NICK'S P.O.V.

Click.

That's the sound your heart makes when it feels like its finally in the right place after a really long time. After finally confessing to Alessia how I felt, and finding out she liked me too, I was, in lack of any other words, ecstatic.

After a long time of fighting it, we finally confessed our feelings for each other. I guess its true what they say that no matter how hard you try to hide away from some things, they always find a way back to you.

But of course, before anything could further happen between us, I'd have to tie up some loose ends. Loose ends being Makayla.

To be fair shes was the only loose end. To finally break up whatever I had with her that I probably should have pulled the plug on since the very beginning. Frankly, we never got emotionally attached and I was dead sure she wouldn't even be affected by the fact that I was breaking up with her.

Or... that was what I thought till I drew her aside from her minions to have "the talk".

"Makayla, I think we need to talk."

"Sure, Babe. What about?" She asked, pressing herself to me and locking her hands behind my neck.

This was going to be awkward.

"Us." I said, not so carefully removing her hands and placing them back down. "We need to talk about us, Makalya. I don't think this is working for us anymore. This whole dating thing. I'm sorry but I'm going to have to break up with you. We're just not compatible and its really no ones fault but I really am sorry, if it helps."

She looked just as I thought she would, indifferent.

But then, there it was, a tear.

Was she crying?

Oh, fuck she was crying.

"I'm sorry, Makayla. We can still be friends though." Even I knew that was a lie. We could never be friends for as long as she was out for Alessia. She would have to deal with me.

"Okay, Nick. Thanks for being honest with me." She wrapped her hands around me. I allowed it for three seconds. Just three seconds and then, I detached myself from her and bid her goodbye.

Waving her off, I made my way to class to find the only girl I wanted in my company at that moment. Who as soon as I stepped into class, for some reason was ignoring the shit outta me. Why? Don't know but I sure as hell was going to find out.

ALESSIA'S P.O.V.

Lies. Fucking lies.

'I like you' he said. I almost outwardly hissed at how stupid I could have actually been. That he had actually been honest with me?

Bloody hell. If that were the case, He'd be anywhere else right now but in the halls with Makayla all over him. Somehow, a part of me doubted that but lacking the mental strength to ponder on it any further, i quietly stalked to class and took a seat only for him arrive just a few minutes later. His eyes landed on me and mine, anywhere else but his. I willed myself to pay attention to the classes for the day which ran by quite quickly.

Just like that, school was over for the day and I attempted to bolt for the door as soon as the crowd of my classmates had cleared. Attempted, being the operative word but of course, he had to stop me.

Nick had a firm grip on my arm that forced me to turn back to him. Of couse, I could always shrug his arm off and walk away but what kept me still was the look in his icy blue eyes.

"Why are you ignoring me?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." I know this wasn't the mature way to go but mature was something I didn't want to be. If I wanted to be bitchy about something, I'd be bitchy.

He let go of my arm and placed both his hands on my waist and  brought me closer to him.

"I'm asking one last time. Why are you ignoring me?"

Usually, I didn't like being commanded but having a guy be dominating not in a freaky way but in the sexy, panty dropping way, even as stubborn as I was, I had to succumb.

"Why don't you go be with your girlfriend?"

He smiled. A small smile that still did something to make my heart flutter.

I hate you and your stupid smiles that mess with my head.

"Well, if you had stayed just a minute more from where you were spying on me, you'd have known that she isn't my girlfriend anymore."

Wait... What?

"You what?"

"I broke up with her. You were right. It's stupid of me to date someone I don't have feelings for or because that's what everyone expects of me..."

Now, I didn't know how to feel. He broke up with Makayla and he might not say it but I know that it was partially, if not fully because of whatever was budding between us. I didn't exactly feel bad that he broke up with her because frankly it should have happened a long time ago. I didn't really feel anything. 

Still unsure of what to say or what I felt about this whole thing, I released myself from his hold.

"I'll see you later, Nick"

NICK'S P.O.V. 

