High School Sweethearts

Chapter 4: Surprise!

  {Present- Miami, Florida}

It had been a few hours after I had arrived at the house the crew shared. Mom and Momma had helped them purchase it during the time they were in juvie so they had a place to go once it was safe to leave. Jenny, Marisol, and Chris had returned from the park sometime after I’d gotten there. They were pretty surprised to see me there too but they were happy I’d come. They put Jesy to bed since she’d fallen asleep after her day at the park. We ordered a ton of food from Pizza Hut and we sat in their large living room eating and catching up on what the last five years had been like.

Josephine: So how was juvie?

Jenny: b***h you’re really gonna ask us how jail was? It’s f*****g jail!

Josephine: s**t my bad. 

Chris: How come you’re being so awkward around us? 

Josephine: I don’t know it’s just been so long I kind of forgot how to act around you guys. I’ve had to act all proper and preppy at that boarding school that my street side has been dormant for awhile.

Marisol: We’ll wake that hoe up primita we got s**t to get done.

Primita = Cousin  (it's like a cutesy way to say it) 

I swallowed the bit of garlic bread I had in my mouth as I eyed Marisol worriedly.

Josephine: You’re not talking about getting back into that business are you?

Marisol: No of course, not I’m not stupid.

She was offended by my comment so before she could continue Channel cut her off and told me what they were planning.

Channel: But we Are thinking of starting A business.

Josephine: What kind of business?

Chris: Nightclubestaurant

Josephine: Really?

Jenny: Yeah.

Josephine: And how are you gonna do that?

Marisol: Well we thought of it back in juvie so we all put in money from our trust funds and tia Maria and Steph helped us buy some property and they helped us overlook construction.

Josephine: And it's a restaurant and a nightclub?

Channel: We’ll they’re separate so we don’t have to shut down the restaurant early and families can eat with their children until we close and we can open the nightclub at the same time.

Josephine: Won’t the music be loud and disturb the restaurant?

Chris: The walls that separate them are soundproof.

Josephine: How are you going to get a liquor license? We’re nineteen.

Marisol: Steph is our partner. She got it for us.

I smiled. They had really thought this through. It made me happy to see that we were all finally moving on from all that crime stuff and that they wanted to start a legitimate business and it also made me happy to see how much mom and momma believed in them.

Josephine: Woah you guys really thought this through huh?

Chris: Yeah we did. So will you be our partner?

Josephine: Wait you guys want me to be part of your business?

Marisol: Duh! We’re a family, we've always done everything together that's not changing now. Besides, you are an amazing cook you could help Jenny with the menus and managing the kitchen.

Channel: And if our parties were any indication your cocktails are bomb. You could help me and Chris at the bar. 

Jenny: So what do you say?

I looked at Jenny she didn’t look like Jenny she was distorted I leaned closer to her blinking multiple times nothing changed things got worse the room started spinning and there was a sharp pain on my stomach

Chris: Are you ok Nina?

Josephine: Huh?

I swallowed hard trying to focus my vision on something but everything in sight was going haywire. The more I blinked the heavier my eyelids got and the less I could see until finally, I blacked out.

                       {Three Days Ago}

Vanessa: Are you all good in there Jo?

I stared at the mirror in horror I had been thinking about this for the past two weeks, When Erick’s abuse started becoming worse. I had to be on stage in ten minutes and

my body was covered in bruises and the outfit I had to wear was guaranteed to show most of them off. My outfit consisted of A long sleeve low cut bodysuit fishnet stockings and high heels. I covered most of the bruises on my neck with some makeup but the ones on my legs were too purple to cover. If I tried it I would draw more attention to it. It was now that I regretted asking for high heels instead of knee-high boots. I walked to the door.

Josephine: Nessa do you know if there is an extra pair of boots lying around somewhere?

Vanessa: No why?

Josephine: Um I changed my mind I don’t like the way the heels look.

Vanessa: I thought you wanted them because you wanted to show off your sexy legs.

