Broken (Nathan Sykes fanfic)

Chapter 2

I looked around the small dorm room when Brooke came rushing back into the dorm. Her body was wrapped in a towel with her hair spraying water as she walked.


"Where's the fire?" I asked teasingly.


Brooke rolled her brown eyes, "Nathan, being the dick that he is, thought that it would be funny to get a picture of me walking into the hallway in a towel." Brooke complained.


I rolled my eyes.


"He's such a pervert. Why do you even hang out with him? No offense but... he's... He's scary." I mumbled the last part. Brooke sighed.


"He's alright once you get to know him but this is who he is, he's not going to change. Hey, so what you wearing to the party tonight?" Brooke asked, changing the topic. She began going through her clothes.


"Not going, remember?" I asked.


Brooke groaned as I reviewed my history notes.


"C'mon Lexi! Just come to this one party and you never have to go to one again! Please! Prove Nathan wrong." She pleaded. I sighed


"But I need to make sure I have all the notes," I reminded her.


"Do it tomorrow?" Brooke suggested. I groaned, knowing Brooke wasn't going to give up.


"Fine. But I'm not staying long," I mumbled.


"Great! What you gonna wear?" She asked me excitedly.


I shrugged, "erm, I dunno... Maybe just some jeans and a top?" I suggested airily.


Brooke froze before looking at me then laughing. I frowned slightly.


"Oh you are funny. No, seriously, what are you wearing?" Brooke asked wiping away a few tears that had formed in her eyes.


"Erm... I was being serious," I said slowly.


Brooke looked at me before nodding her head slowly, "Right. Tomorrow, if we aren't hung over, I'm taking you shopping. Let's see what I've got to work with," Brooke said, going over to where my clothes were stored and started to shift through them.


She had a determined look on her face before pulling out some light wash denim shorts. Her eyes lit up. She went over to her cupboard and pulled out a sleeveless pink button up shirt that had studs around the collar. She threw them to me and I caught them in mid-air.


"Here you go! You change by your side and I'll change by my side." Brooke ordered. She didn't wait for a reply as she took off her top. I looked at my outfit doubtfully. Brooke saw me hesitating.


"Go on Lexi! You'll look great! Trust me on this!"


I sighed and walked over to my side of the room to close the curtains. Despite the fact that we were on the top floor, I didn't want any perverts like Nathan to peer through. I quickly changed into the outfit and tucked the shirt into my shorts before turning around to see how Brooke was. Brooke was dressed in green shorts with a coral crop top.


"Won't we be cold?" I asked doubtfully, looking down at my clothes. Brooke brushed through her hair before getting the hair dryer.


"We're going straight into a house so you'll be fine. Turn the straighteners on, please?" Brooke asked.


I went over to her dressing table and plugged in the straighteners, keeping them on the heat mat. I grabbed my own hair brush and dragged it through my wavy brown hair.


Once Brooke had styled her hair and I slipped on my black converse and grabbed my phone, making sure it was charged, before we left the dorm block. We walked down the flights of stairs and waited outside the building.


"Nathan should be here soon," Brooke said tapping her heel against the ground when a black car pulled up with the roof down.


"Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear," I muttered. Brooke laughed at my expense.


Jay got out the car and pulled his seat forward, letting Brooke and I get in.


"Didn't know that you were coming Lexi," Jay said giving me a grin.


I looked at Brooke who grinned at me.
"It was a last minute decision, really," I mumbled.


"Not worried about staying up past your bedtime?" Nathan smirked as he pulled out of the school campus.


"I'm not five," I snapped, glaring at the back of his head.


He smirked, "Well, you are way too innocent to be hanging with our group. I don't think mummy would approve," He replied coolly, looking me straight in the eye.


'Don't let him intimidate you Lexi. C'mon!' said a voice inside my head.


"For God's sake! I'm the same age as you so how about treating me the same?" I snapped. I stared him straight in the eye. I saw a flicker of something in his eyes. Surprise? Respect? I couldn't tell. This boy hides his emotions so well, doesn't he? Maybe he's not that tough.


"Whatever," he scoffed.


I leaned back in the seat and didn't say anything until we pulled up outside a house. There were students on the front garden drinking and the music could be heard from out here. Jay got out and pulled the seat forward so Brooke and I could get out.


