Choose.

Chapter Ten

Nikko's POV

I woke up at around 4:30 AM. I had to go to the bathroom. I got up but as I did so I heard someone say "D-don't leave." I turned around frightened but saw no one. I stood there for a moment and then the voice said "T-thank you" Wait a minute. I've heard that voice before...

The voice was Mac's! "Mac?" I whispered. "Nikko? Nikko? A-are you there? Nikko? I-I like you. A lot." What did he say? He likes me? "Mac are you awake?" I asked him. "Come here Nikko. Please?" I had no idea what was going on. I walked towards him and layed down next to him. "Mac. Are you awake?" I asked him again. He didn't answer me. Instead he embraced me in a hug.

"I-I like you Nikko. A lot." What is he saying? My crush likes me? H-he's probably sleep talking. But... Could he actually mean it? If he was alseep then... "I-I like you too Mac." What was happening? He embraced me tighter. I turned around and our faces were about an inch apart. Woah... I want to but I can't do it. Should I? No. I'm crazy. I was slowly drifting to sleep. It just felt so... Right. I wish I could tell him how I felt....

~Le Time Skip~

When I woke up Mac wasn't there. That means he woke up without knowing what had happened. How wonderful.

Will he ask? What do I say? I got up to be greeted by Mac. "Hey." Mac said. "Sup." I replied. This is awkward. "Sooooo ummmm how did you sleep?" I asked him. "I slept well." he replied. "About last night...." he said.

FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK. WHAT DO I SAY?!?!? UMMMMM UMMMMM UMMMMM

"I-its fine. You sleep talk you know that right?" I said. "Yeah. I know I do. Ummmm. Yeah." This could not get anymore awkward. We walked downstairs and I tripped.

"Ahhhh!" I was expecting to feel the impact but instead I felt someone grab my waist. "I got you. Don't worry." Mac said. Our faces were inches apart again. "T-thanks.." He gave me a smile. "N-no problem."

We continued to go downstairs. We arrived in the kitchen. There was a note on the fridge. "Not again." Mac said. "What happened?" "My mom and dad left without me again. They are always exploring new frontiers so I'm alone most of the time." His parents leave him? Thats fucked up. "That sucks." I said. He stood in the same place for a while. Looking at the note. "Mac? A-are you alright?" I stepped closer to see him in tears. "I-I hardly see them anymore." he said in between sobs. I didn't know what to do. I grabbed his hand. I could feel the redness in my face. I leaned him closer to me. Once again, inches apart. I wiped the tears away from his face. I gave him a reassuring smile. I was so close to kissing him I'm surpised I didn't. " Hey. If you have the balls to fight Adam, I think you can fight this as well." I told him. "T-thanks. That means a lot." he said. Still holding hands, we went to the kitchen table and talked for a while until we decided to go out and eat.

Jac's POV

I left a few hours before the others awoke. I am currently heading towards my house. Its currently 5 AM.  My dad usually wakes up at 6 so I want to be there when he wakes up so he wont give me another bruise.

I finally arrived home. Its 5:10 AM so Dad should be asleep. I haven't seen my mom since I was 7. I never knew why though. I have always assumed she ran away. To my dismay, my dad was on the couch, wide awake. I braced myself, expecting another punch or for him to take off his belt.

I was standing comepletely still for about a minute. I finally talked, " H-hi dad....". He got up slowly. Once he got close enough, I saw that he had cuts and burns all around his body. His eyes also looked irritated. I expected him to take off his belt so he could hit me but instead, he did the unimaginable.

He engulfed me in a hug.

A genuine hug. The last time that he gave me a hug was the last time I saw my mom. That was 5 years ago. Strangely enough, it was the same month Jen's parents died.

Its weird. It's as if we are all connected in someway because of our parents. Our parents are either not home or there's something messed up happening.

I went to my room. That was a fun a night with Mac and Nikko. Its pretty obvious Mac is crushing on Nikko but I guess he doesn't want to admit it. Before I left I could have sworn I saw them cuddling together but maybe that was just my own imagination.

Even though Dad hugged me, that didn't stop him from hurting me for sleeping over at Mac's without permission. He gave me a new bruise but winced as soon as he did, almost as if regretting it. I think it may have something to do with the cuts and burns that are all over his body. Nobody has stood up to him like that. Once I meet the person who did that, I am going to praise them for the rest of my life.

Not even Mom had that courage. She was the only one that protected me when I was young. Its only 6 AM which lets me sleep for another hour or so before I have to meet the others at the corner. It's the first Friday of the month so that means that there's an assembly today. I'll get to hear Jen's wonderful voice.

I don't know if I made this clear but I like Jennifer Animy. Like like, not just as a friend.

I drifted off to sleep, thinking about Jennifer Animy, the love of my life.