//Chapter 28//

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"It's hard because I want you all to myself, and there's no possible way I could."

➳ ➳ ➳

The sixteen-year-old boy was sitting in the corner of his bedroom with a textbook on his lap and a pencil in his hand, listening to loud rock music. His curly hair was pushed to the side so that he could have a better view of the figure he was drawing. His head moved to the beat of the music and the pencil he was holding drew straight lines fast against the paper.

A knock was heard on the door, tilting his head up towards the direction of the sound, he decided not to reply. Instead, he returned his gaze to his drawing. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the door open, and then someone walked in calling his name.

"Nicholas." His father's stern voice reached his ear, but he ignored him. Soon the music stopped, and Nick let out an angry groan.

"Why did you do that?" He asked angrily standing on his feet.

"Because I want you to listen to me." His father said, Nick rolled his eyes.

"Don't you think it's too late for that?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"It's never too late. Look, I'm sorry that you had to learn it that way."

"You sure as hell are. What did you think? That I'd never know? Secrets can't be kept forever." Nick yelled, throwing his hands in the air.

"It's not that. Nick, you are my son, that will never change, despite what those papers say. I love you like my true son, and I have shown you that." Desmond told him, reaching out for him, but Nick moved backward.

"Is that all you wanted to say?" He asked, avoiding to look at him in the eyes. He knew that he loved him, but he felt betrayed. Everything he thought was real was, in fact, a lie.

"Please, Nick, let's not let this ruin our relationship." Desmond pled and lowered his head, walking out of the room. Nick screamed, taking the pillows on his bed and throwing them at the wall.

He looked at his phone running a hand through his hair and quickly put on his jacket and green beanie and walked towards the desk, taking his phone in his hands, he typed a message to his friend. Then he stepped out of his bedroom and walked downstairs.

His sister Nina was sitting on the couch watching a reality show, but when she heard his footsteps, her head immediately snapped towards his direction and a smile formed on her round face. Nick wanted to smile at her, too; he couldn't. All he could think about was how fast things changed; a year ago they were both laughing and having fun as he played the piano for her, and now he felt like he didn't know her anymore, he didn't know himself.

"Where are you going?" She asked him with a frown on her face, her brown eyes scanning his appearance. He never usually dressed like that, the t-shirts and hoodies were gone.

"Out with some friends, don't wait for me." He told her and rushed to the front door, not waiting for her reply. He got outside the house and looked around him until his green eyes landed on the car parked next to the pavement. He waved at his friend and quickly got inside, letting the warm air engulf him.

"Hey, mate." The boy greeted him.

"Hey, Ethan."

"I hope you're ready for some fun."

"Yeah, let's just go," Nick replied, forcing a smile.

[Angelina]

"Okay, so this is your gallery?" I asked Nick as we enter the inside of the building. My lips were parted slightly as I looked around in awe; this place is enormous. The walls were all painted white, making the inside look bigger than it probably was, small and big paintings that Nick had made hung on them. Their dark colors were making a great contrast with the bright walls. The floor was made of dark brown wood. Small round lights were on the grey ceiling looking like stars, and the room didn't have any furniture expect from the big round glass table standing in the middle with a vase of white roses on top.

"Yes, this is it," Nick replied, lowering the lighting a bit, making the main room slightly darker.

"It's beautiful, really," I told him truthfully without looking at him, instead my eyes were glued on his paintings. They all seemed so dark, depressing, even scary, yet they still managed to look absolutely amazing. He had portrayed his emotions so nicely; I could feel the pain, the loss, everything his paintings wanted to show. I heard Nick's footsteps behind me, and soon, he was standing next to me with his hands in his pockets as his green eyes stared intensely at the painting in front of us.

"They are dark and scary, but I kind of like them," I confessed, looking at him, he smiled a bit nodding his head.

"I'm glad you do." He simply replied.

"When did you open this gallery?" I asked.

"I had done some painting at home, and my father thought that it would be the perfect present for my eighteenth birthday, he always liked what I drew. Everything was okay until he died and his companies passed on my hands."

