Ones Temptation

NIKOLAUS

I lay in bed at my place not being able to get the way Arabella tasted out of my mind. She's become a drug. And I've never fucked with that shit because of football but fuck. Anything would be better than having her on my damn mind.

My thoughts are ruined when my cat, Tabitha, rubs up on my arm. I pull her close and kiss her head holding her in my arms. She's lived with me since Jack picked her up from the side of the road and begged me to save her. What the hell was I supposed to tell a seven year old that had tears running down his face holding an almost lifeless cat in his arms.

So of course like the amazing big brother I was, I took Tabitha and went to my grandma and handed her my birthday money and begged her to use the money towards the expenses for the vet. She took the money and did just that.

A couple days later the cat was returned to us and she was perfect. Me and Jack decided to bring her to the apartment when he moved out. She's become my best friend. No one will ever replace Tabitha's spot. She was my baby.

"I love you tabby. Don't you dare scratch me again. I brought you into this world... I can take you right back out," I threaten rubbing between her head.

She purrs before laying right under my arm. I smile and sit up ruffling my hair. I throw my legs over the side of my bed and go out of bed walking to the kitchen.

"Gross. Put a shirt on," Jack rolls his eyes.

"Why? I'm pretty sexy aren't I?," I raise an eyebrow kissing each bicep of mine.

"Do you kiss your muscles every morning?," He questions.

"Yeah. Then I look into the mirror and do hand guns then say 'You are one sexy fella'."

He laughs and shakes his head before turning his attention back to the papers on the table. I walk over to him and look over his shoulder. It's pass tests and quizzes. All of them have low scores. I take them from the table and look through all of them.

"Hey you alright bud?," I question concerned with the sudden drop of grades.

He gives a small nod and reaches for the papers. I pull the papers further back and sit next to him.

"Talk to me it's okay," I assure him.

"I'm just tired alright... I don't want to be the smart kid. Everyone makes fun of me. I want to be normal. I want to have normal parents. I want to be like the kids at school," he mumbles.

When I hear him talk about mom and dad I tense up. There's nothing I could do about that. They fucked up and he's better off with me no matter what people say. I set the papers on the table and look at him.

"First off Jack, you don't need to be like the other kids. You're good as yourself. I like you as Jack. Not "Jack The Cool Kid". Just because you're smart doesn't mean you're different. It means you're better. Because when people are failing... you're rising and you're reaching the stars. As for the parent bullshit... I can't do anything about that. You are better off with me. And you know that. I love you more than mom and dad ever did combined," I admit telling him the truth. "Tell you what... go get dressed. We'll skip school today and go out. You,me and one of my friends," The last part came out rushed.

It was last minute. But I remember how Arabella acted motherly when Jack was younger. Plus I wanted to be close to her. I needed to spend the day with her.

"Okay fine," Jack rolls his eyes but I see a smile creeping onto his face.

Heat spreads across my chest. I missed that big toothy smile. His blue eyes popped when he smiled. I loved nothing more than seeing him happy. It brought me a feeling of success. Like I actually did something right in my damn life.

I just wish I knew that he worst thing I would do in my life was let the girl go.

...

Once Jack is finished we head toward Arabella's place. I sent her a text and told her to get ready with no context. I pull into her driveway and shoot her a text to let her know I arrived.

A few minutes later she walks out the house in a simple outfit. Brown bell bottoms,white cami, and some boots. Simple but nice. She gets in the car and looks at me. She has a confused look on her face before she looks in the back and sees Jack.

"Holy shit Jack," she yells jumping into the backseat tackling him in a hug.

He laughs and throws his arms around her. She laughs and gets back in her seat ruffling his hair.

"Hey Ara," he smiles. Ara. His nickname for her since he was small because he always thought her name was too long.

As we drive to the skate park they fill each other in on everything. Jack finally shows happiness. True genuine happiness when he speaks to Arabella. I smile and drive. Getting lost in her laugh. Suddenly she's all I can hear.

She's all I want to hear. When I go to sleep. When I wake up. I needed to be with her.