🌙

“Trivia got you tired?” you ask, pulling out of the bar and driving off in the direction of Nikki’s house.

“Takes a lot of energy to beat your guys’ asses,” Nikki says, trying to fight off a yawn.

“Obviously not a lot since you came in third.”

Your teasing remark earns you a playful punch in the arm, and the fake glare in Nikki’s eyes makes your stomach do somersaults. She looks cute when she’s mad, you think.

“Shut up!” she hisses. “I was off my game today. I didn’t have my lucky necklace.”

You laugh and shake your head. “I knew that was how you’d always win. You probably enchanted it or some shit.”

Nikki rolls her eyes, and a comfortable silence fills the car for a few minutes.

“How’s the book going?” you speak up. “The love story one.”

You remember all the times she’d mention working on her new book when you’d come over, and each attempt to get a sneak peek was met with Nikki claiming it wasn’t ready yet. She’s shown you a few other stories here and there, and you think she’s a really good writer. She has a way with words that makes you sit and think. You feel every word she writes deep in your bones.

“It’s going. Some days I can write an entire chapter, other days I can only write a single word. But I’m happy with it so far.” Nikki takes a glimpse at you, admiring the way your face lights up from the street lamps as you drive. Honestly, sometimes her inspiration depends on how much time she spends with you that day. Really good days with you equal words flowing from her fingertips.

“Do I get to see it soon?”

“It’s not ready yet,” Nikki mumbles.

“C’mon, Nik. You’ve been saying that for weeks. You’re a really good writer, you know. I’ve loved all your stuff. I still think about that one poem you read to me a few months ago, the one about death.”

Nikki blushes, her cheeks burning bright pink as she tries to fight off a huge smile. You, after all these months, still think about one of her poems? Her heart pounds in her chest, butterflies beating hard against her ribcage.

Again, she glances at you from the corner of her eye and admires you. “Maybe I’ll let you see it soon.”

You turn to her, catching her gaze, and smile at her.

Another silence fills the car, and every time you place your hand on the center console at a red light, Nikki’s fingers ghost over yours.

When you arrive at her house, a feeling of disappointment settles in your stomach. You don’t want her to leave. You don’t wanna see her walking into her house, knowing that you’re gonna be going home alone.

“Goodnight, Nikki. Call me later?”

Nikki unbuckles herself and nods, taking her sweet time grabbing her bag, pretending to go through it like she’s looking for something.

When she exits your car door and shuts it, she looks behind her with a puzzled look on her face. She bends down, and you immediately roll your window down.

“So you’re not gonna walk me to the door?” she asks, almost sounding offended that you didn’t get out and rush up to walk her to the front door.

You offer her a sheepish smile and fumble with opening your door, stumbling out of your car and walking up to her.

“I need a strong woman to keep me safe,” Nikki says.

She takes your arm that you hold out for her, and you lead her up to her front door while trying to fight off the dumb, dreamy smile growing on your face.

You watch her take out her keys and unlock her door, and you stare at the mole underneath her eye as she hesitates for a few moments.

“Do you wanna come in?” Nikki turns to you and asks. “Maybe just for a few hours?”

You swallow hard, and your breath catches in your throat. Alone, with Nikki, at her house. You’ve been alone with her dozens of times, but for some reason, this request of hers feels different. Good different. Hopeful different.

You nod. “Yeah. I’d love to come in.”

Nikki smiles real big and opens her door for you, leaning against it as you brush past her and enter her house. You’re immediately met with the scent of her candle that you love so much, and your body instantly melts and relaxes. As you look around the place and stretch, you hear Nikki sigh and place her bag down on the floor before you see her walk past you and to her bedroom. You follow her and plop onto her mattress, smiling at the way she grumbles and complains about you hogging her side of the bed. She tells you to scoot over, and you roll onto your side, watching with a lazy smile as she crawls in next to you and face-plants into the pillow.

“God, I’m so tired,” she mumbles, voice muffled by the pillow. “I’m so glad I don’t work tomorrow.”

