chapter 10: part 1

Lauren's POV

I twisted and turned but to no avail; I couldn't fall asleep. Every time I closed my eyes, Nicole's face flashes in my head. How her eyes shows the deep pain and misery she has gone through.

She seemed divergent. Different. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing because I haven't seen enough today to determine exactly how is she.

Not that she's my patient or whatsoever.

People may think that Nicole is overreacting with running away from home and leaving everything behind but you would be surprised with how much bullying and being repudiated can effect you.

I read an article about bullying few years ago. From what I read bullying causes anxiety, self-conscious, depression, constant worrying and a mental destruction.

Specializing in psychology made me realize all my crimes and sins I committed in my teenage days and how I wish that I could turn back time so I can fix it, but that's the thing in life; you commit mistakes and learn from them. The regrets and sorrows are nothing but lessons. It's a way for humans to mentally grow.

I laid on my back and sighed heavily. She's been consuming my mind the whole night. I grabbed my pillow from under my head and brought it upon my face. I muffled my frustrated screams in the pillow. This is gonna be a long night.

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I drove and shifted the gear after every few runs. I drank my hot black coffee every chance I got.

Last night was filled with restless attempts to sleep and with the overnight thinking, I realized that I needed to check on Mrs Erickson. (well she no longer is after the divorce, but you know it's a habit now.) It's been a while.

Even though Jonathan and I no longer dating, she still treats me like her daughter.

I arrived and parked the car in front of the garage. I got out, holding the cup of coffee in one hand while the other holds the car keys. I closed the door and locked it. I threw away the cup in the garbage nearby. I walked down the front yard, passing the swings and knocked on the door.

I heard small feet running towards the door and instantly smiled. The door swing open and I catched the beautiful brown orbs. "Laureeenn." yelled a small 7 year old matthew.

"Hey buddy." I instantly pulled him into a hug. He wrapped his arms around my neck and squeezed tight.

"We missed you. Mommy didn't say you would be coming over." He pulled away and smiled shyly at me. Oh, I forgot to mention, matthew has this crush on me since as long as I can remember. How ironic all the Erickson kids had some sort of affection towards me. Not to brag or anything.

"Well, it's a surprise visit. I missed you both as well. Can I come in?" I asked, politely.

"Yeah yeah yeah, s-sure please come in." I chuckled at the adorable blushing boy in front of me. I kissed his cheek and walked past him.

I looked behind me and saw him stunned. His hand is touching his faint pink cheek and his mouth is hung open. I laughed and shook my head. Kids I swear.

"MATTHEW, how many times should I tell you to not open the d-" Mrs Erickson scolded as she walked in from the kitchen. She was cut off when she saw me.

"Well look who's here." She smiled, warmly. She lifted her arms up. "Come here you." She gestured for me to come closer and hugged me tight. I hugged just as much. It's been a while. She was like an another mother figure to me (sorry mom).

I heard the front door closing behind me. I pulled away. "Did you eat breakfast?" asked Mrs Erickson as matthew stood next to her.

"Yeah. I ate some blueberry pancakes before I got here." I answered, smiling at the pair.

"Would you like to sit?" Matthew asked, holding his chin up high even though he was blushing really hard. I tried my hardest not to squeal and laugh at him because I didn't want to be rude.

Although Mrs Erickson didn't even try to hide it. She laughed, louder than I ever expected her to which made Matthew stump his foot on the floor. "Mommy!!" He whined. Aww how cute he calls his mother, mommy.

"Whaaat??" She acted baffled still laughing her hardest.

"This is not funny." He said through gritting teeth.

I ignored them and walked ahead, seating on the couch. I listened to both of them banter and smiled. I think I'm gonna stay here for a while.

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"And then mommy was like 'don't throw your shoes at girls, It's inappropriate'. Well, she doesn't get it, It's a game called 'catch or get hit'. The rules are simple; catch the shoe and you won't get hit." Matthew ranted while his mom looks at him disappointment.

"And who created this game?" I asked, amused.

"I did. But none of the girls wanted to play." He pouted and I can't help but awww.

"Well have you ever considered that no one wants to play with you, because you broke Emily's nose." His mother stated, looking more disappointed than ever before.

"Matthew......" I looked at him, shocked. How can a young innocent boy break a little girl's nose?.

"It's not my fault she didn't catch her mom's heals." He protested, raising his eyebrows. Mrs Erickson shook her head, scolding matthew as he frowned and tried to give his mother reasons as to why he shouldn't get punished.

"Wait wait wait wait wait. Hold up. How.......did you get her mom's heals?" I asked, genuinely curious.

