Remember me

Chapter 33

Mia

The next few days pass in a blur as I take on extra shifts at work before school starts again. Christmas was one of the best days I've had in a long time, but I'm giving Nick a little distance. I don't want to overwhelm him with my presence, I mean I did crash his Christmas. But I have to admit that I really just want to be with him. I would be content spending every day with Nick. I want to be around him more than I have anyone else ever before. Actually that's not true, I have wanted to be around someone this much before. We were practically attached at the hip as kids, Nick and I. But we're not kids anymore, and we both have lives and memories separate from each other now. I'm trying to remember that. Don't be a stalker Mia, I think to myself. You've only just barely gotten him back.

On the last weekend of winter break I head to Marleys after work. "Finally!" Marley says when she opens the door to her house "I feel like I haven't seen you in ages." She grabs my arm and drags me into her house and I yell a quick hello to her parents before she shuts us in her bedroom. "We need to find you something else to wear" she says, looking me up and down. I look down at myself, I'm wearing a pair of overall shorts over my Dippin Dots shirt and a pair of white vans. "Why?" I ask. I don't see why I'd need something nicer to wear while just hanging at her house.

Ignoring me, Marley throws her closet doors open. And let me tell you, Marleys closet is a sight to be held. A walk in closet filled to the brim with every purse, shoe and accessory you can imagine. Not to mention the color coded row upon row of clothes.

"Hmmm" she says, pulling out a black sequenced dress. "Uh. No" I say, "you're way shorter than me Marley, and that dress is short on you."

"Fine" she huffs, putting the dress back. She searches for a few more moments before finally saying "perfect!"

She pulls out a skirt and throws it at me "before you say anything- that's knee length on me, so it's a perfectly acceptable mid-thigh on you."

I stick my tongue out at her before grabbing the shimmery black skirt. "Why, exactly, do I need to change into this?" I ask. Marley throws a nude tank top and a black blazer at me to match "Were going out" she says simply.

"Mars" I whine. "I just got off work. I've been working every day. Can't we just watch movies and eat snacks?"

"You working so much is exactly why we need a night out. Plus it's New Years Eve, Mia. As if we're going to miss that."

I groan but grab the clothes, pulling off my sticky outfit and changing. Marleys eyes peruse me as soon as I slip on the blazer "Yep, perfect"

I pull the skirt down self consciously. It barely covers the appropriate parts.

"Let your hair out of that braid and put on some of my makeup" she demands as she reaches for the same sequence dress she had just offered me.

After we've both done our hair and makeup and Marley has forced me into a pair of her high heels, we stand together in front of Marleys full length mirror. "We look hot" she says with approval and I have to kind of agree. When it comes to fashion and getting dolled up, Marley is good.

Marleys phone chimes and she skips over to receive it off of her bedside table. "Liams here. Let's go, chica" she grabs my hand and just like that we're out the door.

Once were seated in Liams ridiculously tiny sports car I ask "Guys? where exactly are we going?" I shift in my seat, trying to find a comfortable position. I think this backseat was made for someone's purse, not a human being.

"Vibes" Liam says. "They're having an 18 and over night."

"Uh, I'm not 18" I say. My birthday is still about a month away.

Marley turns to look at me from the front seat. "You look 18, you'll be fine"
..

We walk into our towns only nightclub, Vibes, which is unsurprisingly packed for its New Years party. The music thumps in my ears and my eyes take a moment to adjust to the dark lighting. Marley squeezes my hand as Liam heads off to secure us a table "let's dance!"

Marley loves to dance and so do I. It's became our thing whenever we go out, we're instantly on the dance floor. I look over at Liam to ask if he's coming but he just makes a shooing motion with his hands.

Marley and I join the packed danced floor raising our arms in the air and whooping with happiness. We quickly lose ourselves in the music, swaying our hips and letting the rhythm control our movements. A few times a brave man comes to try to get between us but we skillfully maneuver around them, only dancing with one another.

After dancing a few songs I slip my jacket off and shout to Marley over the music "I need to put this at our table, I'm getting hot!" I lift my long hair up above my neck, letting the air cool me.

"I'll come with you and check on Liam!" She shouts back, grabbing my hand to not lose me in the crowd.

As I catch sight of our table I see there are two people sitting at it. I guess it's a good thing Liam found another guy to talk to, it can't be very fun just holding our table while we dance. As we get close I realize it's not just anyone sitting with Liam. "Nick?" I say, sliding onto a stool. Nicks gaze grazes over me slowly taking me in. "Hey Mia" he smirks and I can feel myself blush.

"I invited a guest" Marley whispers in my ear before sliding onto Liams lap with a grin. Sneaky, I think, shooting her a look.

We all order drinks and chat a while before Marley drags Liam off to the dance floor, leaving Nick and I alone at the table with a wink. Pretending I didn't see that I turn back towards Nick as he slides his stool closer to mine. "It's so hard to hear in here" he says, leaning closer. I smile and nod before leaning in towards his ear and saying "Do you want to go dance?" Nick lrans even closer and I can feel his breath across my face "With you?" he asks. Feeling a little flustered from his proximity I stammer "Uh, sure. Yeah. With me." Nick chuckles, his eyes sparkling, he reaches over and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Ahem" a bottle slams on the table and I jump backwards. I look up and there stands Cole, his eyes blazing. "Didn't expect to see you here Mia. Or your friend" he slurs, looking at Nick. "Who are you?"

I stand up quickly, "Cole, this is my friend Nick." Nick tips his head in greeting and Cole says "Yeah I don't really give a shit who he is. Want to get out of her Mia?"

"Cole!" I admonish and I hear Nick let out s small chuckle. "Something funny man?" Cole says with a scowl. Nick just smirks at him.

Cole forces his gaze away from Nick and back to me. "Let's go."

"What? No. I'm not going anywhere Cole. I'm here with my friends."

"You want to stay?"

"Yeah. I do"

Cole scoffs, "You think this is cute Mia? Playing the little whore? You better be careful before I drop you for good."

"Woah man" I hear Nick say as he stands up. "Don't call her that."

"Why not?"  Cole says, still looking at me. "That's exactly why you wanted to break up isn't it Mia? So you could whore around with dudes like this?"

"I'm going to have to stop you right there man. You need to leave before you say something you'll regret" Nick says.

"Regret" Cole scoffs, "what's there to regret?"

Nick comes to stand beside me "You obviously care about her. Don't say something you can't take back man. You don't mean it, and she doesn't deserve you calling her names"

Coles gaze finally leaves me and settles back on Nick. For a second I'm sure he's going to try to hit him. Or at least yell at him. But instead he surprises me. Cole nods his head at Nick in acknowledgement and without even looking back at me he turns and walks away.

"Wow" I say, watching Cole walk off, "That wasn't the reaction I was expecting." I turn back towards Nick "thanks for having my back like that."

Nick just nods, grabbing my hand, "How about that dance?"