You snort and flip onto your back, staring up at Nikki’s ceiling. “Lucky. I’m gonna be alone for two hours before Sarah gets there.”

“Oh, God.” Nikki huffs. “The only thing I’ll miss is working with you.”

Nikki’s been telling you about quitting for weeks now. Of course you were sad about it, but you want her to pursue writing. You wanna see her grow and get a book deal and become this famous writer who you can brag about being friends with.

“I’ll miss you, too.”

You turn your head to look at her, only to find her already staring at you. It makes your heart skip a beat, and your stomach flips as you lock eyes with her.

Her face is resting on her hand, and it’s making her cheek look all squished. A little pout is on her lips, and you have the biggest urge to kiss her until your lungs burn.

Nikki notices your eyes drift down to her lips, and she’s reminded of a chapter she wrote in her new novel about this exact scenario. The first kiss. The tension leading up to it. The happy, fuzzy feelings after.

Slowly, she pushes herself up and leans into your space, eyes darting to your mouth for a few moments before looking back into your eyes with an expression that says, “I know you wanan kiss me. Do it.”

With your heart in your throat, you scoot closer to her and lean in, head growing fuzzy at the strong smell of her perfume floating into your nostrils. Before attaching your lips to hers, you pause for a moment, giving her a chance to pull back if she wants. But she meets you halfway and connects your lips, placing her hand on your stomach as she moves her lips against yours. When you push your lips harder against hers, her hand squeezes your stomach, fingers digging into your skin.

The way her breath hitches as she kisses you makes a tingly feeling prickle over your face. The breathless noises she produces as she slides her hand up your body to cup your cheek, pulling you in deeper, have your stomach swirling with butterflies.

When Nikki pulls back to catch her breath, she rests her forehead against yours, thumb rubbing gentle circles against your cheek.

Your face is dusted pink, and you feel lightheaded with giddiness as you look at her, admiring the way her eyelashes beat against her face just before she opens them.

Neither of you can fight off the stupid grins that grow on your lips. Nikki giggles cutely and shyly looks away from you, plopping back onto her pillow and covering her face as she blushes.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for so long,” Nikki mumbles behind her hands, spreading her fingers so you can see her eyes.

“Me too.” You scoot closer to her, wrapping your arm around her waist and propping your head up on your hand.

Nikki removes her hands from her face and looks at you, doesn’t say anything as you softly stroke her waist and admire how beautiful she looks. After a few moments of silence, she reaches up to cup your neck, pulling you down for another kiss that lasts a few minutes before you both pull back.

“Stay the night?” she mumbles into your lips, rubbing her nose against yours.

You nod and cuddle into her side, holding her close to you. Fingers gently raking across her stomach, making Nikki hum with contentment. She closes her eyes and relaxes her body, stuffing her face into your chest and inhaling your scent as she drifts off into a peaceful sleep.

"Holy fuck," you mumble under your breath.

You glance at Ian's body on the floor, with a gunshot wound to his forehead. You feel nauseous. Looking at Nikki, you see Bear lying on her lap, eyes wide open, but no light shining through. You walk further into the house, and your throat dries up at the sight of what you think is Sarah's naked body in a chair. Her face is completely mangled. Unidentified if it weren't for the tattoo on her chest. The same tattoo you saw on Nikki’s chest when you walked in.

Your mouth starts to water, and bile rises in your throat. You swallow it down as best as you can.

"Nikki," you call out weakly.

She's shaking like a leaf on the couch, lips quivering as sobs come tumbling out of her throat.

"Nikki, hey, look at me."

Slowly, you walk up to her, tentatively holding out your hand for her. You need to get her away. Take her somewhere safe. That’s all that’s going through your mind.

She looks up at you, and a painful cry leaves her lips.

"Not me," she wails.

Nikki wiggles Bear off her lap, and his limp body thuds to the ground, his head rolling near your feet.

She steps over his corpse and throws herself into your arms, crying hysterically into your chest.

