Midnight love {Nika Muhl}

Part 39

Violet Montgomery

The next morning I was woken up early by a very eager nika ready for us to open Christmas presents. Once she woke me up she carried me down the stairs giving me at least a little time to make myself less grumpy as I am not a morning person. She and Hana ran around the Christmas tree searching for a present with their names marked on the package.

Me her mom and dad all sat on the couch. And based off the way their mom smiled with pleasure this was nothing new. And most likely a Christmas tradition that the two girls had. Once the found one for the each of us we took turns opening them.

I waited for them to open a few before I began to open mine as I didn't have very many. Not that I'm complaining. I want expecting anything actually. And felt an overwhelming surge of gratefulness towards her family for welcoming me and making me so at home here. Hana got me a pair of pajamas telling me very excitedly about her very own matching pair.

She also got me a gift card and a pair of fuzzy socks telling me that they will be a necessity come January in Connecticut. Her mom got me a mug that had famous book quotes on it. "I know you love to read." She said sweetly as I read over all the familiar lines painted onto the mug. Her father gifted me a cookbook with traditional Croatian recipes. "You loved our food so much I thought you might like to learn to make it yourself." He said as I flipped through the pages of the book.

Finally it came time for me to open nikas present for me. I unwrapped the first one to find a #10 nika muhl jersey. "For March madness." She said cockily swishing her hair over her shoulders. Hana just laughed. "You really think she wants to wear that thing. She should be wearing a #1 muhl jersey." Hana said smiling at her own idea.

Nika just shook her head as I began to open the second present. It was an envelope. I opened it and pulled out a piece of paper. I unfolded the paper to see that it was a plane ticket to a place called Hvar? "I thought while we're here in Croatia I could take you on a little beach vacation." Nika said smiling bashfully.

I jumped up hugging her tightly and thanking her over and over again.

...........

When we arrived I was not shocked to see that this place is just as beautiful as the rest of Croatia. Or at least the parts of it that I have seen. Nika rented us a beautiful air bnb once again. It's right across the street from the beach and the whole house is made from stones. When you first walk through the front gates your met with an outdoor set of marble stairs that lead you up to the main entrance.

Inside there's a small kitchen area that leads to a beautiful outdoor living room with very nice patio furniture. The balcony over looks the ocean and you can see out to the beach and the water. There's one bedroom with one bed so it looks like me and nika will be sharing but i don't really mind.

It was a short plane ride only about 45 minutes. Me and nika talked the entire time. She asked me if my family had reached out to me as it is now a few days after Christmas. I told her the truth which is that I have heard nothing from them since I was officially uninvited from Christmas. She just sighed and hung her head low. To which I insured her that I was the one who made the decision to come out to my family. She never forced me to do anything she was just my motivation.

Once we were settled into the apartment we would be staying in I showered and nika and I sat out on the back porch watching the sun set. As I sat on the couch I ran my hands up and down the spine and across the cover of the new journal nika bought for me. Still not sure what to write in it. "Have you written anything?" She asked from across the couch.

"Not yet. I'm still not sure. It will come to me though I'm sure of it." I said smiling lightly to reassure her. "I don't know how you do it." She said shaking her head. "Do what?" I asked confused. "Write." She said simply. I know Nika has read my writing before as I am the one who has given it to her to read. Mostly just stuff from my English or creative writing classes.

"It comes in waves for sure. It's like speaking you don't know how you do it you just do. But for me instead of saying how I feel or what I'm feeling I write. Words make a lot more sense and come out a lot better for me on paper." I said. "What's your most favorite thing you have ever wrote?" Nika said after nodding her head to my previous statement.

"Hmmmm probably a journal entry from a while ago." I said not going into great detail. "Do you have it?" She asked to which I nodded my head yes. "Can I read it?" She asked again. I felt my stomach lurch. This is not something I would ever usually do with anyone but in this moment I know I needed to do this. The only way for me to build trust with nika again is allowing myself to be vulnerable. I nodded before getting up and going over to my backpack where it sat in the kitchen.

I pulled out my journal and opened to the very familiar page and handed it over to nika. I have that page memorized by heart at this point.

"He hurts me. I can write it down but I can't say it out loud. Why can't I say it out loud. That he hurts me. Do I deserve this. Is that why I stay because somewhere deep down I know that I deserve what is being done to me. I don't know what to do. I feel the only way that I can get out of this is to leave this earth. It's not like I could ever be with the person I truly love anyway. If I was I would be alone. I would rather be dead than alone."

I watched nikas face as her eyes scanned the page intently. When she was done she closed my journal and looked to me. "Why is that your favorite." She said slightly confused. "Because it's so raw. It's my pure emotion on a piece of paper." She just nodded her head. I watched her face knowing she was thinking. "I'm sorry you ever felt that way Violet." She said grabbing hold of one of my hands.

I nodded my head feeling slightly awkward. "We should go to the beach." I said quickly changing the topic. Nika knew I felt uncomfortable and just followed my lead.

"Yeah. Yes. Let's go."

A/N

Big chapter coming upppp