Arranged / Nick Mara

Chapter Seventeen / Alone

Kiley's POV

The first week was okay.

Nick and I FaceTimed every day and it honestly wasn't that bad not being able to see him. It was good enough to see his face on my screen.

The third week got harder. Nick became more and more busy and couldn't talk as much, making me feel lonelier but still okay. Ila and Genny were home to be with me but I still felt like something was missing, and it was Nick.

Nick stopped calling everyday by the fourth week. He was extremely busy and constantly sleeping due to doing shows every night and traveling every day.

Ila would say it was perfectly normal while Genny would get me skeptical on if Nick was being loyal. But I knew the boys would never let him cheat on me. Plus he would never cheat on me, right?

The first month passed and I was still doing okay, definitely harder than expected, but okay.

<~>

I made my way out the door to meet up with one of my old friends who was here to visit. He was a good friend from high school and we kept in touch when I moved, and he decided to come out to visit and he had some work business to take care of.

I headed to some cafe we agreed to meet at and spotted him in the window. I kept my sunglasses on and good up until I entered considering my popularity had skyrocketted since the boys went on tour.

"Kiley!" I heard him say and I grinned ear to ear.

"Max." I said and practically ran to his open arms. I buried my head into his familiar scent and smiled to myself.

"Long time so see shortie." He teased and I rolled my eyes as we sat down at the table.

We caught up on everything that had gone on in our lives the last year and a half.

"So Nick Mara?" He asked and I smiled slightly to myself.

"Yeah, he's great." I said and Max raised his eyebrow at me.

"Just 'great'?" He questioned and I shrugged.

"He's been on tour for a month so I haven't seen him in a while and we haven't talked much in the past few weeks. It's been hard." I confessed and Max nodded.

"I can only imagine. I would hate dating someone who tours the country for months at a time." Max shook his head and I nodded mine.

"Yeah it's actually really terrible, I feel like he's kind of forgotten about me. I understand he's extremely busy but you know, he could at least shoot me a text in the morning or at night." I complained.

"He doesn't even text you? Sounds like a douche..."

"He's not a douche. He's actually such an amazing boyfriend when he's home." I defended Nick.

"He should be an amazing boyfriend when he's away too, if he wants to keep you." Max said and I didn't have an answer because he was right.

No way would I ever break up with Nick butI was tired of not hearing from him.

On my way home from hanging out with Max I blasted some Chris Brown and remembered the times Nick and I would share in the car and I missed him extra. So I decided to call him.

It rang 5 times before it went to voicemail.

"Hey Nick, just calling to say I miss you and am thinking about you. I'm listening to Chris Brown in your honor. Um, call me or text me soon. I hate not talking to you. Uhh bye." I left a message and huffed as I threw my phone down onto the passenger seat.