Forever

Chapter 8

It has been about 2 months since Nick has asked me out and I have loved every minute of it. He is deemed as "the player" at school but I think we are past that stage of doubt.

"Hey babe!" I hear behind me immediately followed my an embrace from behind when I'm at my locker in the morning. "Hey!" I returned the embrace. "I'm sorry but I can't make it to Starbucks after school today." "Oh, why?" I questioned. "I... uh... have to help my mom with my brother." "Oh... ok. That's fine then. We can go tomorrow." Huh. That was weird, like he was making up something right on the spot. I brushed it off. Maybe he just forgot the reason. Yeah, there's no way he'd lie. I shook my head to get rid of the doubting thoughts and shut my locker door to head to 1st period.

At lunch I told Austin all about what happened with Nick that morning. "Hm." He briefly said. Just by looking at his face I could tell he was keeping himself from saying anything more. "What?" I questioned. "Nothing..." He hesitated. "Tell me!" "It's just... what he did is very suspicious." "Explain." I pressed only. "I see the signs: blowing you off, making up an excuse to go, stuff like that. Marie, I hate to say this but it looks like cheating." "What? No! It can't be," I sat there shocked. "I mean I wouldn't put it past him. He's the biggest player in the school. Just be careful, that's all. I don't want to see you get hurt. I've seen too much of that." He said then stood up and walked away, leaving me thinking. He kinda does have a point. No, he loves me and I love him. He told me. I stood up and threw my trash away then walked to my locker.

It was the end of the school day and I sat on a bench by the entrance waiting for Austin like usual. I watched the doors of the school looking for Austin, but saw Nick walking out talking to another girl, but not just any girl, Scarlett Thomson. I stood up and walked over to him and hugged him from behind to surprise him. He jumped, startled, then turned around. "Oh Marie, sorry. I wasn't expecting it." He had an expression on his face, almost like he was nervous. "Haha it's ok. I thought you had to go straight to your house to take care of your brother." "I do. I was just... um... talking to her about a project." "School got out 30 minutes ago." Yeah it did. I gotta go." Nick said then ran off. I walked away, surprised then sat back on the bench and waited for Austin.

The next day, I had a free period because the principal announced that he needed to have an emergency meeting with my 2nd period teacher, so he let us go for the class. I walked to my locker to put my English textbook away. I turned the corner and stopped in my tracks. I stood there, shook. In disbelief, I froze. I fought back tears, which was a battle. I was blurred by the puddle of tears forming right in my eyes that just wouldn't drain.