That one moment

Chapter 3

Nick's pov

Waking up earlier than expected its 6:30am and I mentally groan to my self as I lose another half hour in bed. Well might as well get up. I go shower spending a little longer than I usually do as I have time to kill. I dress in dark blue jeans and a white tee. Grabbing a hoody and shoving it in my bag. I see Ellie's present in my bag and smile. This is the first time I've ever been eager to get to school. I grab my bag and head down the stairs. "Hey mum" I say while she's sipping on her tea. She spits it out and puts her hand to her chest. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack" she shouts to me. I just laugh. She cleans up the tea all over the table and I sit next to her. She brings me out a glass of juice and fry up. My mum is so perfect always making the best food. There is no way I would survive without her. "Thanks mum" I grab my fork and tuck in. "So why are you up so early? Usually I'm dragging your lazy ass out of bed" she jokes. I shrug off her question as I'm not ready to tell them about Ellie. I need her to at least be my friend before I mention her otherwise they will think I'm pathetic.

I finish breakfast and start clock watching waiting for the minutes to tick by so I can see her. "Nick are you ready" I hear James calling. I jump up in excitement its finally time to get to school. I head to the car and open the door my self and jump in. As we drive all I can think of is Ellie, I hope she likes her gift. Oh crap what if she doesn't like it. What if she thinks I'm weird for giving it to her as I only met her yesterday. Maybe I could leave it in her locker. Yeah that could work. We pull up outside the school. I have no idea if she's here yet, so I decided to wait by the entrance till the bell goes. As I sit on the brick wall outside the door I see a girl sitting by a tree, it's out the way and hardly noticeable but I notice her while scanning the area. I see her going into her bag. I cant see her face as she has a hoody covering her but I just know its Ellie. I see her pull out a small orange tube and taking 2 small white pills swallowing them in one gulp. She shoves them back at the bottom of her bag along with her water. I wonder what they are. There's no way she's a drug user, I grew up in London I know the signs and she doesn't display any of them. Maybe I could get dad to run a background check on her or is that something a creepy stalker would do.

I see her walking to the entrance with her head down when a group of lads throw a foot ball at the back of her head knocking her to the ground. She gets up quickly walking faster to the school doors. As she's about to walk pass me I pull on her arm making her fall into me, I instantly wrap my arms around her, holding her safely to my chest. She looks up with tears in her eyes and a scared expression on her face. I smile weakly at her but to see the fear in her face just makes me want to kill someone. Maybe I could get my dad involved. Get him to talk to the principle. Or maybe I could destroy these kids lives personally. Bankrupt their parents companies till they lose everything.

"Hey it's ok. It's just me" I say softly. I unwrap one of my arms still holding her firmly with my other arm and wipe the few tears that are trickling down her soft cheeks. She pulls away and stands up. "Sorry. I have to go" she says. I watch her leave going into the school. I follow after her, if she thinks it's that easy to get away from me she has another thing coming. I watch her head to her locker where someone has wrote fat ugly loser in permanent marker. I see her face frown as she opens it. As she closes her locker I hit the locker next to me making her flinch. That wasn't my intentions, I'm just angry.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. Elle you know this is a lie right." She turns away from me and walks to class I look at my schedule and see I have English. She must have it too as were in the same class. I follow closely behind her observing everyone around her if I can protect her I will. We make it too class and the teacher is sitting at her desk. Ellie takes her usual seat but I go and speak with Mrs Scott. "Hey Mrs. Ellie has had a bad morning and I was wondering if we could skip this lesson. Were only reading and she's already completed the book." I give her my best charming smile. She looks to Ellie who's wiping her eyes. The next person to make her cry is ending up in hospital male or female. I don't care anymore. "Of course you can," she says making me turn away from Elle and look at her. She's smiling softly at me. "I think she could really do with a friend like you" she says warmly. I nod and look at Ellie who is writing in her note book. "Ellie. Please can you come here and bring your belongings" Mrs Scott says. She looks confused. The whole class is sitting down now watching as she makes her way to the front of the classroom. The teacher discreetly tells her that because were ahead we don't have to be in the class today. She looks puzzled but smiles when she sees me smiling at her. I take her hand and lead her out the class room.

