Nick reeled back from the door. He felt as if he’d been slapped. Here he was worried sick about Jessica and she actually had the gall to dismiss his so curtly. He could barely believe his ears when she had so rudely brushed him off. He stepped back from the door slowly his face still masked with disbelief.

Nick trudged slowly away from the door and headed down the dark hallway. Jessica’s words resonated in his thoughts. I’m fine Nickolas. Just go away. I’m fine Nickolas. Turning back to gaze at Jessica’s door he shook his head. He wanted to believe that Jessica’s attitude was merely the result of a bad mood. It was understandable that she was a little out of sorts what with all she’d been through recently. He wanted to believe this, but somehow he just couldn’t.

Shaking his head, he continued down the hall. He would respect her and leave her alone for now. It hurt him to do it, but he had to. He didn’t want to encroach on Jessica’s privacy. The last thing he wanted was to alienate her, especially when she was just beginning to open up to him.

His mind an impossible mess of confusion he suddenly stopped frozen in his tracks. His heart began to thud against his chest as his mind transported him back to a few days ago. Jessica’s voice rang loud and clear throughout his memory.

“Nickolas Carter! Stop it!”
“What?”
“Nothing. You called me Nickolas.”
“And…?”
“Well as far back as I can remember anytime anyone ever called me Nickolas I was always in trouble. It just brought back memories.”

The color drained from Nick’s face as the realization hit him. Her attitude made perfect sense to him now. She called me Nickolas. A mixture of fear and adrenaline coursed through Nick’s veins. His heart began to pump faster and louder. Jessica was in trouble. He was certain of it.

Jessica’s eyes were wide with fear as Justin roughly led her over to the bed. Her imagination was running wild with possible escape plans. In her heart, she knew that no amount of conspiring or plotting would free her from his clutches. It would take something short of a miracle to save her now.

As Justin tightened his grasp around her, she suppressed a sharp yelp of pain. The gun wavered slightly but never strayed too far from her side. The cold hard metal dug into her soft skin, poking and jabbing with each movement she made. Tears of not so much helplessness but fear streamed down her face.

“You love him don’t you?” Justin asked his voice dripping with contempt. Jessica remained silent too overcome with emotion to answer. “Answer me!” he roared succinctly. He stared menacingly at her his gaze a combination of jealousy and disdain.

Jessica felt her skin pinch as Justin’s fingers tightened around her. The gun pressed against her flesh harder as he awaited her response. “Yes,” she said softly through her tears. “I love him,” she whispered squeezing her eyes shut.

Justin’s grip loosened as his face fell. Jessica had just confirmed what was already so obvious to him. He could see it even in the pictures he took of her. The way she looked at Nick was the way she used to and was still supposed to look at him. “What about me?” he inquired hoarsely. “Don’t you remember how it used to be Jess? How good we used to be together?”

Jessica could feel her stomach lurch at Justin’s words. The memories he was dredging up were too much for her. She felt positively sick and disgusted every time she remembered his lips on hers or his arms around her. “I love you so much,” he told her wiping away the tears which continually flowed down her cheeks gently. Repulsed by his touch she backed away from him slightly. She bit her lip hard in an attempt to hold back her tears. The last thing she wanted to do was anger him any more than she already had.

“I won’t let you get away this time Jessica,” he ranted almost as if to himself. He grabbed her hand and began kissing it amorously. Jessica closed her eyes willing herself to be strong. How could she though when she despairingly knew that she was on her own? Hopelessly alone to fight a battle she was almost certain she had already lost.

A sudden crashing sound shook her from her thoughts as she awkwardly fell to the ground. She lay there stiff and unmoving as she tried to regain her composure. Her head throbbed with pain as light from the hallway streamed into the dark room assaulting her eyes as she tried to open them.

“Jessica! he yelled. Although he was yelling, his voice still had that soft and tender quality to it. She would recognize it anywhere. Nick. He was close. She could feel him.

Painstakingly she opened her eyes. Her vision cleared and her eyes fell upon a crumpled mass next to her. It was completely still and rigid as she looked on. She saw Nick next. He stood over her, urgently calling her name. His normally clear blue eyes were clouded with worry. Slowly she reached her hand towards him. She desperately wanted to touch him to know that he was really there.

Before her hand could reach his however, the seemingly silent mass roared to life. An unsolicited scream escaped Jessica’s throat as Justin flew at Nick. Her scream however was drowned out by Justin’s rage-filled voice as he yelled obscenities in Nick’s direction.

Mya basked in the serenity of AJ’s arms. The moment he wrapped his arms around her all her sorrows seemed to magically disappear. As he held her close she could feel her sadness slip away. It was such an incredible feeling for her being in the safety of his arms. She gazed at her surroundings absorbing everything; the way the powerful waves crashed against one another and broke as they hit the surface and the magnificent glow that the moon cast on the water. The stars by far though were the most appealing. They twinkled simultaneously like a sea of perfectly placed lights illuminating the sky. Mya picked the brightest one and wished on it with everything in her. She wished for the one thing she’d always wanted but never attained. She wished simply to be loved. Her parents had always cared for her, but she had never truly felt loved by them or anyone for that matter.

Her wish made, she looked up at AJ tears brimming in her eyes. Gently he wiped the tears away from her face. His touch was hot and searing like fire meeting ice as he stroked her cheek. She reached up and covered his hand with hers holding it against her cheek. “AJ?” she said her voice thick with emotion.

“Yes?”

“I think I’m in love with you,” she whispered her eyes as wide as saucers. AJ remained silent, stunned. Mya had just confessed what AJ had been feeling for some time now. He had been reluctant to say it though because he feared her reaction. Mya stared imploringly at AJ impatiently attending his response. His silence was killing her. After almost a minute of silence, she finally averted her eyes to the ground. Her face was a deep shade of crimson as she realized that AJ didn’t feel the same way about her. Embarrassment swept across her face as she desperately tried to remain indifferent.

Detangling herself from his grasp, she created distance between the two of them. She was ready to get up and walk away when she felt AJ’s firm hand on her shoulder. Using his index finger he titled her face back towards his.

In the next second, his warm lips were upon hers. AJ kissed her more passionately than she ever though imaginable. The world around her spun and swooned until it disappeared completely. As their lips met again and again in a fury of passion, Mya silently thanked her lucky stars. For the first time in her life, she felt loved.

The sound of Justin’s fist as it connected with Nick’s jaw echoed throughout the room. Nick retaliated hitting Justin squarely in the chin. Jessica watched, horrified at their flying fists and kicking legs. The blows became more brutal quickly. She felt helpless but was unable to move. Every inch of her body was paralyzed with fear.

Suddenly, Justin roared flailing his arms furiously at Nick. The gun clattered loudly to the ground but was unnoticed by either of the boys. Jessica however noticed it right away. It lay glistening in the light dangerously close to Justin’s feet. Her mind screamed at her to do something but the numbness in her body prevented her from moving an inch.

In an instant, Nick heaved Justin against the wall pounding at him with all his might. Justin however was not ready to accept defeat so easily. He fought back savagely. Their movements quickly created distance from the gun allowing enough space for Jessica to reach it if she tried.

Miraculously Jessica managed to move her body despite her fear. This was no longer just about her. It was about Nick now too. She crawled unsteadily on her hands and knees over to the gun. Tears pouring mercilessly down her face she seized the unfamiliar object into her shaking hands.

With every ounce of strength she possessed she clambered to her feet. “Leave him alone!” she screamed. Her voice was earth shattering as it rang throughout the house. It pierced through the air as the last blow was delivered.
[Next Chapter].[Table of Contents].