Running with Scissors

Chapter 4

“Hello?”  He could hear the smile in her voice.  He watched her while he decided what he should say.  He could hear the other girl still talking and saw Nicola nodding in response.  God, the stupid bitch wasn’t even paying attention to him!

“Hello?” 

There were so many things he wanted to say to her, he just didn’t know how to say them.  He listened to her for a moment, wondering if this was really the right time. 

“I guess you couldn’t find those numbers I mentioned huh?”  He heard the blonde laugh at Nicky’s words and ground his teeth together to stop himself giving voice to the angry words that came to mind. 

He imagined himself walking over there right now, grabbing Nicola by her long dark hair and marching her right back to his car.  Once he had made her apologise for the comments on the phone he could ask her all of those questions that he was so desperate to get answers for.  His thoughts were interrupted as he heard the call disconnect.  He focused on the cinema once again and saw Scott, his arms around the shoulders of both girls, as they walked further into the complex.

Paul tossed his phone onto the seat next to him.  He settled down to wait.  While he waited he tried to work out how to turn this around.  He tapped on the steering wheel as he considered his options.

Tomorrow was Wednesday.  Maybe that could work in his favour.  On a Wednesday Nicola didn’t walk home with that stupid blonde witch as she did on most other days.  It must be something to do with the time she finished her final class at college but on Wednesdays she always walked with another girl, a pasty looking kid with ginger hair.  They parted company before they got near to the house but the slightly different route meant that she usually passed by his house between 4 and 4.15.

A slight smile touched his lips as the idea began to form.  Now, he would just have to wait until Scott came out of the movie so that he could start to put it into action.

Nicky walked along the street close to Paul’s house deep in thought about what she planned to do now that the college had finally closed for the three week Christmas break.  She let out a long breathe, there had been times when she doubted that the holiday would ever arrive.  Now she just had to get Christmas day out of the way and she would be able to have some fun. 

As she walked Nicky could feel the occasional drop of cold rain being blown against her face by the wind and glanced up at the cloud darkened sky.  It really was getting dark early these days.  Another fat rain drop landed on her upturned face.  She hoped it wouldn’t start to fall properly until she got home.  She hated to be cold. 

Nearing the bend in the street she became aware of raised voices.  She couldn’t immediately see anyone but recognised Paul’s voice.  He was yelling at someone but Nicky couldn’t make out the words.

As she drew closer she caught sight of them in the open front door of Paul’s house.  Scott was talking fast and holding his hands out in front of him in a placating gesture when Paul hit him.  The force of the blow knocking him out of the front door.  Scott shut up abruptly, clearly shocked.  He stumbled on the small step but managed to keep his balance as Paul followed him out.