• Troublesome • Rhett x Reader •

• Chapter Eighteen •

My eyes flutter open,  and the sun's orange glow leaks in through my curtains onto my bed sheets. I waste no time hopping up, sliding my legs into some jeggings, and buttoning up a plaid shirt around my chest. After pulling my hair into a messy bun, I rushingly brush my teeth before hurrying out of the door and to the closest bus stop. As much as I want to be around Rhett this morning, I'm going to avoid bumming him for rides until later in our... friendship?

I lean against the glass of the window and plug my earbuds in, turning up my music.

What are we? We kissed, so does that automatically mean we are more than friends? But don't friends kiss sometimes? I've kissed Nicole before, but that was Vodka and spin-the-bottle's fault. I absentmindedly pull up Rhett's contact and stare at it, fingertip lingering over the text bubble.

I ultimately decide to stuff my phone back in my pocket and not have that awkward "what are we?" conversation at this very moment. After all, that risks ruining whatever we have.

After my thoughts wander a bit more, I return to reality as my father's abandoned car enters my line of vision. With a squeal of the strained bus brakes, we come to a stop. A few of the scattered people on the bus pile out with me and then disappear in different directions. Taking a seat in the car, I drive straight to work.

The rest of the day goes swimmingly. I avoid Nicole, which overall was surprisingly pretty easy. It turns out that she stayed home. A slight worry tugs at my chest, but I shake it off and continue with my day mostly unphased. Someone who can, so easily, use my insecurities to bring harm to me doesn't deserve my concern or sympathy. Still, the thought of her keeps popping into the back of my mind throughout the day. Rhett and I usually don't see each other, so his lack of presence is nothing unfamiliar to me. My neediness is just slightly out of whack since the kiss.

At the end of the day, I drape my purse around my torso and stride out of the building and into the parking lot, where I find an amused Rhett and Link chatting outside, casually leaning against a car that I don't quite recognize. I slow my pace a bit as I pass, noticing his eyes meet mine for a brief moment before returning to Link without any further action. My smile fades.

Did he even see me?

I wave at him, flashing a smile once again. This time Link looks up as well. Rhett smiles and waves, but goes right back to Link without saying anything. I bite my lip, and join them after tossing my bag in the car.

"Hey, sorry, am I interrupting something?" I present my false apology.

"Oh, no, we're just talking about our upcoming vacations." Rhett speaks over Link.

"Sounds cool. Where to?" I try to start a conversation, but I can't help but feel I'm intruding.

"That's still up in the air." Link explains. "I'm gonna get going now. See ya."

With that, Link hops into his car. Rhett and I are left standing there in silence. I'm starting to think that kiss never happened and that I should be put into an insane asylum. I cross my arms in discomfort before walking away without a word.

To my surprise and disappointment, he didn't stop me.

I prop my legs up comfortably on the arm of the couch, laying across the cushions on my back. Tucking my arms under my head, I watch a movie on the TV. Though I didn't pay attention to what's even playing, it's something I feel like I've seen before. Unless it's just one of those super generic RomComs with the same plot they all have. I frown and hit the off button on the remote, dropping my head back onto the couch and staring at the ceiling. Friday night, and this is what I'm doing?

I've always wanted a simple life to the point of utter blandness, but this is starting to get a bit stale.

Closing my eyes, I start allowing my mind to wander. I keep a tight hold on it though, afraid to let it find a way into the depths that I haven't revisited in years. Things that I'm not ready to experience again, even as a memory.

I used to question why people made memories sound like anything other than a thought, something that is gone almost as quickly as it was there. Nothing tangible, nothing like they make it look like on television. Like you're actually there, experiencing it all over again.

But after my mother walked directly off of our old apartment building as I helplessly watched from below, I realized what they were actually referencing.

Flashbacks are what I'm petrified of, and it certainly wasn't fun experiencing that over and over again. I don't want to have another any time soon.

I come back to consciousness to my phone vibrating. I must've fallen asleep. Sitting up, I feel my back crackle, warning me to never sleep like this on the sofa again. I groan and grab my vibrating phone. I see the name before I see the time.

Nicky. Why is she calling me after midnight? And why can't I convince myself to press the off button? With a deep breath, I answer, my voice corse on my end of the line.

"What." I settle on the passive aggressive greeting, and though I like getting to the point, I don't like the possibility of sparking another outburst from her...

For a moment, she does not answer. I only know she's there because of the sound of her mouth opening and closing with thought. Something she does often enough for me to recognize, apparently. Then, her brittle voice emerges from her end.

"You were right." She whimpers.

I know.

"About what?" I play dumb.

"You know what..." She calls me out. "And... I'm sorry about what I did yesterday. I know you wouldn't mess with a married guy."

"You embarrassed me and made me look like some kind of home wrecking whore in front of my coworkers, and you think I'm mad about you assuming I'd get with a married man?" I widen my eyes and run my fingers through my hair, completely flabbergasted. "H- holy shit, dude..."

"I'm sorry." I hear her start to cry. "He has been cheating on me... He was planning to have his sidechick over at some point when my family would be staying with us, probably while I'm at work or the salon..."

I take a deep breath and swallow my frustration for the moment. While it does not mean that I forgive her, I definitely wouldn't be able to leave her alone at a time like this. I know better than to leave an angry and depressed person by themselves again.

"How did you find out?" I ask.

"His phone went off while he was in the bathroom. I didn't want to snoop, but... Since you mentioned the possibility... I couldn't not look. Especially since it was unlocked already, I never catch his phone when it's unlocked. It was my only chance, I-"

"Nicky, you don't have to explain your reasoning to me. All that matters is you found the truth. Did you confront him?"

"No, he's been out for a while now."

I sigh audibly, hoping not to sound too annoyed.

"Do you want me to come over?" I speak in a low tone.

"Yes, please." Her please broke into sobs.

We hung up not long after, and I changed into my pajamas before grabbing my keys and driving to her place, where I find her trembling in a pile of her sheets and pillows. Without a word, I let out a long breath before climbing onto the bed with her and hugging her tightly.

"Let's get some sleep, Nicole." I whisper into her tangled hair.

"Okay..." She sniffles.