Standing in front of the full length mirror in my room, I studied my reflection. These past few weeks haven't been easy. For any of us. What was supposed to be an amazing New Year's Eve date night ended up with Nathan being arrested for assault.

Because of me.

Well, not directly because of me, I guess. But it still felt like it was my fault. What Brian did the night of the masquerade party was unforgivable. The things he had planned to do to me if he succeeded in spiking my drink with GHB still plagued me. Of course, Nathan wouldn't tell me all the details, but it wasn't hard to figure out myself.

God, Nathan. Seeing him sitting on the floor of that interrogation room, clothes covered in blood and his spirit broken. I never wanted to see him in a situation like that again. I never wanted to see him in pain again.

I was so scared that night I snuck in to see him. Desperate to see he was uninjured myself. When Mike's brother, Drew, told me they were going to arrest and process Nathan, I lost it. Drew had to take me to an empty room before returning me back to the lobby. It took a while before he could calm me down. I was so afraid that those few minutes I saw Nathan, blood staining his shirt and hands and tears streaming down his face, would be the last time for awhile.

Thankfully he was able to get bailed out by his parents the next afternoon. He called me immediately from his mom's phone to let me know. I barely had time to grab my keys to go see him before he made me promise not to come down there. He said he wanted me to wait at home for him, that he was going to go to his place to shower and change then come to see me.

Waiting that hour felt like an eternity.

I was pacing in my room when I heard the faint tap at my window. Spinning around, I raced over to him, pushing the window up before stepping back so he could climb through. 

Once he was in my bedroom, there was a brief moment were we just stood there staring at each other. Then I threw myself at him and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Oh, God, Nathan. I was so scared."

His arms were tight around my body, holding me close. "I know, baby. Me too. I'm sorry," he breathed against my hair. "I'm so sorry."

Shaking my head, I pulled away so I could look in his eyes. "Don't be sorry, Nathan. Never be sorry for loving me and protecting me."

He brushed my hair out of my face and tears spilled from my eyes. "I love you so much, gorgeous."

Before I knew it, his mouth was on mine, kissing me like he was going to die if he didn't. I was vaguely aware of him ushering me towards my bed. Barely noticed when he made quick work of stripping us out of our clothes. Then all I knew was the unbelievable ecstasy of his hard flesh driving into me over and over again.

Turning away from the mirror, I walked over to my dresser to grab a pair of studs that were shaped like sunflowers and put them in my ears. Then I grabbed the bracelet I always wore which used to belong to my mother. The one that Nathan brought to me the first time he came to my window after that beach trip.

Speaking of my parents, when this whole thing went down with Nathan, they expected answers. When I told them everything that happened, they were just glad that I was okay. My mom was already skeptical about my relationship with Nathan, so naturally I was scared that she would use this as ammunition to break us up. To my surprise, she didn't. Her and my father actually thanked him and hugged him for protecting their daughter.

They even wanted to be there for me when I went to Nathan's court date. I couldn't sleep at all the night before the hearing. Even though Nathan came to my room and laid beside me until the early hours of the morning.

"It's going to be okay, gorgeous. I promise."

I was laying as close to Nathan as I could possibly get without being on top of him. I had one leg thrown over his thighs, and arm wrapped around his stomach and my head on his chest. His left hand was resting on my arm while his freehand stroked my hair.

"How can you say that?" I tried to make my voice sound strong, but it was impossible. "The charge is assault and your eighteen. You could be charged as an adult. What if you have to go to jail?"

"It's not going to happen."

"Nathan—"

"I'm serious, Karma. It's not happening."

I leaned up on my elbow so I could look down at him with a scowl. "There's no way you can know that, Nathan. If you go to jail..."

His eyes were fierce as he stared up at me. Determined and resolute. "I refuse to believe that anything is going to separate us. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, but I know that I'm not leaving you. Not after I've barely had a year with you. Fuck that, baby. I'm going nowhere."

My heart ached in my chest. I knew he meant every word he was saying, but unfortunately this wasn't in his control or mine. I repositioned myself on his chest, hoping and praying that he was right.

"Nathan?"

"Hmm?"

I pushed the words out when they got stuck in my throat. "Even if the worst happens and you do end up having to go to jail, I want you to know that I'm not going anywhere. I'm yours. Always."

