Chapter 23: *It All Comes Out Sometime*
(c) 2000-01
The N.C. Daily Dreamer
*Nick*
I tossed my keys on the kitchen table and rubbed my tired eyes. I saw the red light on the answering machine blinking and I pressed the play button. Brian's southern voice filled the air. "Hey, Nick. It's B. I was going to go visit Shelby, and I was wondering if you want to come with me. Call me." Hell, YES, I wanted to see Shelby! Why wouldn't I? I dialed Brian's number quickly and told him I sure as hell wanted to go with him to see my best friend. Fifteen minutes later Brian pulled into my driveway in his BMW. I hurried outside and hopped in the passengar seat. "You nervous?" Brian questioned me. "Should I be?" "I don't know. Should you?" "Brian!" "Chill, Nick!" "Are you ever going to tell me why she left?" "Now's your chance to ask HER!" Brian emphasized the word her. Mainly because I was asking everyone besides Shelby. "In that case I'm a tad bit nervous," I joked just as Brian pulled into her driveway. I practically jumped out of the car and rushed to the front door. Brian ran up behind me and rang the doorbell. After ringing it three times he tried the door knob. It was unlocked so we stepped inside. "Shelby?" Brian said as he stepped into the living room. I looked around and saw her sleeping on the couch with Sean resting on her chest. I lifted Sean up and placed him in his bassinet beside the couch. "Hey, what's this?" Brian held up a folded piece of paper with Shelby written on it. "That's the letter I put in her mailbox." I snatched the paper from him and glanced over it. The writing was smeared from tear strains. At least she didn't rip it up or anything. "Can I read it?" "Go for it." I gave Brian the paper and looked over at a piece of glass on the floor. I picked it up and looked over to see a picture frame with the glass shattered and a photo of Shelby and me. I grabbed it and sighed. Brian came over and stood beside me. "She hates me, Brian. I knew it," I mumbled and a tear rolled down my cheek. "No she doesn't. See, there's a pillow. And there are two more pictures of you guys on the wall, too," Brian tried to reasure me. "So, Bri! This is the newest, and I just know she hates me!" "No, she doesn't!" "And you're getting your info from...?" "Shelby. She won't admit it to anymore, but she always asks about you and I know why she left tour." "Don't make me ask again! You still won't tell me!" "She left because she relized that she was in love with you, Nick. Don't you see?!" "No. You're lying. She doesn't feel the same!" "Why else would she leave without telling good-bye?" "I don't know! I'm not a mind reader!" "When you're in love you do stupid things. Believe me! Ask Leighanne!" "What does that have to do..." "Nick, SHUT-UP! When Shel wakes up ask her. I'm leaving now. Bye." Brian walked away and opened the door. "Pour your heart out." I just stood there in a trance. Brian was lying. What he said wasn't true. None of it. Or was it? I wanted to believe him, but my mind refused. It was then when I made my decistion to listen to the repeated words my heart was saying. I was going to listen to it. I had to make sure Shelby knew I meant what I wrote, and I WAS going to figure out how she felt. I placed the picture on a small table to the left of me and lifted up Shelby's feet on the couch. I sat down and laid her feet on my lap. I slipped her shoes off and just watched her sleep.
*Shleby*
My eyes fluttered open to see Nick at the end of the couch with my feet laying on his lap. He looked at me and I knew he'd seen the picture and saw the tears stained letter. I sat up and held a pillow tightly to my chest. "Shelby?" "Yeah?" I mumbled glancing over at him. "I know why you left." "No, you don't." "Brian told me, Shel. Just tell me the truth." "You want the truth?" I stood up crossing my arms and he stood up also. "Please." "Dammit, Nick! Why do you keep make me doubt myself?" "What?!" "I'm in love with you, but everytime I try to seperate myself from you, you come back and it's so hard!" "I wanna be with you! Forever! I'm telling you this because my heart is telling me to. Why can't you listen to your's, hun!" "Because everyone I get close to ends up leaving me! All my life it's happened and I can't take it anymore, Nick!" "I admit, I did leave ,but I came back and I always will. You should know what by now!" "But Nick..." I got out before he pulled me to him and pressed him lips against mine. Right then I listened to my heart and let down my guard. I kissed him with everything in me and when I finally pulled away, I hugged him tightly and pressed my ear to his chest. I listened to his heart rapidly beat. If he'd done the same he's hear mine doing it, too. "I love you. I love you so much. I'm so sorry. I love you," I kept repeating over and over. "I love you, too," Nick whispered kissing the top of my head and strengthening his grip around me. "I'll always be there for you."
*-*THE END*-*
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