"Into you, I just keep crawling you're the best kind of bad something, 'Cause we keep on coming back for more. You get under my skin more than anyone's ever been."
---------- Rock Bottom - Hailee Steinfeld ----------
"You should really start checking who it is before you open the door." Nolan suggested wedged his foot in the way to block me from shutting the door on his face when I realized it was him who had knocked.
"Get out of my doorway!" I demanded not willing to admit he was totally right. This was twice now in the same week I had opened the door for someone and immediately tried to shut it after.
"We could get a little peep hole put in for you?" He suggested. "It would probably only take a few hours to install."
I groaned and vigorously slammed the door on Nolan's foot, he didn't react at all.
"Steel toes." He explained casually. "You could even just take a peek out the window?"
"Move your foot and I'll give it a try." I growled.
"Come to dinner." He said frankly.
This time I was so furious I stepped back pulled the door almost completely open and threw it into his foot, it bounce of the steel toed boots and came back and hit the wall. "No! I don't want anything to do with you right now Nolan, what part of that and so hard for you to understand."
"The band and I are extending our tour." He continued, completely ignoring my theatrics.
"So?"
"So I don't know when I'll see you again."
"I don't want to see you."
He leaned forward, for the first time more than just a foot crossed the threshold into my house, though he didn't take a step in. "Something about seeing you lie so flawlessly always turns me on. Such a goodie two shoes doing such a vile thing. Be still my beating heart."
Warmth rushed through my chest and up my cheeks but I didn't bite.
"The band likes you, they want to see you. Don't hold them responsible for something I started."
"Something they were all in on. Do you realize how stupid I look right now? How stupid I feel? Like this entire time everyone was just laughing behind my back that you and I were just-" I stopped and his brows raised almost all the way into his sloppy hair.
He hadn't washed it, I could tell. He didn't look like he'd gotten any sleep either, the area around his eyes were dark and I knew if I brought my soft hands along his jaw it would be scratchy. I was half concerned he'd gone on a binge the last two nights since the hospital but I didn't asked. "You and I?" Nolan repeated in a low voice.
"There is no you and I." I muttered letting my confidence falter for a minute to feel something else. Something a lot like hurt.
"No, finish what you were going to say. That you and I were what Carter?" He brought his other foot through the doorway and I shirked away. I brought my cheek between my teeth and refused to look up to meet his burning glare. "You and I were what?" He yelled this time and in a glare my eyes rose to meet his.
"A joke."
"That's what you think?"
"I think you should leave."
"Or what? You don't have a vase or a lamp to throw at me, you've slapped me before and I can say from experience it was weak."
I swallowed hard, I wanted to step back, or leave all together but my feet didn't make any movement.
He took a step back, just in the doorway and I let out a small breath. More calmly this time, he continued. "Come say goodbye to the band, and Ace, and my sister. You know everyone was at the hospital, everyone was out looking for you. Everyone was worried. They care about you. We all do." Damn him. He was using my good natured people pleasing persona.
"You cost me a trip to psyche before they'd discharge me." I bit out and I swear the corner of his lips twitched.
"You threw a vase at my head."
"I won't miss next time." This time it came, the actual smile, he masked it quickly but I could still see the amusement in his eyes.
"I invited your friends."
"I'm not coming."
"Pity, they seemed really excited. Especially Harper, I guess she's a pretty big fan..." He trailed off.
"They can still go. Just because I don't want to go to your stupid dinner doesn't mean they can't."
He let out a thoughtful hum. "I suppose they could, that is if I hadn't listed you as the one coming plus three guests...."
"So they'll go and use my name to get in!"
"Fanciest restaurant in the area too, books about three months in advance, really had to struggle to get a table as it is...sure they'll be certain to check your license."
"You did this on purpose!" I accused. "You know I'm too nice, that I won't have a choice when it comes to disappointing everyone else, you're tying my hands, trying to force me to come for your sister, and Ace, and my friends!"
"Is it working?"
I frowned. It was. Harper was a huge fan, everyone kind of was. Even if they weren't it would be cruel to be the dividing factor between them and a night with a famous band at a fabulous restaurant. The little bastard always had a trick up his sleeve.
"How much did you win this time?"
"You cost me a hundred actually, though we both know that wasn't the real price."
My heart skidded briefly but I kept my front up. "Awful low considering the winnings were at half-a-mill before."
"Well that's because everyone bet in 100 grand. We all picked a different time period. Over under sort of thing I guess..."
"Who won?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes!"
"Derek. Resentfully so." For some reason it stung. Even though I knew one of them had one, even though I'd known they were all in on it. "If it makes you feel any better I was the only one still focused on the money part. They didn't want to cash in or participate, I threw the money in his face in a fit. Uh, literally. I didn't give them much of a choice. He was going to reimburse everyone their money once the tour was over behind my back. Give Vi mine to bail me out next time or whatever. They only exchanged money because of my fit, I didn't give them a choice Red. I was hurting, and pissed off, and throwing a temper tantrum, being angry was easier. Saying I was right you'd never make it the whole way was easier than saying I screwed up."
"Wait...there's five of you...he wouldn't be putting his own money in...how the half mill?"
He rubbed the back of his head. "Well. Ace's hundred made it five..."
"My own boss." I said flatly. "My own boss was betting on my failure."
"Only in the beginning. He didn't think you'd make it onto the bus, he's been rooting for you since the tour started."
I stared at him as I processed this. I didn't know whether to laugh, to cry, or to hunt for another vase to chuck at his head.
He moved on from the subject. "Come to dinner. For everyone else. You can glare daggers at me, or shun me all night."
"Nolan Doufer...he always gets his way, doesn't he?" I asked with bitterness.
"Dinner at five." He said casually knowing he wasn't getting an answer. "Formal attire."
I grinded my teeth together furiously and forced out a fine.
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Short! But you did just have a longer one earlier this week so I digress. (:
This is Friday's update, just a little early. Don't forget to vote and comment!