Graduation day

Nichelle POV

"Congratulations you have officially graduated!"
We threw up our caps and let it fall.

Lord knows college was a pain in my ass.

"We finally did it!" Candace yelled.

We hugged and eventually went to find our other friends.

I was abruptly interrupted when I was hugged and lifted up from behind.

I was twirled around. "Congratulations beautiful" he said in my ear sending shivers down my body.

That was his new name for me and everytime he called me that I had butterflies in my stomach.

Dammit I was blushing again. Once he let me down I turn and hugged him "Congratulations graduate!"

"Now all I gotta do now is take my girl out tonight and show you off"

"Your girl?" I asked. He was delusional.

"I ain't your girl just yet"

He grinned "yea, not yet"

*****
"Candace, I'm nervous" she sat there plucking her eyebrows.

"I've never worn heels this high before" I sighed looking at these 6 inch heels.

"No more tomboy behavior, put them heels on" I rolled my eyes.

"Besides I'm sure Zach wouldn't mind taking them off for ya" she turned around to wink at me.

"Girl shut up" I jokingly said.

"Anyway, he's coming to pick us up in 15 minutes and we nowhere near finished." I hadn't even started my make up yet.

Zachary POV

"I told Nichelle I'd be coming to pick them up at 8. It is currently 9:00 PM!" I yelled that last part out so she could hear me from downstairs.

I was speaking to her mother. Who was lovely by the way.

"Well you know us women take a little extra time to prepare but rest assured the wait would be worth it" she said nodding her head over to her, making me immediately turn around.

She was stunning. I couldn't help my eyes, I roamed her whole body.

She stood in front of me. "Cat got ya tongue?"

I turned back to her mom to give her a look which only made her smile.

"You look stunning" she tried hiding her smile and pushed some hair behind her ear.

"I'm sorry for making you wait"
Lost in her beauty I forgot what I was complaining about "it's no problem ma"

" you don't look too bad yourself" she said fixing my tie.

Why did that simple gesture make the zoo run through me.

"Ohh I hear wedding bells" Candace teased coming down the stairs.

"You took so long to do .. nothing?" I say referring to her dress. I naturally pick on her, it's just too fun plus I don't really like her.
Something just off about her.

"Nichelle, I'm warning you girl put yo man on a leash. I ain't fighting with him tonight" she waved her hand dismissively before heading out the door.

We both chuckled but Nichelle ain't object tho.

Progress? I had our corsage so we both set it on each other. Yeah tonight was gonna be the night.

I was gonna ask her to be my girl. I had everything planned out.

I lead her to the car and drove our way to the venue.

****
Nichelle POV

I was sweating bricks, Zach keeps looking at me in admiration and this was so different for me.

Like we don't do this!
But I was definitely feeling him more than I did before.

On the ride there, we were vibing to the music in this limo Zach had us riding in.

Upon arrival, we walked in and I was ready to party. The music was already hyping me up.

But before I go crazy, we went to the side to take pictures.

"Alright my turn" Zachary said after me and Candace took pictures.

He came and stood behind me. "Really Zach?"

"You my date I'm tryna let everybody know that" he said in my ear. I can see Candace giving me a look and I fight the blush but I know that it's visible.

We snapped some pictures and ate some of the finger foods that they had. then we hit the dance floor.

I don't know where Candace went but I was left with Zachary and we were vibing together like the usual.

Your Body by Pretty Ricky was playing and we were singing it to together while dancing.

"I got new shoes on the ride"

"Rolling down ninety five"

"And you can see in my eye"

"That I'm looking for a cutie pie"

The song faded out and 'The closer I get to you' came on and a big smirk came on his face.

"Aww this my shit" he said rocking to the song.
I jokingly rolled my eyes and turned around to walk away but he grabbed my elbow.

"Come dance with me" I chose not to be difficult and danced with him. I mean he was my date after all.
Still with a little smile on his face he sang to me. And I laughed we both knew he couldn't sing.

"Over and over again"

"I tried to tell myself that we could never be more than friends"

"But all the while inside I knew it was real, the way you make me feel"

It had to be the song but I'm starting to feel something more for him. I'm afraid of what this could be, because it's gonna kick me in the ass if it doesn't work out.

This song was spot on and I really was feeling nervous because what I was beginning to feel was becoming more serious by the day.

Our foreheads were touching each others and he was still singing.

"Let's give love a try"

The song came to a close and we were just staring in each others eyes. He was leaning in to kiss me and Internally I was freaking out.

"Hello everyone" Devon said on the mic startling the both of us, making us bump heads.

"Ow" we both chuckled and rubbed our heads.

"I have an announcement to make" everyone turned to him.

"As you all know I was once with Nichelle, who I love so much. Baby I made a mistake" he pleaded on the mic.

Everyone looked at me and I was so uncomfortable. What the hell was this man doing?