Oh, the irony.

Josephine: I just don’t like the way they look.

Vanessa: I could give you my pair.

Josephine: What about you?

Vanessa: I’ll take the heels, I don’t mind them.

Josephine: Thank you, you're a lifesaver.

Vanessa: You know I got your back babe.

I opened the door a crack and stuck out my hand giving her the high heels.

Vanessa: Are you serious? Let me inside.

Josephine: I’m naked!

Vanessa: b***h I’ve seen you half naked more than your asshat of a boyfriend has don’t play me.

She shoved the door open and walked in shutting it quickly. Her eyes filled with rage when she finally saw what I was trying to hide.

Josephine: Just don’t. Don’t say anything. I just want this to be a good night. We've been working hard for this for a long time. I just want it to go smoothly. Can you do that for me? Please?

She nodded her expression still angry she took off the boots she was wearing, handing them to me, and putting on the high heels that I’d dropped on the floor. I put on the boots there were still visible bruises but the worst ones were covered. I grabbed her hand 

Josephine: let's go get ‘em skank.

Vanessa: You got it slut.

We made our way to the lounge area where Ms. J told us to meet. Nick whistled as we got closer.

Nick: And I thought you couldn’t get sexier.

I punched his arm pulling him into a tight hug.

Josephine: You don’t look so bad yourself.

Nick: Eh I do what I can but seriously you can get it like right here right now just say the word. 

Josephine: Shut up! 

He laughed resting his arm on my shoulder as we waited for the rest of the team to come out. 

Nick: So are you nervous?

Josephine: Not really I’m more excited than anything you?

Nick: Nah I’m going to be performing in front of thousands of people every night for a living. A couple hundred don’t seem as scary as they used to when I was a little stary eyed ten-year-old you know. 

Josephine: Look at you being all confident and s**t.

Nick: I mean it's still exciting and I get a rush every time I feel the lights on my face and getting to dance in front of anyone at all is an amazing opportunity but messing up doesn't worry me as much as it used to you feel me?

Josephine: Yeah I get it. We’re living the dream.

Nick: We really are.

He pinched my cheek. I elbowed his ribcage.

Nick: Oh look your shoelace is untied.

I went to bend down and tie it but Nick stopped me.

Nick: I’ll get.

Josephine: Thanks Hun.

He kneeled down tying my shoe standing back up after a minute he looked hurt yet angry. And that’s when it hit me he’d seen my legs.

Nick: It’s true isn’t it?

Josephine: Wh-wh-what are you talking about?

Nick: Erick did this to you didn’t he?

I looked down, unable to answer him. Telling Vanessa was one thing she was relentless when she was angry especially when it came to me but I knew I could control her rage so it was all good. Now Nick doesn't get angry often he’s one of those guys who believe that it's better to talk things out instead of fighting but when it came to me or anyone he cared about for that matter it was completely different he would kill for me I mean that literally he was just like the crew in that way they protected me so much they let me think I was tough when in reality I wasn’t I was just protected they would hurt or eliminate anything or anyone that wished me harm or any discomfort actually and I knew that if Nick found out about what was going on with Erick it wouldn’t matter that they’d known each other since they were two it wouldn’t matter that they were like brothers he’d go into his physco mindset he’d go crazy and he wouldn’t stop and I knew that not even I could stop him.

So I did the most logical thing I could think of at that moment I took off running. I ran past Vanessa and the rest of the team who were entering the lounge area and all the way back into the dressing room locking the door behind me. I looked at myself in the mirror and I started balling I was sad I was angry furious I didn’t recognize the person I saw staring back at me she was skinny too skinny you could practically see her ribcage through the fabric of the bodysuit she was wearing every time she inhaled there were bags under her eyes she was pale and there were purple bruises all over her being she seemed helpless that wasn’t me that couldn’t be me I didn’t want it to be me but it was that was who I’d become that was what I was now my worst nightmare had become true I was weak helpless powerless I was nothing.