He stayed quite looking up at me, looking all innocent with his puppy eyes. I frowned.

"Yes Matthew, how did you get her mom's heals?" His mom repeated my question but in a demanding tone.

He stayed quite, fidgeting in his seat. Mrs Erickson and I shared a look and waited for him to explain.

He stood off the couch and stretched. "Well, I gotta go and finish my homework. You know how important school is, mommy. Can't let you down, can I?" He spoke every single word while backing off towards the stairs until he took off.

"THIS CONVERSATION IS NOT OVER YET, YOUNG MAN." Yelled Mrs Erickson as I chuckled of how wonderful this family is.

"I love you too." I heard matthew yell from upstairs and I can't help but smile at the trick he's using. It's the same trick I use every time my mom catches me in act; always remind your mother that you love her. It works every time.

Only if you were a kid though because afterwards, you will see flying forks and spoons on your way. Literally.

"So, how's life?" I looked at Mrs Erickson, who was watching me with a beautiful smile plastered on her face. Over the years, Mrs Erickson barely changed. Just the same old wrinkles on the corner of her eyes, nothing else. Except, the glint in her eyes are dimmer than they were 6 years ago. I can never understand her feelings. I don't think any of us can. Losing a daughter and husband must of been hard.

And now Nicole is back. I'm still in shock that I got to see her again. I never thought I'll ever will since her disappearance. Should I tell mrs erickson about her daughter showing up all of a sudden?

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Nic's POV

"In his arms, yeah." I drummed the steering wheel, singing the song along with rita. We looked at each other and sang the next chorus together (more like screamed the next chorus together.)

"waiting for Superman...

...to lift her up

and take her anywhere

Show her love

and flying through the air

Save her now

before it’s too late tonight

Oh, at the speed of light

And she smiles."

I kept my eyes on the road, glancing at Rita every now and then; she was dancing on her seat very weirdly might I say. I turned my gaze back to the road and shook my head.

"She’s talking to angels,

Counting the stars

Making a wish on a passing car

She’s dancing with strangers,

She’s falling apart

Waiting for Superman to pick her up

In his arms, yeah

in his arms, yeah

She’s waiting for Super-"

I was cut off when Rita started slamming my dash board with her fists. Hard and repeatedly. "WHAT THE FUCK?" I screamed at her, looking at her baffled while hitting the breaks. Our bodies jerked forward but in a second we were pulled back to our seats. I puffed an air out. I turned my head to look at her. The hell is wrong with her?

I heard the cars honking behind us, so l sealed my lips and pulled over the side road. I stopped the car and turned my attention once again to rita who just let out a sighed and leaned against her seat. She turned her head and caught my eyes. I gave her a warning look. If this is one of her stupid unreasonable acts then I'm going to kill her.

"I'm bored." She said, staring at me with complete boredom.

I leaned against my seat, biting my lips from lashing out. My eyes are on the steering wheel, looking as blunt I could ever be. Shocked, would be underestimated. "I have. never. met someone, this bipolar before." I shook my head before turning towards her. Flames from hell are all I can see.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME? BORED?! YOU'RE BORED? YOU COULD'VE G-" I was slapped across the face before I could finish talking. I closed my eyes and breathed through my nostril. Breath Nic, breath. It's Rita we're talking about. I breathed out a sighed.

"You're spitting on me." I heard her say. I opened my eyes and was about to speak, but before I got to utter a word out. "If you hit me, you're racist." Rita said quickly while smiling sheepishly. If murder was legal right now, I would throw her out of the car and step on her with every slap she planted on my face and then leave the car on top of her while she suffer for days until she dies. Okay, now that was creepy.

"You're unbelievable." I settled by that  before I continue driving. After a few moments of silent, I heard rita incoherent a frustrated noise before she spoke "can we please go to the party?" I shook my head no.

An hour ago, James called Rita on her phone while we went grocery shopping since we clearly need some food in her fridge, and told her about the party that's happening in their college. Of course rita agreed since she always wanted to go to one of these 'wild college parties' which I find it completely stupid to be honest because in my opinion, it's a waste of time, waste of money, waste of health like seriously, all the alcohol in your system. God praise your liver. Oh and the an unnecessary headache, not to mention the after party effects. Uh uh, nothing good comes around from their parties.

As you can see, I clearly said no, and I still will.  Nothing is ever gonna change my mind. I experienced it once and I hated it with every blood cell in me. If rita is going then she's going alone because I. AM. NOT. GOING. My opinion has been said and I couldn't be any clearer.

