Chapter 9 NORA #2
‘It was fun. I wasn’t sure if he was planning to be with me all night or whether he’d go off with his friends, but he stayed with me. After that, he asked me out on an ice cream date but his ex showed up and it sort of ruined the vibe for him.’
Cami scrunches her nose up. ‘Oh. That’s a bit of a mood killer.’
‘Yeah. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that, but also, it has nothing to do with me.’
‘She’s a cow,’ Anya comments, looking displeased. ‘So, like, are you dating?’
‘Um, I guess so?’ I reply.
Cami exchanges a look with Anya.
‘You’re killing me,’ Cami groans.
‘We had a fun time, talked a lot, and I guess we just hit it off.’ I feel shitty for lying to them, but I’m too embarrassed to admit it’s fake. It’s not technically a lie – we did everything I said and we did hit it off.
I keep my gaze fixed ahead of me on the road.
I don’t feel comfortable sharing the fact that we agreed to be in a fake relationship with each other.
It sounds sort of pathetic to admit. I know it’s two friends helping each other out, but admitting that my first official boyfriend is in fact not actually my boyfriend is a bit too pitiful.
James and the guy my friend set me up with don’t really count.
I want to enjoy what’s happening between us, just for a little bit, until I have to confess to everyone it was never real.
‘Well, I’m happy for you,’ Cami says, drawing me from my thoughts.
‘Me too,’ Anya adds.
Relief washes over me at Anya’s approval. Fake dating her brother is complicated enough, so I’m glad she has no issues with the idea of a real relationship. I would never want to do anything to jeopardise our friendship.
‘Thanks girls, I appreciate that,’ I reply, genuinely meaning it. Even if they don’t know the whole truth, it feels like a weight has been lifted off me, the knot that has been bound in my stomach loosening.
Pulling into the carpark beside the bus shelter, I locate a park quickly.
Cami has a cheer camp she’s attending with her squad and they’re heading off tonight.
She unbuckles her seatbelt and leans over, giving me a hug.
Her jasmine-scented perfume washes over me.
It’s becoming a comforting smell to me. When I smell it, I know she’s around, and I feel a whole lot safer and better in my apartment knowing she’s there with me.
‘Thanks so much for dropping me off.’
‘No worries, have fun!’
‘Thanks girl. Talk soon. Bye Anya, enjoy your trip!’
‘Thanks, you too! Bye!’ she says, just before Cami jabs her finger against the screen, ending the call.
When I arrive back at my apartment, I’m surprised to see that the door is closed.
People have been coming and going all day.
One of my roommates wedged a coaster over the lock so that the door could be opened and shut by anyone.
I absolutely hate the lack of privacy I feel in my own home, but this is university living.
People like to party and it’s a shared apartment.
I don’t get to control who enters and leaves, I just make sure my bedroom door is locked every time I go out.
Pulling out my card, I pop it down into the reader and push against the door automatically. My forehead slams into the door and I stumble back in surprise, rubbing my head.
‘Ow,’ I whine, staring down at the electric card reader. Pushing the card down into it again, I watch as a red flash appears, instead of the usual green one. ‘What the—?’ I attempt the card access a few more times, with no luck.
Hearing the voices of my roommates floating in through the door, I bang my hand on it loudly. The chatter stops for a moment, indicating they heard it loud and clear, and then I hear the snickering.
‘Who’s there?’ Emily calls out, and I shoot her a withering stare through the door, aware that she can’t actually see it.
‘Nora,’ I bark back impatiently.
‘Who?’
‘Nora!’ I repeat, my frustration soaking through me and bleeding into my voice as I clench my hands into fists.
‘Sorry, we don’t know anyone called Nora!’
My mouth falls open. ‘Emily, stop fucking around and let me in!’
‘Sorry!’ she says, encouraging more giggles from whoever else is with her – it sounds like Steph. ‘Can’t hear you!’
‘Bitches,’ I gripe, turning and striding down to the office, growing angrier with each step. I stalk up to the door and yank on the handle, but it doesn’t budge. I glance at the opening hours, realising it closed about an hour ago.
Could this get any worse?
Hung, I lean back against the glass and think about my options.
Going to my family is out of the question – at least the family that’s close. I can’t handle their probing right now. Mum is hours away, so that’s not a realistic option. Anya and Mason won’t be back for days and Cami would be on the road to cheer camp by now.
A cool breeze hits my face and a loud crack of thunder booms. Thankfully, I’m under cover, but I peer around the corner of the office, seeing the first signs of rainfall.
Shaking my head, I reach for my phone and scroll through my contacts.
