. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ CHAPTER SIX
🪽 NICOLE NASH

                        One of my earphones is plunged out of my ear by non other than Annika. I glare at her momentarily, but her smile does not go away, forcing me to stop glaring. The girl was growing on me what can I say, she was a sweetheart. It was impossible to be mad, when she reminded me so much of my sisters.

"What?" I ask. My tone shows the exact lack of enthusiasm I feel. In fact I feel as if I was hit by a bus, but then again why the hell did I thought it would be a good idea to drink so much yesterday. Me and my goddamn insecurities that lead me to spiral.

The memories I have from last night, are extremely blurry. I remember seeing Gareth, and being a bitch to him when he refused to give me answers. After that, I started drinking as if my life depended solely on that, which was anything but a good idea. The last thing I need is to be getting black out drunk and making mistakes, like what happened right before the break. I don't need that kind of attention or arguments, right now.

When I woke up today, Ivory was there in my bedroom and according to her, she had brought me home before I could do something stupid. Well, more stupid than getting black out drunk. She insured me that she had put me to sleep before she fell asleep herself, but I couldn't help but feel like something was missing within my very blurry memories.

"Can you believe it?" Annika asked, looking from me to Glyndon, who looked up from her sketch to the girl sat back, next to her. First she shows her phone to Glyn, before throwing it at me.

Creighton King is written on Instagram search, but of the few accounts present, none of them belong to my childhood friend.

"He really has no social media. Like none. It's the same for all other platforms." Annika says. I throw her phone back at her.

The three of us are sat on the floor — well I'm sat on my jacket, near the pretty fountain that has two sculpted angels pouring water into it. The two of them sit across from me. I joined them randomly, after finding them here. Annika had said they were hoping to soak in the sun, but with amount of clouds in the sky, I doubted that their plan would result. Nonetheless I joined them, having nothing to do at this very moment.

I push the pink container that my mom had bought for Ava, a few years ago but I had stolen it when I first moved to the Brighton Islands for University, towards Glyndon. It's filled with cookies, that I baked yesterday before Remington insisted that I went to the fight.

"He's not big on those." Glyndon affirms, as she grabbed a cookie, giving me a small smile. I give her a quick wink, just happy that she's eating them at all. Baking was my comfort thing, and whenever I got to share the things I did with my friends, it warmed my heart.

"Is he a caveman? I'm ready to believe that he time-traveled from the past over the fact that he has no social media."

"Honestly? He might as well be." Glyndon replies as I shake my head slightly.

"What else can you tell me about him?" Annika questions. I frown at that.

"Why are you asking?" Glyndon and I ask at the same time. We share a small look, before focusing back on Annika.

"Don't give me that. I just think he's awfully Ice Age in mentality and it's my job to bring him to modern times." Annika says and I almost laugh.

"Remi's doing that just fine. He's the extrovert who adopted him, so he's like Creigh's surrogate father." Glyndon says.

"Well, then he's too hopeless and needs two extroverts adopting him. Why is he so...silent? No matter how many questions I asked him, he flat out ignored me."

"He's not really talkative. You see him but don't hear him. Like Nicole here, only she talks a bit more." Glyndon says. Annika looks at me, as if she's trying to read my mind, I stare right back at her, and she stops with a light shake of her head.

"Aw, that's just sad." Annika says, and I roll my eyes.

"Being quiet isn't sad, Anni. Some of us just...prefer silence." Glyndon argued.

"Are you saying I'm being too loud?" Annika questions.

"It's not that Anni. You can be loud, a lot of people are loud, but there's also many people that just don't like talking that much. Everyone is just...different." I interfere.

Annika loudness didn't bothered me, in fact I didn't mind being around loud people, all my life I had been surrounded by people like that. And it was okay. It was more than okay. Being around people that talked a lot, meant that I could observe everything and everyone around me in disguise. All I had to do was listen, give a few nods and short answers while still being able to pay attention to something completely different. It was a art that I had been perfecting over the years.

