I feel an arm wrapped around my waist when I woke up. I turn from my side to lay on my back and look at Nick's sleeping face next to mine. Seeing his peaceful, childlike expression brought a smile to my face. I stretched out my arms out and looked out towards the window. I felt everything was serene until last night's events came rushing back to me.
I shot up into sitting position on my bed, making Nick's arm fall into my lap and looked at Nick's calm, sleeping face. How can someone who looks so calm and innocent be involved in all this? I was surprised to find Nick in my apartment, let alone in my bed, but not shocked. I had given Nick a copy of my keys to my apartment a while ago, hence the lack of shock on my part for finding him here.
Resting my head against the headboard of my bed, I let myself drown in my thoughts. The various thoughts running through my head consisted of two things; questions and more puzzle pieces that didn't click together yet. What revenge could Nick possibly be achieving? Who is this revenge agains-
"Good morning."
My thoughts were cut off by Nick's husky voice. I look down into my lap where Nick had now moved to rest his head on. He looked up at my face with a smile showing his pearly white teeth. The sunlight coming through the window casts a glow on Nick's face, making his green eyes gleam mischievously like a child's from excitement.
"Morning." I replied, now running my fingers through his hair. Nick's eyes closed in response and nuzzled his face in my lap. I would stay calm when I'd confront Nick, not go crazy. Maybe he had a valid reason for doing what he did. On impulse, I decided to blurt out what was running through my mind. "Jullian told me everything."
Nick's eyes flew open and sat up straight beside me. My hands fell into my lap as he did so. He looked at me with weary eyes, before he opened his mouth."What exactly did he tell you?"
I took a deep breath and recalled to him what Jullian had told me yesterday night and what I had researched on my own yesterday. Nick listened intently to what I was telling him with a blank expression, giving nothing away. Finally, when I was done, Nick had let out a sigh and took a hold of one of my hands. He interlocked our fingers together before replying to the information I had just told him.
"You might be wondering why I did the way I did things." He looked at me for confirmation and I nodded my head for him to continue. "Jullian and I were raised in an orphanage that didn't have a lot of funding. The owners, Lindsey and Mark Fuller, used to run the orphanage. They were a very nice and kind-hearted couple and loved kids but couldn't have any of their own."
Nick had a smile playing on his lips as he reminisced his past, "They treated all the kids there as their own. We felt like a whole big happy family." I leaned my head on his shoulder as he stared at our laced fingers. "What happened next?
Nick clenched his jaw, "The orphanage was running out of funding and no rich company was donating any money. Mark went to each and every one of them, yet they kicked him out because of the clothes he wore. Instead of helping us, they planned to destroy the orphanage and build a hotel or some type of building. Obviously, Mark refused, and they got mad.
"They blocked the water pipes first of the orphanage. We didn't have water coming out of the pipes for as long as I can remember. I overheard Lindsey convincing Mark to comply one night to their demands but Mark refused once again. One night Mark had come home all beaten up and bruised, he told us not to worry but it was impossible not to.
"At the time Jullian and I had formed an alliance. Calling a truce against the girl we were fighting for, we vowed to protect the orphanage. That vowed broke one night when the orphanage caught on fire. It was chaotic. Every child was screaming while Lindsey and Mark were trying to get everyone out. Eventually, once Mark and Lindsey were sure everyone one was outside we heard a scream come from inside. I remember Mark running in to save the child and Lindsey screaming for him not to." Nick's grip on my hand tightened and he closed his eyes as if he was re-living the whole thing again.
"Did he survive?" I asked in a quiet voice.
Nick gulped and turned to face me. He took a deep breath and shook his head slowly. His once gleaming green eyes were now filled with anguish. He opened his mouth to finish. "I had always considered him as my father, but now he's gone. He's gone because of those rich bastards!" His voice raised slightly.
This time I really looked at Nick. I saw how tired and exhausted he looked. I saw how vulnerable he really was and how high he had to keep his walls to guard it. I saw how the world had made Nick an empty shell from the inside that had to change itself every day to fit the norms of society. "Is she alive?" I ask.
He seemed to know who I was talking about. "I do this all for her." As if sensing my gloom mood he added, "I'll take you to see her one day."
That lifted a smile on my face. I unlaced our fingers and wrapped my arms around Nick's neck, giving him a hug. I felt him return my hug and bury his face in the crook of my neck, smiling. "How do I know you're not lying?" I ask jokingly.
He pulled back and gave me a mischievous smile, "I guess you'll just have to find out."
***
Y'all don't even know what's coming next
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