Revenge is a Dish Best Served Hot

The Night it All Came Crashing Down

Nicole pov

Shock kept her immobilized and she replayed the highlights of her evening. Grimm texted her at seven and asked her to meet at the bar. Nicole debated going as the text gave her a bad feeling. She never imagined… Nicole quickly threw on a quick outfit of shorts and a black tee. Nicole fluffed her blonde hair in the mirror and headed to Mrs. Hart’s bar. She was tired after a long day at work with grumpy patients. She worked in an assisted care facility and while Nicole loved the patients they often struggled with the fact they were unable to take care of themselves any longer. The patients had a tendency to lash out and Nicole was used to it due to her home life. She actually did really well in the environment.

She hated working long shifts even though she needed the overtime. Nicole had just walked in the door of her tiny apartment when Grimm texted her. Nicole almost didn't go, but decided she needed to.

She walked into the bar after the short drive in her old jalopy and everyone's eyes immediately swung her way. The tightness she felt in her stomach intensified as those looks turned to pity. Grimm must have let everyone know he was breaking up with her tonight again. It was always the same with the two of them.

Nicole let out a sigh as she looked for Grimm. This was different, she thought vaguely as her eyes landed on the man she was looking for. Nicole registered another woman in Grimm’s lap having a make-out session. Shock kept her from moving as Nicole took in every bit of the disgusting scene. Nicole looked on as Grimm grabbed the woman's leg tightly with one arm while the other was wrapped around the unknown girl's shoulder. The giggle as Grimm’s hands ran up the thigh.

Nicole could feel everyone’s eyes on her like laser beams drilling into the side of her head. Fighting tears she thought of every possible scenario while watching the couple in the corner booth.

She could march over there and start yelling into his face. Demand an explanation. She could saunter over there and calmly ask what was going on like a boss. She could text him and let him know she arrived and wait for his response. It all ended the same. It was over. There was no use in doing any of those, Grimm had done the unforgivable. He was openly cheating on her in public. Nicole turned around and marched out of the bar with her head held high.

She drove back to her apartment and the tears rolled down her face. Grimm had never done this to her before; slept with another woman while they were still…whatever they were. Nicole felt the tears drip down her face and she couldn't help but feel glad he had done this. Now nothing was holding her back in this dead-end town.

Briar had been telling her to get out and go to college in person, not online. It was a whole different experience and one she deserved. Nicole always pushed it off that she needed to stay here, with her friends and family. Grimm. She has been slowly finding out that she had none of those things. It turns out she only had Briar. The rest of the people in her life used her like a workhorse. She pulled into her work complex and turned the car off.

Nicole returned to her studio apartment and looked around. She had no decorations on the wall, pictures, or nicknacs. She was tired of waiting for her life to start, she was twenty-six. Nicole was tired of living at the whims of other people. People that didn't love her. Didn't want her without making her work for it.

Nicole put her purse down on her table and picked up the letter that came earlier this week. It was from the Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga. She scrutinized it all week. Debated on how to respond. Nicole didn't tell anyone about it and realized tonight there was only one person to tell, Briar. She was the only person who cared.

Briar convinced her to apply for the nursing program at the hospital. It was on the trauma floor, something she had always wanted to do. The program that Memorial offered was grueling, but so worth it. Nicole had only been able to take one class a semester, so she wouldn't be done with her RN nursing classes for four years at least. However, with this intensive class program, Nicole would be an RN for just over a year. She would be working closely with the people she would be working with when she became an RN.

When she applied it was a pipe dream as she was filled with self-delusions that her life here was important. Then it all came crashing down within a matter of months. Despite caring for her siblings her whole life, her family cut her out like it was nothing. She hadn't heard from her siblings again. She saw their accomplishments on social media and every football game, dance recital, and science fair; that she wasn't invited to was a knife in the heart.

Despite giving Grimm the best years of her life, he didn't want her. He never wanted her in his life.

Nicole put in the letter of acceptance and went to take a shower. She stripped herself of her nice clothes and stepped into the scalding hot water. One last time she decided. This would be the last time she cried over a man who she was never deemed to know his real name. Nicole cried as she washed her hair thoroughly. She cried as she scrubbed her body until her skin was raw. Nicole stepped out of the shower and picked up her phone that she hadn't looked at since arriving at the bar. She had ten text messages and five missed calls. All of them are from Briar.

Nicole ignored them for now. She pulled up her e-mail and e-mailed the admissions office.

Nicole was accepting the grueling RN program in Chattanooga, her only regret was that she couldn't leave now. She had to stick it out in this dead-end town for another month. She just didn't know how she could face Grimm again. Nicole knew she had to make this change, otherwise she would be stuck getting her heart broken forever. She had to be the main character in her own life.

Grimm pov

Sunlight and a rustling next to him roused him out of his dead sleep. Grimm rolled over away from the light and pulled Nicole to him, happy he solved two problems at once. He started to settle back to sleep when he felt a piercing along warm flesh. Huh. That was weird, Nicole didn't have anything pierced but her ears.

Grimm started waking up as he slowly realized the woman in his bed was not Nicole. Whoever this woman was, she was pole thin, had longer hair, and was annoying as she wouldn't stop moving. It was causing his head to hurt. That could also be his hangover kicking in.

Damn. The realization that the woman he slept with was not Nicole went hand in hand with the fact that he had not called off their…whatever they were first. s**t. He hoped Nicole wouldn't be too mad at him when they got back together. Whenever that was. He had no plans of getting back together with Nicole anytime soon, but he never did and they always ended up together. Magnets was the best explination. The woman in his bed grabbed his shaft and his thoughts of Nicole went out the window.