"It wasn't me. It wasn't me."

You rub her back and hold her tightly. She's shaking so bad it feels like an earthquake is happening.

"I got you, Nik. You're safe now."

Your lips taste copper on her forehead, and for your own sake, you choose to believe it's hers instead of Sarah's or Ian's.

You peel her off as far as you can and look into her bloodshot eyes. "C'mon, we need to leave." You glance around the room again, and your stomach churns as you look at the dead bodies of your friends. "I'll take you back to my place. Get you cleaned up. Then we'll figure something out."

"I'm gonna be in prison for the rest of my life," Nikki blurts out, shaking her head as hot tears trail down her cheeks.

The realization of it—of everything—makes her feel queasy. She feels like projectile vomiting everywhere.

"No, I won't let that happen. I promise."

You take her hand in yours and squeeze it reassuringly, slowly leading her out of the house and to your car.

The car ride is quiet, except for the occasional sob that leaves Nikki’s body. She’s clinging to your arm so tightly that you’re sure it’ll be bruised tomorrow. You think it’s even bleeding.

When you arrive at your place, you take her straight to the bathroom. She stands in the middle of it, still shaking, snot and blood all over her chin. You tell her that you’re gonna get her some clothes, but you don’t think she can hear you. Grabbing an old t-shirt and your boxers, you place them on the sink counter for her, along with a towel.

“Do you…need help?”

Nikki shakes her head while hugging herself.

You nod understandingly. “Okay. I’ll be in my room if you need anything.”

+

this is where my writing skills leave me and my head starts to go blank but thinking about patching nikki up when she comes out of the shower. offering to take her to urgent care to get it assessed because it’s a deep gash, but she refuses. so you just use whatever you have available and fix her up. thinking about her sharp inhales and the way her lips would quiver as you gently clean up the wound.

Nikki tangles her fingers in your hair and yanks your head back, leaning forward to bite down on your neck, making you hiss at the feeling of her teeth sinking into your skin. You’ve always loved how her teeth feel on your body. It always makes a burning hot feeling of arousal swirl deep inside your guts.

Humming, you place your hands on her hips and chuckle into her ear. It makes Nikki’s face burn.

You push your hips down, grinding your packer against Nikki’s knee as she works on making her mark on her butch. “We were just messing around,” you tell her.

She huffs and nips at your neck, making her second hickey on your skin.

Nothing’s going on between you and Sarah. You’re like her annoying younger brother. Nikki knows this.

“I don’t like when you’re with her.” Nikki plays into that possessive girlfriend role she knows you love.

She moves to the other side of your neck and sucks more bruises on your skin, moaning and whining into your neck as you hump her knee and breathe out her name. She always gets so riled up and vocal from hearing how good she’s making you feel. She’ll moan louder than you even when she’s on her knees, sucking you off and gagging on your strap.

“You’re mine,” she grunts, with your skin sucked between her teeth. She pulls back slightly to admire her marks on your neck, finding the bruises looking so pretty on your skin.

Her possessive marking goes on for a few more minutes before she stops. She’s more than satisfied with how riled up you are because of her words and marks. You’re left acting so pathetic and needy and ready to beg her to let you eat her out against this bathroom door.

Nikki kisses you on the nose so sweetly that it makes your head spin even harder than those rough kisses from earlier.

“You know I don’t actually care, right? I trust you. I like that you get along with my friends.”

Her tone is so sincere that it makes you feel sick. You get a rush of love for her that hits you so hard it sends you reeling. Nikki’s always been the sweetest. That’s why you love her so much.

Despite feeling so lovesick for her, you tease her. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Nikki smiles with you, and your heart flutters at the sound of her giggle. You look at her like she’s your entire world as she digs through her bag, thinking about how pretty she looks tonight. You admire her pretty lips. Her eyebrows. Her nose. That mole right under her eye that makes you melt. Your entire body starts melting into a puddle.

She pulls out the concealer that’s in your exact shade, and you realize that she planned this whole thing.