"Alessia, wait."

I held her back when she tried to get away from me. 

"It wasn't because of you. It was a long time coming and I don't want you to feel like you ruined something. Its because of you that something beautiful could begin. Please don't forget that." I held her closer and placed a kiss on her cheek.

I  wasn't exactly expecting her to be happy that I broke up with Makayla because of her. Alessia isn't like that. I hoped she'd come around. I would leave her be but still let her know that I was thinking  about her while she ignored me.

She didn't look me in the eyes even after what I said. 

I sighed, defeated and walked along with her to the parking lot to meet her sister Alisha and her group of friends. I knew  convincing her would take a lot more than just a few words but first, I'd give her time to think about what she really wanted.

After they all rode off, I walked back into the school. It was time for football practice. Football was one of the most important things in my life. There was just something about the adrenaline you got when on the field. The team spirit. Taking the victories and losses together as a team. The crowd's cheers. The passion, the plays, everything and being the next captain of the Winston High Wolves, really put a lot of pressure on a guy.

Reaching the locker room, I quickly changed into my practice gear. a

"Hope, get in formation." Zachary, the current team captain, a senior yelled as I got on the field and ran laps with the rest of the team.

*****

"Alright, hit the showers, team." Coach said but as I ran past him, muscles burning and me, drenched in fresh sweat.

"Its gonna be a long season and we need you to give your best, son. You're the best shot we've got at bringing home the gold." Coach Michaels said patting my shoulder and I sighed.

"Sure thing, Coach."

ALESSIA'S P.O.V

"I still don't understand what the problem is. You like Nick, Nick likes you and now he single now, which was like the major obstacle to your being together. The part where you're supposed to be  moping is still a mystery to me." Zarha said, chewing on a piece of toast while sitting cross legged on my bed. My sister Alisha and Anne also sprawled on my bed, munching off the tray of snacks on the bed.

The four of them looked at me like I was going to have some kind of meltdown, which I was.

"Alessia, I think what Zarha is trying to say is that you should try to tell us why the fact that he broke up with his girlfriend is a problem for you and how it makes you feel, okay?" Alisha said, while sitting up to rest in the headboard while Zarha shot her a scowl.

"Well for starters, I know he said that it wasn't because of me but some part of me feels it is. I knew this was coming and I should have stayed away from him before all these feelings became more than what they were. I just feel guilty. I mean sure, I hate Makayla's guts but her relationship ended because of me."

I tried my best to explain to them while pacing back and forth in my room.

"Hold up, He told you it wasnt your fault. You're not responsible for his actions, baby girl. He really likes you and if i were you, I'd ride with that."

"I guess you're right but if we don't work, I just don't want it to end up being my fault."

One of my biggest fears in life was the fact that things could fall apart so quickly, unexpectedly and I would have no control over them when they did. An even bigger fear, that when they did, I would be blamed for everything.

The girls were still talking over my ordeal while I saw the snack tray empty and took that as an excuse. Grabbing the tray, I left the room but not before I caught Alisha's eye. She offered to go with me and I smiled at her.

She always knew.

Eventually, we settled on making nutella sandwiches and stacking them up on the tray.

"Nick cares about you. A lot. You're not responsible for his actions but he looks like the kinda guy that knows how to respect a woman, girlfriend or not and I'm sure he broke up with her in a respectful way.

You've only known him a while but I can tell that he makes you really happy. I'm not telling you what to do but because I'm your older sister and I love you, I'm obliged to tell you to not pass up a chance at happiness because of something that probably should never have been." She paused from making the sandwiches and so did I.

She gave me a small smile and pulled me into her side, resting her head on mine. I smiled.

Sometimes, this was all a person needed to be reminded of, that they weren't alone and others, that some things were worth the risk.

I closed my eyes and sighed, hoping that Nick was worth the risk. Hoping that I wouldn't break down my walls only for him to make me remember why they were so high in the first place.

He was, I thought alnd something inside me clicked.