High School with a Celebrity

Chapter 23

After that comment Lana made towards Nick, everyone stood quiet and Nick shrugged it off like it was nothing. I sighed in relief as I ate my food. The dinner was pretty much the most awkward experience I have ever been in.  

"Mommy, can I have a cookie? I finished my peas." Elliot smiled widely, gazing at everyone so we can see his plate.  

"Good boy, Elliot." Lana said and stood up to get him a cookie. 

"Aurora, don't you think you should ask your mom first if Lana can give Elliot a cookie?" Nick said, trying to seem responsible.  

Great, the one time I wish he was himself, he acts like a gentleman! 

"Uhm, no, Nick. It's alright. Lana can give him what he wants." I said, sending him a "shut-up" glare.  

Nick looked at my parents and then at me and he whispered, "Shh! I'm trying to be the responsible, grown-up type! You're killing it!" He looked at my mom and said, "Mrs. Addison, I have a little brother also and from what I've seen, giving a child a cookie after his dinner is not going to go well with his stomach. Maybe you shouldn't let your son have it now." 

I banged my head on the table. I was done.  

My mother giggled, "Oh, Nicholas, Elliot isn't my son! Where on earth did you get that idea?! He's my darling grandson, but not my own. That boy is Lana's and however she wants to raise him is completely up to her. I look out for him and I agree. Lana, hon, wait until an hour to give Elliot the cookie, okay?"  

Nick's jaw dropped and he was speechless. I've made a fool out of him.  

"Oh, I'm... I'm sorry. Will you excuse me? I have to go for a walk... or something." Nick got up and threw his napkin on the table, walking towards the door.  

"NICK! NICK! WAIT, PLEASE!" I yelled, getting up and chasing after him.  

"Guess the tables have turned, huh?" I heard Nick say. I knew he was referring to me chasing him, considering it was always the other way around.  

"Nick, just let me explain!" 

"What's there to explain?! That you forgot to mention your 19 year old sister has a 2 year old son?! Look, I know it's none of my business, but who's the father?" Nick turned around and faced me.  

"Your brother."  

Nick's mouth opened like he wanted to say something, but instead he slightly coughed. He shook his head in disbelief and closed his eyes. "GOD DAMN IT, JOE! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO RUIN EVERYTHING?! YOU PROMISED ME YOU WOULDN'T DO THIS AGAIN!" He kicked a nearby trashcan and sat against a fence.  

Tears escaped and were now free-falling, "I'm sorry. She didn't want you to know. Joe knows; he has known since Elliot was born. But Joe didn't want anything to do with him. My sister was crushed. She loved Joe so much and he just walked out. Ever since then, she's had a passion of hatred towards you and him. When she found out I was dating you, she flipped. That explains why she made that comment at the table." 

I was on a roll. I was finally releasing everything I've held in. I didn't want to stop; it gave me a feeling of freedom. And that feeling was too good to let go. 

It happened last year Nick began 

"It happened last year..." Nick began.  

I looked at him, waiting for him to continue. He, as well, had a story to tell. 

"I was 17, and it was in the summer. I lived with my parents then. Joe and I shared everything. Unfortunately, he didn't know when he had crossed the line. My girlfriend at the time was Rachel Cunning and God, I loved her. We went out for three years. One day, Rachel calls me and tells me she has to go away for a little awhile. I didn't know why or where she was going, so of course I questioned her about it. That's when her parents came on the phone. Man, Aurora, you should've heard them. Screaming, yelling, and cursing at me that it was my entire fault why their daughter was failing school because she had been missing classes. Turns out, she had been cutting class to go to the bathroom to throw up. She was pregnant. And her parents blamed me." Nick eyes closed and a few tears slipped. "Joe was the father of my girlfriend's baby." His voice cracked like he was on the verge of crying. 

At that moment, I completely broke down in tears. I felt my face and almost jumped when it felt burning hot. I could predict what people thought as they walked by and looked at us. But I didnt care. I didnt care about much right now.  

"What happened to Rachel, Nick?" I asked.  

"After that day Rachel went to the doctor to get checked, she left. Her parents sold the house a week before and headed on a flight to New Jersey. I haven't seen her since. I knew, I just knew, I had to get out. I couldn't live in the same house with him. That night, I packed my bags, and for the past week, I sat in room looking for apartments. Since I was only 17 at the time, I couldn't have anything in my name so; my mother bought me a house. She knew it would be the best thing right now. She didn't want me to end up like him. So, this brings me here. A year later, I'm 18 and already I'm heading to college in 2 months. Aurora, you need to promise me something." 

I scooted closer to him and cuddled up, resting my head on his chest. "What?" 

He titled my head up with his index finger and looked down at me, "Promise me we'll be together from now until college is over. Even if we're not together as a couple, but atleast as friends. You're the only one I can count on right now. I need you. I need you to help me to not be like him." 

I sat up and kissed him with a kiss full of support. "I promise." 

He nodded and kissed me. "I love you." 

"I love you too..."