We walk down the halls and I haven't let go of her hand, even though I can feel her trying to break away from me. I just love the feeling of us touching. The feel of her warm soft hand in mine. We head outside and we walk past the janitors room. I tell her to wait for me at the exit door because I need the toilet. She does as I ask and I head back to find the janitor I'm in luck when I see he's in his room. "Hi sir. I'm Nick. Some one has graffitied all over my friends locker would it be possible for you to clean it off before the next bell?" I ask politely. He rubs the back of his neck. "I'm pretty busy it may have to wait till after lunch." He says. I pull out 2 £50's out of my pocket and place it in his hand." Maybe now you could spare 10 minutes to clean my friends locker." He looks shocked but slides in his pocket. "What locker number" he asks. "79 it's the end locker." He nods and leaves taking cleaning supplies with him and I run back to Ellie before she thinks I've ditched her.

We head to the field where they do out door P.E (Physical Education) and we sit next to a large tree giving us shade from the little sun that is out. For September the weather is surprisingly good specially for England. We sit down and she leans against the tree. I sit beside her so our arms are just touching. Although were both wearing jumpers it's nice knowing that were so close to each other.

"So how did you manage to get us out of class?" She asks. "I just used my natural charm" she starts laughing and I just watch her, listening to the perfect sound coming out of her mouth. "What?" She asks. "Nothing ... I just .. I've never heard or seen you laugh. It suits you." I tell her and she lowers her head. I place my hands on either side of her face bring her head up so were looking into each others eyes. "Hey don't do that. Don't hide away from me please" I plead to her. I hate that she hides from me. I wish I could understand her.

She gives me a weak smile and a small nod. I let go of her face and pull out some home made chocolate chip cookies that my mum made for me. I offer her one but she refuses. "These are the best cookies in the world. Please just try one." I beg. I don't know what this girl is doing to me but I never act this way. She takes one and takes a bite. I hear her moan softly as she closes her eyes enjoying every moment. I bite my bottom lip as I want to make her moan but in another way.

I eat a cookie too trying to take my mind off laying her down and having my way with her right now. She goes into her bag getting her water and taking a sip. "Are you ok from earlier?" I ask concerned? She just nods but I know she's lying. "You know Elle, friends don't have to lie to each other" I give her my charming smile, hoping it works on her. "So is that the smile that got us out of English, I'm shocked it worked" she giggles a little. I place my hand on my heart pretending to be hurt by her comment. "Ouch" I joke and we both laugh. I cant pry my eyes off this Elle, she's perfect, she has the best smile I have ever seen. "I erm have something for you." I say shyly. I rub the back of my neck, I'm actually nervous this is all new to me. I have never felt these fears before, fear of rejection. I'm still waiting to find out if were friends. She raises an eye brow at me. "Really? You have something for me?" she sounds more shocked than anything. I pull out the pink gift wrapped present and I see her eyes light up. She goes to take it but I pull it just out of her reach she pulls back and looks confused. 

"First you have to update me on our friendship status" I joke. she looks down and tugs on her sleeves of her jumper. "I erm. I don't think its good for us to be friends I'm sorry." she says sadly and gets up to leave I grab her hand and pull her down and she lands on top of me. I cant help but enjoy the position were in, her on top of me, her hair falling in front of her face, I brush her hair behind her ear and she closes her eyes, she leans into my touch and I accidently whisper out "You're so beautiful." She still has her eyes closed and I see tears steaming down her cheek. "I'm so sorry Elle. I didn't mean to make you cry" I tell her sitting up leaning my back against the tree but not letting her get off me. I still have her straddling me. I wipe the tears away. "Thank you" she whispers out. she opens her eyes and I just stare into these beautiful green eyes. "What for?" I ask. she leans her forehead against me and I don't miss the fact that are lips are only inches away. "Calling me beautiful, you are the first guy to ever call me that" she says with a shaky voice. A few more tears leave her face and I catch them gently running my fingers across her cheeks. I smile warmly at her and a very small smile breaks from her lips. After a few more minutes of just staring into each others eyes she gets off me and we sit beside each other again. 