"So you didn't want the company?"

"No, I liked the fame that my name, as an artist, gave me. Owning a company was never my thing. That's why most people know me from my artwork." He told me, I nodded.

"Yes but now you are doing both, so it's not that bad," I said with a smile.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Who is this woman?" I asked, pointing at the pointing next to him. His head turned to look at it, and he sighed, biting his bottom lip. The painting showed a woman with long brown hair falling over her face. Her one hand was pressed against her chest as if she was in pain and with her other arm, she was holding a small figure which looked like a baby, black tears had stained her pale cheeks. The details were breathtaking. It looked so real.

"She is no one; she's just part of my imagination. She is a mother in pain who is crying over her dead son's body." He explained.

"Then why do I have the feeling that the woman in this painting is your real mother? Or at least how you imagined her to be when she gave you away." I asked him. Nick chuckled, shaking his head as his eyes met mine.

"That's another way to think of it. I just paint, the viewer can see whatever they want to see. If that's what you see looking at this, then so be it." He said and walked away towards another painting. I run behind him.

"It's not only what I see, but it's also what you were thinking while making that painting."

"Maybe." He simply said. Is it really that hard to accept something for once?

"Fine." I pouted looking at him from the corner of my eye, and I swear I saw him smirk.

"Moving to the next one. What do you see here?" He asked, making my eyes trail to the painting. It looked like a young boy, his hair was short and black, his eyes were crystal blue, and you could see them shining, his chest was bare with a few scars marking his flesh, and around him, a dark fog was engulfing him. He had no lips; they were smudged.

"I see a young and confused boy. He looks lost and alone. He has no one to talk to, and he seems depressed. He is fighting with his own demons, but he is not winning; hence, the dark fog is pulling him in from the back of the picture." I said as I tilted my head to the side a bit.

"Impressive," Nick said, and I looked at him deciding to change the topic a bit.

"What about my painting? Is it done yet?"

"Yeah, it's almost done. I'll show it to you when we get back." Nick replied, and I smiled at him, hugging myself with my arms. It was kind of cold.

"Anything else you wanted to show me?" I asked, hoping that he would say yes, I was enjoying the time that I spend with him at the moment. I wanted it to last as much as possible.

"Yes actually-" he started to say but was interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing. He took it out of his pocket and raised his finger in the air telling me to be quite. My face dropped. What if they are from the company? If he goes there, this night will be ruined, and I don't want that. Before he could answer it, I approached him and sneakily took it from his hand.

"Hey!" He protested, looking at me with wide eyes. I took a few steps back, seeing that it was Enrique calling. Good, I know that he won't mind if Nick doesn't answer him.

"Angelina, give it to me," Nick said sternly, but I shook my head smirking playfully at him.

"No."

"Give it back."

"Alright," I said, making him relax a bit, he extended his hand out. "But first you will have to catch me, Mr. Snow," I added and quickly turned around running as fast as I could, I took a turn on the right entering a long corridor and then another room. I swear this place is massive, it's like a labyrinth. I didn't look behind me cause I knew that if I did I would slow down and I didn't want him to catch me just yet. I could hear him behind me, and I laughed out loud, throwing my head back as I kept running.

Suddenly two strong arms wrapped around my waist, and Nick pulled me into his chest. "I've got you, darling." He whispered in my ear, his lips brushing over my skin, breathing heavily, causing him to smile. He turned my body around so that our chests touched and I pressed the palm of my hands on his shoulders as he held me close to him. His eyes trailed from my lips to my eyes, and he smirked slowly walking forwards and pressing my back on the wall.

"Now give me my phone."

"No," I said confidently keeping my head high, causing him to frown.

"First, you will answer some of my questions," I stated. His emerald eyes studied me for a while keeping a hard face on, but in the end, he eventually gave up. A sigh left his lips, and he pressed his back on the wall next to me before sliding down and sitting on the floor. I followed him and did the same. We were both looking at the wall opposite us, which was covered by a big painting of a red rose.

