A Changed Life (20 page)

Slamming the door, I practically run to my car, but he still doesn’t follow. I expected him to run after me, apologize and tell me that we’re going to be ok, but he didn’t. My eyes are filled with layers of tears, barely managing to see the road as I drive home. I‘m alone and bone tired from my argument with Simon. I hurt him with my dishonesty, but he hurt me back with his coldness and unwillingness to listen after he promised he would. He begged me to talk to him, and when I did he flipped out and ripped my heart out in the process. I should have never kept the truth from him, but I thought I was doing the right thing, how wrong I was. I left Simon standing alone in the cabana. By hesitating to leave, I was giving him the chance to come to me. How did our night turn from being blissfully in love, to me walking out on him? Will I wake up tomorrow morning with a break-up message? The thought of losing Simon, makes me sick to my stomach.

Silently praying that my parents are asleep, I make my way up to my room. Thanking the universe for this save. I was in no shape to face anyone tonight, not when my heart was breaking into a million pieces. I have never felt more alone. My alarm goes off for the third time, I finally roll over and pick up the wretched device and toss it across the room. Groaning from my headache, my head feels like it weighs fifty pounds. Reaching for my phone, no texts from Simon… not
one
text. My red and puffy eyes sting from more tears falling.

Pulling the covers back over my head, I want to hide here for a week. I can still smell Simon’s cologne on my skin. My body is aching for Simon, while my heart breaks that he’s not here with me. I can’t believe I haven’t heard from him. Knocking on my door, I jolt up thinking it could me Simon. “Nicolette, time to get up, you’re going to be late.” Holding my head in my hands, I’m so stupid, why would Simon be here? It was just Gracie. Grabbing my backpack and phone which is now totally dead. Shit! I forgot to charge it. I plugged it in to my car charger, with the hopes that I may have a message waiting for me or a missed call while I was in the shower.

My phone came to life and I saw nothing. Not one text message of an apology from Simon, and no voice mails. Sinking further into my seat, there was no way I was going to school today. I can’t face anyone. If Simon wants to be angry with me, then he can do it without seeing me today.

I drove down to the beach. The one place I felt closest to since moving here to California. Remembering what I shared last night with Simon, and all the other intimate moments with him. I fell in love with Simon here at this beach. Now it reminds me of the mistakes that I have made, and how broken my heart was. Simon was so angry with me. He let me leave, and never once tried to stop me.
“I trusted you Nicolette. I fucking trusted you.”
His words were replaying in my mind over and over again. My mind was in a fog and I needed to clear my head. I walked down to the marina.

I was breathing in the salted air, and watching the boats sail by. Some fishermen were here working on their morning catches. I found a bench, and that’s where I stayed for most of the day. I hadn’t eaten today, and my stomach was rumbling. My head hurt from crying, and the absence of food had made it worse. It was so quiet now. All the fishermen have left, not a single person was around. I didn’t know where to go or should I just go home? Call Bailey? I didn’t have one complete thought in my head. I just sat and cried until I had no more to tears to shed.

I had turned my phone off when I arrived at the beach this morning. It had only charged for a short while. Once it was powered up, I heard ping after ping with my inbox full of messages. I received several from Alexis and Bailey, asking me where I was. I had two from Jameson, inviting me to cut class today and shop. Jameson’s message made me laugh. I only had one voice mail and my eyes lit up when I saw who it was from—Simon. I listened to his message right away. He struggled to speak through his cries.

“Nicolette, please call me when you get this message. You didn’t come to school today. You’re not at your house, where are you? I love you. Please forgive me, and please don’t hide from me. I am sick over my behavior last night. I should have never allowed you to leave. I was angry, and I just didn’t trust myself. I should have understood your reasons for not telling me about Michael. It was my anger and hatred for him that drove you away. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I regret that. Turning away from you was a mistake when my love should have made you stay. I am so sorry baby. I have been looking everywhere for you. Please call me, and tell me you’re ok. Please let me know where you are, and I will come to you.

Simon”

Voice mail again! Where are you, Nicolette?
I just let her walk out the door, and I did nothing to stop her. I was so angry with Nicolette, feeling betrayed by her lies of omission. I couldn’t see straight or think for that matter. All I wanted to do was beat the living shit out of someone, and that someone was Michael. Losing control and beating Michael, wouldn’t serve me any good. I only had one card to play, and made the decision to seek help from Michael’s father, Clayton St. Clair.

“Excuse me, young man, you can’t go in there.” Clayton’s secretary calling out to me, as I slammed my way into his office.

“What the hell is going on here?” Mr. St. Clair shouting at me as he looks up from his computer.

“I tried to stop him sir, he ran right by me.” Mr. St. Clair looked at me, and sighed. “It’s ok Priscilla, hold my calls.”

“You have five minutes, Simon, and then security will be escorting you from the building.”

“Mr. St. Clair, I’m here for one reason only, and I think you know what it is.”

