Frozen Heart

Chapter 27 ~ "I'm Wide Open"

Grace

"So how was your weekend?" Chelsea asks as we walk into school.

"It was pretty good." I mumble, feeling happy at my memories from last night. All night long, wrapped right around each other. It was the first good night of sleep I'd had in ages. 

Nik left for the gym around five-something this morning. Woke me up with a kiss to say goodbye and I smiled, settling back down into his bed. He grabbed his bag off the floor and I dreamt about him until my alarm woke me around seven thirty. 

Then I started to think about how long we'd been together and that he seemed so busy. He was practically living out of the trunk of his car when he'd come see me, he didn't feel set up at all in my house. Maybe, if there was a more permanent place for him to leave some of his stuff he'd find it easier coming over.

But nevertheless, it was a perfect evening. Seeing him last night with those little kids was incredibly sweet. I thought it was attractive when men wanted to work with young kids, so many boys just didn't seem to like the idea of kids or being around them.

Nik seemed almost afraid of them which made me laugh, but he didn't shy away from trying to help them, and that's what made me smile. For his stress about being kind to others, he was in a pretty people oriented position with his job.

"Well what's that face about?" Chelsea asks, raising her eyebrows and I roll my eyes. 

"Nothing, it was just nice." I explain and she nods as we walk through the doors of the school. "His life has been the world's busiest mess lately, he's tired and overworked. We haven't seen each other much in the last two weeks."

"That's awful." She says and I shrug.

"It's not so bad, we're trying to figure out a schedule." I explain and she nods.

"So, boyfriend huh?" She asks, nudging my arm. "That certainly has been turning some heads."

"It's so stupid that there seems to be this lore around him. He's like the forbidden fruit, everyone wants it, no one wanted to take a bite." I tell her and she laughs.

"Well other than you." She says and I smile. We both see Josie over on the other side of the lobby, trying hopelessly to fit in with Cassie and her mean crew. I just looked away, still upset. "Has she seriously not apologized for reached out about the Nik thing yet?" Chelsea hisses and I sigh.

"No, she hasn't." I mumble. "Look, I know I probably should have been more transparent with her, but I was so sick of her beating me down all the time. I was excited about him and I actually let her scare me off." I explain and she nods.

"I don't think it's really your fault." She admits with a shrug.

"She was my first friend here, she's the one who introduced us." I admit. I did feel a bit guilty for not speaking to her for close to a month when she made such an effort to make me feel welcome. "But I don't regret taking the jump with Nik, not even a little." I explain and she smiles.

"That's the spirit." She smiles. "I'm sure she'll come around, she doesn't look too happy over there." She whispers and I nod, knowing I agreed.

I stand in the lobby for a few minutes, chatting with Chelsea and welcoming Kristin over as she comes in the doors. I watch the boys come through the doors a minute later and my heart skips a beat, seeing Nik since the first time this morning. He smiles, walking over and I smile too.

"Hi." He whispers and I lean up to kiss his cheek.

"Hey." I whisper back. "How was the gym?" I ask, trying to ignore the eyes shooting back and forth and he shrugs.