Nixon

••• Ten •••

There's one that stands out to me, one of her on her wedding day. "Olivia Rice married to Ted Adams," she speaks, happiness flooding her words. I smile, enjoying the fact that she glows when she sees pictures of her wedding day.
We go through some more, pointing out the birth of her son's as I find it always to be going through these with her. "Well, I'd better turn in for the night," I explain, getting to my feet.
"Oh, that's fine, I'll get one of the boys to drive you home, it's so cold tonight."
"I'm fine, I enjoy these late night walks," I explain, collection my jacket and scarf.

"No trouble, besides, it's freezing out there."

I allow her to call back down Brian, thanking her for the hospitality as Brian marched me out the door. Waving bye, I hop into his car and give him the directions.

Just as we pull out, something catches my eyes, a light, a light in the grand entrance of his house.

I've never seen a light there. I've never even seen him turn on a light. Weird.
"Lily, I've got to put one word in before you go and shut me out," Brian informs as we pass a couple of streets and near my home. "Nixon Maxwell-

"Do we really?" I groan, my cheeks flushing red. A part of me is embarrassed while the other hates every ounce that many people know I was basically having sex with their leader and let him claim me at only seventeen.

"Nixon Maxwell is a man who is used to getting his way." I scoff. "I've never seen him so focused though, so drawn out of his life to persist a female." I meet his stare. "No, I'm not one to call you a shameful word, but I will say to be cautious."

"Just like Emily," I groan, hopping out of the car as we arrive at my house.
Shutting the door, I rush to the front steps and open the door fast.

I spend the rest of the night in the shower, closing my eyes as I think of Nixon, my fingers tracing the mark he left behind upon my body. A mark to remind me always of him. As I exit the shower, I walk over my work clothes and pull on a loose shirt and pajama pants as I can hear Taylor listening to music lightly.

Emily and Oliver tell me Taylor has no idea, that the people within the pack would never dare letting a human in on their world, for that would result in banishment or death.

Grabbing a towel, I dry my hair and get ready for another week without Nixon.
But can I really make it? Can I really avoid him for so long? Winter is nearing, the break where I won't have school to distract me, and I doubt, when winter break comes, that I'll be opening that door, exposing me to all sorts of new dangers.

<><>

"Have a great winter break," Mrs. Metz concludes our lesson as I finish the last note. "And I assume you'll practice."

"You know me," I reply with a smile as I pack up. Ever since the whole incident with Nixon almost a month ago, I've taken a greater passion for piano than ever before, working my fingers night and day against my home's piano. I miss the feeling of those polished ivories, the soothing sound, and appearance of the piano upon those steps in his piano room, how that one night I spent an hour just playing away. God, I could kill to play those notes again.

As I exit the school, I wrap my red scarf around my neck, trying to keep warm as the cold makes me want to curl up by a fireplace.

Unlocking my car, I find a call from Terrance. In the end, once Terrance found my mark, he called it off, deciding to stay away, saying he'd rather not insult a man he's looked up to for all of his life. Yet, a piece of me says that Terrance's comment is only temporary.

I don't reply to Terrance as I hop in my car and start up the engine.

I have work today till nine and I'm not the most happy about it. Quickly, I pull back my hair and apply a thin layer of mascara as I make sure my black clothes look fine. By the time I'm at work, I'm waiting tables like a mad woman, trying so hard just to get my pay.