Here he was again, sitting in that very same spot. Listening to that same stupid song. Going weeks without a good bath or shampoo, stewing in his own juices if you will. This breakup was break up of all breakups. No other girl had played with his heart like she had. He put his all in a woman many told him to steer clear from yet and still he did exactly what he shouldn't have. He fell in love with her. Now here he was, many days later still nursing a ripped heart. Ripped because broken would've been an understatement. Just like saying that he was shocked walking in on her and her best friend getting down and dirty was an understatement. Shocked--no staggered was more like it. Thankfully for his mentality, the thoughts were broken apart by a series of rings from his doorbell. Probably another one of the guys here to pull him out of his funk. Surely by now they had to have realized that simply wasn't possible right?
"Dude open the door right now before I bust open your windows!" This time they sent A.J. Last week it was Kevin and his somber advice that not only failed at making him feel good but almost put him to sleep. Before that was Howie, his advice went in one ear and out the other for he just couldn't really understand what he was talking about. He was all over the place with that one. Believe me if you were sitting there you'd space out too. Now here was A.J. He came around the first few days of their breakup and never came back. Wonder what this visit was all about? Removing himself from the comfort of the plush couch in his den, he walked to the front door so he could prevent the window company a visit to his house.
"What do you want?"
"Hello to you too asshole" he scoffed busting his way through the door. Classic A.J.
"What are you doing here man?"
"What do you think? I'm getting you out of this house." That was rich, no one could get Nick out of his house. Not his family, not his friends and definitely not A.J. Nick pulled himself away from the front door to the kitchen where his eccentric friend/brother now resided. Confusion flowed through his body as he watched A.J. stand on his tippy toes shuffling through his cabinets. "You don't have any chips here or something?"
"No, Paris liked to eat healthy." Paris, ugh. Just the name alone made him roll his eyes. Paris had a hold on Nick like a grizzly bear had a hold on fish. That little twig completely changed Nick as a person. All the way to the point that he didn't have some friggin chips. A.J.'s brown eyes went across a few more items, of course all healthy. Damn twig.
"Dried cherries?" A.J. said to himself.
"Look what do you want man? I'm chilling."
"What I want is for you to hurry up. I'm starving, the faster you get upstairs, take a damn shower and change for tonight the quicker we can get out to a restaurant."
"Sorry to inform you but I'm not going anywhere."
"Like hell you are. You're pasty looking, you look like you've lost weight and your pants smell like cheeze its. I can smell them all the way from here" he said before popping a dried cherry in his mouth. Nick took a whiff of the plaid pants that dawned his 'pasty' legs. Ok so they smelt like cheeze its, couldn't you just morn the break up of a loved one? Yes he loved Paris and wasn't afraid to admit it. What he was afraid to admit was that she was his world. But overtime that became strikingly obvious amongst his friends. So much for hiding that right? This troubled his friends who watched a jubilant Nick turn into this cold unknown zombie. It had been almost a month now since they broke up. This was definitely not good.
"Just do it for me?" A.J. pleaded
"I just don't know man. I just don't feel like being on the scene anymore." Another thank you to thee almighty Paris Hilton and her powerful persuasion.
"But I know you'd like her. She's funny, eccentric, oh so hot." Wait a minute, she? Who said anything about a she? Nick wasn't all that apt on going out, let alone on some blind date concocted by his more than weird friend.
"Well if you like her so much, why don't you go out with her?"
"We're both Capricorns, we'd kill each other." A.J. began to see that his own powers of persuasion wasn't as powerful as Queen Hilton. On to plan B. He had to add in something. Something worthy of his going out with her. If anyone could take Nick out of this funk it was her. "Look if you don't like her, I'll give you $100 bucks."
"What?"
"Just a little bet, say you like her, you like her. If you don't then I gotta give you a hundred bucks."
"So if I don't have to give you one red cent?"
"Not one." Now that was an idea. Not that he needed any more because he was stinking rich but A.J. hated to lose and Nick loved to see him lose. So why not go for it? Just to see that smug look on his face tonight. "So do I have myself a deal?"
"You've got yourself a deal Mr. McLean."