“Just to be clear son, why don’t you tell me what you think I know?”

“It’s Michael. He has been harassing Nicolette Vanelle, my girlfriend, and it ends today. I’m asking you to keep you’re fucked up son away from my girlfriend or I will handle him on my own.”

Mr. St. Clair just rubbed his chin for a moment, and then stood up, and walked over to me. He looked right into my eyes. “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to son? You think you can just barge into my office.” Not blinking an eye, Michael’s father didn’t intimidate me. His arrogance alone made me want to take a swing at him, so freaking like Michael, they could be twins.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Michael away from her. You can count on that. My first stop will be to my father’s office, where I will have him draw up papers for a restraining order. Mr. St. Clair, Michael needs to stop harassing Nicolette. I am going to her father, and then to the police.”

“Simon, what crime has my son committed against Nicolette? Tokens of affection don’t warrant restraining orders. What are you afraid of Simon? Do you fear that maybe Nicolette, may like my son, and choose him instead of you?” I couldn’t believe what I was listening to from this asshole. I thought he could help, but he may be as delusional as his son is. “I’m not worried at all Mr. St. Clair, but your son should be.”

“Are you threatening me, Simon?”

“No, sir. Just delivering a promise. If Michael even thinks of going near Nicolette again, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Wasting my time with Clayton, I turned and walked out of his office. I was so worried about Nicolette. I texted her again and still no response. I had phoned my father, and explained everything in detail to him. He was obviously concerned, but his hands were tied. The police and her parents needed to be made aware of what was going on. I knew what I had to do. I then reached out to Mason Vanelle. He answered on the second ring, and was surprised that I was calling him, but curiosity got the best of him, and asked me why the call?

I needed to see him in person. He explained he was tied up for the afternoon. I told him it was important that I see him, and it involved Nicolette. With the mention of Nicolette’s name, I had his full attention. I asked him to meet me now, and I would be waiting for him at the Starbucks near his office. Ten minutes later, Mr. Vanelle walked in with concern etched out on his face. He shook my hand and had a seat.

“What’s this about, Simon? Is Nicolette, ok?” he asked.

“She’s not ok sir, and hasn’t been for a while. We argued last night after she revealed something to me, and I didn’t handle it very well. I said some things that hurt her, sending her away.”

“What happened, Simon? What could my daughter possibly do to make you so angry?”

I had tears in my eyes as I continued to explain our fight to him, of all people, my girl’s father.

“Simon, for God sakes! Are we going to dance around this all day? Tell me what the hell is going on?”

“Michael St. Clair.”

“Clayton’s son? What about him?”

“He’s been stalking her. He hasn’t stopped pursuing her, even after you confronted his father. He cornered her the night of her birthday party. He’s got it in his head that she belongs with him, and he has not stopped trying to convince her. She was afraid to tell you because of your working relationship with his father and my history with Michael. Sir, I even talked to his father today, and the guy doesn’t care. He accused me of being jealous of Michael, and of course I am, but that’s because she’s my girl. I don’t want any guy looking at her, but it’s different with St. Clair, he’s dangerous. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants, and that’s Nicolette. Sir, you have to do something, and it has to be done today!” I slammed my hand down on the table spilling my coffee, and I didn’t care about the scene I was making. I was angry again.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Mason sat there quiet for a minute. “I didn’t see Nicolette last night, nor this morning. We left before she woke up. Her mother and I have been so busy with our work, and too oblivious to see what has been happening in our daughter’s life. I promise you son, I will take care of this today. I just need to find my daughter first. Looking down at his watch, she should be home from school by now.”

“Mr. Vanelle, Nicolette never showed up for school today. No one has heard from her, and I have no clue on where she is.”

“I’m going where?” I say to my father.

“You heard me, son. You are going out of town for a while until things blow over with the Vanelles.”

“Stop packing my things and get the hell out of my room.” Shouting at their housekeeper, as she scurries out of his room like a frightened mouse. Stepping in front of his father. “Why do I have to leave?”

“You just couldn’t stay away from that girl, Michael. This is why you are leaving. You will be on a plane within the hour. I don’t want to hear another word about it!”

“The hell I am, and I’m not going anywhere, and certainly not leaving Nicolette.”

“Do you hear yourself son? She is not yours, she never was, nor will ever be. You have crossed the line, and if you don’t separate yourself from your delusions, this is going to break you.”

Stay away from my girlfriend, Michael. I am not yours Michael; I love Simon, and only Simon. She is not yours, she never was. This is going to break you, break you, and break you.
“Shut up! Shut up! You don’t know anything.”

“Michael, what’s gotten into you?” With anger raging through me, I lunged at my surprised father, and hit him on the side of his head; knocking him unconscious. I have never felt so much anger. My hands were shaking when I struggled to feel for my father’s pulse. He was breathing, but just knocked out. I knelt down and whispered into his ear.