"Please give me a chance Elle." I practically beg her trying to keep my own tears at bay. I feel her eyes on me. "Ok, we can be friends but as you have noticed no one likes me, I don't want you to suffer because of me." I love the fact that she wants to protect me, but that's my job now to protect her. To make her feel wanted and loved, I will spend the rest of my life showing her what she's really worth, I knew my life changed in that one moment when I looked into her eyes. "You don't have to worry about me. Lets protect each other" I offer her a sly smile. I get the present that fell to the ground when I grabbed her. "I hope you like it" I say while handing it to her. As I watch her open it I pray to god she likes it. Her face drops when she see's it, opening the first page she gasps. "Its a first edition" she mumbles out. She looks at me shocked. "I … I cant accept this. Its a first edition." she tries handing it back but I shake my head firmly at her. "I want you to keep it please." I tell her. She smiles the biggest smile I have ever seen showing her white pearly teeth. "have you read it before?" I ask out of curiosity. "Yes its one of my favourites I love, love stories." she says while admiring the book still. The fact that I brought this smile on her face gives me the greatest pleasure in life. I want to be responsible for that smile for the rest of her life.  

"Do you, erm, think I could, erm, get your number?" I mumble that last part not sure whether I wanted her to hear me or not. If she says no I may break down. She pulls out her phone and hands it to me. I type in my digits saving my contact information. I hand her my phone and she types her number in saving her name as Elle in my phone, I look up at her smiling. "Elle huh, you finally accepted your nickname." I laugh out. "Don't worry I will be finding a nick name for you Nicky" she jokes out. I save her contact information and set her, her own ringtone Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran. We spend the rest of the hour eating the cookies, we spend a lot of it in silence which I don't mind its comfortable and I just think of my dads advice last night about patients and listening, the more I build her trust the more she will open up to me. 

The bell rings and I stand up offering my hand to her, she takes it and I help her up pulling her a little harder so when she gets up she falls into me. She places a hand on my chest catching her balance, I feel her hand gently trace done my body feeling my abs. The thought of her enjoying touching me does things to my body. I quickly put my hands in my pockets and adjust the hard on she has just given me. God she's going to be the death of me. We walk back to her locker so she can get her science book, the janitor has done a great job he got ride of all of the writing. She smiles at me as she closes her locker "I guess I have you to thank for this" She says. I nod and lower my head, I hope she doesn't think I over stepped my boundaries or something. "I'm sor-" I start to apologies when she cuts me off. "Thank you" she hugs me. I immediately wrap my arms around her, breathing in her strawberry scent. So sweet I think to myself. She pulls away and I must have the biggest smile on my face. 

I walk with her to her science class, I sadly have Wood shop. Great. But I think that Jack guy is in my class would be a shame if one of these power tools chopped his d**k off. I laugh as I walk to my class. After class I head over to her science class hopefully I can meet her and we can walk to lunch together. I see her by her locker putting her books away when some prick shoves her into her locker she falls to the ground and I see black I run over and punch him in the face repeatedly a crowd starts gathering with people cheering and shouting "fight" till I feel 2 people pulling me off him. I see Mr Hunter our history teacher and Mr Smith my wood shop teacher. They look at me and then at this guy Mark that I just punched. He has blood pouring out of his nose, I'm almost certain that I broke it which makes me happy. I see Elle still on the floor I pull my arms out of the grasp of the teachers and rush over to her, she looks so frightened I kneel down beside her. "Are you ok Elle?" I asked. She doesn't respond. I take her hand in mine and help her to her feet. "Does someone want to explain what happened?" Mr Smith shouts bringing me back to the situation. I look at Mark waiting to hear how he's going to spin this but no one speaks. "Right everyone to the principles office." I follow Mr Hunter while Mr smith takes Mark to the nurses office. I hold her hand the whole time rubbing circles in the back of her hand. 

