A Changed Life (18 page)

“I’m sorry you were hurt Bailey. Falling for a guy is hard enough, but falling for the wrong guy is the worst. What I am about to tell you Bailey, you have to promise me that you will not say anything to anyone, not even Alexis. Can I trust you with my secret?”

“Absolutely Nicolette, you can trust me, and I promise not to let you down again.”

“Michael has been stalking me for months now. I have been receiving letters, gifts, flowers and he always seems to know where I am. I hate to ask you this Bailey, but the few times I received packages at school, were you involved in that?” Bailey didn’t hesitate to deny it. She emphatically said she wasn’t behind it. I knew my friend was telling me the truth.

“If you weren’t the one, than how did Michael manage to get the packages to me?”

“Nicolette, wake up! Michael has connections, and knows many people. For all we know, he could have had the delivery company drop off the packages, and pay a random student to deliver them to your locker.”

“I have repeatedly tried telling Michael that I am not interested and to back off. He seems to know my every move, and always has a reason to why he is there.”

“Your birthday party for example?”

“Exactly! I know it was at a public place, but to be there on the night of my birthday party, is way too convenient.”

“Nicolette, you need to tell your parents what’s going on, and you need to do it soon. I have a bad feeling about this.”

“I will. I’m just trying to find the right time to tell them.” Bailey’s words were flooding my mind, as I tossed and turned all night. I was still extremely nervous about talking to my parents about Michael. I don’t understand why I’m finding it difficult to talk to them. They have always protected me, and I trust them unconditionally, but yet when it comes to this, I can’t do it.

I don’t care what they have said in the past, my parents are so invested with their work out here, and with Mr. St. Clair. They have worked incredibly hard, and I don’t want to be the one to come between that. I have done that once already, and it just caused them so much stress.

“Good morning honey and Happy Thanksgiving… our first in California.” Mom was smiling, and she was so happy. Mom and dad had finished their songs for John, and the movie score they were working on for Paramount. The release date for, “Never Surrender” was Christmas Day. Everyone would hear the beautiful music my parents had composed. It would pain me to spoil this for them. I remained quiet and decided to wait.

Gracie and mom prepared a delicious Thanksgiving meal. Dad had carved the turkey with pride, his favorite thing to do other than watch football. Simon had joined us; his parents’ were out of town visiting with his brothers. I felt guilty that Simon stayed behind for me, but he didn’t want to miss our first holiday together. We joined our hands in prayer, and my father always gave a beautiful blessing. I silently prayed that I could resolve my problems with Michael, without anyone getting hurt. Simon and my father watched football, while I helped in the kitchen. The Broncos were winning, and Simon was cheering them on.

“Thank you so much for sharing Thanksgiving with me, Simon.”

“There was no place I would rather be than with you, Nicolette. I love you so much, and I want to share all of our holidays together. How about over Christmas vacation, we go up to Big Bear to do some skiing?”

“I would love that Simon, but I have a problem with your plans.”

“Whatever it is babe, I can fix it.”

“I don’t know how to ski.” Simon took me into his arms and laughed with me.

“I guess Chicago girls don’t ski?” Simon playfully winked at me. He promised he would be patient, and we would practice on the beginner trails first.

Pacing in my room, I had about had it with all the continuous texts that I was receiving from Michael. Ugh! Why can’t he leave me alone? Finding my courage, I’m an adult now, perfectly capable of making my own decisions, and I have decided to handle Michael on my own. Causing my parents’ and Simon unnecessary stress was not an option. I would try my hardest to shield them from any pain. I was ready to deal Michael once and for all. I was about to send him a text when my phone rang. It was a number I didn’t recognize, but answered it anyway.

“Nicolette, this is Seth McCarter, I’m a friend of Bailey’s.”

“Yeah right! A friend of Bailey’s, don’t you mean, Michael?” I couldn’t help the sarcasm in my voice. “I know who you are, why are you calling me?”

“I need to see you Nicolette. Can we meet today? How about the Juice Bar? Do you know the place?”

“Yes. I do, but why do you need to see me Seth? You don’t even know me, and what can you possibly say to me that I want to hear?”

“That’s true Nicolette, but we have someone in common, and you know who I am referring to.”

“Bailey?”

“I wasn’t talking about Bailey. Can you meet me?”

“Yes. I’ll meet you there in an hour.” I had missed Simon’s morning phone call while I was in the shower. I texted back telling him I would see him later. He immediately texted back, questioning why we couldn’t see each other now. I was already regretting my decision to meet Seth, but I was curious on what he might tell me. Simon was disappointed, but I promised to text him the minute I was finished with my errands. My conscience was already attacking me, since I hated keeping things from Simon.

