Can You Keep My Secrets?

**Chapter 2**

I woke up the next morning with my pillow covered in the wetness for my tears. I was all alone. My phone soon started to vibrate, it was Keaton.

“Nicole, I’m sorry about last night, I couldn’t think straight when I saw all the cuts and scars. I just want you to be safe” I lipped as I read the text.

I just threw my phone to the other side of my bed and slowly made my way out of my bed. When I made it to the kitchen, it all went from loud laughs and conversations to complete silence. It’s like they just don’t want to talk to me or notice my existence, like most people do.

“Uh, I’m going to Keaton’s later on today, I don’t know when yet” I said in a hushed tone as I walked back up to my room.

About thirty minutes later I walked to the bathroom down the hall, grabbed my brush from the counter and brushed it through my hair multiple times before I put it up into a ponytail. I soon applied my last amounts of makeup, got my shoes on and walked out the door.

Keaton lived about 3 blocks away, so it wouldn’t be that hard to walk, except for when it started to rain. It started off light, but as a few minutes passed, it rain got harder. My slow walking pace soon turned into a slight sprint until I was in front of Keaton’s house. As soon as my first few knocks echoed, I heard footsteps coming straight for the front door.

The person who opened the door wasn’t Keaton, but it was someone a bit taller, and probably stronger.

“Hey, I’m Wesley, Keaton’s older brother, and I’m just guessing that you’re the Nicole he talks about nonstop” he said with a smile.

“Yeah, I’m Nicole, but I wouldn’t see why Keaton would talk about me all the time, I’m not that special of a person” I said timidly, trying not to make the wrong impression.

“Well, he told almost the entire house, the band, and probably the majority of his friends too, you’re probably one of the best things that’s happened to him for awhile” He said as he let me through the doorway.

Keaton’s family was definitely rich, you could just tell by the furniture that they had, the paintings in the hallway. I was admiring the beautiful art until I got to Keaton’s room, it was messy like the normal 16 year old boy’s room. But there was something different about his room, it had a little hallway that lead to a recording room.

So like any curious girl would do, I followed the hallway. I thought nobody was in the room before I went in, I just heard Keaton singing a song.

“And I love you, to the moon and back” his voice sounded before the singing stopped and the recording light turned off.

Seconds later I felt a hand reach for mine, I looked up and noticed Keaton’s bright eyes land right on mine. Eyes locked for who knows how long until a voice disrupted us “Okay you two, Keaton we have to record, Drew’s almost here. And uhh, Nicole, you can just, sit over there” he instructed as he pointed to a chair in front of the controls “Just don’t mess with anything”.

I nodded, as if it felt like I was being treated like a child, how I always am at home and anywhere else. When I sat down, I squirmed around until I got comfortable. A few minutes later Drew walked in the door, he just looked at me with that “who’s this girl, and why is she here” look.

“Drew, this Nicole, Keaton’s little girlfriend” he said gesturing towards Keaton trying to make him blush.

“Well, it’s nice to finally meet you Nicole, Keaton just doesn't know how to shut up about you, I gotta admit, it’s kinda cute though” Drew said as he grabbed the headphones and walked into the recording booth.

For the next hour or two I sat in that same chair listening to their voices, smiling whenever Keaton got a chance to sing. He’s just always been really insecure of his voice, because he would always get compared to Wesley, and how Keaton’s voice is a little bit higher.

After they got done recording the last song, all three of them walked out of the booth and made their ways to their rooms. Keaton just decided to sit in the chair next to mine, we were talking for about a half an hour until a woman walked in. I’m just guessing that it’s his mom.

“Nicole, oh my gosh, are you the Nicole that Keaton always talks about” she said with a bit of a squeal that made me jump from my seat.

“Yeah, I’m that Nicole, and now I really do think that Keaton doesn't stop talking about me” I said nudging his shoulder still maintaining eye contact with the woman.

Soon after she was done talking to Keaton she walked out of the room to leave us alone, talking about random stuff.

Soon my phone started to ring, and when I looked at it I realized that it was close to being midnight. So of course it was my dad calling to see where I was and if I was okay.

“Nicole, where are you, are you okay, why aren’t you home yet” my dad questioned through the phone trying not to sound worried.

“Dad, I’m fine, I’m just over at Keaton’s listening to them record and meeting everyone” I said in a calm manner, unlike my father.

“Okay, but just be home soon, because, because, just be home” He stated before hanging up the phone.

So about a half an hour later I got my shoes back on and started to walk home. At least the rain stopped, so that made having to go home a bit better.

I’ve really never liked being at my house because, well for one, my sister got treated like a little princess and had to do nothing, while I was the slave that did all of the work, and not adding on homework.

When I got back inside I walked through the hallway that lead to the bathroom. Stopping occasionally to look at the pictures hanging on the wall. Family pictures, but not usually like normal families. We just had my dad, Cassadee, and I. It was all since our mom walked out on us.

              ******Flashback*******

It all happened when I was about six or seven, parents getting in fights, the fights being about Cassadee and I usually. But this fight was about how my dad “didn’t pay enough attention” to my mom.

“You never notice me, I’m like a ghost to you” she yelled at the top of her lungs making sure my dad could hear her from rooms away.

I sat in Cassadee’s room with her, cradling her and singing calming songs to stop her from crying. I covered her ears with my hands so the screaming and shouting would just be muffled, but she knew what they would say anyway. They’ve done it multiple times and made us go through it all.

“Nicole, promise me that this will stop soon, I don’t want mommy and daddy to fight, it scares me” Cassadee whispered into my ear softly as she wiped her tear stained cheeks.

“I hope it does, trust me, I don’t like mommy and daddy fighting either, I’m scared that one of them is going to leave us” I admitted with fear in my voice.

Just then, a loud scream echoed through the house, followed by a heavy door slamming “I’m out, I’m leaving this house for good”

That was it, my mom was leaving, it was going to be my dad, Cassadee and I for the rest of our lives. She’s never coming back, I know she won’t, she’s like that.

********Present Time*********

After the disturbing thoughts of my mom walking out, I grabbed my brush from the counter and swept it through my hair multiple times before walking to my room. Then I changed into a simple white v-neck and a pair of sky blue sweatpants. Within minutes I was curled up in my blanket, and fast asleep.