We're sitting out side the principles office and Mark has finally joined us after the nurse patched him up and gave him an ice pack to help with the swelling. I smile knowing I did that. We get called into the principles office and she looks pissed. She glares at Elle who lowers her head. "We are just waiting for your parents to join us." Oh great dad wont be happy. We all wait in silence and my parents are the first to arrive my mum rushes to me worried looking around Elle's head is still lowered and Mark looks like he's going to pass out from blood loss. In walks Marks mother and father looking angry I just sit there with a smirk. Another 10 minutes go by and marks parents are moaning to the principle about Elle's parents being late. In walks this little lady with dark brown hair and green eyes. So she has her mothers eyes I see. the principle gives her a stern look. "Miss Jones we have all been waiting for you to arrive. I don't accept lateness" I see her mum role her eyes. "I am ever so sorry I was in surgery but next time I will tell the 5 year old boy who's life I was saving that Principle White doesn't accept tardiness so I'm afraid he will have to die. is that better" Wow her mums feisty. Defiantly the opposite to Elle. I let out a low chuckle earning a glare from everyone in the room. "Now can someone tell me what's happening cause we are busy at the hospital." her mum speaks. "Well were just waiting for her father" The principle says. "Well you'll be waiting a bloody long time, now what's happened is Elle ok." She asks. 

I wonder where her father is. "No she's in big trouble actually she started a fight in the hall way resulting in Mark getting a broken nose, this is a cause for explosion." Her mums face drops and she looks at Elle. I thought she was going to kick off at Elle but she didn't. "Sweetie what happened are you ok, did someone hurt you?" I love how concerned she is, my dad would automatically think I was in the wrong but her mum generally cares. "Principle White, if you honestly expect me to believe my 5 ft 4 daughter started a fight with that 5 ft 9 monstrosity then your on drugs. now lets be realistic. Can you tell me what happened?" She directs her question to me. I stand up and hold my hand out which she takes "Hi Miss Jones I'm Nick and what happened was Mark shoved your daughter into her locker making her fall to the ground, that is the only involvement your daughter had in this fight. She was a victim in this whole scenario. I witnessed it and then punched Mark in the face at least 6 times." I say proudly. I see Marks dad glare at me and my dad steps in front of him. "Is there a problem?" he says to marks dad. Wow this is a first usually he would be pissed at me. "No." Marks dad responds. "Well I think your son owes a young lady an apology don't you?" I'm shocked my dads doing this. Mark stands up and apologises to Elle who just blanks him. "well I guess this has been resolved. you can go back to class" Principle White says. We all leave and Mark exits the school with his parents I see Elle and her mum talking while my mum and dad talk to me, but I'm too focused on Elle to pay attention to what they are saying. "Earth to Nick" I hear my mum say. I look back at them and see my dad look at where I was staring. 

"Son I'm glad your defending girls but please no more fighting ok sweetie." my mum says. "Sure" I respond I see Elle walking with her mum when she trips and falls down I instantly go help her up and the book I got her falls to the floor. I pick it up handing it to her but her mum catches sight of it and takes it off Elle. "Ellie where did you get this from? that's a first edition book we cant afford that" she says concerned. "Erm a friend gave it to me." She says weakly while holding my gaze. "Oh you and Tori are friends again?" Her mums ask excitedly. "No mum not Tori. Lets just go yeah? I need to get to P.E." Elle says and I watch as her mum leaves. I see Elle walking off and I grab my schedule and see I too have P.E. Yes I think to myself. "bye mum bye dad" I say. "Hey Elle wait up. Are you ok?" I ask. I turn back and see my mum and dad looking at me smiling I just shake my head no and carry on walking with Elle. God I'm not going to hear the end of this when I get home.

