Finding Who I Was Meant To Be

Chapter 3

Nicole's PoV




"Nicole, you have to come this week.' Cassie pleaded as she barged into my room. Madison and Alex followed behind her. "Yeah you have to come. You skipped out on us last time, so you have to come this time." Alex added in. I groaned and sat back on the bed. "I can't come with you guys to the club. It's couples night. When was the last time I had a boyfriend?" I replied, giving them a pointed look. My dating history was, well it's nothing to be proud of. At all. Madison frowned at me. "Come on. Can't you just bring Will or something?" Cassie tried stifle a laugh. "Please. Getting those two to go out together is harder than getting cow to eat chicken." We all rolled our eyes at another one of Cassie's odd analogies. "Remind me again. Why won't Nicole and Will just hook up already?" Alex asks, plopping down in my large bean bag chair. I sigh, fo?r we have gone over this time and time again. 'I will not hook up with Will," I begin, "he doesn't like me like that. Yes I like him, but I don't want to jeopardize our amazing friendship just because I have a little crush on him. He is the one friend I will not lose." I say in a tone that signals the end of the conversation.




I don't know why they don't get it. I love Will. He's always been there for me and rescued me time and time again. I can't risk losing that over non-mutual feelings. I'd rather just put them to the side and pretend that I don't feel anything romantically towards Will.




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Will's PoV




"Just ask her out already!" Cole told me as we sat at the bar by my apartment building. I sighed and took another sip of my drink. "I've told you this before and I'll say it to you again. Nicole doesn't like me back. That's why I'm always saving her from violent boyfriends. She friendzoned me years ago and there's no getting out of there." I told Cole. Gabe just shook his head, "Dalton..." he began. Dalton dialed a number into his phone, "Already on it." I look between the three guys wondering what they're up to. "What are you guys doing?" Gabe looked up, a smirk plastered on his face. "If you're not going to ask her out on your own, then we are going to make you do it," He replied, just as Dalton tossed me the phone,




"Uh, hello?" I said getting on the phone. A smile crossed my face as I heard a familiar soft voice. "Hey Will." Nicole replied. I bit my lip as I tried to come up with the wording for what I was about to say, "Uh. Nicole. Would you like to come to the club with me tonight? We don't have to make it a date, I would just accompany you so that we both could go with our friends." I said, mentally slapping myself with every word. There was a pause on the other line. "I'd love to. Can you pick me up in a half hour?" came the soft reply. I smilled in relief. "I'll be there." I said before hanging up. When Iooked up from the phone, I saw the boys shaking their heads at me, I already knew, I failed at asking her out.




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Nicole's PoV




I hung up the phone, a big smile on my face. The girls looked at me expectantly. "Well?" I smiled, "Will just asked me to go to the club with him but not as a date," i said slightly confused, "his words not mine." Madison sighs. "I don't get it. Why doesn't he ask you out?" I start to get ready for my non date with Will, pulling on a bright cocktail dres, lace tights and my favorite leather jacket. "I told you. He doesn't like me like that." I replied as I laced of my leather booties.




Right on time, the doorbell of my apartment rang. I went downstairs to answer it, glad that the girls already left. As I opened the door, a big grin came to my face. He always looked so good, with his shaggy black hair always neat, and his clothes, hugging his muscular body perfectly. "Hey," I said, ceasing my examination of Will. He put on his signature half smile before replying. "Hey yourself. You look amazing." My face reddened and I looked down as a blush crept to my cheeks. "Thanks. You do too."




We walked to the club in silence, only speaking once we finally met with our friends. I had a couple drinks before going off to dance with my girlfriends. We were having a ton of fun before Gabe, Cole and Dalton came to reclaim their girlfriends. Instead of dancing with Will, I took this opportunity to go freshen up in the bathroom. As I rounded the corner I saw Michael Finberly. Mike was one of my many absuive ex-boyfriends. I tried to turn around before he saw me, but when I felt a large, strong hand grip my forearm, I knew it was too late. He pulled me close to him and I could smell the strong tracce of alcohol on his breath. "Where do you think you're going babe?" He asked in a commanding voice, slurring his words slightly. I tried getting away from him but his large size and iron grip defeated me. "Let go of me!" I demanded, uselessly trying to get away. He laughed sinisterly at my attempts to defy him. "When you broke up with me, I told you that I would make you suffer," he started, his voice taking on a more animalistic tone, "I meant every single word I said." He grabbed me around the waist as he hoisted me over his shoulder. As, he moved towards the backdoor of the club I called out for the one person who I knew would come save me. "Will!!!" I called out before Michael clamped a large hand over my mouth.




Once we got outside he put me down, trapping me against the wall by pressing his own body against mine, not once taking his hand off my mouth. He smacked me across the face as hard as he could. "I told you, you would regret breaking up with me." The backdoor of the club slammed open. "Take your filthy hands off her." Will growled, rushing over to us. Michael turned around to face Will, roughly letting go of me. I fell against the concrete sidewalk and the brick exterior of the club. Will shook his head at Michael, his hands tensing up into fists. "I told you to stay away from her!" Michael chuckled, "It's not my fault she's so fun to play with." And with that statement Will slammed his fist into Michael's face, his knuckles hitting Mike square in the mouth. Mike reeled back sputtering out what appeared to be blood and teeth. "Damn you! Take the little bitch, I don't want her anyway." Will started to go after him but then stopped once he remembered me.




I was lying there against the wall sobbing holding my face in my hands, when Will rushed over. "Nicole, are you alright?" I shook my head, still sobbing. "H- He hit me." I said between sobs. Will moves my hand away and gently cups my chin so that he can examine my face. "The next time I see him, he's dead. I'm going to kill him." He said softly. I shake my head. "Will, just forget about it." I whispered. He nods. "I'll take you home." He picked me up and carried me the whole way home.




When we entered my apartment, he placed me on the bed and then down stairs to get an ice pack. I started to change out of my clothes and just as I was about to put my shirt on Will entered the room. "Oh sorry." He said, turning his head so that I can finish getting dressed. I lie down on my bed as I finish. Will handed me the ice pack and I put it to my face. "Stay. Please?" I ask. He nods and takes his shoes and jacket off before getting into the bed next to me. Wrapping his arms around me, he pulls me into chest. That night I fell asleep to the beating of his heart and the feeling of him rubbing my back gently.