You push her hand away and shake your head. “Don’t wanna cover it up. Let’s just go back out.”

Nikki’s stomach flips and twists with arousal at your refusal to wear the concealer. She grows uncomfortably wet as she thinks about you walking back out to the party, covered in her marks. Marks to let everyone know that you’re hers. Marks to let Sarah know that you belong to her, even if she trusts both of you completely.

When she finally arrived at the venue, the bass from the opening act was already thumping against her chest, making the floorboards shake. Nikki squeezed through the crowded room, her stomach doing absolute flips as she clutched the ticket you had saved for her. The atmosphere was loud, sweaty, and overwhelming, but the moment she made it closer to the front and the stage lights began to shift, everything else faded into background noise. She caught her breath, her eyes locked on the empty microphone stand, desperately waiting for you to walk out.

The heat under the stage lights is intense, but the adrenaline rushing through your veins completely drowns it out. You adjust the strap of your guitar, looking out at the sea of blurred faces in the crowd as the final chords of the intro song ring through the speakers. The venue is packed and the noise is deafening, but your eyes are only scanning for one specific person. You have been thinking about this moment all week, wondering if those frantic text messages would actually translate into her showing up.

Then, right near the edge of the barricade under a flash of blue light, you see her. Nikki is standing there, looking slightly out of place in the middle of the chaotic crowd but completely mesmerizing all the same. The second your eyes lock, that familiar, knowing smirk plays on your lips. You step right up to the microphone, gripping it tight as you look straight at her, letting her know without a single word that she officially has your full attention tonight.

You step up to the mic, the roaring crowd blurring into a haze of noise as you strum the first few chords of "Supersonic" by Oasis. It’s a direct nod to your first conversation in the music shop, a subtle inside joke meant entirely for her.

As your voice carries through the venue, you don't break eye contact. You can see Nikki's shoulders drop slightly, her initial nervousness melting away as a surprised, genuine smile breaks across her face. She recognizes the song instantly. Throughout the entire set, it feels like the stage lights are only framing the two of you, the energy between the front row and the microphone tightening with every lyric you sing.

By the time the final song ends and the lights fade, your heart is pounding from more than just the stage adrenaline. You hand off your guitar to a tech and head straight for the backstage exit, bypassing the usual post-show chaos because you know exactly who is waiting for you by the side door.

Nikki is leaning against the brick wall in the cooler alleyway just outside the green room, the muffled bass from the venue's speakers still vibrating through the brick. When the door heavy-clicks open and you step out, still breathing a little hard with sweat dampening your collar, she looks up.

She doesn't even let you speak first. She takes two fast steps forward, a playful but intense heat in her eyes.

"So," Nikki starts, her voice a little breathless but carrying that sharp, teasing edge you've been thinking about all week. She stops just inches away from you, crossing her arms as she looks you up and down. "You write an entire setlist just to show off, or do you always stare down your guests like you're trying to read their minds through a microphone?"

A low, quiet laugh escapes your throat as you look down at her, the teasing words she just spat out doing absolutely nothing to hide the way her eyes are locked onto your lips. You don't bother giving her a clever comeback. Instead, you close the tiny gap between you, your hand sliding firmly around the back of her neck to pull her into a deep, heavy kiss.

Nikki lets out a soft, surprised gasp against your mouth, but she doesn't hesitate for a single second. Her arms immediately wrap around your shoulders, her fingers gripping the fabric of your shirt as she pulls you closer, matching your intensity. The taste of her is intoxicating, and the fact that you've been waiting an entire week for this makes the kiss feel desperate, clumsy with heat, and completely overwhelming. Her back hits the cold brick wall behind her with a dull thud, but neither of you care. Her lips part easily, letting the kiss deepen into something much hungrier as her tongue sweeps against yours, completely throwing away any lingering shyness.

