Tale of Two

3. I'm Only Me When I'm With You

She hoped he would let loose before he looses all his hair.

She liked everything about Nikolai and even if she ever got a chance to change anything about him, she wouldn't even change his phone wallpaper. He is perfect the way he is. And she liked - or even loved - everything about him.

But that didn't mean she didn't like to push him. She liked doing little adventurous tasks which would make his eyes come out of the sockets, considering he would never do that.

She remembers once when they went on a road trip and it started raining. She rolled down her window, leaned out of it, and stood up, feeling the cold raindrops hitting her face. Even though she was holding on to the grab handle Nikolai held her waist as if she was going to jump out of the car.

She just laughed and told him to do that same but Nikolai looked at her as if she had asked him for his kidney to buy an iPhone.

That day he promised to her would never do that or anything like that ever while she promised to herself that would made him do that at least once before ever ends.

She looked around the canteen and saw Nikolai sitting in their usual place, typing on his phone nonstop all the while smiling like a cute idiot.

She walked there and sat opposite to him. "Hey, Nick."

She raises an eyebrow when he just looks up in acknowledgement and says hey. This was weird. Very weird.

Nikolai wasn't someone who would stay on the phone when someone was talking to him. He liked to listen. Give his attention so as to not make the other person feel unimportant. It was these small characteristics that always made him stand out.

"Are you ignoring me?" she asked going straight to the point.

This question gets his attention as he looks up and she points at his phone. He smiles sheepishly and says, "I'm sorry. Just give me a second."

Reign nods as she takes out her lunch and keeps it in the center.

He quickly shuts his phone and gives Reign his undivided attention.

"I'm sorry. It's just Riley is so--"

"Riley who?"

Nikolai's eyes widen slightly as he clears his throat.

"Shit I forgot to you about her."

Clearly.

Reign nods for him to continue.

"Well, I met her at the party. She is Paulie's sister. Step-sister as she likes to mention," he chuckles before continuing. "She is so easy to talk to. She is more blunt than the back of a knife. With that, I don't give a fuck about your judgements she is just amazing."

Reign didn't know what to say so she just nodded. If this had been a few years back she would have acted like a jealous girlfriend, even though she wasn't his girlfriend, but over the years she had seen the cycle.

Nikolai would meet someone. They spend time together-like each other-be in relationship-start fighting-break off.

After seeing the cycle repeat itself over and over again Reign became assured that she doesn't need to worry. She just needs to things work out on their own till he finally realizes that the one person who truly loves him has always been beside him.