A Changed Life (17 page)

“Oh my god, Nicolette. What the hell was that? When you didn’t follow me out, Simon asked me to come find you. Are you ok? And what did Michael want?”

“Not now, Bailey!” I was curt with her. I wasn’t going to cry, not on my birthday. I double checked myself in the mirror and told Bailey to forget what she had just witnessed. I was not going to allow Michael to ruin my birthday or my time with Simon. I had to get back to him and I had already been away from him for far too long. Finally finding Simon, I saw him pacing near the dance floor with Sam and Jameson. Alexis was in a lip lock with Jimmy.

“There you are! Where have you been?” Simon was practically shouting at me, but then lowered his voice. Reaching his arms out to me, I walked right into him and ran my hands up his back. Letting out my breath, and closing my eyes, just his touch alone was soothing me. Lifting my chin so I could look up at him. “No more girl talks tonight, okay?”

Gazing into his eyes, “I’m sorry I took so long, can we dance?” Without another word spoken, he led me onto the dance floor, where we stayed until the party ended. “Thank you for the best birthday ever Simon.”

“You are most welcome, Nicolette. I love you, and I am so happy I got to share your special day with you.” His hands stroked my arms and down, leading down to my waist and holding me tight.

“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”

“No, not really, but you can now” I teased him.

Always the gentleman, my amazing boyfriend walked me to my door.

“You are so beautiful Nicolette. He cupped my face and gazed into my eyes. I love you. I’m going to make you very happy.”

“You already have.”

His kisses lingered for a bit more, and then he shoved me gently through the door. “In you go. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Without another word, he turned and sprinted to his car.

Tomorrow I was going to spend time with Uncle Jack, and then finally talk to my parents about Michael.

The days that followed after seeing Nicolette at her party were hard for me. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep, and when I do manage to close my eyes, all I dream about is her. I thought I was going to stop breathing when I saw her across the room. She hadn’t seen me watching her, and then when I finally came face to face with her, she was scared. She has me all twisted like no other girl I have ever known.

“Come on man, you need to let this go already!” Seth shouted, and breaking me from my dazed thoughts. Nothing you have done since July has made any sense. You are one of the most popular guys at our frat house. You can have a different girl in your bed every night if you wanted to. What is the big fucking deal about this up tight chick from Chicago?”

“She’s not like anyone I have ever known before. I can’t let her go.”

“You are seriously beginning to freak me out man.”

“Why are you here, Seth? I don’t need this shit from you. I have heard all the lectures and reasoning from my father, I don’t need it from my friend too.”

“Michael, it’s because I’m your friend that I am here to help you. You have been warned by your father, her parents, and let’s not forget Simon, her
boyfriend
.” Seth enunciates the word boyfriend very slowly. “You need to let this obsession go that you have with this girl. No good will come from it Michael, don’t you see that? She doesn’t want you, hey I know that may be difficult to comprehend, but it’s the truth. Get a grip and let it go.”

Holding my head now to drown out his voice, Seth doesn’t know what the hell he is talking about. I look up at Seth. “All I need is more time with her. I need to make her realize we can be good together.”

“Michael, do you need a reminder on what happened the last time you tried to talk with her? You nearly broke her hand. You are out of control Michael, please listen to me.”

“Seriously? Exaggerate much? For the last time, all I did was reach for her hand. All I wanted to do was talk with her for a few minutes, Nicolette was the one that over reacted, but yet I get blamed.”

“I never meant to even cause the slightest hurt to her Seth, and you damn well should know it!” Shouted Michael. “I lost control for a brief moment, something I won’t do again.”

“Are you sure about that, Michael? Remember, I was there when you spiraled out of control last time, I don’t know if I can go through that again.”

“Not this again! No one is asking for your help, Seth. What happened to Jennifer was not my fucking fault. I am so tired of beating a dead horse. You talk about me letting shit go, what about you Seth? To even mention her to me is messed up.”

“I’m not talking about Jennifer and her accident Michael… I’m talking about the events that happened after her death. You were out of control man; I covered for you more times than I can count with your father. Please Michael, I am asking you as your best friend to let this girl go. It’s not worth it man. The next time you go off of the edge, I may not be there to pull you back.”

Opening the door to show Seth what I think of his advice. “Get the fuck out Seth! This conversation is over.”

“NO!” shouted Seth, “it’s not”. Seth trying one more time to get through to him, “Come on Michael, let’s go for a run, and clear our heads?” Grabbing Seth by the throat, Michael screamed.