When you finally pull back just an inch to breathe, your foreheads are resting together, both of your chests heaving in the cool night air. Nikki's eyes are dark, completely blown out with desire, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Her hands slowly slide down from your shoulders, her palms slipping underneath the hem of your damp shirt, her warm fingers pressing directly against the bare skin of your waist.

"God, you're driving me crazy," she whispers, her voice dropping into a ragged, breathless purr as she looks up at you through her eyelashes. She gives your skin a firm, possessive squeeze, leaning her hips forward until she's pressed completely flush against you. "Screw waiting until we get to the car. Touch me properly right now."

Your hand slides down from her neck, your fingers hooking under the hem of her denim jacket to pull it off her shoulders, letting it drop to the dusty concrete floor of the alleyway without a care. You press your knee between her thighs, anchoring her against the brick wall as your hands slide down to the waistband of her pants. Nikki lets out a shaky, needy whine, her head tilting back against the brick to give you full access to her neck as your lips follow the line of her jaw, leaving wet, biting kisses down to her collarbone while your fingers work open her belt.

She doesn't just stand there and let you do all the work, though. Her own hands move with a sudden, desperate urgency, tugging your shirt completely out of the way so her warm palms can press against your bare skin. Nikki slides her hands down to your waist, her fingers quickly unbuckling your belt and undoing the button of your pants with a breathless, impatient tug, eager to feel you closer.

She pushes the denim down your hips just enough to clear a path, her thighs squeezing around your knee as the friction between you hits a boiling point, your fingers are just slipping past the lace of her underwear when a sudden, piercing screech echoes from the main entrance of the alleyway.

"Oh my god, I think she went this way! I swear I saw her walk back here!"

The frantic shouting of a dozen fans shatters the silence, and your blood runs cold when you hear them screaming your exact name, followed by the heavy, chaotic stomping of boots running in your direction. They aren't looking for the rest of the band. In fact, they don't even know Nikki is there because they are hunting exclusively you.

Nikki’s eyes snap open, her breath catching in her throat as she looks toward the alley opening, a flash of pure surprise crossing her face before the mood shatters into instant panic. You don't even have time to think. You quickly button your pants, grab her dropped denim jacket in one swift motion, and wrap your fingers tightly around her hand.

"Run," you whisper fiercely.

You pull her along, sprinting down the twisting, poorly lit maze of the backstage corridors while the echoes of fans shouting your name chase close behind. Nikki’s boots click loudly against the pavement, her laughter cutting through her ragged breaths as the sheer adrenaline of the escape takes over. You turn a sharp corner, pushing open a heavy metal door that leads into a secluded, dimly lit utility room near the back parking lot. You pull her inside, slamming the door shut and sliding the deadbolt into place with a heavy click.

The room is dead silent, save for the sound of your frantic, overlapping breathing.

Nikki drops her back against the locked door, her hair completely wild and her chest heaving violently. She looks at you, her eyes dark, completely blown out with a mixture of the running adrenaline and the sudden realization of just how badly everyone out there wants a piece of you. But right now, you're locked in the dark with her. A heavy, possessive heat flares in her gaze, and she doesn't even care about the dusty floor or the cramped space. She reaches out, grabbing the collar of your shirt and pulling you down to her level with a fierce, demanding tug.

"So when are you showing up to the Trivia Night? I was planning to show up a bit earlier to save us a table. So around eight.", Nikki's Voice sounds through the phone speaker.

While looking at your wardrobe you think about what Nikki said for a second. "Sounds like a Plan I could-" Suddenly Nikki's Voice interrupts you "Fuck! Shit, no no no no" followed with some rustling noises and cursing.

You stop in your track and pick up the phone from your nightstand, "Are you alright? What happened?"

"I dropped my necklace down the drain.. You know the one I'm always wearing?" You know exactly what necklace she means, she literally wears it everywhere.

"You mean the one you got from your mother?" "Exactly that one..", you can practically hear the frown on her face. No suprise after losing her necklace.

"I'm so sorry to hear that.. By the way I can be at the Bar shortly after eight, so you don't have to sit alone till everybody else arrives."

