Summer Before Her (Completed)

10- I'll see you again

Novak's POV

"its okay, I was overwhelmed, soo project?" she had texted in response to my muttered apology at the parlour, earlier.

I left my half unfinished sandwich on the counter as I rushed to the sink to wipe the grease off my fingers, I didn't trust my left hand to type the right words.

I carefully chose my next words "Okay, soon." I am so bloody proud of myself, what did I just hit send on?
Before I could delve further into regret and let my fingers send a gushing message of word vomit, the screen lit up again.

"We don't have to do this together, just meet me at the library so we can discuss what parts you have to compile, we can throw it together on submission date"

Oooh, She wasn't going to forgive or forget so easily. Her loss, I thought cockily.

This time around, I took my sweet time formulating a reply, only to end up with: "Yeah sure"
A standing ovation would also be lacking to applaud my fantastic replies. I sure did like to dig myself a deeper hole.

**

I sat on the floor, trying to erroneously fix the malfunctioning toaster. I made one sandwich on this dingy thing and it had to come apart like this?

I didn't notice that in the meanwhile, Dad had walked in and was breathing down my neck quite literally as he said: "Ah Nova, Money grows on trees, your father has all the money just to buy shit for you... " he continued rambling in a drunken stupor, now quite visibly angered.

Out of nowhere, he took a step forward mid ramble and swung at me, andddd the cogs have collided.

I watched him go on, still fumbling with the toaster, I decided heading out would be the best course of action. I pitied that old man, he has lost all he had in his life and yet every day he wills himself to go to work only to return drunken and lose some more.
I grabbed my keys, slipped into a pair of jeans while he continued rambling like the buzz of a motor, seemingly never-ending, and then I headed out.

I sat on my motorcycle, still undecided where I was headed to. What does one do in a town this quaint? It was strewn with few bars and clubs that were barely entertaining, parties were held once in a blue moon, the nightlife was close to death. I was tired of drinking myself to sleep every day, my nerves ached to have something more, something that would soothe me more than nicotine could.

With that on my mind, I drove away to Seth's. As I made my way over, I felt the wind jet between the strands of my hair, hitting against my face, almost in a feverish embrace. The dark streets of the neighbourhood served to heighten the experience. I felt unconquerable, riding against the wind.

My movie-Esque moment came to a screeching halt as I swerved around a bicycle and pulled to a stop.

"Hey man" I greeted disembarking from my ride, Seth was already there,
resting on the pavement, his back positioned against the filthy walls, his head slightly tilted upwards gazing away at the sky.

"This shit is sooo good" he dragged his words and pushed a prescription container with a couple of pills towards me.

I reluctantly accepted it and tried to pacify the debate which was ongoing internally. How much worse could it get? I definitely needed to unwind and for once without being blackout drunk – I reasoned with myself.

Soon I was stupefied and counting stars with Seth as if nothing mattered in the world, it was just me and Seth, wrapped in a cocoon of bliss as we. promised travel to the stars to each other.

**

I woke up to a whining feminine voice, and I was met with a blinding headache and insatiable thirst, Not the best way to begin a Monday, if you ask me. I tried to lift myself but I was bogged down by some kind of weight, In my disoriented state, I pushed the limbs off my chest and managed to haul myself up.

I then noticed that I was in someone's living room, the floor was littered my water bottles, solo cups and wrappers. A brunette, rushed around haphazardly cleaning the mess. A naked blonde was half hanging off my lap— "Oh my lord, How did this happen?" I audibly gasped, the working brunette didn't even spare me a glance.

I grappled around to get her off my body, I had to get out of here, what happened doesn't need to be acknowledged.
We had apparently made our way to the party and drunk ourselves into incoherence and lost all inhibition.

As I pulled out of the neighbourhood, I noticed the time on my watch read 13:42. School ends at 14:00, how was I to make myself presentable, get to school and grab the project file without being late?
First the blonde and now this. Double whammy!

I made a split-second decision and decided to cut out the presentable part so nine minutes later, I stood by her green Beatle waiting for her to show up, in my holy glory, alcohol breath and all. I hoped she wouldn't notice my state.

"Oh my goodness gracious, are you the infamous Novak? You are so not like what she described, Have you used a mirror before? You stink from five feet away" exclaimed the petite who was now eyeing me with disgust.

"Did you stop for a taste test then? Run along" I dismissed, unaffected by her remarks.

"You wish" she scoffed, "you are blocking my access to the car" she continued.

Oh.

With that realization, I scooted towards Kirsten's car, impatiently waiting for her.

I spotted her bidding her goodbye to Fred, kisses and all. Ugh, they make me nauseous.
She then walked towards me, meeting my gaze, only to avert them seconds later.
As she arrived, I could feel her eyes roaming down the length of my body, I was about to serenaded, ladies and gentlemen.

"Here, I sorted out the project during recess, this is your part, complete it by Wednesday" she ordered.
I nodded in acknowledgement, there wasn't much I had to say.

"You look like you got dragged through racecourse," she remarked after eyeing me for a few moments.

"I wish that was the case" I quipped back.

"you should clean up before you get mistaken for Trash and recycled into more valuable things" she shot, now seated in her car.
With that, her engine revved up and she swiftly backed out and drove away.

And I have been left here standing.

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End of Chapter 10.

Hey guy,
We have finally reached chapter 10! A milestone for me, when I first begin writing, I didn't think I would make it past three chapters and here we are at 10 chapters, 500 reads and a 100 votes, all within just ten days!

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing.

Q: How do you think the dynamic between Novak and Kirsten has changed? Would you say the tables have been turned?

Please vote and comment if you like the chapter.

Until tomorrow
Elle