Mrs Gonzalez POV
( Cont'd)
...
Jason started liking me and somehow we began getting a little more closer as I wanted us to. I was glad and even though it's been years since I left my other family, I didn't even think about them during that time. All I thought about was my new family.
Jason got into a fight one day at school because a kid had spilled his drink on him and refused to apologize, I was invited by the school authorities and it was actually the third time I had stepped my feet into Jason's school because his driver did most of the work.
Ordinarily, I'm mostly at his school, when Jason gets into a fight or talks rudely to a staff and I get invited by the school head.
That day I arrived at his school on invitation and during the meeting I asked to see the boy he fought with. I was shocked and surprised at the same time when I saw Nicholas. It's been eleven years already but I still recognized him. Of course I would, he's my son. I called his name but he ignored me like I was nobody vital to him. I met with his dad and he shunned me and warned me to stay away. He acted all brave even though I could see how his heart literally tearing apart.
Seeing everything Jason had asked if that was the Nicholas I had told him about and without thinking about it I responded with a 'yes'..
I couldn't contain the guilt I felt after that eye contact with my son, the one I walked out on. Seeing how he walked out on me when we met again, made me feel even more heartbroken. I regret most of the decisions I made in the past now but somehow it's just too late.
And now that I'm older and sober, I'll do anything to get my son's love back, to make things right. I want Nicholas to see me as his mother, I want my son back.
I shut my eyes and sighed..
Realising I've been crying.
The memories are painful ones.
I wiped the tears and threw the picture into my drawer, without observing, I threw the rest of the items into the trash box.
"Petra?" My voice came out soft.
"Yes ma'am," she walked in.
"Dispose that box and inform the others to hurry up with dinner. I need to rest"
"Yes ma'am" she grabbed the box and walked out.
I stood up and wiped my face once more, I need to get myself ready for dinner.
...
Jacqueline's POV
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I steadied my bum bag on my waist and walked out of the house. Passing through an alley, I ran across the road and moved to a pavement. I jogwalked to Nick's house.
I arrived at his place and stood before the gate, it opened on recognition and I walked to the porch. I rang the doorbell and waited, I rang it again when I sensed a response wasn't coming. The door flung open seconds later and Nicholas stood before me, a towel hung across his neck and beads of sweat resting on his face.
"Um I'll call you back, Steve. There's something I have to attend to" he said into the phone, his gaze still on me.
He took the phone away from his ear, gave me an unexplainable look and stepped aside. I walked into the living room.
"Why are you here?" He asked, turning to face me.
"To work" I answered simply.
"I remembered telling you to take some days off"
"I don't want to." I said "I know you Nicholas McDowell, you don't let things go off easily, I still owe you and I'm not skipping work until I'm done paying my debt because I know you'll prolong my days here for each day that I miss and I don't want that.
I'll leave when I've worked my debts off but if you want me to stop working for you then I'll leave and never work for you anymore" I was about walking to the door.
"Wait.." He grabbed my wrist and I turned to face him, he freed my wrist immediately. "Er.. why are you leaving when you're already here?"
"So you want me to stay?" I asked.
"Yes. I-I mean to stay and work, of course. My kitchen is a mess" he said, rubbing his temples.
"And why are you sweating like you were in a marathon race?"
"I was working out. I'll go freshen up now" he said and walked away. I took my bag off and walked to his kitchen. It was no mess at all save for a dirty dish resting on the sink, I walked to it and quickly washed it before leaving it on the drain board. I walked to the refrigerator and opened it, I scanned around the rows of fast food cans and junks; searching for a veggie to make something for him. I closed it, finding nothing good enough to make a meal.
Nicholas walked in, dressed in a polo shirt and black pants.
"Still storing up junks and fast food in your fridge?" I asked.
"Yeah. It's too much work to prepare a meal"
"But they're are negatively effective to your health too. Veggies are real food and they are way more nutritious" I said.
"Then you think of when you'll be doing the grocery shopping" he said and I sighed.
"Why don't you just order the groceries online?"
"Why will I want to stress myself ordering groceries, when you're here?" He asked and I gave him a 'seriously?' look before resting my butt on the counter.
"I planned on making you a hot meal" I said.
"I'll just have sandwich instead" he said, walking to the fridge. He drank half a bottle of water and left the bottle on the counter. He grabbed a sandwich, he had already arranged from the fridge and a can of coke before closing the fridge. He left it on a plate..
"So what do I do now?"
"You're watching me already so just go on with that" he said nonchalantly.
"Jerk" I muttered. Honestly, I'm glad he's back to his usual 'grouchy' self.
Nick had his meal while I arranged the bookshelves, putting the books that were trying to sneak out in their positions, I wiped the dirt stains and moved aside. Satisfied with my work.
Nick was on a couch, staring at the TV when I reached the living room.
"Are you leaving?" He asked.
"I still have about an hour left. Why?"
"Care to sit?" He asked, his gaze not leaving the TV.
"Sure" I sat beside him on the couch.
"About today," he started, still not staring at me. "Why did you take those posters off and why are you still here with me, even though I said some.. bad words to you?" He asked "Are you not with Jason?" He asked. Even though he wasn't staring at me, I could feel how much curiosity his questions held.
