The Bad Boys Salvation

CHAPTER 6

****NICOLES POV******

When I said, I had drank before, it may have been a little bit of an exaggeration. My parents had let me have a glass of wine with dinner on occasion, and I did have a glass of champagne last New years so it wasn’t a complete lie.

I just didn’t want Liam to think he had me all figured out because he knew nothing about me. As I put the now empty glass down, my head instantly felt lighter. But I continued to gaze at him, hoping he didn’t notice the type of reaction I had. His lips lifted at the corners just slightly and he said “maybe you aren’t so boring after all, bookworm” and winked at me. I just rolled my eyes choosing not to retort.

He slid his beer over to me and told me I could keep his and he’d grab himself another one. I noticed I few people nodding their heads and waving to him to I figured he wanted to say hi to some people as well.

I agreed, sipping this one slower this time still trying to control the feeling of being completely disoriented.

When Liam walked away, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, trying to not look awkward, sitting alone in the crowd of people. And that’s when I saw a text from brooke . My heart swelled. My best friend since second grade! I missed her so much. I’ll have to take time this weekend to call her.

Brooke: hey Nicole, I um want to talk to you about something, and I’ve been fighting with myself at the right words to say

Nicole: well I assume you’re going to tell me now lol

Brooke: yeah I just .. I’m really sorry Nicole

Nicole: sorry?? What’s going on, just tell me!!

Brooke: Have you noticed any changes with Thomas lately?

Nicole: not really… we haven’t talked that much this week honestly but I assume it’s just because he’s busy with football and the first week of school in general. Please stop beating around the bush. Just tell me what’s going on pls

Brooke: okay okay I’m sorry. It’s Kaitlyn. well… Kaitlyn and Thomas.

they’ve been spending A LOT of time together and being secretive. Everyone’s starting to notice. I haven’t seen them necessarily doing anything, but it’s just, weird. And I think you should know. I’m telling you something is not right

My heart dropped. Thomas I’d always commented on how annoying he thought. Kaitlyn was even though we had all been friends for so long.

Brooke: Nicole? Are you okay?

Nicole: yeah im fine. Thank you for telling me. I’ll call you tomorrow okay, I just need some time with my thoughts.

Brooke: I get it. I love you.

Nicole: love you too.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket, not wanting to read those words over and over again. My head was still spinning and it was starting to get worse. What am I even doing here? Liam went to God knows where, leaving me here alone with him nowhere in sight. I let out shaky breath. I would not break down here. I glanced around one more and saw Liam leaned against the bar with a few other people around him. He was laughing, cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other. I was so stupid for coming here. So stupid for thinking tonight would be anything other than awful. My interaction with Molly should have been the sign I needed.

With my thoughts spiraling, I stood up, wobbling a little deciding to walk home.

I slinked out of the bar unnoticed. Unsurprising. Nobody would notice me.

I guess if there was one night to be drunk tonight would be it. I had noticed something with Thomas had been off but I had been making so many excuses in my head as to why things had shifted. He told me I was his everything. I was supposed to give him EVERYTHING.

I stood on the sidewalk right outside the bar. Betrayal, fresh in my heart and mind, looking around this downtown area I barely knew, I felt more alone now than ever.

I think I could make my way home from here. It wasn’t too dark yet.

A few wrong terms later it was now completely dark, but at least I was now in a place I recognized. I had any direction I was sure to get home in when I heard it. Thunder not even 30 seconds later it started pouring. I walked home, feeling numb to the world.

***

I made with my way up the stairs soaking wet, noticing my parents cars still weren’t there. No way. They PROMISED. As I walked inside, I noticed a note on the kitchen island.

“Hey sweetie, I’m sorry I know we promised we would be home this weekend to have some family time but your dad and I were asked to join the CEO and other chairman to a weekend business resort. We will be home Sunday night. I promise we will make it up to you! Stay out of trouble we love you so much!”

I stood there in shock. They never left me alone for the whole weekend before. And since when did they start breaking promises to me?

Something in me snapped. I felt rage radiating for my body. At that moment my phone started to buzz. Thomas. Declined. He called again. Declined. That went on about four more times when he decided to text me.

Before I knew it I turned my phone off, screaming in a fit of rage.

You know what? F**ck it. Going into the refrigerator took a beer out of dad’s stash and cracked it open. I wanted to feel absolute nothing. I was SICK of feeling things. Feeling lonely, sorry for myself, feeling betrayed. Everything. So without bothering to strip off my wet clothes, I sat on the couch with the intention of getting sh** faced.

***Liams POV***

As I finished making my rounds saying hi to the usual crowd I made my way back to Nicole. Honestly, I was surprised she agreed to come out with me and even more surprised when she drank that beer like a champ. She was full of surprises that’s for sure. I hated the way I was intrigued by her, and the way, her face captivated me. I wanted to know more about her, which definitely meant I should keep my distance. As I got to the table, dawned on me that she was nowhere to be seen. Looking around and every direction I couldn’t find her. Sh*t.

My jaw clenched and I had to take a deep breath too keep myself calm. What happened to her? Did she leave with someone? Leave alone?

Luckily, I knew the owner. I walked into his office and told him I needed to see the cameras. She happily obliged, especially since he knew who my father was.

I was watching the cameras, and I saw that she got on her phone directly after I walked away. I don’t know what she saw or what happened but one moment she looked fine and then I saw her facial expression completely change. It looked like she was almost shaking. Shortly after she glanced around and snuck out the doors.

What happened? And why do I even fu****g care? I stopped out of the office after I saw the footage. She wanted to leave? She could leave. It’s not my problem.

Leaning against the table Kyle strode through the crowd towards me. “Dude you’ve been glaring at everyone for the past twenty minutes, what’s up?”

“Nothings up, I’m just not feeling it tonight” I said

“Liam Stone ‘not feeling it tonight’?” Kyle side eyed me. But I didn’t care. Looking away from him, hoping he would take the hint I didn’t want to have this conversation right now I noticed something. Out the small slit of a window in the front entrance it looked like it was raining. Hard.

I clenched my fist and pounded it on the table.

“Hey man, are you feeling alright” Kyle asked.

“I have to go” was all I said as grabbed my jacked and headed out the door.

It was raining so hard I could barely see in front of me. I drove up around multiple routes to Nicole’s house make sure she wasn’t walking in the rain.

The more I was driving the more upset I became. Imagining her walking home alone in the dark and in the rain. It was unacceptable.

Finally I got to her house. No car in the driveway, no surprise. Her parents don’t seem to ever be home. Before I knew it I was on her front porch pounding on her door.