Heather�s eyes opened slowly, being flooded by light. She moaned and rolled over onto her stomach, burying her head in the pillow. � Not another one. Please god not another one,� � Another one what?� Nick asked standing in the doorway, holding a breakfast tray in his hands. He made his way over to Heather, sitting the tray on the edge of the bed. He sat next to her and placed his hand on the small of her back. � What�s the matter?� He asked softly. � Anfjief Morekdfj�� She mumbled into the pillow. � What?� He chuckled. � Babe, what�d you say?� She rolled over on her side and looked up at him. � Another morning. I hate mornings. Especially this one,� � Why?� He asked, moving some of Heather�s hair off her shoulder. � Because I have to go meet with Harvey Waldenberg,� � Harvey Waldenberg? As in the President of Motions Records?� Heather nodded, falling back down on the pillow. � He�s an asshole and a pervert�and he holds my life in his hairy little palms. He�s always coming on to me and grabbing my butt when he thinks no one�s looking. He�s old enough to be my father� gross. I don�t wanna think about it,� She said covering her face with her hands. � Well if you don�t wanna go, just call em and tell them you�re sick,� � You don�t call in to cancel an appointment with Harvey. That�s like the eleventh commandment,� � Yeah, but how many people actually follow the Ten Commandments?� � I have to go. I just hope I don�t have to stay there too long.� � Well if you hadn�t noticed, I made you breakfast and it sounds to me like you need all the energy to you can get to handle hairy hand Harvey,� Nick reached back for the tray while Heather sat up. He carefully sat the tray on her lap. � I wasn�t sure what you wanted, so I made a little of everything-� � You can cook?� She asked. � I�m not Wolfgang Puck if that�s what you�re asking.� He laughed. � But it is edible. Now, You have apple juice, and milk because you need both. I know you hate pancakes, so I made waffles, strawberry waffles at that.� He looked up at Heather just in time to see tears roll down her cheeks. � Heather? What�s the matter?� He asked. � I�m sorry,� she said quickly brushing the tears away. � This is the nicest thing anyone�s ever done for me and I guess� I just got a little over emotional,� � Well don�t cry yet, you haven�t tried my eggs,� He smiled. � Did you call your mom?� She asked sipping her apple juice. � Nope,� He said standing up and walking around to the other side of the bed. � I know she�s gonna go ballistic-� � Nick she�s worried about you. Just call her and tell her you�re okay. She�s not going to go ballistic,� � You said you talked to her yesterday and she�s knows I�m here� that�s good enough,� � No Nick. It�s not. And if you don�t call her right now, I�m not eating anymore,� Nick�s eyes widened at Heather�s demand. � Heather that�s not fair! I worked hard on that breakfast.� � Then call your mother,� � No,� He said stubbornly. � Fine,� Heather said sitting the tray next to Nick and getting out of bed. � Heather!� � I�ll be in the shower if anyone calls,� She said closing the bathroom door behind her. Jane sat on the edge of the pier, holding the cordless phone in her hand. She�d been sitting there practically all day, hoping Nick would call. Things had been tense between them for a while, and his taking off really scared her. She knew where he was, but hearing his voice would calm her nerves so much more. The vibration of the phone ringing in her hands startled her and she almost dropped it into the water below. She fumbled with the talk button, finally turning it on. � Nick?� She said. � Hey mom. I�m here in California and I�m okay. Goodbye-� � Nickolas, wait a minute. I want to talk to you.� � I gotta go, mom,� � Just a few minutes, please,� The line fell silent while Jane waited for Nick to answer. � Nick?� She asked softly. � A few minutes,� He sighed. � Would you please tell me what�s going on with you? Why didn�t you tell me you�d been expelled from school? I thought you were on break?� � This is why I didn�t want to call you. You ask too many fucking questions. I only called because Heather wanted me too-� � And you�ll do anything Heather says right? You listen to her?� � I love her mom-� � You think you love her-� � What the fuck is this about? Huh? I thought you liked Heather. Now you�re blaming her for me leaving school?� � Nick I�m just worried about you. You�re changing-� � No! I�m not changing mom, I�m just growing up. I want different things now and I�m not getting it at school-� � Nick if you want to be with Heather fine, but don�t give up on your schooling. Nick you�ve come so far and I just don�t want you see you waste it- � � I�m not wasting anything! I�m doing what I want to!� He sighed frustrated. � Mom, Heather�s in the shower right now, and I really don�t want to talk about this. I�ll be home in a few days.� � Nick-� She started to say, but was cut off. She turned off the phone and looked out on the water. Fighting off her tears she stood and headed back towards the house. She was wrong. Hearing Nick�s voice didn�t put her at ease; it only scared her more. Chapter Nine |