Runaway

Chapter 14 (Part 2)

Daniel stooped Nikki, grabbing her upper arm but the woman moved away from him, crossing her arms over her chest and looking at him sternly. He sighed.

„Look..." he didn't know how to start. „I'm so sorry for the way I treated you."

„You're a jerk!" she interrupted him angrily, not allowing him to apologize. „Why should I forgive you?"

Daniel rubbed the back of his neck.

„I'm not. I just...act like one. When I found out, I was really upset and instinctively wanted to get away from you. I know it was a wrong move because you've always been a good and loyal friend. I'm really sorry. Please, forgive me."

She swallowed a lump in her throat for a thousandth time. It was really hard to stay mad at him while he was looking at her with his big, blue eyes, trying to find the best way to apologize for his behavior.

„I never asked you to return my feelings. Everything I said was because I wanted you to wake up."

„I know. I'm aware of it and trust me, you don't know how sorry I am. Nikki...I need you as a friend. I trust you and I'll do everything for you to trust me again. I'll take you surfing as many time as you want but, please, I really need my friend back."

His words stuck straight into her heart. Being friends with Daniel is the last thing she wanted but she knew she would forgive him anyway. This time, Daniel was honest and said he needed her as a friend. After a moment of silence and tension, the woman finally nodded.

„Okay," she said and he smiled, offering his hand.

They shook hands in reconciliation and then headed back to the others. Daniel was walking with his hands crossed behind his back, while Nikki was looking at the open sea, not knowing what to say.

„I forgot to mention how sorry I am for involving Isaiah. I crossed a line and I really hope you haven't told him because I don't want to have a blue eye next time I met him."

Her head snapped in his direction. She was wondering if she should tell him the truth but, in the end, she decided to be honest. Hiding hadn't led her to anything good.

„I'm not seeing him anymore," she replied as Daniel's eyes widened. Nikki was hoping for some sort of reaction but after receiving only silence, she decided to clarify things.

„I don't think it'd be fair to him. He needs to find someone, who will feel the same about him."

Daniel simply couldn't look up from the ground. He knew there was a great possibility that Nikki couldn't return the feelings back because of him. He felt bad. To speak the truth, he would really like Nikki had stayed within the limits of friendship. Everything would be much easier.

-

„You're kidding me, right?" Patricia asked shocked after Daniel and Nikki's friends told her everything that happened in the last few days. The Latina almost dropped the juice bottle she was holding in her hand. Brian shook his head, confirming that Nikki was indeed falling for her former brother in law. „Destiny really has its way to play with people."

Marina and Brian exchanged brief glances.

„Listen...don't mention any of this in front of them. Nikki and Daniel are practically a ticking time bombs. We don't want to trigger negative reactions again, okay?" Brian asked while the others approved his choice of words. Patricia had to agree with them.

The duo soon returned to them, so all of them returned to their spot on the beach. Nikki was most of the time by Aline and Diego's side, while Daniel was talking to Patricia.