Nicholas

I can't believe I'm trapped with her. The one girl who drives me insane. The only girl I've never been able to get off my mind.

"Are there any more red ones?" She asks smacking her lips and I feel my pants tighten as my eyes narrow in on those pink plump lips of hers.

I hand the bag of candy back to her. "Just have the rest," I say and her big brown eyes look up at me.

"But you said we'd share. I mean it is your candy." She says.

"You already ate the rest." I laugh when she looks into the bag shocked. For the first time in a long time I smile and she just stares at me.

"What?"

"I've never seen you laugh. Or smile. Maybe I should eat your candy more often." She says and a lock of hair falls over her eyes from the wind. All I wanted to do was brush it away.

I push down my feelings. "Whatever. Anyways I called Nelson he should be here soon." I inform.

It's quiet as we sit in silence our backs pressing against the cold metal of the graveyard gate.

"Have you ever read The Darkest Shore?" She says and I try to hide my interest. Reading was my much-needed escape from my shitty life.

"No. And I don't want to," I tell her but she keeps talking.

"But its pretty good honestly you remind me of one of the characters. My favorite part is-"

"Look I said I didn't want to read your stupid book." I didn't like talking about myself. In fact, I hated it and this was barely scratching the surface of things I hate about myself.

She looks down at her hands and I feel bad. I never feel bad. Not for anyone.

"Just trying to make conversation." She mumbles.

"Well don't. It's bad enough I'm stuck here with you." I snap as the rain starts to sprinkle.

God, where is Nelson? He needs to hurry up.

As if she could read my mind she moves her delectable mouth again. "Maybe try calling someone else? I'm sure you can call your parents right? They'd come to help us?"

I feel that same pain in my heart at the mention of my parents. They have done countless horrible things to me. But I could never hate the two who put me in this world. No matter how badly I want them out. Every time they hit me. Every time they scream how stupid I am. How worthless. How they used to steal from me to buy drugs or alcohol. How they scare me. I want to hate them but I can't. So I turn that hatred to myself.

I feel a warmth on my tightly closed fist. I lift my head and meet her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Her thumb starts to caress my skin causing goosebumps to arise from her touch. I don't understand why she affects me so much. I don't want that.

I shake my head yes. But I'm not. Luckily she changed the subject. "Call Brodie? I know you're friends?" She says and the mention of Brodie makes me pissed all over again.

"No. He's useless." I say and a sadistic smile creeps its way to my lips when she doesn't disagree. If only she knows what he does.

"I found drugs in his room." She blurts out like it's some huge secret.

"So?" I question.

She looks relieved. Almost as if she's wanted to say that forever. "I found drugs in his room. I never told anyone because he threatens to expose me."

"Expose you? What's there to expose you're so perfect and b-" running a hand through my hair, I stop myself before I continue and say something I don't want to.

"Ah nevermind." She mumbles and I take it I need not bring anything else up unless she willingly tells me but there's something I think she needs to know.

"Alice?" Her name falls out of my mouth before I can stop myself.

"Hmm?" She hums.

"Brodie and I used to sell weed illegally. I stopped but Brodie must still be doing it." I say watching her face to gauge her reaction.

She only shrugs and I can't believe I felt relief from that simple gesture.

"I can't believe Brodie destroyed Gen and everyone else's machinery," Alice says quietly.

"I can."

We sit in somewhat peaceful silence.

She laughs suddenly and I give her a questioning look. She meets my eyes and blushes. That blush did things me.

"I usually talk about things like this with my therapist. You know I'm not much of a talker." She says and I nod. I know she's not much of a talker but a part of me wished she was. I like to hear her voice.

"I used to have one of those," I admit.

"You did? Do you not need one anymore?"

Oh, I do. I was forced to stop going when I couldn't afford it. My parents didn't give a damn. "Something like that," I say filling up the empty space of conversation.

"Well, Mr. Micknealing is a nice guy." That name sounds so familiar...

"Nick..." she says but stops.

"What?"

"Nevermind." Alice is suddenly looking away from me.

"Tell me." I press and she looks at me again with red cheeks showcasing her embarrassment.

"It's just... you're nice to talk to even though you are..." she stops and I nod telling her to continue.

"Mean to me I guess. But I still like to talk to you I don't know why."

I guess I deserved the mean part but whatever the rest of her sentence meant got to me.

"I like to listen to what you have to say. And believe me when I say I don't like being mean. It's just instinct." I find myself saying and she smiles slightly at that. I wish I just didn't talk but her smile made it worth it.

"I like to listen to what you have to say too." She tells me and that was the only time someone has said that to me.

My head snaps in her direction and I feel something weird in my chest. I have the urge to pull her to me and never let anyone look at what's mine ever again. To kiss and hold her.

I shake my head and quickly stand up. Don't think those things, Nick. I remind myself.

"Why isn't Nelson here yet?" I mumble and she stands up too.

I look out of the gate. This is too much like those cages growing up. I hate this. But Alice seems to calm me down.

Without realizing I step closer to her. My parents used to put me in dog cages when I 'misbehaved' I feel trapped.

"Nick are you okay maybe you should sit back down you're worrying me." I hear Alice say and without thinking I grip her arm and pull her to me.

Her fragile frame collided against my hard body. It took me by surprise when she places her palms flat against my chest. I lean down and breathe in and get the strong scent of mangos. She smells delicious.

I hear her gasp and she pulls the collar of my shirt down slightly. "Nick why are you covered In bruises." She says in horror and her fingers trace over the many scars and bruises on my exposed chest that my flesh and blood have left upon me many times before.

I say nothing but lean down closer unable to control myself.

Only when my nose brushes hers I'm back into reality.

"Nick, what are you doing?" Her soft voice asks lightly pushing on my chest. She's right. What the fuck am I doing?

I turn around just as Nelson's car pulls up and I watch as he gets out with Gen.

Alice seems to forget what I almost just did and I feel relieved. I don't want her to see that side of me.

"Gen!" Alice waves over at them and they see us.

They run over here but I'm not looking at them. I'm looking at her. Did I never notice the way her hair sits so softly on her shoulders before? The way she pouts her lips without even realizing it? The curve of her collarbone and the dip in her chest that shows off her perfect chest? The way her hips-

"Oh, Ally I'm so sorry! I really did start to think you did it! Nick told us everything!" Gen rambles but my eyes don't leave her. Even when she leaves my side and runs into Gen's open arms. I want her to run into my arms, not Gens.

"Nick, you good?" I hear from Nelson and a shove to my shoulder.

I reluctantly break my eyes off her and look at him with a nod.

"Never been better." I lie.