“I said, get out! And don’t come back here.”

“You are making a mistake, one that will not end well for you.”

“My only mistake was inviting you today. I don’t need or want your help.” Slamming the door on his friend, Seth walked away with the realization that helping Michael was way beyond his depth. He had no idea how to get through to his friend.

I had the best day with Uncle Jack. We took the city of Los Angeles by storm. Uncle Jack’s favorite part was visiting the Hollywood walk of fame. He snapped picture after picture of famous blocks of actors and actresses that he loved.

My dad and I had driven Uncle Jack to the airport, and I tried my best not to cry when we said yet another goodbye. “Today was amazing Uncle Jack.” I begin to choke up and a lone tear falls down my cheek.

“Oh my sweet girl, no tears. I promise to bring Aunt Sara the next time I visit, and hopefully it will be soon. I will never forget today, I love you Nickel.”

“Neither will I.” My father had stayed back until I finished my goodbye with Uncle Jack. Wiping my tears, I turned and waited in the car. Dad shook his brother’s hand, and waved him off. My heart ached as we drove away from the airport. I didn’t take my eyes off the mirror until Uncle Jack was out of sight. My thoughts returned back to my last day in Chicago when I had to do this. Daddy rubbed my shoulders to calm me.

“Nicolette, you’ll see him again soon. I guess there is only one way to make you feel better.” I looked at my dad wondering what the heck he was going on about. “Ice cream cures all heartache”. I laughed out loud, and dad smiled along with me. “I’m in the mood for a banana split, care to share one with me?”

“Um…no way! I’m getting my own.” And just like that, I felt so much better. I was wondering if this was the right time to bring up Michael. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday with Simon, and our friends planning my party, to a surprise visit from Uncle Jack. No, telling my father now would only sour his good mood. Waiting another day would not matter.

My week was going to be easy, and short with Thanksgiving approaching. Alexis, Bailey, and I took advantage of early holiday sales, and went shopping on our half day.

“Alexis, you bought out the entire store.” I said to her, as she was piling her dad’s credit card receipts. Did you seriously need those jeans in every color?”

“Yes I did. A woman needs options, and more options equal more outfits.” Giggled Alexis.

“What does Jimmy like you in?” I couldn’t help but tease her.

“Nothing” she replied! My mouth dropped open.

“I thought that would get your attention Nicolette. Bailey already knows.”

Trying to keep my voice down. “Oh my god Alexis! You slept with Jimmy.”

“Yes, and it was hot as hell, too. My man has moves. I can’t believe you haven’t done the deed with Simon yet? You two can’t keep your hands off each other.”

The thought of making love with Simon gets me all heated inside my belly. “It hasn’t gotten that far yet, but I have been seriously considering it.”

“All I know is that being with Jimmy has been great, and I have you thank for it.”

“Me… why me Alexis?”

“It was you Nicolette, who encouraged me to take a chance, and I am so happy I did. Jimmy is amazing, I think I’m in love.”

“Was it your first time?” My curious mind had to know.

“No, it wasn’t, but it felt like it was. My first experience was awful, and painful. I foolishly slept with a stupid jock,
who
will remain nameless. It happened, and it was over in just under three minutes. It’s a memory I don’t like to revisit, but with Jimmy, it was different. One night we were together. It wasn’t planned, and when one thing led to another, it just happened. It felt right to be with someone that I actually enjoy being with, and now my feelings for Jimmy run deeper than I could have ever imagined.”

“That sounds incredible Alexis. Thank you for sharing that with me. I guess I understand why you hesitated to date Jimmy in the beginning, with him being an athlete.”

“That may have played a part in it Nicolette, but Simon was right about me. I was being a snob, and I never was willing to give Jimmy a fair shot.”

“That may be, but Simon shouldn’t have hurt your feelings, I’m sorry for that.”

“He apologized to me on the same day. Did you know that? It’s totally fine, and now I too have an amazing boyfriend.”

With Alexis dropped off and sated from shopping all day, Bailey and I were on our own. “Nicolette, can we talk about Michael?”

“Before I tell you about Michael, please tell me about Seth?”

“He’s not a bad guy Nicolette. I think he was caught in the middle between Michael, and me. I think he felt at the time he was doing his friend a favor without knowing Michael’s reasons behind it. I didn’t know either, but I always had an unpleasant feeling about it. That’s the real reason why we never made it to the party. I never gave Seth the opportunity to dump me, I did it first. Seth has been calling me every day to apologize, but if he is anything like Michael then I don’t want to see him anymore.”