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.
-Keira it didn’t mean anything- I said –You are giving him just what he wants-
-I’m sorry- she apologized while she retreated in her sit.
Paul turned on the radio and smiled.
-Look… Here’s your song- he said to me laughing.
Starstruck sounded in the radio station and Keira and Paul started singing along while my face turned pink.
-How was the dance again? – Paul teased me.
-Stop it- I begged while my cheeks were now bright purple.
-Oh my god you’re blushing- he said while he poked me with his left hand.
-Stop- I claimed.
I wanted to get out of the car and run as far away as I could, but I couldn’t manage to move. I just kept on driving down the road, hoping I would arrive quickly to Keira’s house.
They were still laughing when I pulled the car in the driveway.
-Here we are- I said –Now get out- I teased.
Keira got out of the car, but Paul didn’t move.
-You are not staying here? - I asked.
-Oh- he seemed confused –I thought you were giving me a ride home- he said.
-Oh… Okay- I said, and started the car again.
-Where is your house? - I asked.
-Just keep on driving and I will direct you- he said.
I nodded and drove down the street.
-So… You and Keira- I started. I really wanted to know what made him want to be with her. I couldn’t be so mistaken to think that he was into me when he was really into my best friend, I was sure I didn’t misunderstood the sings.
-Yeah… It is shocking isn’t it? - He said.
-Yes… Especially after…- I stopped myself. Maybe I did misunderstand his sings; after all, all we did that night was talk. Nothing else.
-Especially after what…- He insisted.
-After you… you saw her throwing up that night- I said. Good saving.
He chuckled. –I didn’t care- he said after a moment.
-I figured-
-Yeah- we were both quiet for a while, watching the road ahead of us.
-Turn left- he said –So what about you. Any boyfriends? –
I shook my head.
-What… Bad breakup? –
-Kind of- I said.
I hadn’t talk about my relationship with Justin in a really long time.
-He… left without notice- I told him.
-Without notice? - Paul asked.
-Yeah… He didn’t tell anyone. He simply left-
-You never saw him again?-
-No-
My voice was trembling and I was fighting as hard as I could to keep him from noticing.
-The truth is that I loved him- I said –Probably more than anyone thinks-
-I’m sorry- he said, and it seemed like he meant it.
-Something like that happened to me- he said.
-Who was it? - I asked.
-Her name was Scarlett. We were together for two years, and then she left-
-She didn’t say why?-
-No, one day I woke up and she was gone. Not even a note.-
-You lived with her? –
-Yes. I told you the other night that I left my parents when I was seventeen, so I got my own place with her- he was engrossed in his own thoughts. It took me a moment to really get what he had just said.
-Seventeen? –
-What? -
-You said you were seventeen when you left your parent’s house. That means you have like thirty four years now, considering that Ian is seventeen and you are not twins-
-I… I didn’t say seventeen did I? –
-You did- I insisted.
I was now drifting my gaze between him and the road.
-How old are you again? - I asked trying to understand.
- I’m… turn right- he said.
He was avoiding my question, I could tell. I didn’t insist.
-I’m seventeen- he said after a while.
-How can you if Ian is seventeen too- I said.
- Our parents had me in January and got pregnant again immediately. They had him over in November of that same year-
I wasn’t convinced, but the months matched.
-Your parents didn’t objet to you leaving them? –
-No… You see, my parents were fonder of Ian than they were of me, plus, I left without notice so I didn’t give them a chance to object- he explained.
- I’m sorry- I said.
-Why- he asked confused.
-It must had been tough to leave your parents at such an early age-
He didn’t answer, but then I started thinking again.
-Wait, if you left when you were seventeen and you are seventeen now, that would mean that you left this year and that would mean that Ian and your parents had…-
-We are here. You can pull over the car over there- he interrupted me. He was pointing into a huge entrance that lead to an enormous old house.
-How the hell can you afford a place like this- I said.
-It was at sale- he said and then got off the car.
-Thank you for the ride- he said as he walked towards the house.
The house was beautiful. It was made up of wood and it had at least twenty rooms inside it.
-Weird- I said to myself as I started the car again.