I shot up in bed, tears, or maybe sweat running down my face. I ran into the bathroom, grabbing my phone. After I locked the door, I checked around, making sure I was the only one in there.
‘Your being so paranoid, chill.’ I heard Kyle’s voice in my head. I called Nicki and put her on speaker as I ran to the sink, then splashed cold water on my face. Ring, ring, ring, and then it went to voicemail. “Dammit, Nicki.” I swore under my breath.
“Hey! It’s Nicki, obviously,” she paused laughing, “I’m not available at this very moment so I’ll call you back when I can, love! Also leave your name, number, and any other information after the beep….BEEEP…no, it’s still me. Anyways, ciao, babes!” she said, then a beep following, a real one. “Hurry home, now. Something happened and I’m scared and I don’t know what to do. Please call me back or come back to my flat A.S.A.P.” I said, emphasizing ‘a.s.a.p.’ My phone went off almost immediately,
From: Nicki Love J
On my way, just came back from the store. Sorry I missed your call, love.
I shot a quick text before calling someone I hadn’t talked to since earlier at the accident,
To: Nicki Love J
-.- Did you even HEAR my voicemail? Crazy BS over here, hurry!!!
As I dialed Mrs. Benson’s number, a feeling of nervousness washed over my body. ‘What if she thinks it’s my fault?’, ‘She’s probably plotting my death right now’, ‘Maybe she hated me all alo-’, my thoughts were interrupted by a woman’s depressing voice, “Hello?, anybody there?” the too-familiar woman asked, “Sorry, yeah, it’s Ariella.” I answered in an almost whisper. “Oh,” she paused, “Hello, darling, are you okay?” she asked. I winced at the word darling, Kyle used to call me that. “I’m supposed to ask you that.” I pointed out, ignoring her question. “Answer the question, dear.” She pushed in a concerned tone. “I’m not doing my best, Mrs. Benson.” I admitted, staring at the tile in the bathroom. “Me either, and Arie? Just because Kyle…uh…you know, doesn’t mean you can’t call me Molly anymore, you’re still in me and Dan’s hearts.” She said, forcing a laugh. “Of course, I’m sorry.” “No need to be sorry, darling. There’s nothing more you could’ve done.” She replied and even though she kept her voice leveled and toneless I could still hear a bit of iciness… or was it hatred, in her voice? “Well, anything you guys heard about the accident?” I asked. “All we’ve heard is that whatever happened was no accident.” She said. “Oh-” “Anybody here? Hello? I’m back?!” Nicki screamed throughout my flat. “What Arie?” Molly wondered aloud. “Nothing, sorry Molly I have to go, Nicki’s here and she’s still a bit shaken up.” I quickly explained. “Oh, well I’ll let you go then, bye darling.” As I hung up the phone, I unlocked the door and walked slowly and quietly through the kitchen with my phone in my hand as a weapon. “Were you planning on hitting me with that?” Someone boomed in a deep, manly, American accent behind me, I gasped and my heart started to beat ten times faster. “Don’t turn around or else.” They said in a menacing voice. I heard heels, clack across the kitchen then someone put their arms around me. They held a…bottle of Captain Morgan across my neck…wait what? I stepped forward and grabbed a knife, turning around. “Oh my god Nicki! I hate you! Now next time you do that I am going to choke you with the knife!” I said, feeling stupid for believing it was a killer. “One, why don’t you slice my throat instead and two, what gave me away?” she asked oblivious. “Maybe it was the fact you were talking like an American man but you were wearing pink heels or maybe it was the liquor around my neck.” I paused, putting up the knife. “You choose.” “Well, I could’ve been a cross-dresser.” She pointed out. “No way because you had woman legs, men don’t have thin, waxed, legs.” I spat, sticking out my tongue. “Only on the weekends!” she exclaimed in a deep, feminine voice. I winked at her, and then as if by magic all the pain went away…for at least two minutes when we both fell to the floor laughing so hard our sides hurt. Then realization hit me and I got up, walked to the expensive, shiny brown, wooden table, and grabbed a bottle of Crown Royal, then chugged the whole thing down. “Woo! That’s it babe!” Nicki cheered, and clapped.
