Nickolas sat on Alexander�s sofa, as he listened to Destiny talk. Part of him wasn�t paying attention though, as he thought about Sunshine. She said she�d be home the end of July or the beginning of August. He hated the waiting and just wanted to fly to Australia to see her. He had so much he wanted to tell her and he didn�t want to wait anymore. He just wanted to tell her. He wanted to get rid of the pain in his chest. If he was just honest with her six months ago that pain probably wouldn�t be there and he could be in Australia with Sunshine. He wasn�t honest though and he wasn�t with her. He had such a problem with her not being honest and he goes and does the same thing. He was such a hypocrite.
�Nick, are you even listening to me? Destiny asked and he looked at her.
�I�m sorry you want to break up,� Nickolas said.
�No you�re not and neither am I,� Destiny stated. �I can�t go out with a guy who is constantly thinking about my best friend. You didn�t even want to make this relationship work.� Nickolas just looked at her. �Funny thing is I�m not even upset.� Nickolas just continued looking at her. �You�re not either. It goes to prove we really didn�t want to be together.� Nickolas was still looking at her and not saying anything. �Nick, we were just using each other, because we were upset over Brian and Sunshine. We didn�t go out because we liked each other, it was to get back at them and I know now that was wrong.�
�It was wrong of me to go out with you because of Sunnie.�
�No, it�s wrong of you not being with her. It was wrong of me to break that promise. When she gets back I�m going to apologize.�
�So am I.�
�No hard feelings then?�
�No.�
�Good. I�m hungry.� She walked out and Nickolas followed her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sunshine stood in Alexander�s kitchen and looked out the window at everyone. She was there for about twenty minutes and no one saw her. She watched for another five minutes and then slowly walked out to join everyone. She walked out onto the deck into the sun and they all looked at her a moment then went back to what they were doing. Sunshine walked off the deck and was approached by Brian.
�Hey, gorgeous,� Brian said giving her a hug. �I�m glad you made it home safely.�
�Thanks, Rok,� Sunshine said returning the hug.
�When did you get in?� Brian asked.
�Yesterday afternoon,� Sunshine replied. �I was really tired so I slept all day and night. Such a big time difference from here to Australia.�
�Yeah. Are you hungry?�
�Not really. I had a little something before I left the condo.� Brian took Sunshine�s hand and they started walking. They spied an empty table and went towards it, but bumping into Nickolas on the way.
�Sunnie,� Nickolas said.
�Nick,� Sunshine said, as Brian walked away.
�Can we talk? I have so much to say to you.�
�Well I have nothing to say to you.�
�Then will you listen to me and if you still don�t have anything to say then fine. I won�t bother you again.� She just looked at him. �Please.�
�No.� She walked away.
�Sunnie, wait.� He went after her.
Sunshine stopped and turned around saying, �Don�t you get it? The reason I left was because of you. When I wanted you the most you pushed me away and made me feel like I was worth nothing to you.� He looked at her. �Damn it, Nick, I was hurting and needed you so much and you wanted to be with Destiny instead.� He went to say something, but she stopped him. �For the past five months I was trying to figure out what I did to make you hate me so much. I then realized it�s not what I did, but what I didn�t do and that was not sleeping with you. You couldn�t get it off me so you went and got it off my best friend.�
�I didn�t hate you and I never will. I never slept with Destiny. I didn�t care that you didn�t sleep with me that night. All I cared about was us being together forever.� Sunshine just looked at him. �That�s all I care about now. I miss having you in my life and holding you in my arms, protecting you from whatever it is that haunts you. I miss sharing those little moments that mean so much to you, the long walks on the beach, sitting under the stars and enjoying the time we got together.� Everyone looked at them, but they didn�t notice. �I even miss you making a jerk out of me, because it makes you so happy, but most importantly I miss you.� They stood so close to each other that they could feel the warmth from the other and Sunshine bit her bottom lip. They looked into each others souls and Nickolas said, �Sunnie, please come back to me. I�m begging you. My life is empty without you.�
Sunshine waited a few moments just looking at Nickolas, as everyone watched and waited in anticipation. She took a deep breath and then with tear filled eyes she said, �I-I-I-I can�t.� She turned and walked away with Nickolas looking at her dumbfounded.
He didn�t understand, but knew what he had to do and just shouted out, �Sunnie, I love you!�
Sunshine stopped, but didn�t turn around. She waited a moment and then looked at Nickolas. �You know what haunts me the most, Nick? Falling in love. That�s what happens to me when I�m with you and I don�t want it to.� She knew it was a lie, but refused to say anything different. �I don�t want to fall in love, because I don�t want to be one of those people that end up getting hurt in the end. I just don�t want to go through that.� She turned and walked away and Nickolas just watched her even more dumbfounded.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Sunnie, are you all right?� Danielle asked outside the bathroom and trying to get Sunshine to come out.
�I�m fine,� Sunshine said.
�I should�ve gotten you out of there when he started saying those things to you. He had no right to. He hurt you again and this time I�m going to hurt him.� Sunshine opened the door just as Danielle started walking away. Sunshine grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
�Don�t, Dani.�
�But, Sunshine, he hurt you. I�m going to teach him not to mess with my friends.�
�He didn�t hurt me. So don�t go and hurt him.� Danielle just looked at her. �Since you�re not going to leave him go for yourself, do if for me. Please.�
�Fine, but next time I will hurt him.�
�There won�t be a next time. I promise.� Danielle hugged her.
�I�m sorry I didn�t get you away from him when he said all that stuff.�
�Don�t be. Maybe I needed to hear it so I know where I stand with him.� Danielle just looked at her, as they sat on the floor. �A part of me is mad at Nicky for saying all that stuff, but the other part is glad he did. When he was saying how he feels I was falling more and more in love with him.�
�But you don�t want to fall in love. Am I right?�
�Yeah�I guess so. I don�t know what I want.� She sighed. �I think it�s too late though. When he was begging me to go back to him it took all I had to not throw myself in his arms and tell him yes a million and one times. It was hard for me to walk away from, but even harder when he said he loved me.� She got up and walked to a window. �I wanted so much to tell him how I felt, but I couldn�t, because I was hurting and I don�t want to get hurt. Was I wrong to walk away?�
�No.� She got up and joined Sunshine at the window. �You did the right thing. You can�t leave Nick keep thinking that he�s the only one you want.�
�But he is the only one I want. Even though he hurt me more than once.�
�Sunnie, you need to move on.� She turned Sunshine towards her. �He is sweet, but look at all the things he�s done to you. You need to explore your options and you deserve better than Nick.� As Danielle said those last words Nickolas walked in. Nickolas looked at both girls who looked at him. The three of them stood there in silence and then Nickolas walked away.
�Nick, wait,� Sunshine said. �Don�t go.� She started after him, but Danielle stopped her.
�Sunn, leave him go,� Danielle said. �Don�t go after him.�
�I have to.� She freed herself from Danielle�s hold. �I have to explain.� She ran off leaving Danielle there alone and shaking her head.
CHAPTER 4
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