Simon wanted to spend every spare minute with me that he could. I wanted that too, but I had to split my time with my parents, and my friends. Mom is always telling me that you can give your heart to a boy, but don’t lose yourself in the pursuit of love.

Losing myself? I was way past that. I was beginning to understand her advice more and more. I was so in love with Simon that I would do anything to protect him from getting hurt.

When I arrived to see Seth, he was waiting for me in the same booth I had shared with Simon. My stomach ached with regret. A part of me wanted to turn around and run, but I managed to gather enough courage to hear Seth out.

Seth notices me approaching the booth, and walks out to greet me. “Thanks for meeting me. I slide into the booth. Can I order you anything?” Seth had asked me.

“No, thank you Seth… why am I here?” I asked.

“I wanted to explain a few things to you. Michael and Bailey don’t know that I called you. I know Michael has been coming on quite strong with you. He has it in his head that he loves you, and you love him, when you and I both know that’s not true.

He has been my best friend since we were seven years old, and he’s been through a lot Nicolette. His mom died of breast cancer when he was fourteen. Michael wasn’t always like how he is now. Michael at one time was this outgoing, fun-to-be-around person, but after losing his mom to cancer, and watching her slip away a little more each day, it just consumed him.

When she finally died, I think a piece of him went with her. His father ignored him; he was mostly left on his own after that. Nicolette, you see how we live. We have money, cars, anything we want, we usually get. Not all of us in our group act so forthright, but most of them do, like Michael. This is why he is so forward with everything, because he knows no other way.”

“Seth, losing a parent at a young age can be traumatizing for any one. I hope I don’t have to experience that for a long time to come, but what does this have to do with me? I can’t imagine how Michael felt when his mother had died. That’s terribly sad, but again where do I fit in to this?”

“I just wanted to explain a few things to you about him, that’s all Nicolette.”

“Ok tell me this Seth, why does he love me? What makes me so unique?”

“Are you sure you want to know the truth Nicolette?”

“That’s why I’m here Seth.”

“I think you remind him of his mother Nicolette. You have beauty; grace and anyone can see your kindness.”

No, no, no. This is the last thing I want to hear.
“You’re wrong Seth. Michael’s feelings for me have to run deeper than me reminding him of his mom. Michael is just too arrogant for his own good, and his ego took a beating when I said I wouldn’t go out with him.”

“If that were true, Nicolette, he would have moved on by now. He hasn’t dated or slept with anyone at all, and you are on his mind 24/7. Most things come easy for Michael, he never had a challenge he couldn’t overcome. You… Nicolette, are the exception. To be Clayton St. Clair’s son, now that’s a whole different story.”

“I don’t want to be anyone’s challenge or exception. I want him to leave me alone and stay out of my life. What happened with Jennifer? Did she remind Michael of his mom, too?”

Seth sighing, “Jennifer was a distraction, nothing more. Jennifer pursued Michael first. I’m sure Simon wants to believe that his girlfriend was pure, and innocent, but believe me she wasn’t. What happened to her on that night was not his fault, but he surely paid for it.

Michael, began drinking heavily and getting into trouble. I tried my best to help him work through his problems. His father sent him away, and forced him into therapy. Clayton was afraid that Michael would tarnish his name and reputation. Michael fought and rebelled every step of the way. When he returned home, his father had made arrangements to have him transfer to another college, but Michael refused. He promised his father he would do better and had learned from his mistakes.”

“Well obviously that was bull shit, Seth. How did Bailey fall into Michael’s grand plan of getting me to the frat house that night?” Seth looked sickly at this point, with all that he had already admitted, but he carried on with his story nonetheless.

“I like Bailey, and Michael knew this. Once he found out that she was a friend of yours, he asked me to ask her to invite you. Michael wanted to have some alone time with you, and when you refused, he flipped out. Michael kept saying over and over again, that all he wanted was to talk without you running away from him. I finally understood what Michael was doing, so I confessed my duplicity in this ruse, and Bailey refused to come to the party.”

“He hurt me Seth. He scares me, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Michael can be intense Nicolette, but I don’t think he wants to hurt you.”

“You don’t know that Seth, neither do I. I have witnessed firsthand, how intense he can be. His eyes have the ability to burn right through me. That alone makes me want to run as fast as I can.”

“I’m sorry Nicolette. I truly am, but I felt I needed to be as honest as I could. What you do with this information is up to you.” I was left alone with my thoughts and everything I had just heard from Seth. Seth’s story burned into my memory, my head was beginning to throb, and I was confused. What if this was another trick by Michael? Seth was sincere when he was talking to me about him, I didn’t doubt him at the time, but now I’m just not sure. I dropped my head in my hands, and tried to soothe my headache. I didn’t even notice that Simon had been standing right in front of me.