�Nick, don�t go. Please stay so I can explain.�
�What for? Danielle made herself very clear just now.�
�I can explain all that if you�ll just stay and listen.� They looked at each other and they heard Sunshine�s name. They both looked and saw Josephine and Destiny.
�We�ve been looking everywhere for you,� Destiny said.
�Now�s not the time,� Sunshine stated.
�We need to talk,� Josephine said. �It�s really important.�
�Not now,� Sunshine said getting angry.
�Why not?� Destiny asked. �We need to straighten everything out.�
�Fine you want to talk,� Sunshine rebutted. �We�ll fucking talk. We�ll talk about how betrayed I felt by the two of you. I trusted you both. You were my best friends and you ruined that.� Nickolas, Josephine, and Destiny just looked at her. �Des, you went out with Nick and broke your promise. Jo, you ruined it between me and Howie. Yeah I still had feelings for Nick, but towards the end I liked what Howie and I had. It was comforting and you ruined it for me. Then it didn�t help any when Nicky said he was going with Des. I was devastated to learn that Des broke a promise she swore to keep.�
�I�m sorry, Sunn,� Josephine and Destiny said.
�Forget it,� Sunshine said. �I can hardly stand to look at you right now let alone hear you say you�re sorry.� She turned and looked at Nickolas. �That goes for you too.� She walked away and Nickolas sighed.
�One minute she was talking to me like I never did anything to her and then the next�� Nickolas stated. �I don�t understand her sometimes. I guess that�s why I like her so much, because she�s a big mystery.�
�Don�t you mean love her,� Josephine said.
Nickolas just looked at her then said, �I�m sorry Sunnie yelled at you two.�
�Don�t apologize for her,� Destiny said. �We deserved it anyway.�
�We shouldn�t have done what we did in the first place,� Josephine said. �But you didn�t deserve to be yelled at, Nick, you didn�t do anything to her.�
�Yes I did,� Nickolas said.
�The only thing you did was tell her you love her,� Josephine said. �What else did you do?�
�It�s a long story,� Nickolas said. �And now�s not the time so I�m going to go.�
�You�re leaving,� Destiny said. �Why?�
�There�s something I need to do,� Nickolas said. �I�ll be back�for Sunnie.� Josephine and Destiny watched as Nickolas got in his car and drove off.
�What if he has an engagement ring for Sunn?� Destiny suggested. �That�d be so cute.�
�Aren�t you and Nick going out?� Josephine asked a bit confused.
�We just broke up today. We were just using each other so neither of us is heartbroken. Wouldn�t it be cool if Sunn and Nick got married?�
�Yeah, but I doubt it will be anytime soon considering what�s going o between them right now.�
�You�re right.�
�Let�s go beg Sunnie for forgiveness.�
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�I shouldn�t have come here today,� Sunshine said. �I should�ve just stayed at the condo like I was going to, but instead I came here trying to get over everything. It all backfired though and I�m as miserable as ever.�
�Don�t say that,� Danielle said.
�You don�t deserve it,� Howard said.
�That helps a lot,� Sunshine said. �Especially coming from an ex who realized after one year of being with me he was still in love with my best friend.�
�That�s not fair,� Howard said.
�Why ain�t it?� Sunshine asked. �When we first got together you could�ve told me you were in love with Josephine, but instead you left me believe you were over her. I was such an idiot, just like I was an idiot with Nick. You both are the same. No wonder you�re friends��
�Hey, you still had feelings for Nick when we were together,� Howard reminded her.
�But at least you knew,� Sunshine said. �I didn�t make you believe I was over him.�
�And I didn�t make you believe I was over Josephine,� Howard replied.
�Don�t give me that shit, Howard,� Sunshine snapped. �You told me point blank that you were over her, because you developed feelings for me. I never told you I was over Nickolas. You knew how I felt about him. I told you that in the beginning just like you told me how you felt about Josephine. I never told you otherwise like you told me. So don�t even think about standing here and telling me a bunch of shit that ain�t true. I know exactly what you told me and had me believe. Son of a bitch I was an idiot. I don�t even know why I come back all the time. I�m going to go start a new life without you guys.� She walked away.
�Sunshine, where are you going?� Danielle asked.
�I have no idea,� Sunshine replied not looking back and they watched her.
�Sunn!� Danielle yelled after her, but she kept going.
�What do you think she�s going to do?� Howard asked concerned.
