Secrets kill, so do razors

the next day

~~~Nikole's POV~~~

i woke up. this was the first time i was truly able to sleep since that day. i felt safe. maybe this was because i had alex. or maybe it was because my mom was gone. whatever the reason, it felt good. my brother did not come her that night. and my grammy had left to go to community service. i threw a pillow at alex to wake him up. "you look terrible"

"naw shit sherlock. i did get the crap beat out of me and have surgery."

"go take a shower." i handed him a towel and went to my brother room and grabbed him a pair of pants and shirt."here. these are coles. they should fit you." while he was in the shower, i had gotten dressed for the day. i sat on my couch and began to read.

~~~Alex's POV~~~

I don't know what to think about last night. I mean, she's amazing. I had told Nikole everything. about my mom, my old schools, and I even told her about Janice. she seems so genuinely care about me. but last time I let someone in, they hurt me. I couldn't let myself be vulnerable to that again. I know I didn't really know Nikole and I had no reason, but for some reason I trusted her. while I was taking a shower, I couldn't wait to get out and to go talk to her. as I'm in her showed, I began to notice things. I see so many empty shaving razors that had be stripped of the blades. I see stains of blood. my heart sinks. why could she do this? she seemed so happy, so full of life, so perfect. I finish my shower and I walk into Nikoles room. she doesn't seem to notice me and I see her reading. she looks so peaceful so calm and collected. I throw my towel over her head as a sneak attack. I say "put your hands up and surrender". this was meant to be a joke. but she starts freaking out. she hyperventilates. she's yelling "get off. please no stop. not again. please let me go. please" I take the towel off and she collapses into my lap as I sit down.

"Nikole I'm so sorry. I was just joking around... I'm sorry... if I had known"

"if you had known what? huh? you don't know anything!!"

"I'm sorry" I look her. and all I can see is her vulnerability. she has gone completely limb and is losing it. she's hysterical. I hold her close to me. and it's in that moment, I never wanna let go. and it's like she could read my mind cause at that moment, she was gone. she ran out. I chased after her but as soon as I step outside, she is gone.

~~~Nikoles POV~~~
what the hell is wrong with him?! he's so, UGH! that was not funny. I can't breathe. but I know I have to keep running. this brings back the moment of that night. but I know I have to keep running. I have to just keep running. I come to the empty house and I stay there. I find my blanket that I hid underneath the porch and I just sit there and cry. and all of the sudden, I see Alex.
"Nikole I'm sorry. please. let me explain"
he walks over to me and he wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. he just holds me. I have never seen this side of him. it's so amazing. his arms are just long enough to hold me and it's amazing feeling.
"Nikole please. talk to me"

and I begin to tell him everything....