Glyndon nodded. "No. Well, a little." She said with a small sigh. "But we're used to it from Ava, so you can talk all you want."

"Wow. I'm honored. I can't believe I'm being shamed for being energetic." Annika says.

"Well you were just shaming Cray Cray for being quiet." Glyndon reminded to which I agreed with a nod.

"Aww, you guys call him Cray Cray? That's so cute for someone so hot." Annika says in thought.

"You think my cousin is hot?" Glyndon asks as the same time I ask "Are you hinting that you are into Cray Cray, Anni?"

"Well, of course he is. Are you blind?" She asks Glyndon before looking at me giving me a shrug.

"You're so straightforward. Go for it, girl." Glyndon says.

Annika sighs, eating a bit more of her salad. "I can only admire from afar. Unless I want the person I admire to be killed by my brother and father. Besides, my marriage is probably already decided. So I'm just living life for as long as I can." She explains. I can't help but feel sad for her. No wonder Ivory, was so happy for her making friends who didn't mind her background.

"I'm so sorry Anni." Glyndon says.

"That sucks! I'm sorry Annika." I say.

She throws her hand up dismissing the subject. "I'll think about that when the time comes. Now, I'll just be a normal college student." She says.

"You should probably stay away from Creigh, though. He is really as you saw yesterday. There's no hidden door or secret path." Glyndon says.

Apparently I missed a lot last night, with my stupid drinking. Turns out Creigh went all caveman when Annika went anywhere near his food. Now, if I were to blame someone I would blame everyone else for not advising her previously about his ways.

"Or that's what you think. There's always something to discover." Annika responds.

"What if you're disappointed by what you discover? What if it's way different from what bargained for?" Glyndon asks to which I frown. I have no idea why she could be possibly asking that, but those words hit me quite hard.

"That's just something that happens." I say and both of them turn to look at me. "Getting disappointed, I mean. Sometimes if you have high expectations for the wrong people, you can get disappointed." I admit.

Glyndon stares at me for a little. "Is that what happened with Lan—" she begins asking but I cut her off right away.

"No." I shut that down. The last thing I need is to talk about Landon with the last person I would ever talk about him with, Glyndon.

An uncomfortable silent falls between us. I think we all notice it, because Annika backs the conversation to Glyndon's initial question. "I think that's what makes it ever more fun." Annika says.

Glyndon shrugs, looking back to Annika. "Suit yourself."

"Can you invite them over later? Or wait, I can ask Remi." Annika says as she begins typing into her phone. "You're obviously invited too, Nicole!" She says. I nod, not that she sees as she's still typing. Her expression falls, and she stops typing. "I forgot I have to stay with Jer tonight." She explains. I frown at that information. This didn't sound like a good old siblings sleepover, in fact Annika didn't seem happy about it.

"Jeremy willingly invited you over? I thought he was actively keeping you away from his club." Glyndon asks. I reach for my pink container, grabbing a cookie, as I listen with a different attention to the conversation now that clubs were mentioned.

"He is, but this is different. He needs to keep an eye on me within the mansion they live in because Papa's guards have full access there." Annika says.

"What's going to happen tonight?" Glyndon asks. I have a small idea of what it might be. Last semester Gareth insisted I slept over when they did a mock-up for the Heathens initiation. I refused of course, and if I'm not wrong, I had gone to some party with Remi and the girls. We had a whole argument over it, but eventually made peace with it.

Annika looks around before she talks. "The Heathens' initiation ceremony. It happens, like twice a year. They did a mockup at the end of the previous semester and the attendance was huge. It's brutal as hell, let me tell you."

"How brutal are we talking about?" Glyndon asks. I should probably stop this conversation, before it goes somewhere I won't like, but at the same time I can't help but want to know what Annika could possibly know that I didn't.

"Whatever you can't imagine. Just leave your life and dignity at the door if you want to get into this. You also need to receive the invitation text, or you can forget it." Annika explains.

"So they choose their potential members?"