When he didn't say anything back and only silence answered me, I looked up to meet his gaze—and I couldn't believe what I saw. His expression was of pure adoration and pride.

"Gimme a kiss," he murmured. I pressed my lips against his and couldn't stop myself from responding to him when he deepened it. "I am so fucking lucky that you're my girl, Karma. You know that, don't you?"

"Yeah," I teased with a small smile. "I know."

Grabbing my car keys from on top of my dresser, I snatched my purse off my bed and headed towards my front door. Thankfully nobody else was home right now. It wasn't that I was mad at my parents or anything; I just didn't feel like talking to anyone. Besides I was already running late enough as it is.

With the afternoon traffic it took me about thirty minutes to get to my destination. Even though I was looking forward to this, I was still nervous and anxious. It was something different. Something new. I felt like there had already been enough change since last summer. All I wanted now was more of my normal routines. Hanging out with my best friends and spending time with Nathan.

Suddenly the sound of my cell phone ringing echoed from my purse. Reaching inside, I grabbed it and glanced at the caller ID.

"Hey, Harp. What's up?"

Brief moment of silence. "You there yet?"

"No, not yet. Almost though. There's a lot of traffic today."

A sharp laugh came through the receiver. "It's New York City, Karma. When isn't there a lot of traffic?"

She had a point. It didn't matter if it was a holiday, a sports day, a weekday, or a weekend, New York City always had the WORST traffic.

"So, what's up? Just call to make sure I'm not losing my mind? I promise, Harp, I'm completely sane. I'm driving with my seatbelt on and everything."

"Very funny," Harper mumbled. "I'm just worried about you. These past few weeks haven't been easy. I know how hard it was for you at, well...you know."

Ah, yes. The hearing. Not one of my finest moments. Thank God I had my best friends with me that day.

"Make sure you hold her hair back, Lanie."

Lanie scoffed at Harper's directive. "Please. Like this is my first time holding a friend's hair back while she puked. Give me more credit than that."

I groaned over from my hunched position on the floor of the courthouse bathroom as my two best friends bickered. We'd been here for hours already and I couldn't see Nathan until it was over. And that was only if he wasn't sent to jail.

"Why are you so calm?" Harper asked Lanie. "Look at our poor friend. And Nate's your brother!'

"You don't think I'm not freaking out, Harper? I didn't sleep all night and the trash can in my room is full of tissues. Karma isn't the only one hurting here." The next part was muttered under her breath. "Even if my brother is annoying."

With a deep breath, I said, "Okay, I think I'm done now."

Lanie helped me to my feet and I walked over to the large sink. I washed my hands then rinsed my mouth before chancing a look at my reflection. I didn't bother with any makeup. Not that I usually wore it anyway since Nathan preferred me natural. But I knew there would be tears at some point today and I wasn't going to have mascara rolling down my face.

There was a soft knock at the door and we all knew who it was. Lanie was the one who opened it.

Mrs. Jenkins peeked her head in, her own red-rimmed eyes bouncing from Harper to Lanie then to me. "It's time."

The four of us walked in silence back to the courtroom where my parents and Mr. Jenkins were waiting outside. Here went everything...

"Yeah, I know, Harper. I appreciate you checking on me. I'm fine. As good as I can be, I guess." I make a right turn before pulling into the crowded parking lot. "How's the other musketeer?"

"I called her before I called you. She said she was rearranging her room and listening to TLC."

Well, that was never good. "Maybe we should have a girl's night soon. Might be good for us."

"Definitely. Well, I'm gonna let you go. I got some chores to do anyway and you know my mom. Call me later and tell me how it went?"

"Of course I will, Harp. Thanks again."

"Anytime."

After I hung up with my best friend I spent five minutes looking for a parking spot. Which did nothing but make me later and my stress levels rise.  So I hurried towards the large double doors of the main entrance and made a beeline to the burly security guard who eyed me as soon as I walked in.

"Can I help you?" He asked with a mildly annoyed tone.

After a brief hesitation, I reached into my purse and pulled out my wallet to grab my driver's license. "Yes, I'm here to pick up my visitor's pass."

"Name?"

I placed my I.D. on the desk. "Karma Fitzgerald."

***

So many questions...

I'm so glad to finally be finishing this prequel. Don't worry, more will be explained regarding Nate in the next chapter which will be published on Wednesday!

🖤