Nick: Come on, Jo, open the door, please.

I backed away from the door, my back pressing against the wall I slid down hugging my knees resting my head on top of them tears still running down my face.

Nick: You know what I’m done. Stand away from the door, Jo!

Two seconds later the door was kicked in and Nick was on the floor next to me, his arms around me, his head resting on mine.

Nick: Vanessa told me everything. Why didn’t you want me to know?

Josephine: I didn’t want you to go all psycho Nick and kill Erick.

Nick: Oh believe me I wanted to but you’re more important so I came here to make sure you were ok now I’m going to go kill him.

He started to get up but I grabbed his hand pulling him back down.

Josephine: No wait don’t.

Nick: Why not? He hurt you Jo and I promised you if anyone hurt you in any way they’d pay. And Erick hurt you. I don’t care that he’s my brother. No one should treat a girl like that especially if that girl is you.

I wrapped my arms around him resting my head on his shoulder.

Josephine: I love you, Nick.

Nick: I love you too Jo.

One of his hands rested on my leg and he leaned over his head gently resting on top of mine.

Nick: So Highschool is officially over any idea as to what you’re going to do now?

Josephine: Not a clue.

There was a light knock on the door. Vanessa peered through the door.

Vanessa: Hi.

Nick: Hey Nessa.

Vanessa: So we go on in two minutes that is if you’re still up for it.

They both looked at me.

Josephine: Yeah I’m good.

Nick: Ok then let’s not keep the crowd waiting.

I took his hand standing up heading for the stage.

The showcase went great. It was one of the first times in the last few months I’d actually felt good about myself. The sound of the crowd cheering the loud music I just let myself go and forgot about everything I forgot about Erick I forgot about Ricky I forgot about the fact that I was so far away from my loved ones and about that fact that I could die without ever seeing anyone of them again. All that went through my mind was the dance routine I was doing or the song lyrics I was singing. It was amazing and relieving. 

After the showcase had ended we all decided to go and have one last dinner together since it would be the last night most of us would be together by tomorrow most of my friends would be gone and I would most likely never see them again.

Vanessa: What's wrong babe?

I looked up having been pulled from my thoughts.

Josephine: huh? Oh, nothing everything's fine. Why?

Vanessa: You’ve been committing a breadstick m******e for the past five minutes. 

I looked down at the small pile of breadstick crumbs that was on my plate.

Josephine: Oh my bad.

I pushed the plate to the side.

Vanessa: Are you sure everything is alright?

Josephine: Yeah, Yeah everything is fine.

Vanessa: Ok.

I could tell she didn’t believe me so I decided to change the subject.

Josephine: So are you excited? You get to go to Hollywood!

Vanessa: Yeah it’s pretty exciting 

Vanessa had landed a job a couple of months back to be a junior assistant choreographer on a musical tv show however they needed a best friend for the protagonist so they asked her to audition for it and she got the part. She’s really humble so she didn’t mention it much but I could tell she was really ecstatic about having landed such an amazing job right after graduating high school which isn’t exactly easy to obtain when you’re a teenager trying to make it in show business. 

Vanessa: What about you Jo what are you going to do now that we’ve graduated? 

Josephine: I’m actually going to stay here in Puerto Rico

Vanessa: How come?

Lacy: Well I’ve decided to open my own studio and Jo is going to be my partner right Jo?

Josephine: Right.

Thank god Mrs. J showed up when she did because if she hadn’t I’m pretty sure Vanessa might’ve grilled the dark secret I was trying to keep right out of me. She was that determined she didn’t like it when I put myself down she wanted to see me succeed she was just that kind of friend the one that isn’t content with their successes unless their friends are happy and successful as well. I looked at Mrs. J she nodded lightly. She was the only adult around me who knew about my secret. She and momma were friends in high school and when she heard about my situation she wanted to help and so the idea of me moving to Puerto Rico was born. She wanted to help my friends as well but they’re stubborn and a “preppy, rich kid” school isn’t really their scene which is why I came alone. What she was saying was true she knew that if Ricky wasn’t in prison by the end of my senior year there was no way I could return to America and since we did share a love for dance we had talked about me moving in with her and becoming business partners and opening our own dance studio. I was just holding out hope that I could return to Miami and be able to attend college which is why I hadn’t said anything yet.

