Kidnapped Heart

Chapter Three

Three months ago

Nicky took a large sip from the mug of coffee she had just made. She loved the strong and bitter taste and she instantly felt more awake as it hit the back of her throat. She closed he eyes and leaned her head back slightly, cherishing the silence. Last night, her Mother was hosting a party, and that was nothing like quietness. Her Mother's party's were not like the parties she would throw when Marka Nichols would go away. They were more sophisticated. Middle aged, divorced woman, would gather around the large, dark oak dining table, sip from an expensive glass of red wine and gossip about things that Nicky could't care to listen to. There would be other daughters and sons there too, all who would be high achieving. Usually on the road to becoming a doctor or lawyer. Marka would always point it out to Nicky how she should aim to something like that, but Nicky never listened.

Nicky braced herself when she heard her Mother come into the kitchen. She would always know it was her from the loud sound her heels made.

"Oh, good morning Nicole," she said. Nicky always hated it when she used her full name. Before Nicky had a chance to reply, her mother spoke again.

"I'm going to visit Paolo this weekend. Will you be okay on your own?"

"I always am aren't I?" Nicky almost laughed at how her Mother was pretending to care.

"Well I don't want you having any parties and I want this place the same way it is right now." Once again, before Nicky could reply, Marka spoke again, a habit she did all too often. Just another one of the many things that annoyed Nicky.

"Anyway, you should be getting to school."

Nicky murmured something under her breath before standing up, saying a brief goodbye to Marka and heading out to the small Russian bakery nearby.

...

"Something smells good," praised Nicky, as she entered Red's bakery. She sat down at a table in the corner, over looking the high street, knowing that has soon as Red was finished serving customers, she would come and sit with Nicky and bring her a mug of coffee and a pastry.

Around five minutes later, Red did exactly that.

"So, how are we this morning?" she asked, sliding the mug and plate over to Nicky, and then taking the seat opposite.

"Fine. Marka is going away again."

"You know your always welcome here sweetheart." Nicky nodded her head.

The two spoke for a few more minutes before Red had to excuse herself to serve more customers. Nicky quickly finished the coffee and ate the pastry, that she didn't know the name of, before reluctantly starting the short walk to school.

...

"Hello, Nicole," greeted Alex in a joking tone as the approached Nicky who was getting something from her locker.

"Good morning Alexandra," replied Nicky, in the same tone. With both of them hating their full name, the other liked to make fun of it.

"So are we still on for tonight?" Alex asked, hopefully.

"Of course." Nicky shut her locker, sighed when it got stuck and shut it once more, a little harder.

"Is everything sorted?"

"Yep, I've got the alcohol stored in my bedroom and Marka will be gone by the time I get home."

"Perfect."

The bell rang and the two sighed, knowing that they then had to endure two hours of English with Healy.

...

"You late," Healy shouted as the two sat down on the last remaining chairs at the back. They mumbled a quiet sorry.

"Hey, what do you think of her," Nicky whispered, pointing to a blonde sat directly in front of her.

"She's kinda hot I suppose," Alex replied, sounding slightly bored.

"Kinda? Are you kidding Vause? If you don't want her, she's mine." Alex chuckled.

"She's all yours."

"Will you two be quiet," Healy shouted louder than before.

"Nicole, what was I just saying?"

Truthfully, Nicky shrugged her shoulders.

"I'll see you at the end of the lesson." When Healy noticed Alex chuckle, he spoke again.

"I'll be seeing you too Alexandra." She groaned.

...

The music was loud and booming in the Nichols' large, perfectly manicured garden. There was a few people gathered in the pool and several people on the sun beds.

Nicky and Alex were sat beside the pool, drinking beer.

"So who's her new man now then?" Alex asked, referencing Nicky's Mother.

"Think his name is Paolo, he's rich and young and good looking so he ticks all of Marka's boxes."

In the corner of her eye, Nicky caught a glimpse of a girl that she was interested in.

"Excuse me," she said, standing up.

"You never fail to surprise me Nichols."

...

The following morning, Alex stood in the kitchen, grilling some bacon for their breakfast. The bed in the Nichols' spare room was comfier than her own bed so she slept, well.

When it got to ten and Nicky still hadn't come down, Alex decided to go up to her room with a plate of the bacon for them to share.

She entered Nicky's room and was surprised to see when she wasn't there. There was a chill in the room and she noticed the window was wide open. She shut it and tried the other rooms in the house to try and find Nicky. When she couldn't find her at all, she tried to call her but each time she tried, the phone just dialled out. It was then that she didn't remember the window being open when Alex left to go to the spare room. She began to panic. Not knowing what to do she picked up her phone and rang her mum.

"Alex, honey, how are you?"

"Mum, it's Nicky. She's not here."

"What do you mean she's not here?"

"She's not in the house. The window was open. I don't know where she is."

"Stop stressing Alex. She's probably gone to the shops."

"She's not answering her phone."

"She will be fine Alex." Alex was beginning to get frustrated.

"No, something's not right. This isn't like Nicky. Please come."

...

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