"Great! I'll see you there!" The call ends after that and you finally take the time to pick an outfit for tonight.

Looking at the clock you see that you still got some time left and after a quick google search you get in you car and drive to the next crystal shop.

---

At the Crystal Shop you first take a look around for yourself to see what they got in stock. They got some necklaces but no explanations on what the crystals do. Definitely have to ask the staff about that.

In the same Isle you see a small display of "One Wish Willows"

You pick one up and read the warnings on it. "6.99$? That's crazy. This thing probably doesn't even work." You mutter to yourself and put it back on the shelf.

Walking up to staff who obviously is talking to someone via earphone, you wave your hand a little to get her attention "Excuse me? Could you help me with the meaning of the necklaces that you sell?"

She looks at you unimpressed "Yeah hold up for a sec there", she probably tells the person on the other line because after that she walks around the corner to the necklace stand.

"So this one is chrysocolla, it's supposed to help cleanse and reenergize yourself and give you a sense of calmness. Then there's this one. It's called Citrine and is supposed to help with success, strength is generally seen as something very positiv." She continues to explaine some more crystals until she goes back behind the counter.

Looking at the crystals you think about which one nikki would like the most. They don't have the exact same one she wore before but the Citrine one sounded very positive and like something Nikki would like so you take it from the display and go to the register to pay for it.

After that you make your way to the bar for Trivia Night.

---

Arriving at the Bar you can already spot Ian's Car. You park right next to him and check if you got everything. You put Nikki's Necklace at the bottom of your bag. You'll give it to her after Trivia Night. Maybe she doesn't like it and you don't want to sour the mood.

After checking everything you get out of your car and finally walk into the bar.

Looking around you immediately spot Nikki, Sarah and Ian sitting at your usual spot.

Waving them you walk up to them and hug each one of them as a greeting.

"Oh my god look who decided to come! I was already wondering if you bailed on us because you took so long.", Nikki says with a playful smile and a joking hint in her voice.

"Oh come on I'm not that late! Bear hasn't even shown up yet!", I jokingly shove Nikki a little bit and sit down between her and Sarah.

"I mean yeah but Bear's always late so that doesn't really count.", Sarah says. Right after she said that the entrance to the Bar opens and Bear comes in and walks up to us.

He also does his greetings with everyone and then sits down on the only stool left which is between Sarah and Ian.

"I'm going to get some shots.", Nikki suddenly says and gets up. "I'll come with you!", Bear immediately says and follows her.

Sarah's gaze sours for a second. "You alright?" You ask her. Sarah shakes her head. "Not really I got another rejection letter."

"I'll be right back." Ian suddenly says and also goes to the Bar where Nikki and Bear are standing.

"I'm sure the next letter you'll get accepted. How many are you still waiting for?"

"Only two, but one of them is from my favorite so not all hope is gone.. I think we should join the other at the bar." , Sarah gets up and walks towards the other.

You follow her and take one of the shots that are standing on the counter.

"So what are we cheering to?" Ian asks and holds his shot in the middle of us.

Everybody else puts their glass next to his. Bear mumbles something and we toast to whatever he said.

The moderator starts the Trivia Night an everyone except Bear and Sarah go back to the table. I'm pretty sure that she got a crush on him but he is way to dense to notice it.

During Trivia Night I saw Bears gaze drifting to Nikki from time to time. Which was kinda weird to be honest. Nikki made it pretty obvious that she's not interested in him but maybe it's the same thing with him not noticing Sarah. He's probably to dense to notice it.

---

While leaving the bar Ian tries to convince everybody for karaoke night.

"No Ian. I just want to go home. Please can you just take me home?"

"No way, are you seriously letting us hang?", Ian looks disappointed at Nikki.

We come to a stop before the cars. "No I'm just trying to safe my ears from terrible singers. Sarah can sing! Sarah give me a G!"

Sarah opens her mouth and lets out a weird grrr sound.