"Of course they do. Otherwise, they'd be waiting their time with weaklings. It's why most participants are the toughest ones from The King's U. I heard they're sending a few invitations to REU students this year, but that's probably so the Heathens can use them as spies. Not sure." Annika says.

There it is, the information that I couldn't possibly ever know and Annika would. And the reason why I had been right to let the conversation keep going, instead of changing subjects.

Discreetly I grab my phone, who has been laying on the floor in front of me. I normally wouldn't do what I'm about do, but it would be stupid not to. I open my messages and text him.

NICA. We need to talk.

He responds right away.

KING. Do we now, Nicole?

NICA. We do. Just got some info that I'm sure you would love to know.

KING. Doubt it.

NICA. You know better than
to doubt me, King.

KING. I like you better when you're meaner, of course I need to doubt you to get you there.

NICA. Play nice!

KING. I'm playing nice. You would know if I wasn't.
KING. What is it, that you have for me?

NICA. More important, how do you plan on paying me for it?

KING. Ever the straightforward.
KING. We can talk about it after, give me the info and I'll see what's fit as payment.

NICA. I don't think so. You'll just keep the info and give me nothing. I know you.

KING. What do you want?

NICA. I want my necklace.

KING. We've talk about this, I don't have it.

NICA. We both know you do. I want it back! It's been years...

KING. Though luck, pick something else.

NICA. I hate you.

KING. Tell me something new.

NICA. Whatever. The Heathens are planning on recruiting REU students for their initiation. Which if you don't know, it's TONIGHT! Something about possibly wanting spies or whatever.
NICA. I'll come for your debt when I need something.

He likes the second message.

KING. And how would you know this. Which one of your boyfriends told you that? Are they that stupid, or is it a trap?

NICA. Neither! You know I have my ways to find stuff.

KING. So you hacked them?

NICA. None of your business, just be thankful I gave you the information at all.

KING. Whatever.
KING. Think there's any chance they send you one?

NICA. Doubt it. What are you planning?

KING. None of your business.
KING. Let me know if by any chance they send you one.

NICA. And how would that be any of your business?

KING. Don't bother picking a fight, Nicole, just let me know if it happens.

NICA. Whatever. It won't happen.

KING. Just do it, if it does happen.

NICA. Fine, but then you'll have to tell me whatever it is that you're planning.

KING. We'll see.
KING. Do you have any idea of who they would invite from REU?

NICA. Beats me.

KING. Find a way and I'll own you two.

NICA. I'll see what I can do.

I put my phone down and pay attention to the conversation again. I clearly lost something when I was too busy texting, because Glyndon looks like a ghost all of sudden. "W-what did you just say?" She asks.

"Not sure what happened, but I heard he almost got into the club, but didn't, and the next day, he drove off a cliff. They ruled it as a suicide, but you never know with these things. Like it's easy to disguise death as anything when you have the right resources. Maybe they killed him, maybe they played with his brakes, or maybe it was just suicide. You can't dismiss any option... Oh my god, why are you crying?"

Fuck I shouldn't of let this conversation play out. But then again I didn't thought Annika would start blabbing about that kid who killed himself. "Are you okay? Did you actually know him?" Annika questions Glyndon. I move forward, to somewhat comfort Glyndon or at least attempt to. I softly squeeze her arm, and even hand her some tissues that I had grabbed from my bag the moment Annika realised she was crying.

Glyndon nods slowly to Annika, as she takes the tissues from me. "He was my friend." She admits.

Annika looks in horror. The poor girl had no idea of what she was talking, let alone who she was saying it too. Which reminded me how I had to get some information from Killian eventually before anything that I didn't want, happens.

"I'm so sorry, Glyn." Annika says.

"You don't have to be." Glyndon says.

I notice someone approaching us. Killian. What the actual fuck? What could he possibly be doing here? He stops behind the girls and smirks at me. I roll my eyes, and move back to where I was sitting on top of my jacket, before.

"What are you doing here?" Glyndon asks when she looks up to meet eyes with him. I frown at that. Since when do they know each other?

