Monday morning! New life! I inhale the fresh morning scent as I walk towards the school building. Mom is already gone to work. Today, I'm a whole new Nicole Anderson!
Be in charge! Just play.....
The words ring in my head and I smile striding confidently in the hallway and finally get to my locker.
"Hey there!" Someone says and I almost died of shock. Claire stood there.
"Oh hey Claire" I say.
"You look good today" she compliments
"Thanks you too"
"I need you to help me with something. Tomorrow's Jenna's birthday and I need you to choose a colour to wrap her a present" Claire states.
"Jenna's birthday?" I ask and Claire nods. That means I would have to get her a gift as well. The only colours I could think of were black and navy because they were my favourite but maybe she has a different taste in colours.
"What's Jenna's favourite colour?" I ask Claire
"Yellow" Claire says.
"Then use a yellow wrapper for the present" I conclude.
"I would like to design her name on it! Which colour? Cos I can't use yellow for that too" Claire says with a pout.
"Okay, why don't you see me after school?" I state.
"Okay! Done" Claire says with a beam and dashes away. I sigh and pick up my books thinking of a present I could possibly give to Jenna.
A dress? No
A watch? Maybe
A bag or clutch? Maybe.
I just have to get a perfect present. I haven't known her for so long but she's nice and she inspires me a lot unlike Melissa who puts me off all the time.
I walk to my class and plop down on an empty desk at the back. There's no one here. I feel at peace.
"Oh isn't it Miss Alpha! " someone says and giggles. Kate! I just wished she died from the toxins that entered her body when the frogs leaped onto her! But she somehow survived and she's been blaming me for that incident. Well its true I did it but I can't stand her taunts basically everyday.
I flash her a bright smile.
"Hello Kate! I'm happy to see you alive and kicking" I say in a sickly sweet voice.
"Of course! Always deceptive and cunning!" Kate states and chuckles.
"I have no problem if you think of me that way Kate! Cos I know I'm not that kind of person" I reply with a fake smile.
"Oh yes you are and everyone is getting to know the kind of person you are! You are now lonely! If I hadn't come here, you would have been all alone at that corner! Such a pity" she spits and my blood boils.
"I'm not alone!" I yell at her
"You are dear and I tell you your empire is about to fall" Kate warns with a smirk.
"What?"
"Do you want proof? Okay! Baby please come here for a moment" She calls someone in sweetly.
Who was that?
Jake walks in and I gasp.
"Hey babe" he says to Kate and pecks her cheek. A pit of fire forms in my stomach. What? They are a couple now? Why do you care Nikki? You don't love him. But maybe I do.
"I missed you " Kate sang
"I missed you too! I was blind! I didn't know I was following the wrong person" he says and glares at me.
"I warned you" Kate says.
"I know Shhh" he says and plants a kiss on her lips. What the hell?
"I'll see you later my Queen! Bye" Jake says and gets out of the class. Kate turns to look at me. She is pleased.
"See? I told you! This is enough proof and more thunderstorms are coming your way Nikki! I was right about you! And all your friends will know you! You already lost Jake and Aaron! Who's next? You have only Danny, Kimberly and Troy! I pity you" she spits venomously and laughs wickedly as she walks out of the classroom. I'm hurt.
Be in charge! Be in charge Nicole! You can handle this! Why do I feel like my heart is shattering into pieces? I sit on my desk and take a deep breath. I just need to stay strong.
Kimberly enters after a few minutes.
"Hey Nikki!" She greets and places her books on the empty desk beside me. I feel hurt.
"Hi Kim" I say but my voice comes out weak.
"What's wrong? You sound like a dying walrus" she spits and I chuckle a bit but it doesn't help settle the confusion and anger going on in me.
"Nothing really! Just thoughts" I say with a shrug and open my notebook on the table. I take my pen and just draw lazily on the sheet.
"Something's wrong with you! I know you very well Nicole Anderson" Kimberly says and I realise how serious she is because she just mentioned my full name. I sigh.
"Kim, its okay! I'm fine" I reply with a fake smile.
"Something happened! Because I just saw Kate and Jake walk out of this classroom together holding hands" Kimberly spits and my breath hitches. She saw that?
"Oh that! It was just a show! You know Kate" I shrug.
Kimberly doesn't believe me. She didn't buy it.
"I know you and Jake were something" she spits.
"We were just friends Kim and we aren't anymore"
"What happened"
"I'd rather not talk about it. Its complicated" I reply and continue to draw.
Kimberly sighs and sits down. I just wanted the day to go really fast so that I can go home and sulk in my bed.
ððð
I was pleased it was finally lunch time. Kimberly and I strode to the cafeteria. We have been talking about random stuff and she actually cheered me up a bit.
We sat down and ate. I haven't seen Aaron and Alec today. Troy, Danny, Jenna and Claire join us.
"Hello guys" Danny says and sits with Jenna. Troy sits by Kimberly and Claire also sits by me.
I smile but it was fake. I wasn't the least bit enthused today.
"So people what have you been up to?" Troy pipes up.
"Just doing stuff" I reply.
"Yeah" Danny agrees and winks at Jenna.
"Actually, Jenna and I have something to say to you all" Danny adds.
"What?" Claire asks.
"We are officially a couple now" Danny spits and everyone coos.
"That's great" Troy gushes.
"Yeah" I agree.
