Nick had asked me to go out with him and Stephanie to the mall the next day. He said that he wanted me to get to know her better? I was thinking, yeah right, well enough to kick her all the way to Timbuktu. But nevertheless, I agreed to go anyway. He was totally excited… but I just knew that it was going to be a very bad experience.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Nick!” I exclaimed when I found him on my porch, “I thought we were meeting at the mall!”
“We were, but then I thought that you might get lost so I decided to pick you up.”
I smiled, but out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Nick’s convertible… with Stephanie sitting next to the drivers seat and then I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. I mean, I knew she was going to be there, I guess I was just hoping that she wouldn’t be able to make it somehow. It’s been so long since I have seen Nick and I just want to be with him… and Stephanie had to be there.
“Come on,” Nick ran down the steps and got into his car. Forcing a smile on my face, I said, “Hi Steph!”
She smiled with the same forcefulness and a look that read, ‘fuck off or I’ll bite your head off’, “Hey… Rachel right? I prefer to say full names because nicknames just seem so rude and plain you know.”
“Alright,” I shrugged and got into the car.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
When we got to the mall, it was even worse. I mean, I just wanted to scream at Nick, to tell him to wake up! We went to all the expensive shops and Stephanie just had to get a little something from each shop – and she wasn’t the one paying either! I could see Nick’s wallet going from fat to slim. By the end of the day, all he had left were his cards! He offered to get me something once in a little while but I just smiled meekly and said ‘no thank you’. You could say that it was the most miserable time I’ve ever had. Stephanie just clung onto Nick and he looked like he could hardly breathe. I nearly gagged. I almost wanted to leave when I saw Justin and his friends but then I thought again… wouldn’t it be stupid? I didn’t want Justin to think that there was anything between me and Nick… well, I guess if I think that way I really am stupid. Nick doesn’t like me anymore. He has Miss. leech so why would Justin misunderstand? My heart fell when I saw Justin’s group of friends with a group of girls. I thought, ‘why didn’t he call me to go along?’ Strangely though, I didn’t feel jealous.
About like, two hours or so, I thought Nick didn’t have anymore hands to hold Stephanie’s stuff so he suggested that we leave. He put down the stuff and then went to get the car. When Nick left, it was just me and Stephanie. I thought I’d just pretend to be friendly and make small talk, “So… uh, I’ve heard that you were in modeling?”
She smiled proudly, “Yes I am. But don’t think that I’m friendly or anything. I know what you’re up to and if you ever think of making Nick jealous or anything then you can quit it because Nick’s wrapped around my little finger and there’s nothing that can ever pry him off. I know all about you two and I’m not gonna let you try anything so save it. Throw your act away alright? I’m sick of seeing you pretend to be innocent and everything around Nick. I know you’re jealous of us – well tough, that’s the way it’s gonna be from now on.”
“Excuse me?” I was shocked. So she finally reveals her true self. I was angry to hear her bullshit, sure I was jealous, but was it that obvious? “If you think that I’m into Nick or anything than you’re wrong. I have a boyfriend already and I have no intention of ‘prying him off your little finger’. Nick and I have been through so much more than you have with him. And if you think that I can’t see that you’re just using him for money then you’re wrong. I just can’t believe that Nick’s blind enough… but trust me, this act won’t last, he won’t be blind forever and he will see you through soon enough. If I were you, I would just leave, no one here likes you anyway,” I sneered at her.
She was going to make a response but then Nick’s car came around and I just walked away, “Nick, I’m going to go home myself alright?” I could hear Nick complaining but I just walked back inside the mall again, hoping that I could find Justin and cry on his shoulder.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
I did happen to bump into Justin but then I totally forgot about the girls and his friends he was with so I just avoided them. He saw me anyway and called me. I didn’t feel like making small talk, I just wanted to go home and sleep and cry.
“Hey! Why are you here?” Justin asked me.
“Oh, uh… I was just out with Geneve,” that was pretty stupid of me, after all, she was his sister so he should know whether she went out or not. I guess she didn’t because e had this weird look on his face.
“Geneve? I thought she had lessons today.”
“Did I say Geneve? I meant Christy.” I quickly covered up, “uh, I guess I shouldn’t be interfering, I really gotta get going. I’ll see you soon.”
“Why don’t I take you home?” Justin offered.
“Nah, you should be with your friends. I’ll get home myself.”
“No, we were just going to go. Besides, you look like you’re gonna collapse. I better take you home. Bye guys,” he held my hand and took me to his car. I was glad that he was there to hold me because then I could imagine that he was Nick. I knew that was the wrong way to think… but I really couldn’t help myself.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Justin wanted to come in so I let him. I saw that the light on my answering machine was flashing like crazy and I found out that I had 13 messages since I left, “No wonder, I forgot to turn on my phone.” I muttered to myself.
The phone beeped. The first message was from my mom and dad saying that they were having so much fun that they were going to stay in the Bahamas for another 2 weeks or more. And then it was Geneve, she said that she got a call from AJ and she could hardly sit properly. I smiled. Third message was from Geneve again, and she said that she needed me to help her choose her clothes and why I didn’t turn on my phone. The next few messages were clicks. meaning that the person had hung up. And then, a familiar voice came on.
“Hey Rach, it’s me Nick,” I froze in my tracks, “ I… I uh, just wanted to know if you were alright. I mean you seemed kinda weird today at the mall and everything. Give me a call ok?” The next message was from Nick again, “Hey Rach, it’s me again. I tried calling your mobile but I guess you turned it off. Call me.” The next few messages were also from Nick, “Rach, I’m worried, give me a call.”, “Are you ignoring me on purpose or something? Is it something I did? Just tell me alright?”, “Me again. Just um… call me ok?” I smiled slightly to know that Nick hadn’t forgotten me entirely. I almost forgot that Justin was hearing all of this. I turned around slowly and he had an angry expression on his face.
“I thought you said you were out with Christy today.” it was more of a statement than a question. I didn’t have time to answer anyway, “Who’s this Nick guy? He sounds desperate and he seems to care an awful lot.”
“Justin, listen, it’s not like that–”
“Whatever! If you didn’t want to be with me then you could’ve told me. All we had were lies then weren’t they? I can’t believe you’d actually do something like this to me. Didn’t anything we ever did mean anything to you?”
I couldn’t answer. I had tears in my eyes. I wanted to explain to him but part of me felt kind of relieved he found out. Justin looked at me expectantly but all I could do was avoid his gaze. He sighed and left.
“I hope you’re happy.”
Now I know that it’s really Nick I needed to be with, is it too late to do anything now? How come I was so stupid not to see that?