A Changed Life (36 page)

My tears were just flowing down my cheeks, no stopping them now, as I continued to listen to the girls talk about me. Blond girl’s friend did defend me which I was surprised by. “Brittany, you do know the crime Michael is being charged with is pretty serious? What girl would want to put herself through that humiliation to fabricate a bogus story?”

“You need to wake up, Kara. Nicolette Vanelle is a desperate and attention seeking whore. How she ever caught the attention of Simon Paulson is beyond me”.
Oh my god, oh my god. They actually know my name and believe that I am lying about being raped by Michael. I covered my mouth to silence my cries.

“You want to repeat that bitch,” shouted Alexis at the blond cheerleader. I heard the door crash open and my friend defend me.

“What the hell is your problem Alexis?”

“I’ll tell you what my sister’s problem is, Bailey shouted at Brittany. You have a big mouth and you don’t know what the hell you are talking about.”

“The girl you are trashing is our best friend and if we ever hear you say her name again, I will personally rip out every hair extension that is glued to your fucking head.” Alexis now pushing Brittany up against the wall.

“Get your hands off of me, Alexis. I’ll report you to Principal Davies for assault.”

“Do it bitch, and I promise you that you will never be able to cheer again.”

“Oh why is that, Bailey?”

“You won’t be able to cheer again and speak for that matter, because I will rip out your disrespectful tongue.”

“Ok that’s enough, please let’s all calm down. Kara pleaded with the girls to stop. I’m sorry Alexis and you too Bailey. Brittany doesn’t know when to shut her mouth. I don’t personally know your friend, but I hope she’ll be ok. I believe your friend and I will pray for her.”

“Kara, you really are dumb.” Brittany mocked her friend.

“No Brittany, you are and I feel sorry for you because you are weak and pathetic.” Kara brushed by her friend and walked out of the bathroom. Brittany picked her gym bag up and shot dirty looks to my friends. I couldn’t hold back the vomit that was churning in my stomach any longer, and got violently sick after she walked out.

I heard Bailey knock on the door asking me if I was ok, not knowing it was me behind the door. I slowly unlocked it to face my friends. Alexis was in tears after seeing it was me behind the door. I went to the sink and washed my face. “Oh my god Nicolette, we didn’t know you were even in here.” Bailey said to me. I thanked my friends for defending me. They both hugged me, and vowed they wouldn’t let anyone hurt me. I wanted to believe my friends, but I knew eventually everyone would know about me.

Bailey texted Simon telling him what happened, and I walked out the door to see him leaning up against the wall. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and said, “Let’s get out of here.”

I replied. “You read my mind.”

I didn’t tell Simon that my stomach was hurting me. Not only from throwing up, but it felt like a sharp pain was shooting down my side. I was hoping it would subside after taking some ibuprofen.

After saying goodbye to the girls, Simon took me to the juice bar to get some lunch. While he went to place our order, Seth had seen me and approached our table. I couldn’t take much more today, and I didn’t want Simon to get into it with him.

“Hey Nicolette, how are you doing?”

“Hi Seth, I’m doing better, thank you for asking.”

“Can I join you for a minute?” He asked me. I stopped him.

“Please don’t, Seth. I have nothing to say, and I don’t want to cause a scene here in the restaurant.” He didn’t sit down. Seth just told me how sorry he was that Michael hurt me the way he did. He had wished he could have helped his friend. Seth looked extremely distraught in the way he mentioned Michael.

Before I could even say anything to Seth, Simon was back and in Seth’s face. Simon glared at Seth asking him what he wanted. I interrupted the two, and told Simon that Seth was just apologizing to me. Simon glared back at Seth with disgust.

“We don’t have anything to say to you, or your frat buddies, so stay the hell away from us.” Seth just ran one hand over the back of his neck, and told Simon that he gets why he’s upset, but not all of his frat brothers including him were like Michael. Seth turned to me, and one more time told me how sorry he was, and if he was needed to testify in court for me, he would do it.