I sighed "We all have our own problems, Nick. I'm sorry if I made you think Jason and I were a thing but the truth is, we aren't dating. We're not even friends.
And about being here; I understand how people react when they're down, I've been on that lane like a thousand times and trust me when I say I know how it feels. Honestly, I once thought about backing out, especially after the hurtful words you said to me but I couldn't. Even though we're not friends either I felt that you needed my help and I gave it. You can take it as my gratitude to you for helping me get away from Jason's evil motive" I said and he gave me a long look.
"You--
"Yes. I know you called that night because you knew what Jason wanted to do to me. He told me about it and honestly if you hadn't called then Jason would've done something really bad to me" I said and he gave me a long stare.
"Can I rest?" He asked.
"Oh sure" I said, standing up when his head fell on my lap, sending me back to the couch. I shifted subconsciously.
of course, he meant on me.
"If you are uncomfortable, I'll just--
"No," I placed his head down when he began pushing it off my thigh "I just feel a little awkward" I said and he stretched out on the couch.
"I want to thank you again for today," he said and hesitantly added, "And for not leaving. If you had left then I might probably not be here now. Thank you" he said and his breath contacted my skin, sending goosebumps.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Mm-hmm" he moaned a response.
"Does your.. I mean this disease you have, does it always come unaware?" I asked.
"Not until recently, but it comes rarely now. Normally, I get a sign with a lotto delay before it shows up but now, immediately I get the sign, it appears and when it goes after I take my medication. It doesn't appear easily a next time."
"Is that a good thing?"
"I don't know but I already have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll find out about it" he emphasized.
"Do you find sleeping on my thigh comfortable? You've done it twice."
Nicholas chuckled, "It's comfortable, honestly. I've been having sleep difficulty after I got the disease. No matter how sleepy I feel, I just won't be able to sleep. I mostly only go unconscious after taking my medication and that's only when I'm sick" he said and I stared at his face.
He's been suffering all this alone all this while yet shielding them. Just like me. I looked at him and his eyes was shut, his soft snores filled my ears. I relaxed on the chair and watched his face.
.
Jason's POV
.
..
"Fucking dang it!" I cussed, increasing the speed of my car.. I was going smooth again, trying to gap the other cars in front of me. I seem to be losing concentration easily and I don't know why.
Okay, maybe I do. That Jackie girl seem to always pop up on my mind. I'm sure it's because I haven't had her laid yet. Her guts seem to fucking to get me hyped.
She's a lady and no lady, especially not in amity high have ever said such words to me. She seem to have this impact on me and seriously, I need to find a way to have her on me, to get my sanity.
"What's wrong with you man!?, you're losing! Are you dead?!" I heard the shrill voice in my ear, a mouth piece was connected to it.
"Shut the fuck up!" I yelled back and took off the fucking connection from my ear, throwing it out. I swerved and increased my speed again and somehow I swerved too much and hit a container and it fell. the car stopped.
"Shit!" I cussed and quickly started my car again.
What the heck is happening to me.
I'm loosing the race. Something that haven't happened in a very long time.. I can't believe I'm loosing concentration because of a bitch.. Goddammit.
I shook my head and tried concentrating but all I could see was her, smiling at Nick, defending him and making out with him in the hallway. Even after knowing he's a monster. I feel very pissed about it.
Nick was chosen over me, that crazy bastard!. I just can't help but hate him more. As if spilling his juice on me wasn't enough, he's being competitive with me.
He might've met her before me but damn, I want her too. There's no way I'm letting a diseased freak get something that I want. I'm meant to be the one taking stuffs from him not the other way around.
He's just an animal.
I looked ahead of me and I saw the finishing line, I checked the rare view and there was no car at my back.. I reached the line and got down.
I was the last to arrive.
I saw the questioning look they all gave me. They would've noticed something was wrong.
"Really man what the fuck is wrong with you!? You're the last--
"Don't fucking yell at me!" I walked past him to my car and I heard their footsteps following.
"You seem carried away. What's wrong?" Archie asked running up to me.
"Honestly, I'm confused" I sighed, waving my hair backward with a fierce move.
"Are you okay Jason?, everyone is surprised by your lack of concentration. You even yelled at Harrison. Did something happen to you back at home?"
"Nothing happened James, I was just carried away by something but don't worry guys. I'll get it off in no time" I said and Archie patted me.
"Should we go to a bar or something to blow some steam off?"
"I would have but my dad's coming home today.. Mom says I have to be at home before him and it looks like I've spent more than enough time. I have to go home now" I said, gave them a small smile and walked ahead of them to my car.. I pulled it open and jumped into the driver's. I hit the steering wheel angrily and ignored the pain that followed at my knuckles. I felt the anger surfacing in me..
I lost!
Damn.. The words itself felt like a hot coal on my skin, I fucking pricked me very hard.
That's how loosing feels like to me and it's all because of Nicholas.. Because of him I'm loosing twice in a semester..
Why don't I feel satisfied even after everything I've done to him, why do I feel like he's winning?
Arrgh! My phone beeped and it was mom.
"Jason where are you? Your dad's almost here"
"I'm on my way mom, I'll be home in five" I said and hung up.
I cussed angrily and started my car.