Nathan strode ahead and unfamiliar people began greeting him. We went inside and Brooke took me over to a corner where I saw the people I met last night along with two new faces. I guess they were Siva and Max.


"'Ello! Who's this then?" The shaved head guy asked.


"Alexis," said Nathan before he went back to kissing Ally. Well more like sucking her face off instead. They do need to breathe right.


"Erm, actually I prefer Lexi," I smiled at them politely. My head was pounding already from the loud music.


"Lovely to meet you darling, I'm Siva," Siva said with an Irish accent. Damn, he was gorgeous. Cute cheekbones.


"And I'm Max. Sit down babe, I'll get you a drink. Vodka, coke with vodka, beer, shots?" Max asked standing up.


"Oh, erm, water?" I asked.


Everyone looked at me with shocked expressions while Brooke gave a small laugh.


"Just get her a plain Coke, Max. Lexi, come sit down over on the couch," Brooke said and pulled me over.


I sat down on the couch next to her,
"you can't ask for water at a party," she whispered.


"Why not?" I frowned.


"Did you ever underage drink in the US?" She asked.


I took a shaky breath. I thought back to that one time. That one stupid time. I swore to never drink alcohol again. Never again. Especially after the accident. I felt a wave of nausea before realizing Brooke was waiting for a reply.


"I've tried a bit of beer before but I didn't really like it," I lied shakily.


Brooke nodded her head but I knew she didn't believe me. I need to work on my acting skills.


"Ok, well, just ask for a plain Coke next time," she smiled before Max came back and handed it to me.


"Thanks," I answered and took a sip while Max sat down as well.


"Truth or dare, anyone?" Tom said over the pounding music. I was defiantly going to have a headache tomorrow.


Everyone nodded their heads.


"Right we need more players. Nath, go get Hayley and that lot," Tom instructed


Nathan glared at him, "I'm busy, ask the new girl." Nathan snapped.


"Don't be a dick just do it," Siva said to him.


Nathan rolled his eyes and stood up before glaring at me and walking away.


"He has anger issues," Jay explained.


"Really? I would never have guessed," I replied sarcastically. I was definitely staying clear of Nathan.


He came back with two girls and two boys. I recognized one of the boys, Austin. I felt like a stone had been dropped in my stomach and I was being ripped apart from the inside. I glared at him with cold eyes. Why the hell was he here? I felt my blood boil. Then I looked around. These were his friends, if I attacked him, not that I could anyway he was always the attacker, or started anything, I don't think this lot would be too happy. I'd like to get through University without any enemies. I decided to just glare at him. He saw me glaring and winked at me.


"Lexi, this is Hayley, Sophie, Ben and Austin. Guys, meet Lexi, she's new here. Ok, truth or dare... Sophie," Tom began.


"Dare," she smirked cockily. She seemed okay, maybe a little intimidating but not as intimidating as Nathan. Hayley gave me a smile when she came over so decided I liked her.


"Right I dare you to down three shots in a row," Tom said and poured vodka into a shot glass.


Sophie quickly downed it and Tom did it two more times before Sophie looked at me.


"Lexi, right?" She asked. I nodded my head, dreading what was going to happen next.


"Truth or dare?"


I debated with myself in my head. The dare could possibly include something alcohol-related. Truth couldn't be that embarrassing.


"Truth..." I said slowly.


Nathan scoffed, "Mary Sue." He muttered.


I frowned.


"Are you a virgin? She asked.


I choked on my drink. Austin caught my eye and I just glared at him.


I shook my head.


They looked shocked.


"Is that a 'no, I'm not going to answer the question' or 'no, I'm not a virgin'?" asked Sophie uncertainly.


"No, I'm not a virgin," I confirmed.


Everyone looked at me. Nathan raised his eyebrows, Austin smirked and Brooke's mouth was hanging open.
"Nathan truth or dare?" I said quickly to try and get the attention off me.


"Dare," he said smirking.


"I dare you to... Kiss Ally," I said before leaning back in the seat as he did it.


The game carried on for a little while longer until the new people left to dance, including Austin. I was relieved. I checked the time on my phone and saw that it was 1:32am. Bloody hell.


"Hey Brooke when we leaving?" I asked holding in a yawn. She shrugged.