"Oh my god that was terrible.", Sarah looks at Ian offended. "Okay fuck you too."

Everybody lets out a laugh. "I mean I could take you home." Bear gives you a pissed look after you said that.

"Thank you! Finally someone who's nice.", Nikki gives me a side hug. "Does anybody have some cash?", she looks at each one of the group and Sarah takes a 20 Dollar bill out of her bag.

"I got a twenty?" Nikki immediately grabs it "I'll pay it back!" and runs off to the guy who's sitting in front of the Bar.

"Nice I just paid some guys Heroine." you hear Sarah mumbling. You roll your eyes.

"Not every Homeless guy is a drug addict Sarah. And you smoke so I don't really think that you have the right to judge him you know?"

Sarah lets out a fake gasp and pushes me a little. "I could also bring Nikki home if you want to go to the karaoke?", comes suddenly from Bear.

You give him a side-eye. He's been acting weird all evening, sometimes even staring at Nikki from across the table.

"Nah it's fine. I wanted to get home early tonight cause I gotta be early at the store tomorrow you know?"

Letting Nikki drive with him felt wrong when it's so obvious that he has a onesided crush on her.

"Come on Bear. Let's go to the Karaoke bar!", Sarah tugs at his arm and pulls Bear with her and Ian.

"Bye guys! See you tomorrow!" Nikki comes back just in time to also wave goodbye.

"Let's go. I'm so ready for my bed. Like today has just been draining."

Nikki gets into the passenger seat and while you get into the driver seat. "If it cheers you up. I got a little something for you.."

"What? Really? Can I have it now?" Her smile is everything I could hope for.

"You'll have to wait just a little longer." You can't help the smirk appearing on you face.

She let's out a unsatisfied sigh. And leans back into the seat.

---

Arriving at in front of her house you turn the motor off and turn to Nikki.

"As you probably remember you lost your necklace today. So I bought you a new one. I hope you like it."

Pulling the necklace from your bag you hand it over to Nikki. Letting out an excited squeal she hugs you. "Thank you so so much! I don't even know how to properly thank you!!"

"Don't worry about it. Like honestly I know how important that necklace was for you. I'll see you tomorrow at the store right?"

Nikki give you another short hug before opening the door and getting out of the car. "Yea but I'm coming in later than usual. But I'll think of something to thank you."

Nikki winks at you and then walks into her house.

After making sure she's in her house you finally drive home.

---

The next day you got the opening shift with Sarah and her Dad.

After everything is set up you stand behind the register. Nearly nobody comes in that early in the morning which is nice.

"Sooo how did bringing Nikki home last night go?"; Sarah wiggles her eyebrows at you.

"What do you mean? I brought her home and then went home myself.."

Now Sarah looks at you and raises both her eyebrows. "And what about the necklace?"

"You know about the necklace?" You didn't think that Nikki would instantly text Sarah about the necklace.

"Of course. She was so happy about it. Anything you want to tell me..?" another suggestive smile is thrown in your direction.

"Oh my god Sarah. Do we really have to talk about this?" You turn around and check whatever is standing in the shelf.

"Of course we have to talk about it. You know you can tell me if you like Nikki right? I won't judge."

You roll your eyes. "There might be a little something but I'm pretty sure she doesn't like me so I won't act on it. What about you and Bear tho? You were so desperate to get him to karaoke night. And don't try to lie to me! I saw the way you looked at him."

A light blush appears on her cheeks. "I mean yes a little bit. But he only got eyes for Nikki. But I might confess anyways, he might go on a date with me anyways."

You shrug. "Yea could work. But he seems to be really focused on Nikki. But maybe that focus changes to you and you'll both be the most lovely couple."

You both laugh and continue working till Bear and Ian come in to clock in for their shift. While walking past you Bear gives you a nasty look.

"You wanna come talk outside for a second?" You look at Bear. He didn't even clock in yet. And why does he want to talk to you?

