More Than Friends

Chapter 23: Picking Up the Pieces

The days after Keon was taken away felt like a blur to Nicole. Everything had changed so fast, and now that the immediate threat was gone, she was left to pick up the pieces of her life. But the fear, the tension—it hadn't completely faded. It was like a shadow followin' her around, even though she knew Keon was locked up.

She stayed with Devin for a while longer, not ready to be on her own just yet. Every noise, every small thing, still made her jump. It was like she couldn't shake the feelin' of bein' watched, even though she knew it was all in her head now.

One morning, Nicole sat at the table, starin' down at her cup of tea, the steam risin' up, but her mind was far away. She hadn't been sleepin' much, and even though Keon was gone, her thoughts were still stuck on what had happened.

Devin came into the kitchen, his eyes soft as he watched her. He had been there through all of it, never leavin' her side, always keepin' her close. But he knew she was still strugglin' to move past what Keon had done.

"How you feelin' today?" Devin asked, his voice gentle as he sat down next to her.

Nicole shrugged, her fingers runnin' around the edge of the tea cup. "I don't know, Dev. I thought it'd feel better now that he's gone, but...it still feels like he's there, in my head."

Devin reached over, takin' her hand in his. "I get it, Nic. What Keon did? That ain't somethin' you just get over. It's gon' take time."

Nicole nodded, her throat tight. She knew he was right, but she hated feelin' like this—so trapped in her own mind, so scared even when there was nothin' to be scared of anymore.

"I keep thinkin' 'bout all the times he was around us," Nicole whispered, her voice tremblin'. "How we never knew. How I never saw it."

Devin squeezed her hand, his eyes full of understanding. "That's 'cause he was hidin' it, Nic. You couldn't have known. Keon was good at pretendin', at actin' like he was our boy. But that's on him, not you."

Nicole looked up at him, tears fillin' her eyes. "I feel stupid. Like I should've known. Like I should've seen it."

Devin shook his head, his voice firm but gentle. "Don't do that to yourself. You didn't know 'cause you trusted him. That's what friends do. He the one who broke that trust, not you."

Nicole wiped her eyes, takin' a deep breath. She knew Devin was right, but it was still hard to shake the guilt, the feelin' that somehow she had missed somethin' important.

Later That Day

Nicole decided to go for a walk, just to clear her head. Devin offered to go with her, but she told him she needed some time alone. It was the first time in days she had wanted to be by herself, and though she was nervous, she knew she had to start takin' back control of her life.

She walked through the park, feelin' the breeze on her skin, tryin' to focus on the peace around her instead of the chaos that had been her life for the past few weeks. Every step felt like she was movin' forward, away from the fear, away from the darkness Keon had brought into her life.

But even with the quiet around her, Nicole couldn't shake the feelin' that things had changed forever. She wasn't the same person she had been before all this started. She had trusted someone who betrayed her in the worst way, and it had left scars she wasn't sure would ever fully heal.

As she sat down on a bench, her phone buzzed in her pocket. For a split second, her heart jumped—her mind flashin' back to all the messages Keon had sent. But when she looked at the screen, it was just Tasha checkin' in on her.

How you holdin' up, girl? the message read.

Nicole smiled a little, feelin' a wave of relief. Tasha had been there for her too, helpin' her through the worst of it.

I'm gettin' there. Still feels weird, but I'm tryin' she texted back.

Tasha replied instantly: That's all you can do. Take it day by day. You know we all got your back.

Nicole sighed, feelin' a little lighter. She knew she had a long way to go, but havin' Devin and her friends there made it a little easier to breathe. She wasn't alone in this, and she knew that in time, she'd find her way back to herself.

That Night

Back at Devin's place, Nicole sat on the couch, starin' out the window as the night settled in. Devin came and sat next to her, his presence steady, comfortin' in a way she needed.

"I know I keep sayin' it, but we gon' get through this," Devin said softly, his arm wrappin' around her shoulders.

Nicole leaned into him, lettin' herself relax a little. "I know, Dev. I just... I don't wanna be scared forever."

"You won't be," Devin said, his voice full of certainty. "You too strong for that. And you got people who ain't lettin' you go through it alone."

Nicole smiled a little, feelin' his words settle deep. Maybe she wasn't all the way okay yet, but she was startin' to believe she would be. One day at a time.