"It almost sounds as if you don't want me here." He replies. No really what the fuck?
This doesn't sound like a first meeting kind of conversation. Where the fuck could Killian and Glyndon even fucking meet? Was this about the dammed kid? God if so this guy, was giving me some real trouble from six feet deep down.

"Wow, am I that obvious?" Glyndon replied instantly. I can't help be a little proud of the way she's talking to him. But I still don't like the fact that they know each other.

"She's not the only one." I say. Killian looks momentarily at me, but his eyes return to Glyndon. What the fuck?

"That's not very nice, Nikki. I thought we were friends." He tells me.

"Not my name, Killian." I say. "And maybe when hell freezes over when can talk about that friendship." I add.

"Time to go princess." He says focusing on Annika. She looks like a statue. "I have classes this afternoon." She tells him.

"That you won't attend."

"Ugh." Annika glared at him. "And why did you come to fetch me?" She asks.

"Volunteered." He says as his attention returns to Glyndon. No, really what the fuck is happening here? "I can let you stay here for a bit more if you invite me to your little picnic."

"You can stay—" Annika doesn't get to finish her sentence before Killian sits in between them. Weirdo. He attempts to reach for my cookie container but I slap his hand away. He glares at me and I glare right back.

What is your real play here, Killian?

There's clearly something that I am missing, and I can't help but wish I knew what it was.
Glyndon and Killian aren't supposed to know each other. Landon always keeps his siblings away from his organised chaos. Not to mention how Killian being here all the sudden looking like that towards Glyndon, when she's the sister of the leader of a rival club, makes absolute no sense.

I need to figure out what the hell is going on before things get progressively worst. And I definitely need to know what's going on before Landon finds out.

My phone begins to ring, and I almost ignore it. Right now I shouldn't be accepting calls. No, I need to figure out this whole Killian and Glyndon thing, but when I look down at my phone and see the contact, I have no choice but to take the call.

I grab my phone and get up. I accept my mother's call, adjusting my skirt as I step a few meters away from the small picnic behind me.

"Mama? Is everything okay?" I ask. There's a certain edge to my tone. I talk to my parents every night, sometimes Ava joins and we do a big family video call. Other times we just talk over the phone, but it's always a night. Mom sends good mornings messages to which I respond, but that's about all conversations we have during the day.

"Everything is fine, honey. I was just a little concerned. Last night we didn't talk, and your sister was talking about you not answering her texts." Mom explains.

Fuck. Yesterday between the baking, getting dressed and going to the fight club I completely forgot to call my parents. Fuck, how could I be so fucking stupid! And Ari the little liar had to make mom worry even more. I replied to her texts today, when I woke up, but she had been ignoring me for not sending her the selfie of Remi that I promised. It seems we all know how to hold a grudge.

"Is everything okay, with you, dear?" Mom asks. I nod, not that she can see. It's almost like an automatic reflex, hinting that everything is okay wether it is or not. I sigh. "I'm so sorry Mama, I did not meant to worry you. I was baking some cookies and afterwards was chatting with Remi and Creigh, it totally went over my head. I'm sorry." I lie.

I hate lying to her but there are things that she can't know. Like the fact Creigh was fighting someone. It would get to his mother, because even if mom didn't tell Aunt Elsa, she would tell dad, who without doubt would use it against Uncle Aiden, because they enjoy picking fights with each other all the time. And well, Creigh would for sure kill me if his mother found out.

So I lie and Creighton and Remington are my alibi, because we're already used to do it for each other.

Notes.

I'm not gonna lie, kinda cut this chapter where it ended cause I couldn't be bothered to be writing about Killian and Glyndon.

✴︎ And of course as Landon had said, my girl Nicole has absolute no memory from their little chat. Oh Nica!

✴︎ On a completely different note, I just finished watching Xo, Kitty so if anyone knows any good fics, please let me know!

✴︎ Don't really have anything to else to say, so just hope you enjoy this chapter. As peer usual it was proof read but I can always miss something, so forgive me!