𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 {𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐍𝐀𝐏}

𝐱𝐱𝐢𝐢. 𝐂𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐀 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞

𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐄

Nick hurried out of class as quickly as he could to be able to reach the parking lot before anyone else. Specifically before Brielle. He wanted to catch her before she left. He rushed down the stairs of his building and ran outside, rushing to his car and stopping. He set his things in the back and then peeked around to spot Brielle's car. She wasn't over there yet, thank god. He walked over and waited patiently by the back.

It was the last day of school. Nick had one last chance to apologize and make things right. He didn't want to ruin anything. He had to do something that last day or he'd ruin the chance of seeing her again.

He looked up and spotted Brielle leaving the building. She walked along the side of the parking lot, clutching her books to her chest as her bag swayed back and forth at her side, occasionally bumping her hip. Her hair bounced at her movement, looking as soft and fluffy as he remembered when he used to play with her hair.

She looked at her car and stopped walking the second she saw him. Nick smiled sheepishly and waved, heading towards her. She suddenly sped up and dashed for her car door, making Nick nearly slip as he ran to meet her on that side. Just as she went to grab the handle, Nick slid over and pushed against the door.

"Brielle wait! Please!" He said. Brielle bit the inside of her cheek and looked up at him.

"I do not want to talk to you, Nick." She said sternly. Nick sighed softly.

"I'm sorry, Brielle. Genuinely and honestly sorry." He said. Brielle pulled her hand off the handle and crossed her arms over her books again.

"And I should believe you care because...?"

"Because I'm standing right here stopping you from getting in your car to apologize!" He said. Brielle rolled her eyes.

"And how do I know this isn't some other bet? That you're not distracting me so that your friend can jump out and egg me." Brielle spat. Nick sighed softly.

"Look..." he said, pulling out his wallet. He held up the two twenties he received from his friends, "I haven't brought myself to spend the forty dollars. I still can't bring myself to do it. I just...I'd rather have you back than buy myself whatever shit I don't need. I need you!" He said. He paused and handed her the money. She raised a brow.

"I don't want it." She said.

"I want to spend my bet money on having you back." He said, "no, you're not worth this much. You're worth so much more. I want to buy...another chance. A chance to spend all summer and hopefully longer on proving how much you're really worth. No amount of time I spend with you will ever prove how much you're worth, not even putting a dent in it, but I want to try because I want to make you happy again. I miss you. I miss you so so much."

Brielle listened to Nick go on and on. Her heart sunk a little. Her eyebrows knotted together and she was unable to hold eye contact as she had run out of that confidence. She couldn't help but think of how much she had missed Nick, as well. She sighed softly.

"You...are such a dick." She said. Nick nodded.

"I am. I'm an asshole. I'm a dick. I'm a douchebag. I'm all of that...but I'm also sorry." He said. Brielle couldn't help but smile a little as she tilted her head to the side.

"You're also a pushy idiot who keeps stopping me in front of my car." She said. Nick blinked and then remember back to when he would first try and get her attention. He smiled a little as well and chuckled.

"I mean...it worked for me before." He said, shrugging. Brielle chuckled and sighed softly, moving Nick aside and opening her car door. She threw her things into the back seat and pulled back out, looking up at Nick.

"And I guess it'll work for you again..." she rested her hands on his shoulders and leaned up, pressing her lips gently to Nick's. He was a little taken aback at first, of course, but he slowly closed his eyes and leaned deeper into it. Once they pulled away for air, Brielle raised a hand and grabbed Nick by his jawline, holding his head in place.

"I'm choosing to believe your apology and trust you again. Do not break it this time." She said. Nick smiled a little.

"I didn't plan on doing so." He said. Brielle shook her head and let go of him.

"So, where to?" She asked. Nick shrugged.

"Wherever you want to spend forty dollars." He said. Brielle grinned and tilted her head to the side a little.

"All of that's for me?" She asked. Nick stepped closer and pulled Brielle close to his chest by her hips.

"Brielle, everything I have is for you." He said. Brielle blushed and lightly smacked his chest.

"God you're such a romantic..." she shook her head and got into the driver's seat of her car. Nick chuckled, running a hand through his hair and taking a moment to breathe and thank the lord that the conversation didn't go badly.

He hurried around the car and hopped into the passenger seat. He looked out the back window to his car on the other side of the parking lot.

"We can come back for my stuff, right?" He asked. Brielle grinned as she started her car.

"Give me one good reason to not make you walk back to get it." She said, looking at him. Nick paused.

"Because I love you." He said. Brielle chuckled softly and leaned over, pecking his cheek gently.

"I love you, too." She said, leaning back in her seat and pulling out of the parking lot. Nick smiled to himself as he leaned back, as well. He took a moment to admire Brielle and be grateful he was with her again. He had definitely learned one hell of a lesson. No person is worth money.

Especially not her.

❤︎︎