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Nicholas POV
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I stood transfixed, in my spot as she walked past me, my gaze moved to my phone on my palm and I moved to the rail and rested on it.
True.. I hate being pitied, especially when it's thrown at my face but in this case, I think I forgot many other positive things and only talked about this negative one; that was still for my favor.
It's a good thing Jason's finally off my hair but at the same time, I hate to think that everything she did for me was out of pity.
I've always wanted a life of admiration, I know every living thing comes with a problem of their own but I've always wanted mine to be exceptional..
I think I went too extreme with my words, everything was just so fast, I didn't think it through before spewing at those words at her..
First, Mom's presence. Me having to tell all my secret to an outsider who somehow is my friend and then being pitied and pathetically helped.. I probably must've looked so pathetic back there but damn that! she took a whole lot of risk to help me. I should've been grateful and just kicked my pride aside especially since she's the only outsider that still stayed, despite my illness.. I ought to be grateful.
Maybe she's right, I think about myself alot I mean what else would I have done? I see myself as the worst human on earth. Imagine a life with no friends, no mother, literally no one. Just you, hiding your shame from the world and watching your mother's foster son, trouble you daily. I sighed and ran a palm through my hair. I feel so mad at myself..
I'll just apologize when she comes to work at my place.
I tucked my phone into my pant pocket and walked to my locker, getting there, I grabbed my bag and slammed my locker shut.. A little ferocious than usual and it got attention but I didn't care. I turned and head out of the hallway.. Getting to my car, I took my stuffs in and slammed my car door shut.. I fired a shot at myself in case my disease tries to pop out of the blue while I drive. I drove out of the school compound, heading home.
On the way, I sight a flower store with different kind of nice flowers displayed from the glassy door. I stopped my car, contemplating for a while.
Should I get her some rose as an apology gify? It might work too. I was about pulling the door open when a second thought hit me "Why am I getting her flowers?" I asked myself and rested back on the seat. What if she misunderstands and besides, I already decided to apologise verbally. There'll be no need for additions. I roared my car back to life and drove home.
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I emerged from the shower for the second time in less that three hours, I just felt like freshening up a second time.. It's been three hours already since I returned from school and yeah, there is no sign of Jacqueline..
I wondered if she has she finally decided to stay away from me because of what I said. But how can she do that now? I've said more hurtful words to her in the past and she suddenly decides to act on this one?.. I thought she was on the 'let me work my days off and leave when it's over' thing. Does she really want to back out now. I moved to my bed and sat on it.
It's alright to be mad at me. yeah, my words were pretty hurtful and inhuman, but staying away from me and skipping work is so not alright.. Or is she quitting already? That can't happen! I mean.. Where do I start finding a new help?
Jeez.. I pushed myself to the bed and stared at my ceiling.
"Is she really backing out?" I said to myself and released a sigh.. I can't let that happen, I don't know why but I feel like her absence will give me more pain than joy especially since I caused it. She already feels like a part of my life.. Part of my life? I repeated inwardly with a grimace..
I mean part of my life as my house help.. She's been doing a lot of transformation here and I'm sure everything will be back to the normal odd, boring way since she'll not be here. I hate to admit it but if she truly walks out of my life, I'll miss her.. She's been a help to me in so many ways.. I just can't let her go.
I reached for my phone beside me on the bed and turned it on, I held a hand above her name.. Contemplating if I should give her a call or not. I can't understand why I'm being this way. She can't just walk away and besides, she still owe me so I'm sure she's definitely going to come back. I dropped the phone.
I stood up and dressed before grabbing my car keys and my phone. I don't understand how I feel but I could very much use a drive.
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Jacqueline's POV
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"Ouch!" I yelped and raised my burnt palm to my face.. I quickly put it below the tap mouth and twist the faucet, water spilled on it and I turned it off and applied air from my mouth on it. I must've mistakenly touched the hot pot while being carried away in my thoughts.
I don't know why I can't just stop thinking about how foolish I was. Nick's reaction really took me aback. I understand he's passing through some things but he shouldn't take it like he's the only one with problems. Everyone have theirs and considering the fact that I've always been there for him, makes it more of a reason why he shouldn't have been so harsh on me..
I did it to help him.. I sighed.
I took a plate from the drainboard and dish the mashed potatoes and broccoli into it, I put in a fork and with my free hand, carried a glass of water and walk to the living room.. I left the food on the table and informed Allan who sat on a couch, that his food was ready. He walked to the dinning table and I walked to my room, I was getting to the door of my room when I heard Allan call my name, I turned and walked back to the living room.
"What's this?" He asked once I stood before him. He pointed to the food.
"Mashed potatoes an--
"I know what it is! Why is there so much broccoli?" He asked, his gaze alone sent shivers down my spine.
"But the food-table says mashed potatoes and broccoli for lunch today" I had barely completed my sentence when a solid object met a side of my cheek and stroke a part of it before falling. I held my cheek and looked at the object.. It was a fork, the fork I had put in Allan's lunch. I raised my gaze at him, my hand still on my cheek. I sniffed.
"Haven't I told you not to put so much broccoli in my meals! Do I look that much of a vegetarian to you?" He asked.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know you hate lots of broccoli in your meal"
"Well you should've checked the food-table properly!" He yanked.
"Yeah, I'm sorry. It won't happen a second time" I said.
"Get out!"
I miserably walked out of his presence. Getting to my room, I stood beside my mirror and examined the cut the fork made on my cheek.. It was a thin long slash with blood lining it.. I dressed the wound and prepared for work, I grabbed my bag, informed Allan I was leaving and left for work.
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"So? You're attending the orientation right?" Martha asked while we journeyed to the cafeteria the next day.