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"You know Rita sometimes I keep asking myself, Why did I chose to live with you? Like I clearly have the money to buy myself an apartment but nooooo, I decided to live with you." I spoke with venom while the loud music hit my ear drums. People were dancing around, more like grinding on each other. The smell of alcohol and weed suffocated my lungs.

I covered my nose and mouth with my hand and looked to my left to find rita gone. I panicked and looked around. "RITA." I shouted frantically. Where did she go? I started walked around, calling her name. I bumped people in the process. How could I lose her? She was just by my side two minutes ago.

See, this is what happens when I go to parties; I get dumped on the front door. We haven't even been here for like 2 minutes and I'm already jinxed. I can't believe she begged me to come, just to dump me when we arrived.

I stopped and leaned against the wall, looking hopeless. I took my phone out of my pocket and checked the time, 7:34 pm. For fuck's sake.

I examined the party and the drunken people who danced on the huge living room. Everything in this house looked expensive and fragile. Basically, everything is made of glass. Who ever hosted this party is an idiot because all the ornaments are breakable and having crazy, no self control, college students in your house is not the greatest idea. Especially when college parties are way more crazier than high school.

I heard a faint voice calling my name. I ignored it at first, thinking it was my mind playing games with me. I heard the voice once again but a little bit louder. I looked around, trying to find it's source when my eyes locked with green forest-like eyes.

"Ashley." I said, confused. What the hell is happening? Is it reunite with your bullies day??

"OH MY GOD. IT IS YOU." Ashley shouted when she reached me. Seriously, you're standing right in front of me. Why are you shouting?

"You look hot." Ashley said, raising her eyebrows. She tilted her head to the side, studying my body until she caught my eyes and smiled. I tried to walk past her, when she put her hand on my chest to stop me from moving. I stopped and looked at her hand, raising my eyebrows. She caught my gaze and immediately pulled her hand away, mumbling a sorry while blushing slightly.

I sighed and waited for her to say something. "Where were you all these years? Your family missed you." I smiled a little with that information. It's nice to know my family still misses me but I'm not giving in. I've walked alone these past few years without them by my side. They kicked me out of their lives. Well, my father did but no one stopped him.

I saw rita coming my way. I rolled my eyes. Now she shows up?!! "Where were you?" She asked, raising her hand to slap me across my face but I caught her hand before it landed on my cheek.

"Where were you?!" I repeated her question but towards her this time. She shook her head and removed her hand from my grip, glaring at me.

She looked at the girl next to me and her eyes winded. "DAMN. You're still alive?" she asked, shocked to say the least. The first thing she ever says to a girl she haven't seen since high school is 'damn. you're still alive'?

"Well, you don't see me dead, do you?" Ashley said, chuckling. Rita mocked her chuckle and dragged me away from Ashley.

We stopped a few feets away. Rita hissed and slapped me on my shoulder. "Oww. What is wrong with you?" I asked, rubbing my shoulder from where she hit me. "What are you doing hanging out with her? I leave you for just a few minutes and then I see you causing troubles to yourself. That girl is a no. no. Okay?" She spoke to me in babies tone, like she is scolding a 5 year old.

"First, I wasn't hanging out with her. She approached me. and second, I'm not gonna waste my time here. I'm out." I finished speaking and walked away.

You can clearly see I'm annoyed as hell. I have been, since I entered this shit place. I had a lot of bad experience with a party back high school and I don't want to go through it again.

*flashbacks*

"Come one Cole. It would be fun. Trust me." My girlfriend Grace said while dragging me towards the fully blown party inside the house.

I took a deep breath when we met the party host or whatever you call him. "Grace." He greeted grace, smiling flirtatiously. Then he met my eyes and his smile fell but was put back on as if I didn't see it. "Welcome to my party. Feel free to do whatever." He gestured us inside and it felt like walking on a vibrator.

We walked inside as some people greeted Grace and gave me a filthy look, like I shouldn't be standing with a girl like grace. Well, they're right I shouldn't be. she's popular and I'm not. She's loved while I'm hated. She out going while I like to stay in the shadows.

We reached the kitchen and she poured us both a drink. She handed me a cup and I tried to refuse it but she was stubborn. I took it and asked "What is it?"

"Shhhhh." She placed her index finger on my lips shushing me. "Drink and don't ask." She told me and downed her drink in one go. I did the same which made me cough and spit my drink on the sink. Grace laughed beside me and grabbed my face with both of her hands, turning my head to meet her eyes. We stare at each other before she said "Let the games began." And kissed my lips.

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A/N:

Okayyyy. So the song on top is called waiting for superman by daughtry. You guys should definitely check it out because it's one of my favorites and trust me when I tell you, you won't regret.

Vote and comment whatever you want.