Chapter 9
6...
Oh
shit! Let's get out of here!" Nick yelled to me, over all
the screams
of
of happy girls that had erupted. We started to run towards the
doors.
They
seemed so far away. I looked back to see that a mob (small but
powerful)
had formed behind us. I tripped when I looked back and fell to
my
knees,
but jumped back up quickly. But in falling, I slowed us down alot.
I
heard
Nick yell from behind me. I spun around to see him being mobbed
by
the
girls. He tried to get away, but they were holding on to his
shirt.
I
pulled him away from them and we managed to get out the doors
into the
awaiting
limo. When we got inside, Nick shut the door quickly, although
security
was holding them back now anyway. I watched them try to scramble
through.
"Rachel,
are you alright? Nick asked.
"I'm
fine, are you-" I cut short when I turned around and saw him.
There
was
a small trickle of blood running down the side of his face.
"Oh my
god,
Nick
you're bleeding!" I took off my white jacket and wiped away
the
blood
with
it. "What happened?" I asked. Nick reached to a spot
just above his
temple
and felt it gingerly with his fingers.
"I
think I got hit with someone's keys or something, I'm not sure."
"Oh,
it looks painful." I said. I was now parting his blonde-mussed
hair
to
get
a good look at the cut. It wasn't that bad, but it still looked
like
it
hurt.
"Hey,
what's going on? Everyone alright back there?" called the
driver.
"Yes,
we're ok. I just got a bump on the head, that's all." Nick
replied.
"Alright,
let me know if you need anyhting."
"Uh-huh,"
Nick said, "Ow!"
"Sorry,"
I had touched the cut accidentally.
"S'okay"
he replied.
"So,
are the rest of the guys coming soon?" I asked the driver,
while
concentrating
on blotting around Nick's cut.
"Yes,
ma'am. They are trying to find a way to get out without getting
mobbed
as well. They will be here soon and then we will be on our way
back
to
the hotel."
"Great,"
I said, "Ok, Nick, take this and hold it on the cut."
He did as
I
asked,
and winced.
"You
know, I'm completely ruining your sweater." Nick said with a
smile.
"Oh,
that's OK. I didn't like it anyway." And don't let up on
that
compress,
either."
"Sorry."
"S'okay"
"Hey,
man, don't take my word!" Nick gave me a playful shove.
"Then
don't call me "man", man!" I stuck out my tongue
and he laughed.
"It's
a deal." he replied.
"Hey,
how's your head feel?"
"A
bit better, actually."
"Good.
I was afraid you were falling apart on me here. Just don't hurt
yourself
any more, Okay?"
"I
promise."
"Hey,
look, here come the guys!" I exclaimed. Howie was the first
to
enter
the
limo.
"Nick,
what happened to you?" He asked, concerned.
"I
got bonked on the head on my way out of the club." He
explained.
"Damn,"
AJ said, "Ouch."
"Oh,
it's not that bad" Nick said.
"Speaking
of the wound you recieved in "battle," I said, "Let's
see if it
stopped
running like a faucet." I took of the "bandage",
parted his hair,
and
saw that it indeed had stopped.
"I
think my buddy, Mr. Carter here deserves a purple heart."
Brian said,
as
we
started to drive off.
"Hey,
Brian, where's Mandy?" I asked. She wasn't in the car.
"She
had to go. Her parents wanted her to be home by twelve and she
didn't
want
to be late. I kissed her goodbye, I really like her."
"That's
awesome Brian! Did you tell her?"
"I'd
say that the kiss told her."
"Good
point." I said, smiling at my own dumb question. "Hey,
I wonder
what
time-"
I looked at my watch, "It's two o'clock already! How time
flies,
right
Nick?"
"I
looked over at him to see that he'd fallen asleep, leaning his
head
against
the window. I put my Purse under his head as a pillow and stroked
his
hair. He looked so peaceful.
We
got to the hotel and when the car stopped, Nick woke up. When we
got
out
of
the car, he asked,
"Don't
you need a ride?"
"No,
I'll walk. I need the exercise."
"Oh,
okay, but do you mind if I come with you? I need to talk to you."
"Yeah,
sure, if you're up to it." I said.
"I'm
fine." He told the guys he was going with me and we started
to walk.
"You
know, if I hadn't fallen and slowed us down, we both would have
gotten
out
unharmed."
"It's
okay, don't worry about it." He replied. We walked in
silence for a
while,
sticking to the not-so-busy streets so Nick wouldn't be
recognised.
"Um,
Rachel?" He asked
"Yes?"
"I've
known this for a while, but, I never told you...um...we're
actually
leaving
early tomorrow morning to go on tour. They messed up the dates on
us
again."
"Oh."
I said quietly, as my heart silently broke. I paused, then said,
"I
guess
I won't be able to see you for a long time then, right?"
"Not
necessarily." he replied. I looked up at him.
"Why?"
I asked, hopefully.
"We
can bring you on tour with us for a the next couple of months.
That
is,
if
you want to." He looked very hopeful.
"Oh,
no," I said, and looked back at the ground, "I don't
know if I
can...
See,
My parents are gone away for the summer, and my cousin and I have
to
watch
the house all summer and take care of my little brother," I
answered
meekly.
My eyes started to well up with tears. I looked away so he
wouldn't
see. But a tear fell to the ground, giving me away.
"Rachel,
don't cry." He whispered. He put his hand on my shoulder,
stopping
me
from walking further away. "Rachel, look at me." I did
as told, and he
wiped
a tear from under my eye. "Don't worry, we can still write
and talk
on
the phone. It's okay." he soothed.
"No,
it's not. Every guy I meet always ditches me."
"Rachel,
I'm not ditching you! I said I call and write, and I'll visit
you
as
much as I can."
"It
just won't be the same." I replied coldly and started to
walk away
from
him.
"No,
Rachel!" He ran to me and took my hand. "I don't want
to let this
go."
Looking
into his eyes, I realized that I had to believe him.
We
got to the front of my house and stood there in silence for a few
minutes.
"So
I guess this time it really *is* goodbye." Nick said sadly.
"I
guess." I said. He pulled me into a big hug.
"I'll
miss you." he said, his voice cracking.
"I
had a lot of fun." I said, tearing up again.
"Me
too." he said quietly. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Smile
for me, so when I can't see you I'll always have that picture in
my
mind."
At this I couldn't help but smile, even if I hadn't wanted to.
"Thanks."
He whispered. I pulled away from him and explained that I
had
to
get
to bed. He let me go, but as I walked away I felt his hand on my
shoulder.
"Rachel, wait." He said. I turned around. "Don't
forget about
me."
"Don't
worry." I replied. I kissed his cheek and walked inside.