Red Tide

chapter 11

Nicole

-Stupid jerk- I mumbled to myself –You good for nothing piece of shit…-

-Nicole wait-

I turned to see Paul approaching me. 

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

-Please… PLEASE leave me alone Paul- I pleaded

He stopped a few feet away from me.

-I just… wanted to see how you were doing- he said.

He seemed like such a great guy, to bad inside he was such an asshole. 

-Why- I asked angry.

-Because… of what Ian did- he said as if it was the most normal and obvious thing in the world.

-I’m fine- I said trying to end the conversation.  He didn’t say anything, so I turned around and went over to my car.

-Nice punch by the way- He said when I was climbing inside it.  I smiled.  There was no reason we couldn’t be friends, after all, it is what is expected from the best friend. 

-Would you like a ride? – I asked him.  He nodded and approached the car.  I opened the door next to me and indicated him to climb in. 

There was a trick in this of course, but he didn’t know it. 

-I can’t believe what Ian just did- I heard Keira say as she opened the door to the seat where Paul was sitting.

-Oh- she said.

-I’m giving Paul a ride- I said –You don’t mind do you?-

-No, of course not- she said and opened the back door of the car. 

It was a red Volvo, really old though.  My mother had given it to me and my father after she left as a consolation price.  It was from her boyfriend, so I had to clean the thing a thousand times to make sure there were no rest of him and my mother banging in the back seats at late hours in the night when my father was waiting for her at home.  I hated my mother.

-I can’t believe what Ian just did- she repeated. 

-Yeah- I said.  I had punched him; I left my anger with him in that punch.

-He was kind of a good kisser though- I said. 

I looked at Keira’s expression in the front mirror of the car.  She was pale and shocked.

-I’m joking you idiot- I said laughing. 

She hit me slightly in the head while she laughed relieved.

-Idiot- she said. 

Paul was smiling next to me, enjoying the scene that was going on. 

-He is an asshole- she said after a moment.

-I know- I said. 

-He was just trying to make you jealous, you know- Paul said for the first time.

Keira didn’t answer.

-Still, it was uncalled for.  He had Victoria for that, why go out for her best friend- I said.

-Victoria wasn’t there, and he saw me with Keira so he…-

-Still, it was uncalled for- I interrupted him. 

He looked at me for a moment and then nodded; getting that it was useless to start talking about him and Keira in front of me.

-But you… Of all the girls in the school- Keira continued.