VIOLET'S POV
CHAPTER FOUR

VIOLET'S POV

I leaned on the door and fumbled aimlessly in my back-pack in a futile effort to find my key. I leaned against the door and it fell wide open, almost throwing me to the floor.

Oh God, I so don’t wanna deal with  all of a sudden care free Nick today. For the umpteenth time, isn’t he supposed to make sure the door is locked? Anyways, I shouldn't be stressing myself about this, he could be as care free as nearly setting the house on fire.

Ugh!  Life with boys, is Tess facing the same? The house was a complete mess! Books and quilt and clothes on the couch, shoes everywhere, unwanted wraps and papers littered everywhere.  Ohh my, I whined to myself, resisting the urge to leave and find another house and never come back here again.

I decided I wasn’t going to mention about my encounter with Bob. I don’t want him worrying about me less the former routine of hovering around me in school is restored. I was tired of the girls hating me for having 'the cutest guy' all to myself. But he is just being too protective and possessive of his best friend by playing the big brother role.

We were like the famous too-attached best of friends that would make you feel like a goose berry if you decided to tag along with us, whereas the girls think am blocking them a chance to have 'Mr. popular' who can't keep a girl beyond night stands. The guys were scared away by his 'you hurt her, you get killed' attitude towards them. But the truth is, Nick and I are just naturally attached to be committed to anybody else.

The pleasant smell of food danced its way to my nostrils, sending a signal to my stomach that churned in response. I instantly forgot my worries and walked towards our small kitchen.

"Hey what's up" I greeted casually lowering my butt on a stool while kicking off my shoes.

"Heyy... you scared me" he turned around swiftly, exposing his dimples with his smallest smile.

"Maybe you shouldn't have left the door unlocked" I said wearily, picking at my fingernails.

He shrugged it off... Yea, Nick does this every day, if there is anything he takes seriously, then I am yet to find out.

I avoided an eye contact, less we engage in a telepathic conversation, but I failed by making it obvious something bad happened in school today. I know for sure having a bad day at school is not something that can go unnoticed by Nick even from my voice.

"How was your day? " he broke the silence, drying dishes with a dry towel.

"it was okay..." I tried to keep the conversation short.

"Good... got real busy at work today, some stream of tourists came in" He slipped on kitchen gloves on his slim slender fingers.

"oh, nice. " I tried to sound casual but failed in my ears, still picking at my nails.

"You okay?" I didn't miss the "don't try to hide anything" he hesitated to add. He carefully brought the pan out of the oven and there was just what I wanted, potato fiesta. What a dish!

"Yeah, am good" I shrugged for the second time, feigning an innocent smile as he succeeded in locking his dazzling blue eyes to my hazel brown.

I dished out the potato and took a seat opposite him at our faintly polished table, mentally bracing up for an interrogation.

I felt tired and loss of appetite for my favorite dish even before it reached my mouth. I toyed with it instead and didn't even realize I hadn't eaten a bite until Nick clicked his fork on the table, calling for my attention. I pleadingly stared at him, offering my best puppy eyes, too stressed for any extra effort.

I almost whispered ''It’s nothing, let it go."

He arched up his left brow, ignoring my expression with a further probe. "Let it go instead, just tell me okay?" his voice was already fatherly and concerned, reaching out to rub my stretched arm on the table.

The Hazel within was again defeated, I felt a tingle of disappointment that I couldn't handle the smallest thing myself. I felt weak, and I didn't want to remain like this, I like to open up to my best friend about anything, but I didn't want to be giving him loads of my problems. I wondered why I can't be like him, surrounded by strength and might, courage and confidence. My best friend has it all, to the world he is just a person, but to me he is my world.

I smiled weakly at him and my eyes felt glassy as his expression looked more pronounced.

"Fine..." I cleared my throat. "Just promise me you’re not gonna act crazy, I don't want to see clenched fists and gritted teeth."

"Fine" he said more to himself, he moved his chair closer to me to hold my hands. I could already feel a blaze of reaction in him, ready to explode. I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, Bob scared me today and almost broke my wrist until Jade came to my aid," I started and the rest of the story came in between crying.

"What the f**k?'' He narrowed his eyes.

My eyes welled up again and I covered my face and started crying again.

"Hazel but that was not the plan!"

Was it?

"You promised to call me as soon as anything goes wrong! You know they’re after you because of me." He was almost shouting. The x-xters were hating Nick because well, in one word 'he has it all'(looks, charisma, brains) and 'join 'em if you can’t beat them'.  But he didn’t.

He slammed his fisted hands on the table, standing up. He obviously couldn't help as he angrily clenched and unclenched his teeth. "That imp will regret this" he said fiercely through clenched teeth.

I broke down and cried while he paced to-and-fro before he gently took me away from the table, engulfing me in a hug. He fondly rubbed my back and ruffled gently through my hair which subdued my tears.

"Am so sorry okay?" He said softly, "now deep breath and calm down" he leaned back, wiping the tears off my eyes.

"You shouldn't have gone there in the first place; you know how they like preying at that hour, for God's sake hazel?" He leaned his forehead on mine and I could smell mint candy flavor, his favorite.

"And from now on, you aren’t on your own, I can't let anyone harm you and he’ll get the payback he deserves," his eyes were serious as he stated sternly.

"Noo blue! I just can..."

"Ssshhhh"... he buried me in his arms again, kissing my forehead.

He leaned back again and we shared the smile, a sign of normalcy, we sat down again to eating noisily and arguing like every day.

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"Nooo... that was cheating... soo unfair!" I shouted across, yet to reach the finish line. Defeat was inevitable when racing with Nick. I pouted as I sat beside him, gasping for breath.

"So, choc cake it is!" He teased wickedly, still laughing at me.

I folded my arm and turned my back at him, hugging my knees. I felt like puking at the thought of baking choc cake again. But then the bet was done, and we never back down. The field grew empty as the sun rose. I finally convinced Nick to go jogging but it turned out to be a race bet instead.

"Hey, you look like an Antarctic seal pouting like that" he still teased, laying his back on the grass. What the hell is an Antarctic seal? Am sure it looks funny.

I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing but failed. He rolled to my side and I could smell mint candy flavor from his breath, his dimples smiling with muse.

"So? defeat accepted?" He grinned.

"That was cheating" I rolled my eyes.

"But you chose the bet, didn't u?" He started laughing again.

I nudged hard at his shoulder, making him roll away.

"Silly loser" he sneered, running across again.

I ran after him, jumped on him, wrapping my arms and legs around him as we surged forward and fell on the grass again. This, I never missed when I had the chance to.

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Hey lovies!... enjoyed the chapter? Thanks for reading, and please don’t forget to press the star button and vote, that’ll put a smile on my face. Your opinions are welcome too. Tell me what you think about Nick & Hazel (Violet)... watch out for the next chapter soon... *smiles...I love you so much guys, thanks for reading!. XoXo.

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Love,
Lil Harphs.