Ones Temptation

ARABELLA

A couple weeks later I'm laying on Niko's couch helping Jack with some school work as Niko argues with someone on the phone. I look back at him and watch as anger grows in his eyes. Jack catches me as I begin to worry. I force a smile and ruffle his hair.

"Let's go get ice cream. We'll come to your brother later," I say standing up holding my hand out to him.

He takes my hand and smiles walking out. Jack wasn't the typical young teen. He seeked comfort in Niko, in me even if I was out of a good portion of his life. We walk outside and walk to the ice cream parlor talking about school and how shitty people are.

I never understood how people could make fun of others or be racist, sexest, homophobic, transphobic, etc towards people. Everyone's human.Why not just fucking accept it and be happy for them?

We walk into the ice cream parlor and order banana splits. We sit in the back of the parlor and wait for the ice cream.

"Do you still love Niko?," Jack asks, playing with napkins.

"I'm not sure I ever stopped," I admit watching him. "But me and him only have history. That's just that," I smile.

He smiles and nods. I'm not sure he believes me but I brush it off. Yeah, Me and Niko mess around but it could never be anything serious. I wasn't the best person to love. I'm difficult, torn apart at each and every edge. No one should ever have to deal with someone like me.

...

I walk into my house and find cops standing on the porch. I mentally facepalm before walking to them.

"Can I help you officers?," I ask looking at them confused.

I've learned it's easier to say the truth and just not hide anything from the cops. But I have no fucking clue why they're standing on my porch right now. So I stand a bit nervous and a bit on edge.

"Arabella Lexington?," The bald one says.

"The one and only," I smile, saluting him.

"You're under arrest for the murder of Jasper Clenn. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you," The skinny one says as he handcuffs me, forcing me down my steps.

Fuck this world and their stupid fucking rules.

I stay quiet and sit in the cop car. I'm completely fucking innocent in this and I will fight like hell to prove it. But I'd have to bring Niko into this if I tell them the fucking truth. All the words,thoughts, actions that happened that night race in my mind.

I'm not afraid of jail. I never was. I've been locked up a few times. But for the stupid shit. This. This is fucking murder. Someone had to have snitched.

The fucking phone call.

...

I walk out in my orange jumpsuit--that I quite frankly look fucking hot in thank you very much--and sit at the phone booth. I grab the phone and hold it to my ear staying silent.

"Arabella... Fuck I'm so sorry," Niko whispers shaking his head. "You have to trust me I didn't know this would happen. When they called me and told me they were going to start looking for the person who did this I-... I didn't think it'd trace back to you," He spills out.

"You knew this would happen. You knew they'd fucking lead it all back to me. That's why you didn't warn me. You fucking chose to not fucking warn me. Fuck you Hill," I bite out shaking my head.

"I didn't fucking know they would arrest you. They never fucked seemed to care about the shit you did last time. I thought they'd fucking blow it off," He looked me in the eyes.

His eyes are full of guilt. Of sadness. I clench my jaw and turn off every emotion in my body before gripping the phone and looking dead at him.

"You're going to go home. You're going to forget about me. You're going to live as if you never knew me. I will act like I never met you. Like I never knew who the fuck you were. Don't come back here. Don't go back to my house. Forget about me," I instruct him.

"I love you...," He whispers into the phone.

"Too fucking bad... I don't love you. And I don't know how anyone could ever fucking love someone like you Nikolaus," I bite swallowing the bitter taste the words left in my mouth.

"Arabella don't do this... Fuck! Seriously?," He puts his hand on the glass.

"Go fucking rot in hell Hill," I stand slamming the phone down telling the guard I was done here.

As the guard takes me back to my cell, I look over my shoulder at Niko. His hands are running through his hair. A tear slides down his cheek as his eyes meet mine. He stands up before walking out slamming the door behind him. I turn away and let a tear of my own escape.

He made me want to fight for him. He made me want to believe he'd find a way for me out but I couldn't. He'd be safer away from me. Without me.

The first thing I do when I get back to my cell is reach under my mattress and grab my last piece of paper and my pen. I sit in bed and write for what seems like hours. I write all my words. All my thoughts. Everything he should know but will never know. I'd never send him this letter.

"Dear Niko,

Just know... I'll be gone if you ever get this... find someone else to love. Move on from me..."

AUTHORS NOTE: Yes. First authors note of this book. It'll also be the last. But I want to say thank you to everyone who's stuck around and read and been patient with my updates. I am really trying to stay active but school has me swamped. I'm going to start a job soon so I'll be busy with that. But I am going to begin clearing my schedule on weekends to upload a chapter. I do want to say I apologize if this book seems fast paced. Obviously these two had a past which made it easier for them to get back into things but I can promise you these next two-three chapters will deal with harder topics. I will add trigger warnings before each chapter so everyone is warned. Again, Thank you all!! Mwah Mwah kisses to everyone!!