^^^^^^^^^
Exactly why was he out again at this stupid club? Oh yeah that's right, he was there to watch A.J. lose this bet and pick up a hundred bucks but now he was beginning to regret that decision. The loud club sent his senses into overdrive. Bright green lasers, the smell of smoke that clouded the room, the bass he could feel all the way in his chest was making his sight, hearing and smell furious at him.
"Exactly what time is this girl coming? I'd rather be at home" he whined
"With your smelly pants?"
"With my smelly pants." A.J. looked around the room, praying that she'd arrive. And boy did the good Lord answer his prayers. There she was walking in with his close friend Linny. A smile graced across A.J.'s face. With what she was wearing, oh yeah Nicky was gonna like up on that.
"Alexander James" Linny smiled. She was the only person in this free world that was allowed to call in that along with the only person who did as such. Even his mother didn't call him that and she named him. But it was all good because with Linny's supermodel looks, she was more than worthy of calling him anything she wanted to call him.
"You made it" A.J. smiled standing up against her 5'9 frame.
"That I did along with Kristina." Nick and A.J. looked around Linny for her only not to see her at all. What gives? A.J. saw her walking in, where did she disappear to?
"I see that but where is she?" Linny turned around to find her friend, confused to see that she wasn't by her side but down a few tables down talking to someone. Linny wasn't the only one who caught the sight of Kristina. A.J. already had an attraction to her but like he said they'd tear each other apart, Nick on the other hand was completely smitten with her. Her petite body wrapped up in the sexiest red halter dress that he had seen in ages, the curves on her body now sent his mind as the rest of his body on over drive and her fully pouty lips made him think all types of things. The closer she got the hotter he grew. This feeling that was flowing through him was a feeling that he hadn't had in a long time. No, no, it was wrong to think this way, think this way about a woman he hadn't even met yet.
" Alexander!" she smiled. From where he was sitting he could smell her tropical esque perfume. There goes that smelling sense again.
"Kristina, how are ya babe?"
"I'm good, I'm good. Good to see you."
"Good to see you as well, looking all nice with ya red on. You know red is my favorite color right?"
"That's why I wore it" she smiled.
"Mmm, girl don't get me started. Anyways there's someone I want you to meet, Nick, Kristina, Kristina, Nick." Kristina turned to face Nick who's blue eyes were intently on her scanning her from the soft brown hair that cascading down her back down to the perfectly pedicured toes that peeked out of her laced up heels.
"Nice to meet you Nick" she held out her hand for his hand.
"Nice--to meet you too" he choked. Looks like someone wasn't going to be out of a hundred bucks tonight. Kristina sat down across from him, next to Linny.
"Would you ladies like something to drink?"
"Cosmo" she answered.
"Gin and tonic" Linny replied.
"Alrighty, be right back." A.J. got up from the seat, leaving the two women and Nick all alone. The awkward silence filled the air louder than the music that surrounded them. What was there to say? Hey you're hot, let's hit the bathroom. That would be more than inappropriate but that's exactly what Nick was thinking.
"Well I'll be back, I need to use the little girls room." Great now Linny was gone as well.
"So, you're Nick?" Who else could he be?
"Yup."
"The one that was dating that stick right?" Nick was caught off guard. Where did that come from?
"Excuse me?"
"The rich girl, what's her face."
"Paris" he said through gritted teeth.
"Yeah whatever, so I heard she hit the bricks." Nick clammed up from the memory of their breakup. Just when he thought he could get her out of his mind here was someone reminding him all about it.
"We had an amicable split."
"So she dumped you?"
"I said amicable."
"Amicable for in other words something went down that you didn't like. Since she figured you didn't accept it, you got the drop. I don't blame you for feeling bad. I mean if someone cheated on me the same way she cheated on you, I'd be upset too." Nick's mouth dropped open in shock. She could be the hottest girl in the planet she still had no right to say those things about Paris.
"You don't even know me, so don't pretend that you do."
"I don't have to know you Nickolas, may I call you Nickolas?"
"No."
