Chapter 10 || Now We're Even
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* * Nicole's POV * *

One by one small cool wet drops fell onto my face, but I didn't move... I couldn't move. All I saw was the same thing everywhere.... black. I could hear and feel everything, I just couldn't see or move.

"Miss?" I heard a foggy voice say over me.

The wet drops fell on my face again.

"Miss?" I again heard faintly.

I tried to move my body to open my eyes and stand up but I wouldn't budge. I was numb.

"Nicole!" I heard someone familiar shout, "I know you can hear me! Wake up!"

I felt someone shake me vigorously.

I began to gain some feeling in my body.

"Sir, you need to back away. You're only making the situation worse?" another voice announced which caused the shaking to stopped.

"Worse? You're not doing $h**!" The familiar voice spat with anger.

That voice lingered in my mind, who was that?

Why can't I recognize it?

JAKE! The voice was Jake!

"Nicole! Wake up the f*** up!" Jake shouted.

"Sir. I am going to have to ask you to step away" another voice said.

"Step away? I saved her f***ing life and you're asking me to step away!" Jake yelled.

"In the mood you're in, you could only make things worse." the voice said.

"Right?" Jake said sarcastically.

I tried to move again, but the outcome was nothing. Jake's voice ran though my head and I managed to move my head slightly.

"Did you see that?! I f***ing did that not you!" Jake yelled, "I don't even have any medial degree and I'm doing this $h** better than you". On the inside I was laughing at his side comment and I am sure I was the only one who was.

I could hear footsteps coming closer to me. Soon two hands were upon my shoulders and Jake was saying, "C'mon Nicole. You can do it, wake up!"

My eye lids began to feel lighter. Why was Jake's voice having this effect on me?

"I'm right here Nicole. Stay with me, it's okay. Everything is going to be okay." Jake said.

I shifted my head again and slowly began to lift my eyes. It felt like I was lifting bags of sand but I wasn't going to let that stop me.

I began to see a very blurry Jake hovering over my face. His dark eyes staring into mine. His jaw was clenched tightly which defined his facial features.

Jake let a huge breath and a smile of relief, "Thank god"

Jake wrapped his muscular arm around me to help me sit up. When my vision completely cleared I noticed there was an ambulance and tons of police cars surrounded by loads of cops and paramedics.

A few of the paramedics rushed to my side and immediately put an oxygen mask over my mouth while asking for my name, what happened, if I felt any pain and what not.

They had examined my wounds while I was unconscious and luckily they were just flesh wounds. Nothing more.

Once the paramedics finished with me, they moved to Jake. I stared at him. There was a bruise beginning to form over his left eye, but it's not that noticeable. His hands were clutched in fists and covered in blood.

After several minutes of going through the same process of medical checks and interrogations Jake made his way over to me.

I managed to get myself to stand up on my own, it was a bit rocky on the way up but it was nothing I couldn't handle.

As Jake walked over toward me I could barely look at him. I was embarrassed and afraid.

Jake, this known bad boy, helped and saved me. Why? I am obviously a rat in his hair, so why did he take the time to come to my rescue. The hatred towards me seemed so strong until this point. I never would have imagined Jake to ever help me. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.

Jake coughed awkwardly, "You okay?"

I nodded unable to form words.

He brought his hand to his head and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Thank you" I managed to say.

He smiled awkwardly and brought down his arm. There was silence for a moment until Jake said, "I'm sorry for not coming sooner."

I was shocked, he was sorry? He shouldn't be sorry?

"I should have left that party earlier so I could have prevented some of your injuries" he continued to babble as he examined my wounds until I cut him off.

"Jake" he stopped talking and looked me in the eyes. I paused unable to form words again.

"You don't need to be sorry. There was no way you could have known this was going to happen. It was my fault for leaving that party and walking home alone. At night I might add. MY OWN stupidity got me into this mess. Jake please don't be sorry."

Jake was silent, his eyes just scanned my face. I felt shivers go down my spine as he stared at me.

As if reality hit him Jake uttered with his classic devilish smirk "Now we're even".

This was not a time to go back to the old Jake.

As the road began to clear up Jake began to head to his motorcycle.

"Jake" I uttered causing him to stop walking and turn to face me again.

I looked down and watched my foot play with the snow on the ground, "Could we keep this between us."

He furrowed his eyes into confusion.

"I don't want anyone to know what happened to me, especially my parents."

Jake sighed, "Look Nicole, I am sure the paramedics have already notified your parents by now."

"I figured that but please don't talk about this. Not only because I don't want people to worry about me but also because If people know then they will talk about it. I'll become the center of attention and I try to avoid that at all costs."

"Why? What's so bad about attention?" He asks with a grin but there was concern in his eyes.

"Nothing I guess, but I'm just not good with handling attention. It's very anxious and stressful for me." I admit.

Jake makes his way over towards me and put his hand on my shoulder.

His hand is warm and send shivers down my spine.

"Come with me" He said while moving his hand from my shoulder down my arm and to my hand.

He lead me to his deathtrap (also known as his motorcycle).

When we reached the deathtrap he let go of my hand and hopped on. He reverted his gaze from the handle bars to me.

"Hop on" He said while his eyes burned a hole right through me.

"You want me to get on this... this deathtrap?" I ask.

Jake let out a small chuckle, "It's not that bad. Trust me. I'll be driving it so it's perfectly fine."

