• Chapter 18 •
"Always go too far because that's where you'll find the truth."
-Anonymous
I woke up with an uneasy feeling sitting at the pit of my stomache. looking over at the clock that sat on my bedside table.
11:30
I was late. I was very late. Jumping out of bed to turn on the shower, while tripping a few times. I checked my phone. 20 new messages, 5 missed calls.
and one voicemail, from Peter.
I was just about to listen to it when my front door swung open and three bodies entered. Claires expression was nothing short of agony.
Although I could relate to her. Having my boyfriend drop me for no reason and the minute he returns im forced to hangout with him but my friend doesnt actually show up.
Yeah, good reason to be mad at me, right?
"Brennen!" Claire yelled in an unusually calm voice. I popped my head out of the door frame of my room.
"Oh... Claire, Nic, Stephan. I was just about to head out." I say with my head tilted down in an attempt to cover the light shade of pink that was forming on my cheeks from embarrassment. Both boys chuckled. Lifting my head to glare at them.
"Make yourselfs comfortable, I'll go get ready." I grumble as I take the stairs two at a time.
By the time I was actually done getting ready Claire was yelling at Stephan about something that he did just a few moments ago.
"Guys... Guys.... GUYS!" I yell finally grabbing their attention.
"Can we go now?" Getting nods from everyone, we headed out and to expect nothing short of surprising.
••••••••••••••••••••
At first we just drove around in Nic's car trying to figure out what to do. Nic was telling me about the different things to do around the place while Claire and Stephan were, once again, arguing in the back seat. I turned around to see what they were arguing about.
"I just can't believe that you would drop me like I was nothing. It's like you didnt even care about-"
"Don't say I didn't care about you Claire, because out of eveything in my life your were the best thing in it. So stop putting words in to my mouth!" Stephan said with a huff.
"I'm not! You left me. You just left one day, without an explanation. I had to live everyday wondering if it was me that did something wrong or if you were hurt? I couldnt stop all the 'what if's' that entered my mind!"
"Then you show up again and now what am I suppose to think... that for some reason youre here to toture me or mock me. Mess with me? You are a real bastard. You know that?"
"I didn't mean to make you feel like that." Stephan mumbled and turned to look out the window. Claire looked up at me as I gave her a small smile. She sighed sitting back in her seat.
"Hey! What about bowling? Everyone loves bowling!" Nic tuned around to look at Claire and Stephan. They just shrugged.
"I think that means yes!" I said smiling and laughing a little.
"Good." Nic smiled while looking at me. A few uncomfortable glances and stop lights later we were at the bowling alley.
••••••••••••••••••
The bowling alley wasnt packed but it was completely deserted. Just the right amount of people for us to hangout and have fun. All four of us got our shoes and picked an alley to play on.
The game was going well. Until Stephan and Claire started to get competative.
"That's not fair! You cheated!" Claire yelled from her seat next to me.
"It's called talented. Something of which you dont have." Stephan shot back. Although there was a hint of joking in his comback.
"I think they are starting to make-up. Bet you their gonna hook up by the end of the night." Nic whispered in my ear. I turned my head, only to meet Nic's brown eyes. For a moment they looked like a perfect mixture of golden brown and they had a sparkle to them. The pair complement his lips. Having the right color to them. His face could capture people, mesmerize anyone. He's almost perfec-
What am I doing? Snap out of it.
I turn my head back to Claire and Stephan while listening to Nic chuckle beside me.
"Better be careful or you're going to find yourself in a deep trance from looking at me." Nic whispered ever so slightly. I was so lost in his words, I hadnt noticed that I was starring right at Stephen, who was looking at Nic like he was about to murder him.
I'm missing something, right?
"Brennen! It's your turn." Claire says waving her hand in front of my face.
"Huh, wha-, oh no I dont bowl. I'm not good at all. Sorry but I think I'm going to watch from here. Thank you very much."
"Oh come on! You cant just come here and not bowl. It's against the rules." Stephan huffs.
"What rules?" Was the first thing out of my mouth. I felt Nic shift beside me but I refused to acknowledge it.
"You know for once in a long time, I'm actually going to have to agree with Stephan.... you have to bowl! Plus we already put your name in." Claire smiles standing next to seat she was just in. I just huff and sit back.
"Come on" Nic started, "I'll help you, if you say you are that bad." He got up and held his hand out for me to take and reluctantly I did. Claire got up too and followed us. "First, you need a bowling ball," Nic smirked as he grabbed one and walked back over to me.
"Here you go." Handing it to me to take. "Then you just line it up and roll it." He finished with arm motions.
Taking in the advice, I nodded. The ball in the my hand was heavy but I carried it over to the lane and forcefully rolled it.... right... into. the. gutter.
"Welp looks like I dont have to bowl anymore." Walking back to my orginal seat thankful it was over.
"Hold on. Claire could you be so kind as to reset that." Nic smirked while dragging me back to the lane. I look over at Claire working on the machine as Stephan peared over her. I narrowed my eyes at them, just as Stephan put his hand on her shoulder and smiled down at her. Something was just about to come out of my mouth when a hand on my shoulder scared me out of it.
"So? You ready to give it another try?" Nic asks me.
"Hey Nic, come here for a second." Stephan yells.
"I'll be right back." Nic tells me. He walks over to Stephan just as Claire walks to me.
"What are they talking about?"
She shrugs. "No idea."
"So... How are thing with Stephan?" I ask.
Claire gives a small smile. "As much as I hated him, this night is reminding me of how much I miss being with him.
I grin at her and nod. "So you like Nic?" She asks. I choke on air and glance at her.
"Uhh-" but Nic jogs back over to us so I stop.
"Ready?" He smiles.
"Not really." I say back. Nic chuckles a little as I glare at the smirking Claire who sits in the background.
"Come on, I'll help you." He turns me around and I walk a few steps towards the lane. I felt Nic beside me, his arm finding its way around my body and landing on top of shoulder. Doing the same with his other hand as well.
"Ok, you have to focus. Then pull your arm back and aim for the pins." His voice says low. I did as told. Pulling the bowling ball back with his help.
"Now let it go." He whispers. I swing my arm forward and let the ball go, with a gasp leaving my mouth. I turn around and look at Nic. There was still a faint feather touch left over from where his lips touched my neck just a few moments ago.
Then the moment is ruined by Claire running into me screaming something, but I heard a louder voice. A bigger one.
Peters. He got really close to Nic and Stephan took a step.
"Stephan. Don't." Peters voice was low and dangerous. He still looked at Nic with sharp eyes. Nic looked somewhat fearful but he stood strong.
"Peter. I'm sorry. I didn't mean... It was all in the moment I swear!" Then before I could yell stop Peter's fist collided with Nic's face and he was on the ground. Peter was on top of him punching his with all his force. I look to Stephan who was just standing there like he's seen it before. Claire and I looked at them in shock.
"Stephan! Do something!" I yell. His face flashed guilt as his hands rubbed his face clearly irritated.
"I can't. I'm sorry."
"Fine if you wont, then I will." I mumble stomping over to Peter and Nic.
"I told you. I told you a million times to stay away from her. You knew, you knew and still you did something stupid. You don't deserve my protection, you don't deserve my help and you especially don't deserve to be a Lost Boy!" Peter yelled at Nic, who was craddled on the ground covering his wounds.
Lost Boy?
"Okay that's it!" I scream. "Peter stop!"
He stops immediately and turns to look at me slowly, anger still visible in his eyes. "I'm talking to you outside. Now!" I finish as I turn to walk out, with him following.