Texting The Non-Smoker (m.c) -2-

0.7

[ Nicole ]

I missed him. I actually wanted to see his name ring up on my phone. I wanted to talk about Pokemon with him. It was strange.

"I'm going out for more cigarette packs, I'll be back!" I yelled to Jacob, who was playing on the computer in his bedroom.

"Okay!" He replies.

I walk down the street, pondering over Michael and what he might be doing.

Probably throwing a party for getting rid of me...

Just as I confirm that, I get a call on my phone from Jen. And of course, without thinking I press answer.

"Hello?" I say quietly.

Jen sighs into the line before speaking. "What happened yesterday? Michael is so torn up over it."

"Look, I understand you and everyone else don't want me there. Hell, I don't want me there. I don't need anyone. I'm sorry if I hurt Michael but that's how I feel." I reply.

I hear shuffling momentarily before I hear Katie's voice. "Do you mean to tell me that you have no feeling whatsoever for Michael? You could go on living without his weird banter or loud laughter? You have no idea how much he- no, we, care about you. You should see the way his face lights up when he talks about you, or even the goofy smile he has when you text him back. You're willing to throw that all away for pride?"

I hear Jen whisper in the back about how harsh she was, but Katie was right. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm already wanting to be his friend, their friend. I want to be in this group.

"I don't want to throw it away." I mutter.

"I didn't think so, tell us where you're at and we can talk about this over lunch. Jen's treat." Katie replies with a light laugh when Jen yells out hey.

"Alright." I agree, my gut twisting with nervousness.

[ Katie ]

"I don't understand why she would be so, bipolar." I mutter out in frustration.

Jen slides into the passenger seat of my car, shaking her head. "I think there's something else. She doesn't stay with her parents, it seems like she's just raising her little brother by herself."

"Maybe."

She was onto something there, it didn't make sense why she would raise her brother alone. She's already eighteen, so why would she have to?

After a few minutes of silence, we find Nicole walking along the road. Once she's in the backseat, I could tell she was off.

It wasn't long until we arrive at a quiet cafe where we order our lunch and take a seat outside in the warm weather.

"There's no way to ask this without being blunt or rude, but is there a back story to why you'd rather be by yourself?" Jen questions carefully, smiling apologetically if she offended Nicole.

"It's a long story." She said quietly.

"We have time," I respond, a little irritated.

Nicole looks away before sighing. "Well, when my brother was born the doctors immediately knew he had a learning disability. It wasn't that much of a problem for my dad, but it was a big deal to my mom. She wanted two perfect children. When Jacob was two and I was seven, my mom left. She told me to watch Jacob and that my dad would be home shortly, like I was babysitting him while she went out to the store. I didn't notice her empty closet or books."

I look at Jen momentarily, who looked like she was ready to cry. Nicole's eyes were fixed on her pasta, only shoving the noodles back and forth with her fork.

"My dad was a mess at first, I had no idea what had happened. I remember telling him she was just at the store, and he broke down and hugged me. He began working three jobs then, he'd drop us off at school and I wouldn't see him until the next morning. It was my job to take care of dinner and Jacob when we walked home.

"A few months after I turned fifteen, my dad sat me down at our dining table. He said that he couldn't keep working like that anymore, he couldn't find it in his heart to keep going. I thought that it meant I had to start bringing in money as well. I told him I understood and we'd be okay. I didn't realize that he meant he was leaving us. I woke up very late for school the next morning from Jacob crying about dad being gone. I figured he went to work so I brushed it off, but he never showed back up."

"Oh my god, Nicole." Jen was full on crying now, tears streaming down her cheeks. I even found myself tearing up.

Not only did one parent show they didn't care about her, but they both showed that. They both left her to take care of her brother.

Nicole's eyes widen at our reactions. "Don't cry, oh god. It's okay, guys. I'm fine."

"Nicole, no one could be fine after that." I say sternly, trying to ignore the waiver in my voice and the tears slowly falling from my eyes.

"I dropped school and then began working random jobs I could find. I tried to talk to my old friends once, and that didn't end well. Then I tried night school and just got made fun of a lot by the other students." Nicole says, disregarding my comment.

"You feel like you're not good enough, you're unworthy of friendship due to the lack of support you've had in your life." Jen confirms.

"Nicole, you deserve love and friendship just as much as the next person, if not more." I add, my heart breaking when she begins to also tear up.

"I can't be friends with anyone, I don't know how to anymore." She croaks, her words muffled due to her hand covering her mouth.

Jen places a hand on one of Nicole's, and I take her other hand. "You can be anything, and I already considered you a friend when we first met." Jen laughs a little.

"Just start small, only do what's comfortable for you." I squeeze her hand lightly.

"Trust us, you can be friends with anyone." Jen says with confidence for her.

"Anyone except Michael, he probably hates me." Nicole mutters.

"He's the last person who would ever hate you. Just talk to him, send him a text tomorrow. If you explain to him how you feel then he'll understand for sure." I tell her with a small smile.

Nicole smiles for the first time being with us; two dimples carved into her cheeks and her eyes bright with happiness.

"I'll do that, thank you guys." She says sincerely.

I could tell that she was beginning to break down that big wall she has around her heart, and I knew that Michael would surely tear it down for good.

A/N:
Surprise update!!

I hope you guys enjoyed this really emotional chapter, hopefully it explains why Nicole is so closed off!

Please take a moment to vote and leave a comment!

I love you guys!

- Jen