Vanessa: Oh my god!!! That’s amazing Mom. 

Nick: Yeah how come you didn’t say anything?

Lacy: Well we just finalized everything today we didn’t want to say anything until we were sure.

I just nodded in agreement. Nick set down a plate of nachos in the middle of the table 

Nick: Well it’s one more reason to celebrate.

Josephine: Sure is.

{Few Hours Later}

We spent the last few hours talking and walking around and if I'm being honest I wasn't really feeling any of it but if  I clocked out super early Nick and Nessa would think something was up and I didn't want them to be more worried than they already were so I just powered through it until they got tired and Nick offered to drive me home.

Nick: Are you sure you're going to be ok? You seem a little off.

Josephine: Yes I'm fine I'm just tired 

Nick: I can stay with you if you want just in case anything happens

Josephine: I'll be fine besides you need to pack

Nick: I can do that later.

Josephine: You leave first thing in the morning.

Nick: You'll be there right to say goodbye?

Josephine: I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Nick: I'm gonna miss you.

Josephine: me too.

I pulled him into a hug we stayed that way for a little while neither of us saying anything I tried my best not to cry because if I did there was no chance in hell he'd leave and if I'm being honest I didn't want him to I wanted to scream out and tell him to stay I wanted to pull him inside the room and lock it I didn't want him to leave me alone because I knew he was the only person there who could keep me safe from everything he was the only one who could save me from myself but something inside me didn't let me I knew if I did I was being selfish I was ruining his life I couldn't place my burdens on him he didn't deserve that I knew that if I even showed a little bit of fear he wouldn't get on that plane and he had worked too hard for his dreams to not come. So I kept my mouth shut and pulled away.

Josephine: Now go you have to get some rest.

Nick: Ok

He leaned down to kiss my cheek.

Nick: Bye

Josephine: Bye

And with that, he turned walking to his car fading into the darkness the last shred of safety I felt fading with him. I walked into my room tossing my keys onto the counter  heading straight for the bathroom I went through every single one of the drawers until I had collected  an insane amount of items placing them on my bed I grabbed a bottle of pill and downed half of them and I just sat there for a solid ten minutes but nothing happened and so I grabbed the bottle of bleach as tears fell down I didn't want to feel the way I did anymore and the way I saw it at the time the only way to escape it was death and so I closed my eyes and started to pour the bleach into my mouth as soon as it made contact with my tongue I screamed the pain was unbearable I dropped to my knees crying and spitting I had just made things worse. I don't how but somehow I manged to crawl to my desk and grabbed a razor blade and placed it on my wrist but before I could apply enough pressure to actually cut to my skin I was stopped by a familiar scream one I never though I'd hear again. 

Jenny: Nina NO!

She ran over a smack the razor blade out of my hand that was the last thing I remember from that miserable night.

{Present}- {Miami, Florida}

I woke up to a bright room and a beeping I was in the hospital.

Mom: Nina?

Josephine: Yes?

She and Momma ran over to me.

Momma: How do you feel?

Josephine: I feel fine. I'm ok.

She turned to the doctor who had walked in the room after being called by mom.

Mom: Is she fine doctor?

Doctor: Well the burning to her mouth seems to be healing but she's dehydrated and she's very underweight for her age as well as for someone who's four months pregnant with twins.

Momma: What? 

Josephine: Huh?

Doctor: I'd like for you to stay overnight that way we can continue to monitor you and your children to see how you are doing.

And with that he walked out of the room. Mom and Momma stared at me in disbelief. I was pregnant with twins. Holy s**t!