Closer || (n.j.)

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen--
"I've got a surprise. Stay here." Nick says to me months later. I had just gotten home from work, and I badly wanted to change out of my Starbucks uniform. I was standing on our patio and it was chilly outside, but the breeze almost felt nice. The sun was starting to slowly set, and like always, I admired it. Nick came back, his hands behind him.

"Actually, come with me." He grabbed my hand and led me to our grand room that had a big, white piano in it. There was a microphone attached to the top, that wasn't there before. He sat me down on one of the chairs and sat on the piano bench, starting to play. Was he going to play me a song? Did he write it for me? That was my immediate thought.

"Nick.." I say, crossing my legs.

"Just listen. Trust me." And so, he started to play and sing beautifully.

Angel with a broken wing,
When you showed up at my door.
Now I'm falling more in love then I
Ever was before.
And if you must, know the truth
I knew that it, was you.
So when you will, and when you won't
I do.

I know that an endless love isn't
Something you can teach.
With you, there is not a star
In the sky that I can't reach.
So if you must, know the truth
I knew that it, was you.
So when you will. and when you won't
I do.

So when you will, and when you won't
You can trust that I will.
When were young, and when we're old
I do.

I was speechless at this point. Nick turned to me and must've saw the shocked expression on my face.

"That song was called I Do. I wrote it for you." He said, then got down on one knee with a small red box in his hand. Tears were already in my eyes as he began to speak.

"Marni Lee Spruce, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to wake up to your gorgeous face every morning until death does us part. When I first saw you, I knew that it was you. You were the one. So, will you marry me?" He opens the box to reveal a gorgeous, glittering diamond ring that must've costed a fortune. My mind told me absolutely not, but my heart wanted me to scream yes and jump into his arms.

"I can't. I just can't. I am so sorry Nick." I looked into his now saddened gaze and he shut the box and stood up.

"I am so, so sorry. But I've just.....I've fell out of love with you. I have no idea how it happened, and I had no idea that it was even possible. You are such an amazing guy, and you're everything I want in someone, but I just don't love the same way that I did two years ago." By now, tears were silently rolling down my cheeks and Nick slowly brought up his thumb to wipe them away. I thought he was going to scream at me, or just blow up. I didn't really know what to expect. All of my tears hit the hardwood floor as we both stood there, not knowing what to do next.

"What now?" I whisper, my voice cracking. My heart was breaking, piece by piece, as I kept seeing the hurt look on Nick's face.

"I...I don't know. But I do know one thing." He says, looking me straight in the eyes.

"Hm?"

"I love you Marni. With all of my heart. My love for you will never change. I can tell you that much. That's a promise." His voice calmed me, making me almost forget what I just caused between us.

"I...."

"I know you don't feel the same. And I can accept that." He kisses my lips softly, and walks over to the piano to take the microphone attachment off of the top of it. He puts the stand and microphone in a case and sets the ring box on the piano.

"So, I guess I should find somewhere to stay, huh?" I already knew the answer.

"I mean, you don't have to. There's plenty of room here." Nick comments, not looking at me. What?! That is not what I expected at all. But, he kind of saved me. I didn't really have anywhere to go right now anyway. My dad was back in jail, and I didn't have any other family to turn to.

"Thank you Nick. Very much." I murmur before going up the stairs and heading to the bedroom. I start to get my suitcase so I can take all of my clothes and things, and move them to the spare room that's across the house. Elvis comes to me as I sit on the floor and open my bottom dresser drawer. He licks my cheek and I start to cry even more.

"You okay?" Nick's voice is soft as he speaks from the doorway. I just shake my head and let the tears fall. He comes over and wraps his arms around me. I lean into him and my mind is racing. He eventually let go of me and I continued to put my clothes in the suitcase. I hear Nick walk out of the room and I just keep packing until all of my stuff is taken from the room.

I finally get my suitcase and other bags to the room I'd claimed and Nick said I could keep my stuff in my closet for now. So all of my shoes, bags, dresses, all of that was in the closet in his room. I begin to put everything in the dresser and bedside table of the room, already feeling empty inside. When that was finished, I got up and decided that I would not shed anymore tears. Of course, that was going to be difficult as hell. I mean after he wrote that song, sang it for me, all the things he's done for me. Ugh, this is going to be so hard.

I made my way to the kitchen to get some dinner and I saw Nick sitting by his piano, his fingers over the keys but not playing. He must be so crushed, and it's all my fault. I just watch him, not a single tear falling from his eyes. He must've felt me watching him because he turned around. I instantly turned away and went to getting myself something to eat. I thought I'd be nice enough to ask if he wanted anything.

"Do you want anything for dinner?" I say, not turning back around.

"I'm fine. Thank you." I hear his reply, his voice cracking and broken. It's like we're strangers. I cooked myself chicken and vegetables, eating alone and occasionally watching Nick just sit at his piano, looking out the window aimlessly. When I was done eating, I put my dishes in the sink and headed up to my room. I sat on the bed, thinking.

"Why did I have to do that? Why? Stupid feelings." I say out loud to myself. A part of me wanted to run downstairs and jump into his arms, but the other part of me said to stay up here for the rest of the night. I laid down, feeling the empty space next to me. I saw a little nose peek through the door and push it open. Elvis jumped up on the bed next to me, nuzzling his nose into my side.

"Hey boy." I roll over and kiss his muzzle. He licks my face and I scrunch up my nose, smiling. I fell asleep against him, his soft breathing lulling me to sleep.

Nick's POV--
I called for my dog, but he didn't come. When Marni broke up with me, I didn't know what to think. I guess I just kind of went, numb. All I thought was, I'll never stop loving her. Wether we get back together or not. She's stolen my heart, and has for the last two years we spent together. I got up from my piano and looked at the ring box in front of me before heading upstairs to look for Elvis.

"Elvis? Where are you boy?" I walked down the hall and decided to check Marni's room. It was weird, her just kind of living here because she has nowhere else to go. I figured that I couldn't just kick her out with nowhere to go. I cracked the door open a tiny bit, seeing Elvis laying next to Marni, her arm draped over his side. The dog was slightly kicking his legs, must be dreaming. I smiled at the sight. This is how I would find them almost every night I came home late. I felt tears prick at my eyes as I kept my gaze on her peaceful figure.

"I love you so much Marni Lee." I whispered as I shut her door and stood in the hallway for only a few seconds. Tears fall down my face and I walk back to my room, my hands in my pockets. I sit on the bed, reading over my schedule for tomorrow. I was performing at a small venue in a couple of weeks for someone's birthday, and I guess it was a surprise. I was actually going to be performing at Marni's friend, Kristen's, 21st birthday. Her parents had told my manager that they couldn't get Joe, and so Phil called me and asked for them. I said yes, and that I was happy to do it. I'm just not sure how I'll handle it if Marni is there.