"Sure.. I heard there's a bonus for whoever comes. Why won't I attend" I said.
I ordered a milkshake and some snacks and after Martha collected hers, we moved to two empty seats and sat.
"You still haven't told me what happened to your face"
I hung my cup of milkshake halfway to my lips.
"I told you I had an accident"
"Yes, but you weren't specific about the kind of accident" she said.
"I cut myself unintentionally" I said dryly "Is that specific enough?"
"Yes. Now, how did it happen?" She inquired.
"Seriously Martha.. Can we just eat"
"Not until you--" her voice trailed off "uh-oh here comes the loverboy" she said, looking behind me and curiously, I tilt my head backwards and saw Nicholas in the cafeteria, purchasing tea from the stand. I remembered yesterday's event and I sighed.. He suddenly turned and started looking around the cafeteria.. I twitched my face and turned back to Martha.
"Hey, I think he's looking for you" she nudged at me.
"Please, stop it Martha. I already told you there's nothing going on between Nick and I"
"Yeah?" She asked dryly "you're still on with that *we're just friends* stuff" she asked.
"We're not friends" I said and suckled on the straw of my milkshake.
"Yeah. Tell yourself all those lies" she said "First you're not lovers, just friends and now you're not even friends. Really Jackie? you suck at lying"
"I'm serious Martha. I dislike Nicholas" I said the 'dislike' word dryly and she gave me a long stare first before picking her spoon up to continue eating.
After lunch, we walked back to class and after grabbing one or two things, we head to the room that has been assigned for the orientation.. As I expected it was filled.. Martha and I exchanged surprised glances.
That's what happens when you give a boosting of grade as a repay for coming to a program. It was announced earlier today that an orientation will be held for the discussion of the school heads aim towards the school and all students are to be present because their opinions towards any decision the school makes, will be vital.
Knowing how boring such programs will be for the students and not wanting holding a program where the probability of students present will not be more than two; Mrs Howard had promised an increment of grade to any student that attends and here we are, almost every student in Amity high or everyone.
I scanned around for a seat and in the process my gaze met with Nick, he also happened to be looking at me and for a moment our gaze locked but I unlocked it and moved to sit in an unoccupied chair that I found at the back of the hall.
The orientation began and as it strolled by, I felt Nicholas gaze on me at intervals and I succeeded in trying not to look at him.
"I think Nicholas is looking at you" Martha nudged me at my hand.
"So?" I asked.
"What's up with you.. You should return the eye contact" she whispered, so she won't create attention.
"And why will I do that?" I asked, my gaze on the speaker.
I could feel Martha outrageous gaze on me.. "Whatever" she replied.
The meeting went on for the next one hour, ranging from different speakers to different topics.. Seriously it was so boring and the expression on all the other students faces that I looked at, said the same thing.
Martha head dropped on my shoulder.
"This feels like I'm watching one of the movies my dad acted in" she said.
"Why?" I asked.
"It's so booorrring!" She drawled and I giggled lightly.
"It'll end soon". I assured her and sighed at the boredom...
The orientation ended after an extra twenty minutes of boredom and after our names were ticked, We were allowed to head back to class..
Martha was the first to move out, being among the last set of people at the back and close to the exit. I followed and caught up with her, we head to class together.
"Jacqueline," a very familiar voice called behind me and knowing who it was, I didn't bother to stop. "Jackie! Wait up!" The voice said persistently and I knew he was trying to catch up with me. I was about taking another step when a grip stopped me suddenly and I unwillingly turned to face Nick, making my anger obvious.
"Um Jackie, I'll just be in the class" Martha said and I heard her walking away.
"What do you want?" I seethe at Nicholas.
"I want to talk to you-
"About what?" I barely let him complete his sentence. Students walked beside us..
"We can't talk like this, let's go some--
"I'm not going anywhere with you, Nicholas"
Unwillingly, he pulled me by my wrist to a corner. I didn't quit the glare I gave him.
"Why weren't you at work yesterday?"
I first stared down at my wrist in his palm and he muttered something I didn't hear before letting go of my wrist.
"I didn't come because I don't want to be called a pokenoser a second time" I said. He sighed and moistened his lips. "But don't worry I didn't forget that I still owe you, so I'll just pay you in cash instead"
"I don't want your money!" he chipped into my sentence "I want you. I-I mean I want you to continue working for me and besides it's what we agreed on"
"Looks like we'll be changing that agreement"
"Arrgh.. Why are you being so difficult?" He grunts "I'm here to talk to you not argue with you"
"I don't need it. I've heard more than enough already from you" I said.
He was quiet for a while "What happened to your face?" He asked, his gaze on my face.
"It's None of your business. Like you, I also don't like being cared for but I definitely don't mistake mine with 'pity' when I see it" I said, making a pop sound at the 'pity'
"I'm sorry" he said, solemnly "I'm truly sorry about yesterday. I was just too steamed up I didn't even think about my words, about the fact that I was hurting you.
Truly, you've done a lot for me and yesterday's is a part of it. I'm sorry for not being grateful. I really appreciate your care and your presence and I don't want you to stay away from me. You can keep poke-nosing all you want as long as we keep staying how we used to" he said and my once belligerent stare melted at his words.
Honestly, I also felt his words to me came out of anger to everything that had happened earlier yesterday. It won't be easy to go out just like that and right now, everything I had felt in the past that was similar to 'rage' and was as solid as ice, for him; melted. His words really melt me.
"Won't you say anything?," He grimaced, "Are you still mad at me?"
"No. I forgive you" I said.
He smiled "So we're solid again?"
"Were we ever solid in the past?" I inquired.
"Um Not really.. I meant solid, as friends"
"Oh.." I uttered "Then we're as solid as rock"
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