Danny smiles proudly
Something catches my eye and I see Melissa and Aaron at a table talking and eating. I feel bad for Aaron. He's still hurt I think. I spot Jake and Kate walk into the cafeteria holding hands. My stomach flutters and I lose my appetite.
They sit on a table together. Kate looks at me and smirks evilly at me. I get up.
"Are you done Nikki?" Claire asks.
"Yeah! I need to go to the restroom" I reply and leave the cafeteria. I breathe in when I get outside.
"Nikki?" Someone says and I recognize the voice, Alec.
I turn around and without thinking I hugged him. He hugs back and I'm relieved. I know he put me in this situation but I needed someone to hug so bad
"Are you alright?" He asks when we break apart.
I nod.
"Can we go somewhere after school?" I ask him and he's shocked.
"Sure where?" He asks
"Anywhere! I just need a place to go and relax" I reply.
"Okay but what happened? You look frustrated" he says and I sigh.
"Nothing important. What's your next class?" I ask hoping he will have the same class as mine.
"English?" He says as if questioning me. Thank God! I also have English.
"Let's go then" I say and drag him to class. He was still confused with my behavior.
We sat together at the back. Some students were already in.
I dump my books on the table.
"Nikki! If something's bothering you, you can tell me" Alec enquires.
Your empire is about to fall
Kate's words replay in my mind.
More thunderstorms are coming your way Nikki
What's Kate planning to do to me?
"Nikki" Alec snaps me out of my thoughts.
"Sorry" I reply and sit down embarrassed.
"Something is going on! Tell me!" Alec demands.
"You wouldn't understand okay! Its all your fault"I retaliate.
He sighs.
" is it the girlfriend thing again?"he asks sober now and I nod.
"Look, I'm really sorry" Alec says.
"Its okay" I reply sharply and tears sting my eyes.
He sighs.
"I'll tell my mom and everyone it was a lie" Alec says and I frown
"No don't!" I hear myself saying. I would have loved that but his mom wanted us to be together. She would be hurt
He raises an eyebrow at me
"For your mom" I remind.
His face softens and he nods.
"Thanks Nikki" he says.
There is silence between us until Mr Cartwright walks in.
°~â¢~â¢~°
"Hey mom! I'm going somewhere with a friend so there's no need to pick me up! See you later" I say into my phone and send it as a voicemail. She was too busy to pick up her phone.
School has finally ended and am overjoyed I'm not going to see Kate and Jake holding hands again. Their names really rhyme when I think about it and it makes me feel like puking but anyways I'm in Alec's car heading towards... God knows where! He hasn't told me yet.
Its sunset and I feel at peace now. We finally pull up at a place. It was like on a hill or something and it gives the perfect view of the sun.
"What is this place?" I ask Alec
"Its my let's say, personal adviser" he responds and I chuckle.
"Personal Adviser? " I ask with a chuckle. He smiles at me.
"Whenever I have thoughts bothering my mind, I come here to relax and it always gives me the perfect solution" he explains.
"Its like the wind talks to me" he adds.
"Oh really! Well let's see about that!" I reply and get down from the jeep.
A cold comforting air hits me. I walk further on the grass and get a better view of the sun setting. It was beautiful.
"Let's go over there" Alec says and points to a stream.
We walk to it and sit at the bank.
"This place is wonderful" I say and place my hand in the stream's warm water.
"Be careful! There could be dangerous animals underneath" Alec warns and I recoil quickly earning a laugh from him.
"I was just joking" he says and I frown splashing water on him.
He laughs harder and splashes some in my face.
I splash even more then I pushed him into the water. He resurfaces and laughs at me.
He comes back to the bank wet.
"Look what you did" he states and I laugh at him
Then before I realised it, he pushed me into the water.
I resurfaced.
"YOU JACKASS!" I yell at him and he laughs at me.
I got onto the bank wet too. Even though I was wet and everything, i t kind of made me happy and I forgot what happened today. My heart wasn't heavy anymore.
"Whoah, you look good! Do you want another push?" Alec spits
"Don't even---" I warn but he pushes me into the water again.
I resurface.
"ALEC!!!" I yell at him.
"I didn't do anything? By the way! Who's Alec?" He taunts and I groan.
I get out of the water again.
"Here" Alec says and hands me a red rose.
"Thanks" I reply and take it.
"Where did you get it?" I ask surprised whiles sniffing the rose.
"I plucked it from the Rose Bush over there" he replies and points to it.
"Its really beautiful" I say.
"Like you" he says and I blush. I punch him playfully on the arm.
"Now I'm wet! How do I go home?" I spit.
"Don't worry! You can sleep here" Alec suggests
"Like seriously? What if a wolf or a bear comes by?" I blurt looking around. It was a kind of small forest.
"I'll be here to protect you" Alec offers.
I scoff and walk back towards the jeep.
"Are you going Nikki? Cos I know for sure you do not have the car keys"he hollers
I don't reply and just sit on the grass and stare at the sun and the rose.
" okay so Alec says you speak to him forest! Tell me! What should I do with Jake? Is my empire about to fall as Kate said? Please advice me"I say. Someone would think am crazy but I wanted to give it a shot.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath waiting for the so called advice Alec claims this forest gives.
A strong wind blows past me and I think I heard something. I relax and try to listen again. This time it comes more clearer and I hear the words
Talk to Jake
Oh my God! Did the forest just speak to me? Or it was just an imagination? I hear the leaves of the trees rustle.
There's something supernatural about this forest!