"Go on." Nick was first to say, and I took a deep breath preparing myself to speak.

"Let's start with a simple one. Why did you choose me as your model?" I asked, playing nervously with my thumbs.

"You caught my attention, I guess. You looked different from the rest of the girls there. You had that innocent look that I was looking for."

"Okay. The girls in the Dollhouse had told me that this wasn't the first time you went there. You had been there before. Was it for the same reason?"

"Are you serious? I am not answering that."

"You will if you want your phone back," I smirked, keeping my gaze still glued on the painting.

"You know I can easily grab it from you."

"I know, but you won't. Just answer my questions, and in the end, you can ask me something too."

"I went there because of my sister." He confessed, making my eyes widen as I turned to look at him in shock.

"Your sister was a Doll? H-how?" I asked, still trying to take in what he said. That didn't make sense, Lauren from the Dollhouse that night had told me that the last girl Nick took with his was found dead the morning after. But according to him, the only girl he went there for was his sister. Nick would never kill her. What is happening here?

"I don't want to talk about that with you," Nick said, and even though I knew that this was a sensitive subject to talk about with someone he didn't know well, I couldn't help but feel slightly hurt.

"I understand, let's just continue. Have you ever heard of Maxwell and Veronica Starr?" I asked. His eyebrows furrowed, and his jaw tensed a bit.

"Who are they?"

"They were my parents." Nick ran a hand through his hair and stared at me for a few seconds.

"I have heard of them, but I didn't know them personally. My father knew them." He replied quickly; he seemed in unease.

"Have you heard how they died?"

"No. Enough with these stupid questions."

"They are not stupid, Nick. They were my parents, and someone murdered them, and I'll find who did it." I yelled in anger, standing up immediately. Nick did the same, giving me an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." He apologized. I took his phone from my pocket and handed it back to him.

"It's okay. I guess the question game is not working for us."

"Indeed, it isn't." He said, smiling weakly. "But I believe it's my time to ask you something."

"Fine."

"Have you been in contact with Alexander or Ethan since the time I took you from the Dollhouse?" He asked, taking me by surprise. Lie, Angelina. Lie.

"No. Why?"

"I just wanted to know. For our deal to work, you will have to stay away from them. I won't be able to protect or help if you do." He explained and I nodded feeling my heart flutter. He remembers our deal, and he cares. Nick glanced at his phone and then back at me.

"I think that we should go."

~ ~ ~

Once we were outside the building, I moved in front of Nick, making my way towards the car which was waiting for us near the entrance door. He followed behind me, but as I was about to get in the car, I turned around to see that he had stopped. His gaze was directed towards something else.

"Nick," I called his name trying to get his attention. He looked at our driver and slowly approached me.

"Sorry Guidry, but we're not leaving yet." He told him, making me frown.

"That's okay, sir."

"Come with me." He said, grabbing my wrist in his hand. We started walking and when I saw where we were heading my eyes widened.

"Wait, Nick! Are we going ice-skating?" I asked a bit nervous as I looked over at the ice rink, where couples were laughing and having fun.

"Yes, we are. It's going to be fun, plus I want to make it up to you for being an asshole earlier." He responded, pulling me with him. We entered the warm building together, the warm heat hitting our faces and making my insides warm again. Nick walked over to the counter and tapped his fingers on it impatiently as he waited for the assistant to appear.

"Hello, sir. What sizes do I get you?" The young boy asked him with a smile on his face.

"A size eleven for me and..." He trailed off, looking at me.

"A size eight for me," I said in a low voice. The young boy disappeared and soon came back, holding our shoes in is hands. He handed them to us, and I went to sit on a chair to put them on. I saw Nick pay, and then he came and sat next to me. This is going to be a disaster. Oh lord, this man is so unpredictable. I quickly tied up my laces when I saw that Nick had already finished with his and stood up slowly making sure to keep my balance.

"I haven't done this before. What if I fall, that will be embarrassing!"

"Don't be worried; I'll help you." He smirked at me and gave me his hand to take. I exhaled deeply and gladly took it, feeling my heartbeat increase at the simple contact.