It's perfectly fine??? Yeah Okay Jake. You literally hated my guts not to long ago. What changed?

I stared with terror and excitement at the motorcycle. All my life I've wanted to ride on one of them but at the same time I am absolutely terrified of them.

"C'mon Nicole, I won't stay here forever?" He said.

"How do I even get on?" I spat with confusion.

He grinned and added "Figure it out".

I wanted to slap that grin right off his face. He drives me crazy with that grin.

I edged closer to the motorcycle and put one of my hands on the passengers seat. I awkwardly leaned forward and kicked my leg over the seat, I put a little too much effort into it which almost caused me to fall over the other side. I pushed myself to sit up with a smile.

I did it! I actually did it!

I looked around the motorcycle. OMG I DID IT!!

Excitement gleamed throughout my face until my eyes wondered onto Jake who was looking over his shoulder at me the whole time.

He had a ear to ear smile on his face while lightly laughing, "You're too cute Nicole."

I felt red creep up onto my face.

Why was Jake being so nice to me?

Jake began to start up his motorcycle.

"Wait Jake, there's nothing for me to hold onto! I'm going to fall off!" I stated nervously while looking for a handle bar or something of the sort.

He chuckled and rolled his eyes, "Nicole"

"mmhm" I said while looking for something to hold onto.

"Wrap you arms around me" he stated.

My face flushed and I stayed still.

"Do you want to fall off?" He declared.

I shook my head and slowly lifted my arms to reach around him. Do I actually want to put my arms around him? This isn't a smart idea. I should get off... but then you will be left alone again.

"This century maybe?" he said with a hint of sarcasm.

I smiled shyly as I wrapped my arms gently around him in the process my head pressed against his back.

Moments later I immediately let go and flung my head back, "JAKE! I don't have a helmet!"

He groaned while hopping off the deathtrap, "You're like a little child."

I put my hands on my hips, "There is nothing wrong with safety!" I protested.

"Here" he said while handing it to me.

I took it from his hands and stared at it with wonder.

Jake seemed to notice this in my eyes and he took the helmet from my hands and put it safely on my head.

"What about you?" I mumbled through the helmet.

"You're wearing my only helmet" he stated while getting back on the deathtrap.

"Jake. I'm not riding on this thing unless your safe with a helmet on!" I declared but before anything else could happen the deathtrap roared to life and we were off.

I flung my arms around Jake and forced my eyes shut. Jake coughed at my grip, that was when I realized that I was practically suffocating him.  I loosened my grip and opened my eyes to find us speeding past Jake's house.

"Jake we past your house." I shouted as the wind blow in my face.

Jake was silent.

"Jake?" I said a bit louder.

"We aren't going home yet. So shut up and enjoy the ride" he yelled back.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"You'll see" he said.

I started out into the road, the feeling of being on this deathtrap was so exhilarating. I felt so cool and completed. I could finally cross this off my bucket list.

A few minutes later Jake pulled up to a park area that mainly looked like a forest.

Jake helped me take off the helmet and helped me off the bike. He took my hand and lead me to a small bench deep into the area of trees past the park.

The whole park seemed to be deserted, maybe it was the fact that it was late at night but the park looked like no one ever goes here.

Jake sat down on the bench and I followed suit.

"This is my secret area, well I'm sure it's not secret cause it's a public park but no one ever is here when I'm here so I've deemed this bench mine." He paused, "I come here when I'm feeling stressful and what not. It helps me relax." He said while looking into my eyes.

I looked around, this whole area was extremely peaceful and relaxing. It was quiet and the atmosphere of the area was friendly and peaceful.

Jake put his hand on my chin and lifted it up so that my eyes would face the sky.

"This is the best part" He stated with a smile.

I sat there in awe. The night sky was full of stars and a full moon. The tall trees made the whole thing looked like a painting.

Jake placed his arm on the bench behind me.

We stayed like this for a while, not sure how long but it seemed like forever.

"Jake?" I asked while taking my eyes off of the sky and onto him. I noticed he had been watching me the entire time.

"Yeah?" he mumbled.

"Why did you show me this place? I mean it's your secret place" I ask.

"It was my secret place. Now it's also yours" he adds.

"But why? You hate my guts" I state.

He looked up to the sky and was silent for a bit.

"Who said that?" He finally added.

"You did" I add.

He chuckled, "Oops."

Oops?  What was that supposed to mean.

"Why did you share this place with me?" I asked again.

"Can't you just shut the f*** up and enjoy the place instead of asking all these f***ing questions"

I fell silent and looked straight at the ground. This is what happens when I speak. I get yelled at, that's why I refrain from any attention at all, bad things happen.

He sighed, "Look you seemed like you needed to relax given what happened and I tired to be nice and help you out."

I shyly smiled and looked at him again, "Thank you" I quietly said.

"You're so quiet" He added, "You barely spoke to me before tonight. Why is that?"

I fell silent again and looked up at the stars. I was not in the mood to talk about my shyness and fear of talking to others.

Minutes went by that were full of silence until Jake mumbles something that I couldn't quite make out but I knew he said it too me.

I looked over to him again and looked at me. We were so close to each other. I could feel him breathing on my forehead. I felt so safe next to him but at the same time I felt unsafe.

"What'd you say?" I quietly say to him.

He just smiled and said in a warm soft deep voice "Nothing".

* * * *

Sorry for the wait, it took me a while to write this chapter. Also happy late Fourth of July.

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Alyssa Rose

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