When Angels Fall (Fallen Angels) (9 page)

“I think he’s still a little miffed I didn’t pick him. But it hasn’t stopped him from asking me out. And judging by the looks I kept getting tonight, he isn’t happy,” she answered, thinking about how he was really going to push her now for a date.

He seemed to want to change the subject. “What about the stuff about your dad, you really weren’t invited to the wedding?”

“See? The illusion is starting to crack, and you’re starting to see the real me. They have made it clear that I’m not a part of their life. It used to hurt really bad at first, but after a few months, I just got used to it. It’s my normal. I told you, I really am not the girl you think I am.” She was fighting to keep tears from falling. She didn’t want him to see her cry; those were for when she was alone.

 
“Hey, if you ever want to talk about your mom or dad, I’ll listen.” He wanted to make her understand that he really did care about her.

“I’m over it. It was like six years ago. I’m good now. As for my dad, well, that’s just the way it is in some families,” she said, lying to him. She didn’t think she would ever really be over it. And somehow, she knew that Nick could see right through that.

“It’s getting late, you ready to head home?”

Chloe nodded and followed him back through the woods.

*
   
*
   
*
   
*

When Nick got home, they were just sitting down to dinner.

 
Kevin and Mark couldn’t help but look as if they were a little in awe of the recent development.

Kevin snickered at Nick.

“Okay, what?” Nick finally asked, tired of the looks he’d been getting.

“I was just wondering how you got paired up with Chloe. It just seems a little funny to me,” Kevin watched Nick for an answer.

“Why is that funny? We just decided to be partners for the project. There’s nothing funny about it,” he answered, not wanting to tell them what really happened.

“Really? Because with Josh being in that class, too, I would think she would pair up with him,” Kevin stated.

“And what’s your point?” Nick questioned.

“Isn’t Josh that guy who likes her? The jock?” Mark jumped in, ready to set the trap along with Kevin.

“I guess he does. She didn’t want to work with him and I didn’t want to work with Robyn, so we decided to work together.” Nick knew where they were going. He wasn’t falling for their plot.

“Mark, isn’t it just a strange twist of faith that the said project turned out to be one where Nick would have to spend a lot of time with Chloe?” Kevin kept at it.

“Hmm, why yes, Kevin, now that you mention it, it does seem very strange. And it’s a marriage project at that. So, Nicholas, how’s that ‘I’m-not-dating-anyone-again’ thing working for you?” Mark teased him.

“I’m not! She’s just a friend.” Nick shot back at them as he slammed his hands on the table.

“Wait, why don’t you want to date anyone?” their mother asked.

“Because of the way we move around. I’m not going to go through that again,” Nick stated, tired of the torment from his brothers and the fighting he was doing with himself about Chloe.

“I said we would be here for a while. At least until you’re done with high school,” their father explained.

“Yeah. But Dad, in Nick’s defense, you have said that before. Kev and I feel the same way. What’s the point in meeting a girl and starting something with her, and then having to move in like six months?” Mark said, finally letting their father know how the moving was taking a toll on them.

“Okay, guys, listen. We’re here for a while. I had to sign a contract that would keep us here for about five years. We are really staying this time,” he tried to explain to them.

“Yeah, Dad, we heard that one before. But if you say that’s what is going to happen, then we just have to go on that one,” Kevin added, his expression still doubtful.

“Nick, if you like this girl, you should tell her and take a chance. She seems really sweet,” their mother suggested.

“She’s just a friend and fun to be around, at least when her friends aren’t around,” Nick replied, not sure what he really felt about Chloe.

“Keep telling yourself that,” Mark said and laughed.

Chapter Three

Two weeks later, the group ended up at Nick’s house again, to work on the project. Chloe was trying to keep a straight face as she read through the new list of requirements. Seeing that they were to become parents sent the group into an uproar of mixed emotions, with Gabbie and Dave fighting worse than they had before. Robyn and Josh were mad that they had to deal with a child now and wanted a nanny, and Nick tried his best to keep a straight face, wondering how he and Chloe would do on this part of the project.

 
The arguments brewed around them, while Nick looked at Chloe and smiled. “Wow, honey, when did this happen?” He was having fun on this project. With it, he learned more about Chloe and their friendship had grown more.

“After your golf outing last month. Remember that night we got drunk on cheap wine? And one thing led to another…” Chloe was teasing him, but it’d become a normal thing with them now.

“Oh, yeah, that.” He could only imagine what a night with her would be like if all this was real. He knew that if she was his for real, she would never have to worry about anything. He would thank God every day she was his.
Why was he feeling like this?
“Well, I make good money and if you want to stay home with the baby, you can. I mean, I’m like my dad. I think if you want to stay home and take care of the kids, you should. But if you want to work, we can work it out.”

