Chapter 28:
"Chill, Ray", AJ said soothingly, trying to calm Araysa down, who was nervously pacing the room, peeking out of the window every now and then.
When AJ spoke up, she stopped and turned to him. "I can't", she exclaimed desperate. "What if something happened to him?"
It was late in the evening by now and nobody had heard from Nick. His mobile phone was turned off all day as well. Araysa was worried sick, and Mandy, Molly and AJ, who were at Caroline's with her, didn't feel much better.
But Molly was also very nervous because of something else. Sarah hadn't shown up anymore either. Of course the four of them had already discussed the strange coincidence that Sarah had disappeared just around the time that Nick had been supposed to show up, but they hadn't thought much of it, because nobody had known Nick had ever arrived at the house. The feeling in the pit of her stomach told Molly that something was happening though.
"I'm gonna go and...make some coffee", Molly said and hurried into the kitchen.
Not a minute later AJ entered the room as well. "You okay?" he asked. "You don't look good." He ran a finger down her cheek. "He'll show up sooner or later, I'm sure he's fine", he tried to calm her down. "And Sarah, too."
Molly let out a breath. "You know what I'm really worried about?" she asked him. "I'm afraid they might show up together." AJ only looked at her confused, not understanding what she was trying to hint at. She forced a smile. "In case you missed the news - Sarah has a crush on Nick. Now...I don't know what that means right now, for this situation. But I know it makes me nervous that both of them disappeared at the same time."
AJ shrugged his shoulders. "Baby, I'm still not getting what you're trying to say."
Molly let out a sarcastic laugh. "That makes two of us. Alex, I don't know what's going on. I'm just worried 'bout 'em and something just doesn't feel right."
"How's that?" he asked, as he pulled her into a hug and kissed her neck. "Feeling any better?"
"Before you stopped, yeah!" Molly sighed. "Can I get a real kiss?"
AJ laughed. "You can get plenty..."
Though Molly did enjoy being alone with AJ, she kept her word and made some coffee for all of them that AJ carried into the family room, where Mandy and Araysa were still waiting. Molly followed with a tray with cups, milk and sugar on it. Just as they were putting down everything, they all heard a car outside and Araysa, who immediately looked out of the window, sighed happily: "Thank God, it's him."
Her relieved expression changed quickly though, when she saw Sarah getting out of Nick's car. He got out as well, but stayed at his side of the car. He was staring straight at Araysa, his face showing a mixture of sadness and anger.
The group in the house let out a collective gasp, as suddenly - after exchanging a couple of words - Nick leaned in to kiss Sarah. And it wasn't just a friendly kiss at all.
"Oh shit", Molly muttered so quietly, that nobody heard her, while the words "What the hell?!" escaped AJ's mouth. Araysa was deathly silent as she watched Nick get into his car again and drive away. Mandy looked to AJ and Molly for help, but they were as clueless as she was.
When Sarah entered the house, the tense atmosphere in it was almost unbearable. Nobody knew what would happen next, and nobody wanted to know, either.
"Hey everyone", Sarah greeted happily. "AJ! Nick told me to tell you to come to Brian's tonight, if ya want to. If anyone needs me, I'm up in my room." With that she smiled and walked upstairs.
AJ, Molly and Mandy looked at Araysa, awaiting a reaction from her. It came immediately and it was intense. Before they could comprehend what was happening, Araysa broke down, crying bitter tears. Mandy grabbed her and led her to the couch, where they sat down. She was lending a comforting shoulder for Araysa to cry on, while Molly knelt down in front of her, taking her hand.
"What the fuck's going on here?" Araysa cried.
"I'm gonna find out", Molly told her quietly. She knew, of course, where to search for answers first. "Take care of her, k?" Molly whispered to Mandy, who nodded. AJ mouthed to her that he would stay, then Molly followed Sarah upstairs. When she had reached their room she rushed in without even caring to knock, and she slammed the door shut behind her. "Sarah." She really tried to stay calm, but that was hardly possible. When Sarah turned around to her, she just had one word to say: "Talk!"
"About what?" Sarah acted innocently.
"You know damn well about what. Care to explain what's going on?"
"It's easily explained. Nick realized that it's me he wants to be with."
Molly snorted. "Yeah, I bought that. And now tell me what really happened!"
"What? Is it so hard to believe that? Is it so unbelievable that he has fallen in love with me?" Sarah asked defensively.
"Damnit, Sarah, I've had enough of your bullshit here. Nick was happy with Araysa, until today, when he God knows why spent half the day alone with you. What the hell did you do?" Molly yelled. She didn't want to believe that Sarah had abused all of their friendship and kindness, after all that the Boys and Caroline had done for the girls. But she dreaded that she was right, when she accused Sarah of causing this whole mess.