I remained quiet as Seth turned to leave the restaurant. Simon sat down with me, and asked me to look at him. I was trembling by now, trying not to break down again. “Nicolette, please look at me”. I did as he asked. “I need you to breathe baby, and take calm breathes. It’s going to be okay, Nicolette.” Pulling me into his chest, I relaxed my cheek against him. I felt instantly better and breathing in his beautiful scent. We held each other’s hands throughout lunch, never separating our linked hands.

Simon carried my bag as we walked hand in hand through my door. Uncle Jack was on the phone, and gestured to me that he would be a minute. We brought my things upstairs to my room, and then walked back down to look for mom and dad. Uncle Jack told me that my parents were not home, and they had some final things to wrap up on their work project with Paramount. My parents wanted to sever all ties to Clayton St. Clair. They enjoyed working with everyone from Paramount and Sony, but as long as he was connected to those companies, they would not be.

The song that mom wrote for John was beautiful. My parents worked extremely hard to achieve their success, and I was proud of them. They are an inspiring couple. It makes me grateful for Simon to be in my life, and appreciate the love he shows me every day.

Uncle Jack gave me a hug, and called me Nickel. He was terribly sorry for his role in this entire cluster of drama we have been dealing with. Uncle Jack always wanted to be honest with me and tell me the truth. I told him once again I wasn’t angry with him.

I just can’t be pushed anymore to do what I’m not ready for. After my tirade yesterday, he said he and my parents finally get it, and will not pressure me into anything anymore.

“You scared me, Nicolette, when we discovered you ran away.” said Uncle Jack.

“I’m sorry Uncle Jack for leaving, and will not run away again. It seems I have been making that same promise to a lot of people lately.” I looked over at Simon as he winked at me knowing what I meant.

After my talk with Uncle Jack, my parents arrived home shortly after. They both hugged me with death grips around my body. Mom was crying and yelling at me at the same time for driving her crazy, and leaving the way I did. My father was more sympathetic as usual.

He said he was sorry over and over again until I finally stopped them. “Enough with the apologies…you are my parents, and I love you. I promise never to run away again, now can we eat? I’m starving.” Everyone laughed, and we all went into the dining room, enjoying the amazing smells coming from the stove. Gracie was cooking up a storm. I felt a twinge of pain again down my lower abdomen, and this time I asked my mom if she can come up to my room.

Simon look worried as I climbed the stairs to my bedroom with my mom, but he stayed with dad and Uncle Jack. Mom asked me, “What’s wrong honey, are you sick?” I told my mom, that I have been experiencing a weird pain all day down my lower abdomen, and that it got worse after I vomited. She asked me a million questions, and then checked my forehead for a fever, but I didn’t have one. I just said the pain comes and goes. “Nicolette, sometimes when you are pregnant for the first time, a woman’s body can go through all kinds of changes. You feel many pulls and stretches.” It sounded reasonable enough to me. I wasn’t bleeding and the pain had subsided.

“Nicolette, if the pain returns and you feel sick, you must promise to tell me at once.” Playfully waving her finger at me.

“I will mom, I promise. You made me feel better, thanks for the help.”

“No need to thank me honey, this is my job as your mom. I’m surprised you are speaking to me at all after how we behaved.” Mom hugged me and we made our way downstairs. Simon was waiting with bated breath for me to return. As soon as he saw me, he came over to me, asking me if I was sick again. I just gave him a reassuring hug, and told him not to worry. I could feel the tension leave his body once he knew I was ok.

Dinner was ready. Gracie called all of us to the table, and I asked if I could say grace. My family and Simon all held hands. I thanked all of them for being constants in my life, and for getting me through these past couple of months. I asked for their continued patience, and thanked them for their love that each of them showed me every day. Dinner was incredible as usual, and Gracie out did herself. I walked Simon out while Sam waited for him in our driveway.

“I want you to climb into your bed, snuggle under your covers, and get some real sleep.” Simon kissed my nose, and waited for my answer. I promised him no more running, and I would fall asleep to all the new music he had put on my I pod.