“Why the hell can’t you be like that?” Gabbie demanded and smacked Dave’s arm.

“Because this isn’t real! Get that through your head! Of course, he’s going to say that. They get a better grade if they get along. This is the best you’re going to get,
Baby
. Like it or leave it!” Dave yelled at her now.

“On that note, I’m leaving it,” Gabbie replied and stormed out.

As everyone started packing up their stuff, Kevin and Mark came into the kitchen.

 
Chloe got a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. “Nick, aren’t you going to tell them the great news?!” she laughed while leaning on his shoulder.

“You’re running away and joining the circus?” Kevin exclaimed with a goofy face.

“Chloe wised up and is mock divorcing you?” Mark added.

“No, actually, you’re going to be mock uncles,” Nick replied. “We had this incredible night where we got drunk on cheap wine and…” He was laughing now.

 
Kevin covered his ears. “Shut up, I don’t want to hear this!” he shouted.

Josh came over to Chloe and gave her a smirking look. “So, Chloe, what are you doing Friday night?” he asked.

Nick glanced over at Chloe to see what she was thinking.

Chloe looked uneasy. “I’m volunteering at that hospital.”

“I mean after. I know you get done at six. I could pick you up at seven and we could do dinner and a movie,” Josh said, trying again, and he was very arrogant about it.

The way he stroked her cheek and touched her hair, it was too much for Nick to take. “Aren’t we going shopping for Halloween costumes that night?” Nick butted in, hoping to add to her excuse. He was nervously tapping his pencil onto the table.

She glanced over at him. “Ah, yeah, we are.”

“You can go another time,” Josh said firmly to Nick, then turned his attention back to Chloe. “Chloe, you can’t keep doing this. I’m not taking no this time.”

“Okay, fine.” She nodded, dropping her head.

The sound of the pencil Nick had been tapping on the desk was loud in the room, as it snapped in two.

With his victory, Josh came over and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you in school tomorrow. And I will pick you up around seven on Friday.” He smiled, motioning for Robyn to get her things and then left.

Nick stared at her in disbelief.
What had just happened? What did she just do?

“What?” Chloe asked, not able to look him in the eyes. She’d started to gather her books together, avoiding eye contact with him.

“You hate that guy. You’ve told me that at least a million times.” He couldn’t understand what she had been thinking.

“Hey, Nick, shut up,” Mark piped in.

“What do you want me to do? Maybe if he takes me out and has a horrible time, he’ll finally get the message.”

“Or you could have a really great time and realize you like him,” Kevin added while suggesting that the opposite could happen.

“Really? Do you have to be in here?” Nick glared at him and could not believe he had just said that.

“Look, I don’t know why you’re so upset. Be my friend and support me on this.” Chloe pleaded like she needed his understanding for some reason.

“How can I support you on this when I know the thought of him aggravates you? This is a mistake, Chlo. You know that,” Nick said to her, angry that she would want Josh over him.

“Who are you to tell me I’m making a mistake?”

“Don’t answer that,” Mark put in.

 
Nick was too far gone now in his anger to even listen to him. “I thought I was your friend who is just trying to look out for you. But if you want to go out with some guy who you can’t stand just to shut him up, then by all means, don’t let me stop you!” he yelled at her.

“Why are you so mad about this?”

Mark covered his eyes..“Again, for the love of God, don’t answer that.”

“Because unlike your other friends, I’m not going to push you to date some guy who only wants you because you can do his homework and make him look good!” Nick exclaimed as he threw the pieces of the pencil down and looked away from her. He could feel the heat in his cheeks. He was fighting a losing battle with her and himself.

“You know what? That’s my mistake to make, and if you can’t be my friend and support me on this, then why bother being my friend at all?” she said, grabbing her books and storming out.

Nick sat back down and put his head in his hands.
What the hell did I just do?
How could he let her walk out like that? Seeing his aggravation, Mark and Kevin joined him and sat on either side.

“When someone tells you to shut up and not to answer something, do you listen?” Mark asked him.

Nick just looked at him.
Had Mark told him to shut up?
All he noticed was the red he saw that the girl who was his friend was dating another guy.

“I know why you’re so upset,” Kevin suggested.

“It is pretty clear why he is,” Mark added with a knowing nod.

“You two have no clue about what you’re talking about,” Nick’s replied, his words muffled. He hated that they might be right. And that made it worse.

“Someone is a little jealous,” Mark continued.

“I’m not jealous. I just think that by saying yes to him, she’s making a big mistake. I don’t trust that guy,” Nick answered. Not sure why he didn’t, just that there was something about Josh he didn’t like.

“Why, Nick?” Kevin had to keep it going.

“It is not what you think,” he said, defending himself.