A single bullet // M.C ✔️

21

"Well, this feels weird," I laughed, taking a sip of my drink. Luke and Kensie were sitting in front of me. Me and Kensie and I had decided that I should actually get to know Luke fully, as I now know about their relationship.

"Nic," Kensie sighed, taking a sip of her own drink, "behave."

"I don't know what you're on about, Kensie. I am behaving." I smiled, placing my glass down before looking at the tv, we hadn't gone anywhere; we had just stayed home.

"Have you always lived here?" Luke broke the silence we had fallen into, making me shake my head.

"I'm from London, same as Kens. I just moved here a lot sooner than she did."

"Can I ask why? You two seem connected. She's always talking about you." He took a sip of tequila, looking over the rim of the glass at me.

"My parents had to come over here for work, and obviously, I didn't want to live alone, so I came over. We weren't living together at that point." I grabbed a handful of popcorn, eating one kernel at a time as Luke nodded.

"And then she moved over?"

"Ding ding ding," I mocked, smiling, "she was missing me too much."

"And everyone who wanted drawings was in a different time zone," she leant over and wacked my arm, making me pout. "So it was better for my job."

"Just admit you missed me too much," I joked, chucking a piece of popcorn at her, making her roll her eyes.

"Must have been odd," Luke copied me and grabbed some popcorn, shoving a handful in his mouth.

"It weren't that bad. I had my brother, Alex, with me the whole time till he got a job. Then I got the job where I am now. It helps that I dabbled in reporting in London. Just the stories weren't that interesting compared to here."

"I saw the article you did about Sarah." His gaze turned into a glare. "I was trying to keep it from the public. You posted it without permission."

"Article number two, Luke." I shrugged. "Few more to go. Then I get Wednesday off, don't I?"

"Pushing your luck here, Nicky," his mood completely seemed to shift, shocking me. I thought I could have a laugh with him.

"Ok you two," Kensie snapped, grabbing hold of Luke's hand and putting it under the blanket she was snuggled under. "Pack it in both of you. This was meant to be a nice night."

"A nice night to me, Kensie. Is going clubbing. Can we go out?" I groaned, needing more alcohol in me. I missed her hurt look as I grabbed my phone to message Calum.

"Nic-," she trailed off, shaking her head. "You can be a bitch sometimes, you know. I'm trying to introduce you fully to Luke and your minds are on clubbing," she shook her head, standing up and pulling Luke up. "You know what? Enjoy your night at the club. Only this time, no one will be there to save you if something happens. Michael only helped because you know me." And with that, she grabbed Luke's hand again, pulled him up, and dragged him out of the room.

"Fuck you, too." I shook my head, offended, placing my phone screen down next to me and leaning my head against the back of the sofa. "Fucking bitch," I muttered to myself, annoyed that I said that to her. Calum had replied by now, making my phone constantly buzz as a reminder. I picked up the cold device and flipped it over, reading a message reply saying he was busy and thought I was with Kensie.

I was you, asshole, till I opened my mouth. I groaned, debating on whether I should go apologise and drag them both back out here before ultimately deciding against it. If they wanted to come back out here, they will. Michael only helped you because you know me? The fuck she means by that.

I don't know Michael, but I would like to think he would have jumped in to help me out anyway. Any damsel in distress needs help. Darkness filled the room as I flipped the tv off, leaving me in complete darkness. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath before standing up, grabbing the jam-coloured bowl, and walking to the kitchen, binning the small pieces of popcorn left.

The colour of the bowl made me smile. It was the exact shade Calum made the icing for the doughnuts. Calum... why am I thinking about him like this? I shook my head, begging for the thoughts to leave my mind; he's like a brother to me. The bowl was hidden from my eyesight as I placed it in the dishwasher. I don't love Calum like that. He's just another friend I've made. This isn't some enemies-to-lovers story. That doesn't happen in real life.

"God," I groaned, throwing my head back before letting it flop forward, letting out a deep puff of air; this day sucks. 10:30, I pursed my lips, deciding to just end the night. It was too late for me to function, and I'm not going to a club by myself because of the fear in me: a guy will do what happened again. Chances of that are slim, but I know they prey on girls by themselves. I'm not risking it.

Suddenly, a noise came from outside the kitchen window, making me snap my head in that direction.

"This isn't funny," I muttered, hoping it was just a twig hitting the window. Slowly, I walked over to it and peered outside, unable to see anything with how dark it is. "Nope, not going out." Quickly, the blinds were pulled shut, and the light was flipped off. "Kensie, if this is you, it's a sick joke, and I'm sorry!" I yelled, walking backwards. A scream left my throat as I bumped into something, knowing I'm nowhere near the wall or door.

"Fucking hell, Nicky, my ears," Kensie groaned, pushing me forward slightly before rubbing at her ears. "If what's me?"

"That bang on the window..." I furrowed my eyebrows. "Wait, you're here, not outside. Where's Luke?" As if on cue, he walked around the corner.

"Was in the bathroom," Bang, there it was again.

"That bang!" Kensie widened her eyes, shaking her head. "fuck no, is there someone out there?"

"I think so," my voice wavered as I shook my head. "This definitely isn't you."

"It's a sick joke if it is, Nicky, you being serious,"

"I'm sorry, I'm nervous. I-," bang! Three knocks on the garden door, another two, and finally one by itself before a loud bang sounded from the front of the house. "I'm calling Morgan," my hands fumbled to grasp at my phone before Luke pulled it from my hands.

"Be quiet, Nicky," he grumbled, rubbing his temples. "It's a bunch of asshole kids who are doing it because of the reaction you're giving. Be silent, and they'll get bored and leave,"

"The police would also make them leave," I argued.

"Luke's right, Nic. We just got to wait it out." Why the hell are they being so weird?

"Fine. We will wait it out."

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