Scars [An Exclamation Point Fan Fiction]

PART 9

On the walk back to my room I start thinking about Paul. Do I like him? No I can't. But I might. But we're just friends. But I don't know, he might like me. I shake all of the thoughts out of my head and focus on tonight. Eliminations start, the groups are last, and Exclamation Point has to sing for their lives to stay in the show. Once they're back from commercials Exclamation Point sings first. They chose a song by, The Janoskians. After their performance Danny and Paul come stand back stage with me. Danny starts pacing while the other group performs. They're called back to the stage. Simon is asked which group he's saving. He rambles abouth how both groups are good, last night just wasn't their best performance. Finally he says, "The group I'm going to save is..... Exclamation Point." Danny and Paul cheer and hug each other, then the hug the other group that's going home. After the send off, they run backstage. I hug them and and tell them they did a great job. Paul keeps an arm around my shoulder while the three of us talk to a girl named Mandy from the teens category. Suddenly I start thinking about Paul's conversation earlier.

"I'm going to bed I'm exhausted." I say moving Paul's arm. "See y'all tomorrow."

"I can walk you." Paul says.

"No I'm fine." I say "Nights guys." I wave as I turn and walk away.

The next morning I go for a run and on my way back I see Paul walking towards my room.

"Hey Nikki." He says.

"Hey." I say breathlessly.

"What happened last night?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't know. I thought things were fine, and then you had a weird look on your face and walked off. Is everything ok?"

I open my mouth, but I can't find the words. "I just.. I.." I sigh. "I heard you, Chris and Jared yesterday."

"Oh.."

"Yea and last night I started thinking about it. I don't want people to think anything when we're nothing. I'm nothing." I start walking away as Paul grabs my wrist and turns me to face him.

"You're not nothing to me." He says. "Nikki, I care about you a lot." He pushes hair off my face and pulls me closer. "You're beautiful. You know that right? Any guy would be lucky to have you."

I look at the ground, but Paul gently pulls my chin up so I'm looking at him. He leans in to kiss me and suddenly he turns into Nate rearing back to hit me. I push Paul away.

"I'm sorry I just can't."

I walk into my room and shut the door. I slide to the floor and start to cry.

"Hey Nikki is that.." Lyndsay comes around the corner. "Oh my gosh are you ok?" She asks kneeling in front of me.

I nod my head. "Yea just a little homesick." I say.

She hugs me and tells me everything will be ok.

After the incident I avoid Paul for a couple weeks.

I run into him after our dress rehearsal for week four.

"Hey." I say.

"Hi." He says.

"Look I'm really sorry about what happened a couple weeks ago."

"No I'm sorry. I thought you wanted me to kiss you, and I shouldn't have tried.

"I did though." I say walking closer to him. I take his hand. "Its just when I looked at you I saw Nate, trying to hit me." I look up at him. "I got scared."

Paul puts one hand on my face. "I would never do that to you Nikki."

"I know." I say. I put my arms around him and lean my head towards him, so that our forheads are touching. I lean in, then hesitate. Paul leans closer so that our lips are inches from each other. He puts his hands on my face and kisses me. Behind us people are cheering. We pull apart and I see Danny with Chris, Jared, Mandy and a few other people. Chris whistles and I start to blush. I bury my face against Paul's chest and he wraps his arms around me.

"Finally!" Dannys says. "It only took you eight months to do that!"

I lift my head and smile at Paul. He smiles back and leans in to kiss me once more.