"Wow, Molls", Sarah said sarcastically. "My, aren't you the best friend I ever had? Thanks for all the love and trust."
"Don't you dare start that shit with me. You know I've seen you pull a lot of stupid stunts in the time I've known you, and still I stood right by your side. But I swear to God if I find out that you had something to do with this, I'll make you regret it. You're making things only worse by lying, so spill, Sarah."
"I've got nothing to say to you about this", Sarah replied dryly.
"Then we have nothing to talk about anymore at all. But mark my words: however you got Araysa out of the way, it doesn't mean that Nick will turn to you. He might use you now, but he'll come to his senses soon enough and you'll be out of the picture faster than you can imagine. He doesn't love you, and he won't fall for you just because he's mad at Race for whatever reason." Molly stood silently in the room for another moment, just staring at Sarah, who was returning the glare. "Are you ready to talk?" she asked after a while. When Sarah remained silent, Molly left, still willing to find out what happened. So she was on her way to her next source of information: Nick at Brian's.
"Alex?" she called, when she came back downstairs.
He walked out into the hall, where she was. "What's up? You found out anything?"
Molly shook her head. "Guess I'll have to ask Nick. Would you drive over to Brian's house with me?"
"Yeah, of course!" he said.
She nodded. "I'll be right back." She went to tell Araysa and Mandy that AJ and her were going to question Nick about what was going on. Araysa thought about coming with them, but finally they decided against it. For one, she wasn't ready yet to talk to him. And depending on what was going on, she might only be hurting more after hearing what Nick might have to say. She only prayed that Araysa and Sarah wouldn't kill each other, while she was away.
* * * * *
"Hey guys!" Brian looked at Molly and AJ strangely, when he opened his door to find them there. He let them inside, while saying: "I'm not sure what's going on, but this doesn't look good so far." He eyed Molly carefully.
She raised her hands in defense. "Don't look at me like that, Bri. I'm here to find out what's wrong myself." She felt his reserve and sighed. The whole situation was becoming worse by the minute. Looking at him softly, she said: "You and I, we gave each other a promise, Brian. I'm not going to break it." Reminding him of their promise that they wouldn't lie to each other seemed to work for Brian. He sighed as well and nodded.
"I'm sorry", he said, hugging her briefly. "Come with me. Maybe you'll understand what Nick's talking about." He led them into his entertainment room, where Nick sat sulking.
"Hey", Molly spoke up softly, not wanting to startle Nick. His reaction startled her though.
He turned around for a second, checking who had come, only to turn away from Molly angrily. "Great, did she send out her army now?!"
"Excuse me?" Molly exclaimed in utter surprise. Wasn't Araysa the one who was supposed to be angry?
"Carter, shut up!" AJ told Nick firmly. "You have no right to attack any of us. What the hell do you think you were doing with Sarah back there, huh?!" Brian's eyes widened in curiosity, Molly's eyes widened at AJ's anger that she hadn't expected.
"As if Araysa cares", Nick shot back, hurt clearly registering on his face and in his voice.
"What are you talking about?" Molly asked. "Do y-"
She was cut off. "Oh come on", Nick yelled at her. "You know what's going on." When he saw the confusion on Molly's face, he spat: "Just for your information: I overheard you girls talking today."
"So?" she asked clueless. "What happened? What did we say?"
"Oh please, stop the act. You can damn well guess what I heard. You've probably laughed your ass off about stupid me, huh?"
"I don't know what you heard, Nick, but-"
Again he cut her off. "How about: 'When I get back to Winona, I'm gonna dump Nick. I've got a better man than him.' I know about her boyfriend, ok?"
"WHAT?" Molly exclaimed. Before all hell broke loose, because both Brian and AJ wanted to say something as well, she held up her hand and loudly said: "Wait, wait, wait." She quickly replayed today's afternoon and the girls' conversation in her head, not coming up with an explanation for Nick's behavior. But suddenly it all came back to her - the conversation about Nick and Nick.
"YOU...are such an asshole!" she suddenly yelled, and the guys stared at her in shock. "Are you telling me you ran off because you heard ten seconds of a conversation of which you don't even know what it was about?"
For a moment Nick seemed afraid to answer, but then his anger got the better of him again. "What I heard was enough. Besides Sarah told me everything. She-"
This time Molly was the one to interrupt him. "Stop right there. I'm not sure I even want to hear this." She was still as angry as before. "But before we clear this up, you'll listen to me now!"
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