Fighter

chapter two

CHAPTER 2- I’m Leaving

The day after I was on my way to Starbucks for the last day of work. People often don’t get why I work since I’ve got a rich daddy, (yes, my dad is rich, he’s the CEO of the Pear company. He’s really good at techy stuff) and I can just take one of his many credit cards and he wouldn’t notice. But the reason is because I want to pull my own weight. I don’t want to be known as daddy’s little girl even though I’m anything but that. And I certainly don’t want to owe him anything.

“Hey Julie,” I greeted my boss. We got along well enough. You could even say we were friends, but she can get really annoying. Aren’t all bosses, though?

“Hello Kris,” she looked at her watch, “you’re here early. You’re never early.”

“Hoping for some extra pay.”

“Of course. Well your ‘friend’ is here.” I rolled my eyes. She doesn’t believe that Nick and I are just friends. In fact, he’s my best friend. I’ve known the guy forever. We were best friends way before my ‘transformation’, as people like to call it, and we’ll be best friends way after.

You’re probably wondering what my ‘transformation’ is. Well, the summer I turned twelve, I changed, a lot. Suddenly, everybody wanted to be my friend. They say looks aren’t everything and let me be the first to tell you that that’s a load of crap.

“Hey stranger.” I gave him his Mocha Chiller with extra whip hold the caramel. He didn’t even have to order I knew him that well. He just went to the window seat, sat down and I gave him his Mocha Chiller.

“Hey,” he said like he wasn’t really here. He was looking at his computer screen very intently. I looked over his shoulder to see what he was looking at.

“Why are you buying Simple Plan tickets?” I really hoped it wasn’t for what I thought it was.

“It’s for your birthday,” he said without looking up.

“No. I said no presents.” I stated very seriously. He always got me exactly what I wanted for my birthday. Didn’t matter how much it cost. Seriously he got me a Gibson electric guitar. Gibson! Do you have any idea how much those cost! The one he got me was three hundred freaking dollars! I love my guitar like if it was my baby but still!

“Don’t flatter yourself. I love Simple Plan too. I’m just buying two because I don’t want to go alone and the only other person that I know that loves Simple Plan as much as I do is you. So it might as well be your present,” he explained. Yeah, right.

“Please. You know millions of people who love Simple Plan. You’ve probably been planning this for weeks,” I mean it was totally sweet that he was doing this for me, but if he went along with this he’ll be paying for tickets that I’m not even going to be using.

“Fine, I have been planning this for your birthday, but doesn’t matter what you say to me. I’m going to buy you these tickets whether you want them or not. But I’m pretty sure you want them.” And he was right, I did want them.

 “Okay, confession time.” He looked up at me curiously. He was going to be so sad. “A couple of days ago, when my dad,” he flinched, he knew all about my dad, “wasn’t at home. My Aunt Shania called, you know, the one that lives in Florida. Isn’t that weird? I mean-,”

“You’re rambling again.” That was always one of my flaws.

“Right, sorry.  Anyway, she told me that she would love to have me over for the summer. She was saying how she wanted to see me and how the twins missed me. This is the perfect way for me to escape from my dad, even if it is for a couple of months.” I suddenly became very interested in my shoes. What are the plastic thingies at the end of the shoelace called again?

He remained impassive but I could see the sadness in his eyes.

“The whole summer?” he asked. I gave a little nod.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. It was a last minute decision. Please don’t be mad.” I said it as sincerely as possible. He was disappointed, that much I could tell. I wish I could do something to make him feel better but I didn’t know what.

“I’m not mad,” he said, “I understand.” I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. “When are you leaving?” he asked.

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Okay, well, let’s make the day that you have left with me the best.” He grinned at me and I couldn’t help but grin back. “I’m just glad you’re going to be away from that man. But now that I think about it he hasn’t attacked you in days. Maybe he’s getting sober. Yeah, right!” He laughed. When I didn’t laugh with him he turned to me and he saw the look on my face and stopped. “What?” He wasn’t going to drop it, so I might as well tell him now, save us time.

“Well, last night when I was trying to sneak into the house, he woke up. He was shouting at me for being late and he had an empty glass bottle in his hand,” Nick’s eyes widened. He knew where this was going.

“That son of a-“

“Language,” He always had a cursing problem.

“I knew I should have taken you home. He hit you with a glass bottle?” He kept his voice low. Well aware that we were in a public place.

“No!” He gave a sigh of relief. “I ducked.”

“That ba-“ I gave him a look, “He was trying to hit you with a glass bottle!” His voice was steadily rising.

“Relax, nothing happened. He didn’t touch me. I locked myself in my room and when I woke up this morning he was already gone.”

“I still don’t get why you haven’t called the police, or at least come to live with me.” He was trying to keep his voice calm. Key word, trying.

“I already told you, I can’t do that to my dad. He might be a complete drunk and a horrible father, but he’s still my father. And I’m not going to go live with you and your aunt. Your aunt is a divorced woman who lost her job. The last thing she needs is another mouth to feed. You wouldn’t understand my decision.”

“Damn right I don’t understand!” I was surprised at his anger. He was never angry with me. He saw the look on my face and I could see that he regretted shouting at me. “Sorry. I’m just worried about you.” Ok, I’m not going to lie. I blushed. I mean he is so sweet and it didn’t help that he was very good looking, with his dark brown eyes and raven hair. And with all the MMA fighting he was in very good shape… sorry, got a little sidetracked there.

“I get it, but you have to understand that I can take care of myself.” I said.

“I know,” he gave me a small smile. “Just remember that I’m always here if you need me.”

“How can I forget, you’re always reminding me,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.

“I’m serious,” he looked at me with those eyes. My stomach was feeling very weird. I think the correct term was butterflies. Yes that’s it, I had butterflies in my stomach

We stood there for a moment just looking at each other. God, his eyes are so-

“Kris!” Julie shouted from somewhere in the back, interrupting my train of thought, or lack of. We both jumped.

Any other girl in the world would be stuttering and nervous, thinking about how she just had a ‘moment’ with a really cute guy. I simply regained composure quickly, smiled at him and said, “Duty calls.” That’s right, I’m smooth.

He smiled back, “I’ll pick you up at three.” He left with his chiller, cool as always. I stayed there for a minute thinking to myself. What just happened? Well obviously Nick and I just had a ‘moment’, but friends don’t get ‘moments’. It-

“Kris!” Julie shouted again, interrupting my train of thought, again.

I rolled my eyes, annoyed, “I’m coming!”