"No idea. If you want, get Nathan to drive you home. He always does it." She said before Max asked her to dance. I sighed and put my drink on the floor. I looked around for Nathan and saw him sucking the face off a random girl. I decided to leave them in peace. I wandered around the big house in search of the door when I felt someone grab my upper arm. I spun around.


"Hey!" I cried.


The drunken male student looked at me weirdly and I took a step back. He took a step forward.


"Hey gorgeous, how about going somewhere a bit quieter?" he asked suggestively. I could smell the alcohol in his breath.


"I was just leaving, actually," I tried to push his hand off of my arm but he made his grip tighter.


He started pulling me towards the stairs, I struggled against his tight grip when another hand took mine. This grip was softer but still firm.


"Let her go," a voice ordered.


I looked around and saw Nathan. Wait, am I dreaming? Since when is he the hero? Since I met him yesterday he's just been a dick. But I wouldn't dream about him so this must be real.


The guy rolled his eyes drunkenly at Nathan.


"Everyone is so... So scared... Of.... You but, you know what?... You know what? I'm not!" The drunk student said slurring while swaying slightly.


Nathan dropped my hand and I feared that he had decided to leave me. The next thing I heard was the whistle of Nathan's fist going past my ear and the loud crunch of the guy's nose. He howled in pain. I winced. He released my arm and I quickly stepped closer to Nathan. Nathan didn't stop there. He raised his fist to go in for another punch. I quickly wrapped my arms around Nathan's torso trying to pull him away before it got anymore out of control.


"Nathan! Nathan stop it... Please you will kill him!" I shouted above the music that was still playing.


Nathan looked at me before I pulled my arms back to my sides. He didn't glance my way as he walked away and went back over to the girl he was making out with just a few moments ago.


I looked around and at the few people who saw Nathan beating the guy up before I walked outside. I took a deep, shaky breath, breathing in the late September air.


"Are you ok?" A stiff voice asked from behind me.


I turned and saw Nathan standing there. He had cuts on his knuckles, I just nodded my head.


Nathan let out a breath before walking closer to me so he was next to me.
"Are you... Are you ok?" I asked quietly.


"I've had worse," he looked at his cuts and shrugged. I didn't even want to begin to think about how many other fights he has been in before.


"Do you want to go? Back to your dorm I mean, Brooke mentioned it," he scratched the back of his neck.
I bit my lip before answering. He didn't seem too intimidating now. He'd answer my questions.


"I thought you... You didn't like me... I mean, why did you stop that man and why are you offering me a lift home? It's not something I'd expect from you. Does this mean we're friends now or what?" I asked carefully, watching his reaction. I saw a flash of something in his eyes again. Before I had time to think about what it was he replied.


"Look! You're Brooke's friend, ok? If I let anything happen to you, she'd kill me. Why can't you just be grateful that I decided to do something instead of asking so many questions for God's sake? I was trying this thing out - it's called 'being nice'. It obviously doesn't work so how about making your own way home?" he shouted. I flinched. He turned and began storming back inside.


Don't let him intimidate you Lexi. He's just a boy.


"I don't get you! One minute you hate me. You're rude and arrogant. Then the next you're coming to my rescue and offering me a lift home. Make up your mind!" I yelled after him, feeling tears sting my eyes.


Nathan spun around and glared at me again before his hard expression softened slightly when he saw the tears in my eyes. He sighed and walked back. I thought he was going to stop in front of me but he walked over to his car. He opened the door to the driver's seat. For a minute I thought he was going to drive off without me.


"Well come on then! If you're just gonna stand there I won't give you a lift. You're going to freeze to death. Especially in what you're wearing," he called. I looked down and remembered that I was only in shorts and a sleeveless top. I hurried over to the car and opened the passenger door. I let the warmth of the car engulf me as I leaned back in the leather seat.


"Thanks, Nathan," I looked over to him.


He stared straight ahead and said nothing. He started the ignition and pulled out of the parking space. Soon, we were driving back to my dorm.


-----


A/N: thank you to whoever read the first chapter! Also to who voted and commented! Shout out to @habibah44 for helping make Nathan edits, go follow her on twitter!! Please remember to vote and comment so I know if you like it or not, or if I should just stop! Tell other TWFanmily members to read it please! Peace!