Seeing Zayden’s name, I click on it, just as my screen turns black.
‘You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!’ I gasp, shaking the phone. ‘Argh!’
I rush over to my car, the rain falling more heavily now. Flinging myself inside it, I feel on the verge of tears. I’m so damn tired and all I wanted to do was have a hot shower and curl up in my bed.
At least I remember the way to their house, since I’ve been there a lot over the past few months. Starting the car, I pull out onto the road and make my way over there, desperately hoping Zayden’s home, and okay with me gatecrashing.
Pulling into the driveway, I see only Anya’s car pulled up onto the curb, but Zayden often parks in the garage anyway. The lights are on, which I take as a good sign.
With a steadying breath, hoping I don’t look as miserable as I feel, I walk up to the front door.
A few moments later, the door swings open and Zayden stands there. He’s dressed in grey trackpants and a white shirt, holding a paintbrush in his hand.
‘Nora!’ he says in surprise, taking in my wet appearance. He looks devilishly handsome, as always, with his usual careless-butsomehow-gorgeous appearance. ‘You okay? Anya isn’t here.’
‘I know,’ I say, teeth beginning to chatter, and then much to my embarrassment, I burst into tears.
His eyes widen and he steps back, letting me inside. He places the paintbrush down into the tray on the ground and pulls me into his chest. He’s warm, and his strong arms envelop me, making me feel safe. It only makes me cry harder.
‘What happened?’ he asks softly.
‘My roommates are assholes.’
Stroking my hair, he presses his lips to the top of my head. ‘Why’s that?’
‘I think they somehow got the locks changed because my card no longer works and they wouldn’t let me in.’
‘They can’t do that!’ he exclaims, pulling back and staring down at me, hands resting heavy on my shoulders. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Yeah. They knew it was me, too, and wouldn’t let me in. They’re awful to me.’
‘This is not high school, who has the time and energy for this kind of bullshit?’
‘Exactly my thoughts,’ I grumble, sniffling. ‘I’m sorry to come here … I truly didn’t know where else to go.’
‘It’s fine,’ he assures me, thumbs stroking down my shoulders. ‘I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to come here, knowing that Anya and Mase are away.’
I eye the paintbrush and materials sprawled out across a sheet. ‘What are you up to?’
‘Er … fixing an issue I created.’
I eye the patchwork on the wall, and move my gaze to his hand, which is swollen and red.
‘You okay?’ I ask in concern, not having noticed it earlier today when I saw him.
‘I had a visit from my mother,’ he replies, and I’m surprised at the words leaving his mouth. Discussing anything to do with his mum has always been a very sensitive topic and I know it’s caused tension and issues with Anya in the past. ‘I let her get to me.’
‘Sounds like we’ve both had a few shitty days.’
‘Yeah,’ he says with a grimace. ‘You want a shower?’
‘I don’t have any clothes with me,’ I sigh.
‘You can borrow some of Anya’s?’ he suggests.
Heat floods my cheeks. There is no way I would fit into anything Anya owns. I’m easily three sizes bigger than her. Swallowing, I avert my gaze. ‘That’s okay. These will dry eventually.’
His brows furrow.
‘Wait,’ he says. ‘I have an idea.’
Turning his back to me, he jogs up the stairs. Moments later, he returns with a steel baseball bat. I stare at it for a long moment in part alarm, part amusement.
‘What are you doing with that?’ I ask, raising a brow.
A wicked grin lights up his face. ‘We’re paying a visit to those roommates of yours.’
Zayden roughly pulls to a stop, not even parking in a normal park, but instead, up on the grass, right in front of a sign that says ‘NO PARKING’ in thick, bold lettering.
Getting out of the car, he grabs the bat and reaches for my hand.
He pulls me after him and we walk in silence up the stairs. My heart is racing.
Storming up to the door, he bangs his fist so hard on it, it rattles on its hinges.
The chatter quiets down and after a second, the door swings open. Emily stands there, a smirk on her face, which quickly vanishes when she notices Zayden. She backs up immediately.
Stalking inside, his shoulders are stiff. I follow him in and scan the surroundings. There’s a group of people huddled around the living room, plastic red cups in hands. My speaker is being used to play the music and my blood boils.
‘Which one locked you out?’ he asks, voice calm as he surveys the area.
‘Her,’ I say, immediately pointing to Emily.
Zayden takes a step towards her and she stumbles back, almost tripping in her gigantic heels.
‘It was a joke!’ she shrieks, holding her hands up. ‘I swear, we were going to let her back in after a few hours!’