Taking Chances (WILL EDIT LATER)

Chapter Forty Eight.

Big events were never Nicola's thing. She never really got the point of making a spectacle of yourself and as a shy person, Nicola was happiest when she was at home where she could be herself and do what she wanted without people seeing and judging her for the things that she did.

This is why she really admired celebs like Taron. Sure he could be the biggest asshole known to man but he could be genuine when he wanted to be and it was in those moments that Nicola could see just how truly challenging and invasive the industry could be. It took people away from their families and had to be prioritized above all else.

Being here in Cannes was showing her that. It was a side to the industry that she never thought she'd see. It was a side that she was beginning to loathe.

Sitting in front of the mirror, Nicola looked herself over and immediately felt her inner voice speak up. She hated when it did because it never said anything helpful or nice. It clouded her confidence and made her self-esteem plummet so low that she was surprised she had enough energy to fight with people, namely Taron. If she was being honest, she felt stuck.

She knew that she had responsibilities but sometimes things got to be too much and she just wanted out. She wanted to start fresh and leave her crumby life behind. Was she asking too much of the world when she begged for a break? She didn't think so.

"I look awful." Nicola sighed, talking to no one in particular.

Jasmine heard this and looked up from her sister's phone which she had been using as a gaming device while Nicola got herself ready for tonight.

"No you don't." Jasmine said matter of factly, smiling at Nicola through the mirror, hoping that it would cheer her up. It didn't, in fact it only made Nicola feel worse about herself.

"I feel like I don't belong here." Nicola admitted, feeling the tears well up in her eyes.

Jasmine placed the phone down on the bed and quickly hurried to her sister where she catapulted herself onto Nicola, giving her the biggest hug she could muster, knowing that a hug was very much needed.

Nicola wrapped her arms around the child and held her close as she cried and most definitely ruined the makeup she had worked so hard on.

"Don't give up Lina." Jasmine muttered and cuddled even closer to Nicola if that was even possible.

"Maybe we should just go home." Nicola said through her tears.

Jasmine leaned back and looked into Nicola's tearful eyes, shaking her head in disagreement.

"I want to show Mikey my dress though." Jasmine said with a hint of sadness evident in her voice.

"This isn't our world Jazz, this isn't who we are." Nicola replied, trying to get her point across.

Jasmine knew that Nicola didn't want to be here but she also knew that deep down, Nicola was sad and needed something to be happy about. She needed someone in her life that made her feel as loved as Nicola made her and Luna feel. She wanted her sister to live the life she so desperately wanted and had earned. She wanted her sister to see how amazing she was. Sure she was only five but she knew when someone was sad and she could see that in both taron and Nicola. Heck, Mikey could even see it and who knew, made even Luna could tell.

"Why did you say yes then?" Jasmine asked.

Nicola had no answer to that. She hadn't thought that far. Maybe it was out of pity for Taron or maybe, just maybe it was because she still loved Taron and wanted to support him at this time.

"You can go but I'd rather stay here." Nicola said, knowing full well that it wouldn't make sense to have come all this way and only have Jasmine and Luna be with Taron and everyone.