He kissed me so gently on my lips that I almost didn’t feel it. Taking him by surprise, I kissed him hard, and sucked at his tongue. I knew this would drive him crazy, but I didn’t care. He once had asked me to do that to him, but I had never done that before. He kind of showed me how, and then I never really did it again until tonight. Simon’s eyes lit up when he realized how I was kissing him.
Yes!
I needed to show him how much I loved and wanted him. Simon let out a soft moan from his throat, telling me he knew. He waived his fingers at me and said I don’t play fair. I just giggled, and we hugged each other until Sam leaned down on the horn. Simon put his finger up to him, and hugged and kissed me some more until I insisted he leave so I could catch up on my sleep. Before he ran to Sam’s waiting car, he called out to me.

“Nicolette, can you do me a favor tonight?” I smiled and waited for his question. I would do anything for Simon. “Dream of me?” I crossed my arms over my chest, and gave him the sexiest grin. He blew me a kiss, and I caught it. I watched them drive away, and I couldn’t help myself from day dreaming that one day I’m going to marry Simon. Tonight, I would dream of only him, and the future he has promised me. I draw my strength from his love, and link my soul around his promises of a happy life for us.

I was about to go upstairs when Uncle Jack asked me to sit with him and Aunt Sara for a few minutes. Uncle Jack told me that he was going home to Chicago tonight. I was surprised by his news, and I had thought they were planning on staying longer.

He took my face into his large strong hands, and said. “I love you with all that I am. I will never regret helping my brother become your father, and you will always hold a special place in my heart Nickel.”

We both had tears in our eyes as we said goodbye. Uncle Jack promised to always watch over me. I didn’t know how he could do that living in Chicago, but didn’t question him about it. I had many people out here supporting me. “I wish we could have visited you on happier terms.” Hugging Aunt Sara, I told her any visit from her was welcomed.

“Nicolette, you will always have us in your corner. We love you like our own. Chicago will be waiting for you, if you ever decide to come back to us.” Aunt Sara’s words saddened me. How could I tell my aunt that leaving California now would never be an option, especially with Simon in my life? I just hugged her back and didn’t voice what I was thinking.

I hated goodbyes with Uncle Jack. He scooped me up into his arms one more time, and then I ran upstairs. He knew I was hurting, but gave me the space I needed. Leaving Chicago the first time was difficult enough; it tore my heart out when we drove away, and having to watch Uncle Jack wave us away.

“Are you ready to go?” My father asked his brother Jack, eyeing the suitcases by the door. “I’m all set, but we need to discuss a few things before I leave.”

“We can talk privately in my office.”

“Massimo, I need you to understand a few things before I leave.” Uncle Jack explained. “Please call me, Mason. We have discussed this Jack; I am not that person anymore.”

“Massimo, you have forgotten many things about our past, and about our family. You can create all the fake personas you want, but it will never replace who you truly are.”

“Jack, we have been over this a thousand times already. Mama and Papa changed our names to give us a new start. They didn’t want the stigma of their past to cling to their future, which was me and you, their sons. They worked so hard when they arrived from Italy, countless hours at work leaving us alone so they could give us a better life. Jack, you are my older brother, and you have always taken care of me. You gave me the most precious gift in the world, our Nicolette, and I will always be grateful to you. All I’m asking you is to let me continue to take care of my daughter. I make this promise to you with all the breath in my body that I will not let her be hurt again.”

Jack rubbed his face before answering my father, and then spoke again. “Massimo, when I first heard about Nicolette being raped by that animal, I snapped and lost all logical thinking. I wanted that fucker dead, and all it would have taken would be one phone call, and he would have been taken care of. As much as I was fueled by anger, I knew if I had followed through with my threat, it would have destroyed all of our lives. Mama and papa risked everything by bringing us to America. All their sacrifices would have been for nothing. I have a good life in Chicago, as do you here in California.