�I�m not sure,� Danielle replied also concerned. �I hope nothing stupid.�
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Nickolas got out of his car at Alexander�s and walked to the backyard. He was smiling the whole time and Brian saw him and just followed him. Nickolas stopped and started looking around. After a few seconds looking he started walking again and then stopped in front of Danielle, Howard, Venus, and Alexander.
�Where�s Sunnie?� Nickolas asked. They just stood there not saying anything and looked at each other.
�Um�Nick,� Venus began, �Sunn left.�
�Again?� Nickolas said. �Where�d she go?�
�She said something about starting a new life,� Howard replied. �And then she walked off. She never said where she was going.�
�Why didn�t you stop her?� Nickolas questioned.
�When she does this, Nick,� Danielle started, �she wants to be alone. So leave her alone.�
�I need to see her though,� Nickolas said. �It�s important that I do.�
�Nick, forget it,� Venus snapped. �After that stunt you pulled I wouldn�t be surprised if she never wants to see you again. I wouldn�t blame her either.� Everyone standing there just looked at her in shock. Venus never stood up for herself let alone anyone else. �You�re an inconsiderate prick who cares about no one�s feelings except your own. I don�t know how Sunn could ever fall for someone like you. From what I�m getting out of all this, Sunn does not deserve you or anyone who looks like you or associates with you. She deserves someone way better that a blonde-haired, blue-eyed monster who wants to get her in the sack the first chance he gets.� Everyone stared at her. �You constantly hurt her and you never make up for it. You could careless just as long as you have a flavor of the week. No wonder she went to Australia without telling anyone. She didn�t want to be your flavor for however long you wanted her to be. She�s better off without you.� She took a deep breath. �There I�ve said my piece and I feel much better.�
They all stood there silent and then Nickolas said, �Destiny and Josephine, do you two have anything to add? I already heard how Danielle feels so it�s all on you now. Or maybe Venus said it all and you�re agreeing with her so you have nothing to say. Am I right?� They just looked at Nickolas for a quick second then lowered their heads. Nickolas looked at each person individually then said, �As much as all those words hurt I�m glad to know how the friends of the girl I love can think of me as a selfish monster who only wants to get into her pants. As much as you want it to be true, it ain�t. Everything I said to Sunnie, pf how much I love and care for her, today, in the past and what I say to her in the future is the truth. If you can�t accept me being I Sunnie�s life then you�re not the true friends she thinks you are.� Nickolas turned and was ready to walk but instead said, �Thanks for letting me know where I stand with you girls. I appreciate it. It just makes me more determined to get Sunnie back.� He walked away, passing Kevin, and left everyone watching him.
�What�d I miss?� Kevin asked.
�Everything,� Destiny said. �Sunn�s return, Nick telling her he�s in love with her, her telling everyone off, V�s feelings for Nick, and Nick telling us where he stands with Sunn.�
�You really didn�t miss anything big, Bro,� Alexander said patting Kevin�s back, as he walked away shaking his head.
�I know Sunshine�s back,� Kevin said. �I just left her.�
�Is she leaving town again?� Brian asked. �Because she said something about starting a new life.�
�She said she ain�t leaving,� Kevin replied. �She said all she wants to try and do is have a life without us.�
�Are you going to tell Nick?� Howard asked.
�I don�t know,� Kevin said. �It�ll hurt him too much.�
�Good,� Venus said. �The fucking jerk deserves the pain and suffering he gets for what he�s putting Sunshine through.�
�V, will you just stop,� Danielle requested. �If not for yourself then for Sunn. If she was here and heard you say all that stuff to Nick she�d have a few choice words for you.�
�Ladies,� Howard interrupted stepping between the two girls.
�Butt out, Howie,� Venus warned.
�Don�t use that tone with my boyfriend,� Danielle warned her.
�Then get out of my face,� Venus said.
�Danielle and Venus,� Josephine said. �Will you two knock it off? This is making me sick. Before I say something I�ll regret I�m leaving.� She walked away with Destiny behind her.
�Danielle, come,� Howard said taking her hand and walked away.
�If you�ll excuse me,� Venus began, �I�m going to find Alex.�
�At least you weren�t here for it all,� Brian stated. �It wasn�t pretty.�
�Sunn gave me the abridged version,� Kevin said. �And I�m glad I wasn�t here.�
�So where�s Sunn?� Brian asked.
�She went back to the condo,� Kevin replied.
�Good,� Brian said. �Want to mingle?�
�Sure,� Kevin said, as they rejoined the partying group.
CHAPTER 5
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