"Oh well, I like Nickolas better. Nickolas you're very readable. I don't have to know anything about you or your relationship with the heiress, you can see it all in your eyes that your hurting. Now I'm just a regular person who watches the little entertainment shows so I know that you two have been apart for awhile. Don't let girl get close to ruining your life as she have unless she's worth it." And with that she got up. Who in the fuck did she think she was saying something like that? Paris didn't ruin his life! Paris was one of the best thing that ever happened to him! Definitely not close to ruining it. Readable? Was he readable? Could you tell from the look in his face that he was sad, depressed and lonely? Nah, of course you couldn't. He was out at a club, he was out to have fun. So why now did he feel like complete shit?
"Hey where'd the ladies go?" A.J. asked returning with the drinks.
"Uh…Linny went to the bathroom, Kristina I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know? Threw those Carter charms on her? What did I tell you Nick, that charm only repeals."
"Ha ha" he laughed sarcastically. Nick sat there in silence, nursing the beer that A.J. bought back for him, while Linny and A.J. caught up. Kristina was nowhere to be found. Well that was until he caught her on the dance floor with some guy. Nothing too hot but definitely not some mom and pop dancing. Down on the floor she looked like she was having a blast. A huge smile was across her face as the mystery she danced with dipped her. All he could think of as he watched he was how could she think Paris ruined his life without even knowing the joy that she brought to him? He needed answers and he needed them now. Numerous bodies brushed against him as he made his way towards her. He stood there for awhile in the middle of the floor watching her and her dance partner. "Excuse me, can I cut in?" he asked. When Kristina turned around she grinned.
"Yeah sure dude." The man walked away leaving Kristina to Nick.
"I was wondering when you were going to come down here."
"You knew I was coming?"
"Because you want to know."
"I want to know?"
"Don't play dumb Nickolas, you want to ask me something. I'm not sure exactly what but you have questions. Go for it."
"I uh--"
"What are you doing?" she gasped.
"What?"
"You're on the dance floor."
"I know."
"So dance."
"Muh…." Kristina rolled her eyes in frustration. This one here was a little dense. Quickly she grabbed his two big hands and placed them on her waist. Together they swayed to the beat as she awaited his questions. Meanwhile Nick on the other hand as trying to regulate his breathing. Girl had a body that wouldn't quit and the way she was grinding up against him like that was making it hard to form a coherent question let alone speak. So with all the strength in his body he moistened the dry spot in his throat and went for it. "How'd--how'd you know?"
"How'd I know?"
"Now who's playing dumb?"
"Touché" she laughed, "I've been in relationships Nickolas. You haven't been the only person in the world who has been dumped.."
"I wasn't dumped."
"Ok so you weren't dumped, but you were hurt. Yes its written all over your face. Its not the end of the world. You're young, live."
"I am living."
"For the moment but I'm thinking its only because you were forced to." This was just amazing, how did she do it? How? He wanted to ask but he also accepted the mystique that was behind it all. Some things are best left to the unknown.
"I guess you could say that."
"You guess?"
"Ok you're right" he laughed.
"I know, tell me something Nickolas don't you miss having fun? Hmm? Don't you miss being with a woman? Her touch? Her feel?" Nick felt her hand inching slowly up his inner thigh. If he had tingles just from looking at her then he had no clue what to describe this feeling he was having now. Nick sucked in his breath when he felt her hand getting closer to his crotch. Anxiously awaiting for her to touch him, he got another feeling. The feeling of her soft lips upon his neck with the mix of her left hand on his thigh caused him to gasp. "And I'm not talking about your precious Paris, I mean just a woman's touch. You can't tell me that you don't miss this right?"
"Right" he sighed.
"Well then the healing process is beginning." With that she pulled away from him and walked away. Wha-what? What had just happened. Tonight was a night of perplexity that his mind refused to wrap around. All he knew was that he needed more. More of her knowledge or insights. Perhaps he just needed more of her. Regaining his composure, Nick ran back upstairs where A.J. and Linny still sat, now apparently drunk.
"Where'd she go?"
"Who?" Linny asked.
"You're friend--Kristina."
"She just left a few minutes ago." Hoping that he could catch up to her, he ran outside to the warm Californian night searching for her but he was a little too late. The crowd outside was much too large to look through for someone of her stature. She was gone. Only gone for that night though, Nick had plans to see her again.