Zachary balled up his fist and I could tell he was upset.

"I didn't want to end of our college years and part ways without exposing every person involved in our breakup"

"Baby" he was really pissing me off with this baby thing.

"Candace is behind all of this." I can literally hear all of the gasps in the room. My heart literally was going a 100 miles per hour.

"She threatened to expose my fathers company going broke, because she's jealous of you Nichelle"

What? What the hell is going on? I looked for Candace and once I locked eyes with her I could see the fear in her eyes.

"And I have proof"

The video came on the screen.

The camera was hidden but I could hear their voices.

"Candace, I can't do this to her. I actually love Nichelle"

"Do I have to remind you what I will do?"

"Your family is on the brink of bankruptcy and you worried about Nichelle's feelings?"

He sighed and glared at her.

"Why you even doing this? She's your best friend"

"She's your best friend" she mocked him.

"She's all everyone can talk about. She's just always perfect, a know it all. Everybody loves her! My own boyfriend left me because his eyes were for her and the one man I wanted, wanted her for years"

"I hate her and I just want her to feel misery for once. So she can understand what I feel" she said.

My eyes were filled with water but my heart was filled with anger. I literally barely have close friends. It's just her and Zachary and she stabs me in the back like this?

"I ain't no saint either, I gave in to temptation too. She pushed herself on me and I slept with her" he admitted guiltily. I sighed trying to control the anger I had within me. This was embarrassing and I just want to go home.

"I'm sorry Nichelle. But you have to know the truth"
She had the audacity to come up to me "Nichelle" she couldn't finish her sentence because my hand moved quicker than anything else.

I punched her dead in the nose. She looked back at me in shock. "You bitc-" then I did it again and again and again before security and students had to help pull us apart.

"I have been nothing but kind to you!" I yelled. I literally let her in my house, meet my family, shared my bed and my personal life.

"I hate you. You stole everything from me!" She yelled and I was in utter disbelief. How can somebody be so cruel?

"Nichelle, come on man" Zachary said visibly upset. He grabbed my hand and led me but as he did on my shoe buckled and broke.

I stumbled and before I could fall Zachary caught me.

Could this night get any worse. I tried to stand up straight but my ankle was burning in pain. "Ow" I winced. Tears stinging my eyes.

"I got you" he picked me up and held me bridal style.
I hid my face in the crook of his neck.

I was so embarrassed about everything. This night was literally becoming the worst night of my life.

He sat me in the car. "Ima be right back alright?"

"Where you going?" He loosened his tie, and took off his cufflinks and his jacket.

"Ima be back in five minutes" he dismissed my question and went back inside.

I took this opportunity to cry it all out.
****

I laid with my back against the headrest of my bed.
I groaned "I can't believe my night was ruined"
Scooping ice cream out my big vanilla ice cream tub that Zach got me.

I had sprained my ankle from that whole situation. Surprisingly Zach stayed and took care of me.

When he came back to the car, his shirt was ruffled and I just knew he got into it with Devon.

He held me bridal style and carried me inside the house too. He helped me remove my make up and all the tears that slipped out.

When I was changing, I rushed him out. We weren't nowhere near close to that part in whatever this was. When he came back, he came with an ice pack and ice cream.

He propped my leg up on this pillow and placed the ice pack on my ankle. Even after he did all that he decided to stay with me and comfort me.

The tv was on and we were watching Just Wright.
"C'mon atleast you got to take pictures before it all happened"

I groaned again "it doesn't matter, it's a memory that's gonna stay in their head for the rest of their lives"

"I'll admit it wasn't the best way to find out but atleast you know the truth now AND you whooped her ass"

"And I whooped his ass for doing that publicly and calling you baby" he said looking at me with a knowing look.

If I didn't know it before I knew it now, he was really gonna ride or die for me.

"She was the only girl friend I had and that I was really close to" water filling my eyes again. This was making me angry all over again.

"That was foul, not gonna lie. But I'm glad it happened because I would hate for her to have caused you more pain years down the line" he said.

I agree but it still hurts. "And you still got me" We locked eyes. He was being sincere and I could tell.

Emotional, my eyes started tearing up. "Thank you" he raised his hand to caress my cheek. "Any time"

"Be my girl, let me be there to fight for you"
I stared in his eyes looking for any sign for me not to trust him and I couldn't find none.

"Don't break my heart"

He shook his head  "I won't."

"You get once chance" I put my index finger up so he can see that I'm serious. I'm tired of having my heart broken. Do you know people can die from that? Not saying that that will be me but, Die because a man left me? The devil is a lie.

"One chance is all I need" he smiled at me.
Then he did the unexpected. He stole a kiss from me and before I could argue he pushed my head down on his chest.

"Zachary"

"Watch the movie Nichelle"

This boy is crazy but let's see where this goes.