Dreadful

Chapter 8

We weren't smoking anymore. I was spending more time with Hannah and Nancy... but I saw Niko frequently.

His mom was home for a few weeks, so we rarely risked being found naked... meaning little to no sex. She had a bad habit of coming in unannounced, and I really didn't want to go there. That didn't stop us from having heavy make-out sessions though.

I suppose we were happy. I don't really know what it was... but whatever hurt inside me was gone when I was around him. I don't know what he thought... but he looked less listless, and on some days maybe even content. I honestly think he had stopped smoking entirely.

Then his father came home. That was the day his mother decided to leave again. I never saw the man because Niko refused to let me come over.

...

Niko was beginning to look listless again. I had only seen him at school the past few days, and he didn't even speak to me today. I saw the hazy look in his eyes and knew. He was smoking again! I cursed and kicked his chair, but he continued to ignore me. I don't know why I was so angry at him... It was his release... But maybe I was upset that he didn't come to me.

For whatever reason, I met Luke that day.

He was a blonde beauty, with high cheekbones and sapphire blue eyes. He was quiet and a little shy, but all the girls loved him. "I don't know what is so great about him..." I muttered to Hannah when he joined our class and the girls were all cooing over him. Unfortunately, the only available seat was next to me. Damn.

I tried to meet Niko's eyes, but he refused to look at me. Figures.

Sighing, I gave in and greeted the new guy. He smiled at me, and returned my greeting. Something struck me, and I had a bad feeling this guy was going to bring me trouble.

...

Luke wasn't so bad. He was polite, friendly, and rather smart too. He quickly joined my group of friends, which helped keep the mass of girls off him. Niko still wasn't talking to me. It's been... how long? A week or more? I don't know what the hell his problem is, but I'm really going to have to talk to him.

"Blossom." Ugh! Luke had this horrible problem of calling me by my last name. Mother fucker. "Yeah?" He flashed his baby blues at me and smiled. Is that supposed to do something to me? "I have extra tickets for the Marianas Trench concert on Saturday, would you like to go?" Whaaa? "No way!" A huge smile broke out on my face. "Are you serious? I stood in line for hours trying to get those tickets!" I noticed him blush a little, but I didn't care. "Yes! I'll go! Fuck yeah!" I was finally going to see Marianas Trench in concert!

Luke and I were walking to our next class, talking about the concert plans. I could tell he was excited, and I know I was. Before I knew what was happening, Luke was rudely shoved and Niko pulled me away. "What are you doing? That was rude! I was in the middle of a conversation..." He didn't let me continue. I heard Luke start to say something, but he cut off just as I did... when Niko kissed me.

I pulled away, breathing hard. I was still angry... but... it was starting to fizzle. "Niko! You can't just kiss me when you haven't even spoken to me in..." He kissed me again, pushing me against the wall, not letting me escape. "That's something I haven't seen in a while." I was barely aware of the people talking behind me, but I realized that somehow... I had forgotten to tell Luke about Niko. I hope the concert wasn't supposed to be a date.

I stopped fighting him and gave in, kissing him back. Somehow, I had missed him. I inhaled deeply, and smelled it. He reeked of smoke, and given his actions lately, he must have been smoking every day... again. Eventually, I felt the crowd fade away, probably going into classrooms. "Niko..." He held me against the wall, not saying a word. His lips rested against my neck, and I could only hold him.

Luke was nowhere in sight. Yeah, that was probably supposed to be a date. "It's time to go to class..." I think I felt him shaking, ever so slightly, but he didn't reply. If we stayed in the hall like this, we were going to be seen. "Niko..."

"Don't go." I didn't want to, but he had to continue talking. "How could you let that idiot drool all over you? And in front of me?" What the fuck was he talking about? Luke? "Don't give me that shit! You haven't spoken a word to me... and you expect me not to talk to anyone else? Get real." Why the hell did he have to bring up something like that? Now I was angry and I tried to pull myself from him.

"You didn't even tell him... about me." He held me and didn't let go, his voice dripping with anger... and something else. "So what? I need to announce to everyone that I have a boyfriend that doesn't even talk to me? What the fuck, Niko?" He gripped me tightly, resisting my attempts at getting free. "You fucking agreed to go on a date with him!" He was panting against my neck and his body was shaking, I assumed in anger. I tried to shove him away, pissed that he was getting so jealous over something so stupid. "Get off! I didn't agree to go on a date! The word "date" wasn't mentioned... it's only a concert! A concert I've been dying to go to!"

His fingers dug into me hard. "Everyone sees the way he looks at you. You're not blind... You knew what he meant..." Snapping, I kneed him hard in the stomach, I'm not cruel enough to go for the balls of my boyfriend, and I wriggled free of his grasp, slapping him in the face. "Fuck you! Don't you dare get jealous when I befriend someone when you don't even bother to speak with me! Fuck off! Don't talk to me until you grow a pair!" I stormed down the hall, away from Niko, without looking back once. I found it odd that he didn't even bother shouting back a reply.