Chapter 31
Brian held his breath as
Nick made a slight movement. That’s
it Nick…
He paused. “Bri…I
can’t…”
The vulnerability in his
voice was so tremendous that Brian felt the back of his eyes prickling with
tears. “Nicky, I’ve known you since you were a little man…you don’t have
to be afraid.”
He scoffed. “Yeah,
that’s what Rina said and look what happened.”
“Huh?”
“She left me. Just
like you should.”
“Nick, she misses
you.” He saw his muscles stiffen.
“You…saw her?”
“She’s the one who told me
where to find you.”
Bitter laughter wafted
from his tense frame. “I should’ve known. Rina
never keeps her promises.”
Brian frowned.
“She’s worried about you. When I saw her…she looked so…ill.”
Nick shrugged. “I
don’t care.”
Yeah. Right.
Brian’s frown deepened. “The Nick I know wouldn’t say that.”
“Yeah, well the Nick you
knew is dead Brian.”
The wooden tone of his
voice sent shivers down his spine. He shook his head. “I don’t
believe that.”
“Dammit
Brian! You just won’t give up!”
“I REFUSE to give up on my
best friend! I don’t believe for a second that this is who you
are!” An anguished growl was heard before Nick whirled around and Brian
stepped back, the shock almost too much to bear. Oh…my…
“DO YOU BELIEVE IT NOW
BRIAN?” he scowled. “DO YOU?!”
***
The ferocity in his veins
was so overwhelming and Nick wanted nothing more than to tear this place
apart…starting with Brian. No…he could never hurt his best friend.
Never.
“It was…the fire…wasn’t
it?”
Nick closed his eyes,
recalling those horrid flames, nipping at his face. Oh God, he could feel
his skin melting all over again…
“Oh geez Nicky…”
“Now do you understand?”
his voice trembled, “now do you see why I couldn’t go home…why I can’t be the
man I was…?”
Brian took a step
forward. “Ni--”
“Don’t come closer Bri…it
doesn’t look any better no matter where you look at it.”
“Nick, do you really think
we care about how you look like? You know us better than that! We
know how it feels to be judged by your looks…we understand better than anyone!”
“But that’s not your
identity!”
Brian’s face contorted in
confusion. “Identity?”
Nick moved his gaze to the
floor. “I’m the popular one right?” His voice dripped with bitterness,
“the one all the girls want…the baby face… Well guess what? That’s
all gone! Now what do I have left huh? Who’s gonna care now
Brian?! WHO?! Without my looks I’m just another faceless man in
this stupid hell hole.”
“…When did you become so
cynical Nick?” Brian asked in a soft tone before shaking his head. “Yes,
I admit there are probably a few people out there who’d freak out over your
appearance…but you know what? Those people don’t matter Nick! What
about those who love you? Your family, friends…all those you hold
dear? Did you honestly think we’d turn our backs on you just because of
how you look like?!”
Nick tried his hardest to
keep from sobbing. “Rina left me…and I loved
her more than anything.”
“You don’t know why she
left Nick…and if you love her the way you say you do, you should give her the
benefit of the doubt.”
He could feel the tears
beginning to stream down his cheeks. All his hard work to bury himself in
his misery was dissipating. Was he really ready to let go?
“Nicky…let’s go home.”
He looked up at him again,
a glimmer of hope lighting up deep within himself. “Home?”
Brian smiled as he took a
few steps forward and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Home.”
Nick stared at him for a
moment before a cry of emotion escaped his lips and his eyes overflowed with
tears that had been building since the day his life changed forever. The
real tears of pain, fear…and for the first time, happiness.
He was going home!
“I’m so sorry this
happened to you buddy,” Brian whispered, his voice trembling from his own
tears.
Nick’s sobbing increased
as his soothing words comforted him. Brian had no idea just how
significant his apology was. He had yet to reveal his other secret to
him…
He had yet to tell him
that the reason he’d been left with a disfigured face…
Was because of him.
***
Kris stared at his
reflection with a satisfied smirk. Could I be any better looking?
Laughing he strolled into his kitchen and poured himself a glass of orange
juice. Yes…he was finally free. He was finally able to free himself
from the shackles of his damn engagement to Billie and go after what he really
wanted.
Her adorable baby sister.
Oh yeah, he couldn’t wait
to get his hands on her.
As his thoughts took the
usual perverted turn, he heard the doorbell ring. He set down his juice
on the table and made his way to the door. To his surprise, there was a
police officer staring right back at him with a stony look in his eyes.
“Can I help you?”
“Are you Mr. Kris Reid.”
“Who wants to know?”
The policeman
scowled. “Are you or are you not Kris Reid?!”
“Yes I am,” he replied
snidely, “what do you want.”
“You’re being served with
a restraining order.”
“What?!”
He gave Kris the
papers. “If we are to find you within 20 feet of Ms. Katarina
Clark and Ms. Billie Clark, you will be arrested. Is that understood?”
His body writhed with
fury. “ON WHAT GROUNDS?!”
“Oh I think you know Mr.
Reid. Good day.”
Kris slammed the door and
immediately ripped the official document to bits. “DAMN THOSE
BITCHES!” He grabbed one the vases resting on his coffee table and flung
it across the room. They were going to pay for this.
No…
She was going to pay.
His little kitten was
going to get a lesson she’ll never forget.
***