Were in P.E. and everyone's talking about my encounter with Mark. Good lets hope they realise I'll punch them all up if they don't leave her alone. I see that girl I poured coke over what's her name Alice or something. "Hey I heard what you did to Mark, your so strong Marks like a tank." she says in a flirty manner. I ignore her and turn back to Elle. She grabs my arm and turns me back to her. She scowls at Elle and that instantly infuriates me. "What do you want?" I rudely shout at her. "I was wondering if you wanted to be partners today" she asks sweetly. "NO! I have a partner" I smile at Elle who smiles back. I hear the girl laugh, "Seriously you want to be with Ellie the Elephant. You know who I am right. I'm Alicia Grey the most popular girl in the school. hanging with chubs is only going to kill any shred of coolness you have at this school." she says giving Elle a dirty look. I stand next to Elle and hold her hand. "firstly call her that again and you'll be in the hospital bed next to Mark, Secondly I don't give a f**k who you are, you are nothing and no one to me. I'm Nick Marshal I'm well more known in this world than you are so please don't make your self sound like a big deal because your nothing, your a pathetic little slut." I can see her trying to hold back her tears and she walks off in a strop. I turn to Elle. "Are you ok?" I ask sweetly. She starts laughing and that wasn't the reaction I was expecting. "I can not believe you just did that!" she says while holding one hand over her mouth and the other on her stomach trying to control her laughs. It feels so good watching her smile like this. 

School finally finishes and we have history together as our last lesson Elle gets up to leave but I grab her hand, mainly so she cant run off again like yesterday but I love touching her. The class turns to look at us the girls all scowl at us and I just smile with happiness. We make it to the front of the school and its getting a bit chilly, she pulls out her iPod and head phones. "I guess ill see you tomorrow?" she asks sounding more of a question. "Erm do you wanna hang out or something." I shyly mumble out. She looks around and I nervously bite my lip. "I cant today, my mum will want to talk to me about what happened today with Mark. Which reminds me, thank you for telling them what happened I'm pretty sure principle White was going to expel me otherwise." she lets out a sigh and gives me a fake smile. "Were friends right, friends have each others backs. I will always look out for you Elle." I tell her and she gives me a hug and I savour every second knowing it wont be long before she pulls away. "Well can I give you a lift home?" I ask as she starts walking down the school steps. "No thank you, I'd like to walk its nice to be alone and think." I nod and bid her farewell. 

I get home and see my mum and dad sitting on the sofa. Oh boy, better get this over with. "mum, dad let me explain please." I start but my dad holds his hand up cutting me off. He points to the seat opposite where they are sitting and I sit down. "Son tell us everything please" my mum asks softly. "So it started yesterday. when I got to history class and I saw her. Dad you were right it just took one moment and I knew this is the girl for me. I cant even explain it... but she's having a tough time at school. I've seen on numerous occasions the other kids pushing her or throwing things at her. they constantly call her fat or insinuate she's fat. I tried being the bigger person telling her that its not true but she barely gave me a chance yesterday. Today when that guy pushed her into her locker and I saw her fall to the ground I saw red. I mean she did nothing to no one why cant they just leave her alone. I'm sorry I hit him repeatedly. I couldn't stop myself I had no control, my only concern was to protect her." I sit back and watch their faces, neither speaks and I wonder just how much trouble I'm in. 

"Did she like the book?" my dad asks curiously. I furrow my brows together confused at how this conversation has gone. "She loved it. Thank you dad." I tell him. He smiles at me "Your not in trouble son. I am proud that you protect people, I love the man your becoming." I feel my eyes starts to water he's never said anything like this to me before. "Thank you dad" I say as I stand to leave. "Oh dad thank you for your advice you were right. I'm finally making progress with her" I leave the room in a happy mood. I pull out my phone and the urge to text her is getting stronger with each passing second. I lay on my bed trying to type the perfect message. 

Me - Hey, my lecture from my parents went surprisingly well. How about yours? 

I hold my phone tightly to my chest as my heart pounds waiting for her response. A few minutes later I hear my phone ping. 

Elle - I'm glad to hear. I would hate for you to get in trouble for saving me. My mum wasn't angry she's concerned, worried about me but I told her I'm fine. 

I know she's lying when she says she's fine no one takes pills when they are fine. The rest of the night goes quickly and me and Elle don't speak much after those couple of message she's still not fully comfortable with me yet, I need to think of a way to gain her trust.