Chapter 36
"May I come in?" Kristen asked after standing there for a minute. Nick opened the door wider so she could enter and shut the door behind her.
"I thought you would never talk to me again," Nick said.
"So did I. I put myself through hell because of you Carter. I've been worrying AJ and Toni to death and they wanted me to get help. Do you know how much that hurts coming from your best friends?" Nick didn't say anything. "I realized then that I couldn't let you control my life because you slept with my best friend. I had to get over it. I had to come here and see you."
"I'm glad you did. I have never been so sorry about anything before Kristen. If I could take that night back I would. I was just drunk and....."
"That's always your excuse Nick, that you were drunk. What I want to know is did you know what you were doing with Cassie?" Nick didn't say anything just looked down at the floor. "I'm waiting for an answer."
"Yes, I did know what I was doing," he finally said very softly. Kristen didn't even try to hold in the tears that were coming from her eyes. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Well, you did Nick and nothing can change that. You meant more to me than anything and you hurt me more than Jesse ever did."
"I didn't mean it. I just wasn't thinking. I would do anything if I could go back to that night and change it all."
"Well, you can't Nick." Nick went and stood closer to Kristen and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I'm sorry. I love you Kristen. You mean the world to me."
"I love you too," Kristen said as their lips met. She kept thinking how good it felt to feel Nick's lips pressed up against her's again. But at the same time she knew something was missing. That something wasn't right. She pulled away and looked at Nick. "This isn't going to work," she said looking straight into Nick's eyes. Nick nodded his head in agreement. "I'm sorry Nick but that kiss it.......it was missing something."
"I know," Nick said looking at her. "It's not the same as it used to be. This is it between the two of us, isn't it?" Kristen nodded her head.
"I think so. Please don't be mad."
"How can I be? It's my fault this all got screwed up in the first place and neither one of us felt anything in that kiss."
"Can we still be friends?"
"Best friends is all I'll settle for," Nick said hugging Kristen.
"To be honest with you I think we got along better when we were friends in the beginning," Kristen said with a laugh.
"I have to agree with you on that one. I want things back to the way they were before we started dating."
"Me too. Since we're friends again why don't you come with me to help me find a job."
"I'd be glad to. Are you still going to live with Cassie after what happened?"
"Okay first rule of our friendship. We do not bring that up. But no, I'm going to get an apartment with Toni. She's moving here."
"That should be interesting." They left Nick's place and got in Kristen's car to go job hunting. It seemed awkward for the two of them to be hanging out together as friends instead of a couple. At first they didn't talk to each very much because they didn't really know what to say to each other but they both enjoyed the other's company. They went to a couple of places and picked up some applications for jobs then headed towards AJ's place.
"Kristen has been gone awhile now. How do you think it's going?" Toni asked AJ back at his place.
"She probably killed him and took off running from the police," AJ said sarcastically.
"I'm serious here."
"I haven't a clue. They could be still fighting or they kissed and made up and who knows what after that," AJ said with a little of a depressed tone in his voice.
"I take it that you wouldn't be too happy if they got back together then."
"I don't really have a say in it so it doesn't really matter. He cheated on her and nothing can change that fact. She doesn't deserve a guy who would do that to her. But if she loves him and wants to stay with him then I'm happy for her." Just then Kristen walked through the front door with Nick in tow behind her. Both Toni and AJ were surprised to see Nick with Kristen at that moment.
"Looks like everything worked out then," Toni whispered to AJ. Kristen and Nick went and sat down in the living room. Kristen pulled out the applications and set them on the table.
"We went job searching today. Hopefully after I send in the applications I'll get an interview and get a job. Then we can go look for an apartment, Toni," Kristen said.
"Anxious to get away from me huh?" AJ asked sarcastically.
"Don't think so AJ." Toni and AJ just sat there staring at Kristen and Nick trying to figure out what had happened between the two of them.
"What?" Kristen and Nick asked in unison when they noticed them just looking at them not saying a word.
"So.....are you two back together?" Toni asked.
"Um....no," Kristen began. "We figured out that it wasn't going to work and we decided to be friends instead." There was a knock at the door and Kristen got up to go answer it. She opened the door to see Cassie standing on the other side. "May I help you?" she asked rudely.
"May I come in?" Cassie responded also rudely.
"Not until you tell me what you want."
"Well, I do believe that Toni and AJ might have packed something that was mine and I'd like to get it back."
"Well, when I unpack and I find something that belongs to you I will bring it to you so good-bye," Kristen began shutting the door but Cassie swung the door back open and stepped inside.
"I want it now," she said then spotted Nick sitting on the couch. She turned around and looked at Kristen. "Seems like you're so desperate for love that you went back to him even after I fucked him," she said softly.
"Shut up Cassie."
"Might I add that he was pretty good too?" Cassie said in a very low voice. That pissed Kristen off and she raised her fist and punched Cassie right in the middle of the face causing her to fall over and her nose start to bleed. AJ, Nick, and Toni, only saw Cassie hit the ground and didn't know what had happened. AJ got up and walked over to them because he wasn't sure if they would start fighting or what.
"You never were anything but a slut," Kristen said to her holding back tears as she went to her room. AJ helped Cassie to her feet.
"I suggest you leave. Right now," he said.
"Can I at least have some ice or something for my nose?" Cassie asked sweetly.
"There's a mini mart a couple blocks away. Stop by there on your way home now get out," he said sternly. Cassie didn't say anything else just left blowing Nick a kiss.
"Bitch," Toni whispered. Nick looked at her weird. "What? Don't tell me you like her?"
"Just the opposite," he responded. AJ walked down the hall towards Kristen's room. He opened the door to see her sitting on the bed with a few tears running down her cheeks.
"You feeling okay?" he asked.
"No, my fist hurts." AJ couldn't help but laugh.
"I'll go get you some ice." He left and returned with an ice pack. He sat down on the bed next to her and placed the ice pack on her fist and held it there for her.
"Thank you."
"No prob."
"You're not going to give me a lecture about punching Cassie are you?"
"No, I'm not. I heard her say something to you but I couldn't make out what it was then I saw Cassie on the ground. I'm guessing she crossed the line." Kristen nodded her head. "To tell you the truth I didn't think you had it in you. I was surprised," AJ said jokingly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked not even half serious.
"Look at you! You're so petite!"
"Hey! That's not my fault. I can't help being small. Although it did suck whenever I would stand next to Nick and try to hug or kiss him. He's too damn tall. I need a shorter man."
"Very true," AJ said laughing at her. "But you being small and petite is a good thing. It makes you look more beautiful," he finished saying seriously. Kristen looked at him and smiled.
"Thank you," she said giving him a hug.
Chapter 37
