah. And you're...AJ?" She asked being entranced by his
eyes.
~Two Hours Later~
"Lindsay, are you ok, baby?"
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