F*ckin' Perfect

Chapter 18: Lessons in Love

Natalie's POV

I couldn't find Nic anywhere Monday at school. Ever since our trip to the amusement park, she had been acting weird, and I had no clue why. After I fell asleep on the couch with her, I had woken up in my bed all alone a few hours later. Mom was in the kitchen making dinner when I came out and she told me that Nic had to leave, that she had something important to do. I had been asking myself a series of questions all the rest of that day and Sunday, texting her as well.

She has never left like that before, nor has she ever ignored my texts. I even called her Sunday night with no answer and left her a desperate voicemail. Those two days without Nic were an emotional roller coaster with no way off, and it hurt knowing she wasn't talking to me. I thought I would finally be able to talk to her at school, but she wasn't there either. Something was wrong, and I didn't have the faintest idea as to what that was.

When lunch came around, I was determined to find out what was going on. I walked right up to the table, everyone already there minus Amy and John. Those two had started dating and usually went off somewhere else during lunch. Without a word, I slammed my hands down on the table, earning both startled and surprised looks from all there.

"Where's Nic?" My question made them glance nervously at each other while the twins gave me confused looks.

"You mean she isn't with you?" Paris asked, her eyebrows furrowed. A ball formed in my throat as I shook my head slowly.

"She's been ignoring me since Saturday," I confessed and Layla slammed a hand on the table.

"That fucking dumb ass, I told her that was a shitty move." My eyes glued to the dirty blonde as she sighed deeply. That was the longest sentence I had heard her say, and it had my full interest.

"Wait, you knew about this?" Her dark violet eyes met my own teal ones and I noticed she was more tough than I had thought she was.

"She thought she would be protecting you by not dragging you into this bullshit." For once in my life, I felt an anger I couldn't believe I actually had in me as I leaned forward.

"She dragged me into this bullshit the moment I became her girlfriend." The blonde's expression remained the same but I could see the emotions changing in her eyes before the corner of her mouth just barely curled into the smallest of smiles.

"I can see why she fell for you," she commented, making my heart race, but I didn't let that hinder my goal.

"Now, you all obviously know where she is so take me there. Now," I demanded, looking at each and every one of them, watching their reactions.  Most of them looked uncomfortable, Layla didn't offer much, and Hayden was the only one who offered anything solid as he spoke.

"Look, Natalie, Nic isn't in the best place right now. Madelyn made her life hell and now that she's back, everything that Nic had stored away is pounding at her front door and-"

"Don't you think I know that?" I cut him off, anger rolling off me. "Don't you think that she should have someone beside her so she doesn't do something so stupid it causes more pain that she's already in? So cut the shit and take me to her."

The male's eyes were wide at my outburst before he sighed. "I'm not taking that hit. Layla, you take her, you're the only one she wouldn't dare to punch." Hayden's pleading made the blonde roll her eyes, but she stood.

"Fine, pussy, I'll go. Next time you owe me.  C'mon, let's go. Lily, you stay; I don't want you to see this." She didn't even have to turn to see the small girl get up to follow her. I quickly turned to follow the taller girl, her words echoing even in my head.