Ugly Girls and Pretty Boys

Chapter 18

Outside the mall, Nicky and I walked towards the bus stop that would take us to his house. With each step we took, our feet in sync I thought about what I had just said, the entire scene made a part of me cringe.

It's not like you.

You're becoming pathetic.

I let out a sigh, I was so confused, my mind was screaming at me in two different voices so harshly that in the end they both sounded the same. Nicky side glanced at me several times, still suspicious as to why I would help him. I wasn't even sure myself why I was doing it...

I did notice, he was actually funny and a pretty nice guy for someone that I had just met.

“I have to ask you something Queen Kay.” Nicky said as we got onto the bus, his voice was hesitant. It was almost as if he didn't trust me (not that I blamed him) at the same time it seemed he didn't want to offend me.

The bus was empty and the bus driver cringed as Nicky and I got onto the bus. It made me wonder if the bus driver enjoyed driving the bus around in circles with no one. I shrugged my shoulders, some things just made people so bitter. We trudged our way up to the back of the empty bus and fell onto the seats as the bus abruptly departed.

“Just call me Kay. I don’t go to Varsity anymore.” I told him, the more I said the words the little more I would eventually let myself believe I'd left this stupid Queen business behind (hopefully). He nodded his head and took off his glasses for a moment to clean them, his head bowed and he took his time to rub each glass, almost as if he was trying to decide the words he wanted to speak. “Whatcha got to ask me?” I asked nudging him slightly to ease him out of shy shell.

“I’m nervous, you…actually got people to come and see my band play and now I don’t think we can cut it.” He said ruffling his hair, it made me scoff and raise my eyebrow. He put his glasses back on and blinked a few times.

“Really? That’s what you’re afraid of? PLEASE! You can’t be terrible! Pull yourself together; you have to impress Naomi tonight.” I told him, he looked at me with disbelieving eyes. For a split second it made me wonder...really wonder. I had no idea who Nicky was, who Naomi really was. Were the words I was speaking really the truth or a stupid lie I'd come up with? I'd pulled myself into someone else's life without permission. Was this okay?

“Naomi will never like a guy like me. I’m little Nicky. No one likes a little Nicky.” Nicky leaned back in his seat, he stared out the windows staring at the blurriness of the surroundings as they passed us by, “I’m riding the bus with you; it’s not exactly cool…” He shrugged his shoulders. The tone of his voice dropped as he continued to stare away.

“Don’t be ‘little Nicky ‘if you’re afraid of what she’s going to think. Be Nick, or Nickolas or…” I threw my hands up for better inspiration. That and I didn’t know this guy so well. Perhaps I should change the subject while I'm at it, I should say something like 'what's your favourite colour?'

“Nico Valpoloso.” He said out of the blue. I stared at him for a moment waiting for him to continue. “It’s my name. Nico Valpoloso.” He repeated and I nodded my head, thinking of something.

“Call yourself whatever you’re comfortable with.” I told him in the end. What was the use of me thinking of a name for him when he obviously had one of his one he had in mind but never had the courage to use.

“My friends call me Valo.” He offered with a shrug. I swear, this guy had no confidence in himself. I nodded though, it was a good start if anything.

“Valo it is. But I’m still going to just call you Nick.” I said, it was too confusing to have too many names. We settled into a comfortable silence, I let my mind drift as I watched numerous people get on and off the bus, my mind was drifting to Jase. What was he doing now?