He helped me out onto the ice, and when he was standing by me, I squeezed his hand tighter as I staggered on the ice. All I was thinking about was the possibility of slipping, and that made my heart race. Nick started moving, pulling me with him, and we started skating side by side slowly.

"You are doing good." I heard Nick say, but I didn't look at him, my eyes were fixed on my feet as I made sure to keep myself on my feet. It's not that bad.

"Can I let you go now?" He asked, and I looked around me at the now almost empty ice rink, and then my eyes met his. I bit my lip and nodded my head.

"Erm... okay." I agreed, smiling. He let go of my hand and pushed himself along the ice ahead of me. I started to panic when I saw him moving away.

"Nick, wait!" I yelled, reaching out for him. He turned around with grace on the ice, and he looked at me with amusement. He was now standing at the opposite side of the rink.

"I can't, I'm going to fall! Nick, I take it back, I need your hand. Please, help me." I was jabbering; I couldn't even understand myself. This is the first time I do this, and it's going to be the last. I tried to move, and I was doing okay for about ten seconds before I felt my foot slip on the ice, and I lost my balance. I squealed and shut my eyes, waiting for the impact that was going to freeze my butt, but it never came.

"I have you," Nick whispered, and I opened my eyes to find him holding me with his hands. I blushed and grabbed his arms, steadying myself up again.

"Thank you."

"How many times will I have to save your bum? You really are clumsy." He stated with his heavy accent and smiling down at me, his cute dimples showing.

"Sorry," I whispered, averting my eyes from him. He moved behind me, and he placed his hands on my waist, holding me securely, and I felt his lips next to my ear.

"Let's try again. This time don't think about falling, enjoy the moment. I got you, and I promise I won't let you fall." He said and moved again next to me his hand finding mine, and he entwined our fingers together.

"Who taught you how to ice skate?" I asked him as we skated along the ice slowly and steadily, gripping his hand tightly.

"My mother, she loved it." He replied.

"Where is she? You have never talked about her."

"After both my father's and sister's death, she decided to leave. She is now in Africa, providing her help to the children who need it."

"That's so nice of her. She must be a lovely woman." I stated, and he smiled, looking proud of her.

"Yes, she is."

I sighed and started skating off in front of him, taking my hand from his. You can do it. I am determined to do this.

"What are you doing?" I heard Nick ask me.

"I'm going to do it myself," I exclaimed, and he chuckled from behind me, as I started to move my legs quicker, keeping my arms out to the side.

"How am I doing?" I asked him, slowly turning my head to look at Nick over my shoulder. He stood behind me, watching with his hands crossed over his chest as the ends of his scarf caught the wind with a smile laced on his lips. The wind blew my hair over my face making it hard to see, and I almost fell but held myself up in time. I giggled and laughed as I whisked along the ice rink.

"You're great," Nick said, approaching me. "But still not as good as me."

"Oh, it's game on Mr. Snow," I told him narrowing my eyes as a smile spread across my face.

"I can't wait to see you lose, Miss Starr."

With that, he winked at me and started skating, leaving me behind still trying to get over his amazingly cute and carefree behavior, I have never seen him like this. I love this side of him.

"Hey, don't cheat," I exclaimed following him, moving my feet against the ice underneath my skaters.

"I'm not; you are just too slow." He laughed, and that made me move faster just so I could prove him differently.

"Cheater." I squealed when I finally caught up with him and grabbed his arm, pulling him back. Big mistake. He wasn't expecting me to do that and he lost his balance, his feet buckled underneath him and he fell to the ground. I gasped, my hand coming immediately up to my mouth as I looked at him lying on the ice.

"I'm so sorry, Nick, I didn't mean to." I apologized. He sat up, brushing the ice from his coat and rubbing his elbows soothingly.

"At least help me get up." He said, and I quickly took his hand, preparing myself to pull him up, but he did the opposite and pulled me down with him. I screamed in surprise as I fell beside him with my leg over his lap. My one hand was on the ice, and the other was still on Nick's hand. The cold

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