"Hello?" Nick answered.
"Hi, Nick," Crystal said softly.
"Hey, sweetie, how are you holding up? Is everything okay?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, everything's fine, Nick. I just wanted to tell you something," she responded.
"What is it?" he questioned.
"Um...my answer is yes. I'll run away with you when I turn eighteen," she replied.
"Really? Seriously? I mean, that's great!" he exclaimed, extremely happy. Part of his dream was coming true which was to be with the woman he loved in a place where no one knew them and couldn't do them harm or separate them.
"Yeah," she said.
"But what about Josh?" Nick asked.
"I told myself that my happiness was more important than him," she replied.
"That's the way to go, Crystal. But, hey, listen, I gotta go now because I have to get to work. I need to start saving for this," he said.
"Hey, you're right. I think I should find myself a job too," Crystal said.
"Yeah, I think that's a good idea. But, I better go now. I'll call you tonight, okay?" he said.
"Okay, Nick. I'll talk to you then. Bye," she said. She walked over to the window and opened it. It had become stuffy in the room.
A few minutes later, someone started to pound on her door.
"Open the door, you slutty bitch! What is this place, your whorehouse now? I saw that Nick boy walking away from this house! You think I'm some sort of a fool?" Eric bellowed. "Open the damn door! I'm gonna tear your eyes out when I see you!"
Crystal ran into the bathroom and locked the door. She turned on the water in the shower full blast to drown out her sobs. She cried and cried. When she looked up at the mirror, she couldn't believe her eyes. They were completely swollen from all the tears she had shed. On top of that, her bruises looked worse.
Just then, she began to feel dizzy, and without realizing it, she blacked out.
"What could be wrong?" Nick wondered as he dialed Crystal's number for the tenth time. He hung up after endless rings. He decided to go himself and see why she didn't pick up her phone. Maybe her father had done something to her. Just thinking about it made him sick. He rushed out of his house, and across the street. He ran to the Marshals' backyard, and climbed up the trellis again. He saw that her window was wide open, so he climbed in. He didn't want to call out her name, in case Eric was within earshot. He scanned the room but there was no sign of Crystal. Then he heard the sound of the shower running. He heaved a sigh of relief. She had just been taking a shower. He sat on her bed and waited. And waited. And waited. He began to get worried. Suddenly, a jolt of panic reached him. What if...? He dashed to the door and tried to open it, but found it locked.
"Oh, God, Crystal...Crystal, open the door! Please!" he cried, not caring who heard him. He pounded harder. No answer. He rushed back to her chest and opened it, looking for something to jimmy the lock. He found a hair pin. He ran back to the door, and inserted it into the hole. After a few unsuccesful tries he finally got the door to unlock. He opened it, and his heart lurched when he saw Crystal's body lying on the floor.
"Oh God, oh God..." he said, fully panicked. He picked up her limp body and carried it back to her bed.
"Crystal!" he cried, his eyes watering. He checked for a pulse and found that she had one.
"Cryssy, sweetie, wake up, please! You're scaring the hell out of me!" Nick said. He saw her begin to stir. "Oh, thank God! Cryssy, open your eyes for me, baby. Open your eyes," he coaxed. Slowly, she opened her eyes. They were clouded with confusion.
"Nick?" she croaked out.
"Yeah, honey, it's me. Thank God you're okay. I thought...I thought-" he stopped and just threw his arms around her. "God, I was so scared, Crystal. I thought you were gonna leave me. Please don't scare me like that again. Honey, what happened?" he asked.
"I d-d-don't know, Nick. M-my father was screaming h-horrible things at me, and all I r-remember was going into the bathroom and l-locking myself in..." she trailed off, tears welling in her eyes. "Oh, Nick..." She pulled Nick into her arms, instantly feeling better.
And without thinking she planted her lips on his mouth, hungrily seeking out his tongue, licking his lips, tasting the sweetness that was him. She held on to him tighter, and ran her hands through his hair, pushing his face closer to hers, savoring his smell, his taste. All male. She began to feel aroused. She didn't think about anything but Nick. She didn't think about Josh, or her parents, or her friends, or anyone else but Nick. He broke away and trailed his mouth down her neck, sucking on it gently, then a little harder. She moaned.
"Oh, yeah, Nick....oh, God!" she moaned. She felt incredibly great. Nick was making her feel things she never knew existed. She brought his face back to hers and started kissing him again, trailing her tongue over his lips. She kissed his throat, his neck. He moaned as well. They started to undress each other. First their shirts, then pants, and finally underwear. When they both sat naked, they just stared at each other.
"You're so beautiful, Crystal...so very beautiful," Nick said before claiming her mouth again. Before much longer they had become one. Nick trailed little kisses on her face. They both lay in the bed, exhausted, and soon fell asleep.
When Crystal woke up, it was dark outside. She groaned when she felt her muscles were sore. Suddenly, everything came back to her. She had made love with Nick. She looked next to her, and there lay Nick, his beautiful face relaxed.
"What have we done?" she whispered, pulling the sheet over herself. "I cheated on my boyfriend. But the worst thing is, I loved it. I loved being with Nick. Oh, God, I'm in love with him," she realized. She groaned again and lay back on the bed. Nick stirred.
God, I'm not ready to face him yet, she thought. But Nick slowly opened his eyes, and looked straight at her.
"Hi," he said softly, not knowing what to expect.
"Hi," she whispered back.
"Do you regret what we just did?" he inquired.
"No, Nick. I don't. I must be a horrible person, but I don't. In fact, I loved it," she whispered. She couldn't believe what she was saying. Josh would be so hurt.
"Don't feel bad, Crystal. I love you. I know I waited forever to tell you, but since you had Josh, I never told you. I'm dying with love for you and would do anything for you," Nick said.
"Oh, God, Nick. I love you too! I just realized it. I'm such a horrible person. What about Josh? What was I thinking? Wait, that's the problem. I wasn't thinking," she muttered.
"Seriously? You love me? Oh, God, you don't know how glad I am to hear you say that. I was afraid that you never would. But don't feel bad, baby. We were meant for each other, and are meant to be together. Why don't we run away now and get it over with? Get away from your father for good? After what he said to you tonight you must want to get away from here," Nick said.
"I do, Nick, but I have to settle a few things first. With Josh. I don't know what to do, Nick! I love both of you!" she wailed, tears welling up in her eyes.
Chapter 10
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