"Uh sure? Sarah I'm outside for a second." Sarah gives you a thumbs up until she sees that Bear is right behind you and eyes the both of you, wondering what you two are up to.

At the back entrance of the shop you and Bear stand now and look at each other. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"Do you like Nikki?" You stop in your tracks and look at him.

"What?" What was he on about. "Do you like Nikki?!" He raises his voice a little.

"What the fuck dude?! Why do you care?" You take a step back to get some distance not knowing what he'll do next.

"You like her don't you? You bitch! I liked her first! You don't get to take her from me!" As he is saying that he swings his fist at you.

"What the hell Bear!!" You duck right under it.

"I won't let you take her form me!" He tries to grab you again and catches your arm twisting it in a weird angle.

Letting out a scream as you try to free yourself from Bears grip but he pushes you against the wall of the shop leaning heavily onto you.

"If you ever dare to try-" The backdoor opens and Nikki steps out of the shop.

"So Y/N- What the fuck Bear?! What are you doing??"

He loosens his grip on you and steps back. "She attacked me! I swear!"

After the pressure is off you arm you check if it still functions properly "What are you even talking about?! You literally asked me to come talk with you outside and then attacked me because of your HUGE crush on Nikki!"

Nikkis face scrunches up in disgust "No fucking way Bear. I never saw you that way, you do know that right? You were like a brother to me! But after this whole thing, you're done. I don't want to talk to you ever again. I'm sure Sarah and her Dad are gone be really happy about you assaulting your coworkers!"

And with that she grabs your good hand and pulls you back into the shop, locking the door so that Bear who tries to follow us has to walk around the whole shop.

"Sarah? Can you make sure that Bear just gets his stuff and leaves for today? Please?"

Sarah looks confused on why Nikki would ask that "What happened? I thought you were just outside for a smoking break?"

"Apparently Bear has like a huge crush on me and literally attacked Y/N because of that?" Nikki just shrugs her arms not really knowing the full story yet.

Just as Nikki finished her sentence Bear enters through the front door again, stomping right in our direction.

"You can step right outside! You're done here. Who do you think your are just attacking people?! I'll make sure my dad sends you the money from your last shifts and I hope I'll never have to see you again." Grabing his Backpack from the break room Sarah basically throws it into his face and pushes him out.

Everybody let's out a relieved breath.

"So what exactly happened out there? I let you two out of my sight for two minutes and suddenly there's one worker less in this store?"

Both Nikki and Sarah look at you waiting for an explanation. "I really don't know what's gotten into him. I mean I knew that he kind of has a crush on you Nikki but I never thought that he would attack me because I bought you a necklace. He was talking about me taking you from him like he owned you it was really weird."

Both girls shake their heads and Sarah looks even more shocked. Probably because she kinda had a thing for Bear. Whatever possessed her with that decision.

"Thats so weird oh my fucking god! I need to tell my dad. And Ian! I hope Ian is not that kind of idiot to protect Bear.."

And with that Sarah leaves to tell her dad and probably also call Ian.

"Damn the first 20 minutes of my shift have already been more hectic than the entire last week."

Brushing some hair behind her ear Nikki looks at me and smiles. "Actually I wanted to ask you something."

You give her a suprised look "What did you want to ask?"

"I mean I still want to thank you for gifting me the necklace so I was wondering if.."

"If..?" You're getting kind of nervous, usually Nikkis is pretty straight forward with asking questions.

"If you would like to go out on a Date with me?"

Your mouth drops open in shock. Nikki Freeman is asking you out on a Date?

After a few seconds of me not answering you can practically see the anxiety consume Nikkis brain. "Did I read the signs wrong..?"

Shoked you shake your head "No No No! You didn't oh my god no! I'm just so surprised that you asked me! Of course I'll go on a Date with you!"

You give Nikki a big hug, excited to see how the date will go.

-------

A/N:

I will definitely make a part two where the two are on the actual date. I didn't realise that building up to the question would take so long but eh. It is what it is I guess.

The restaurant was now empty. Quite after a long hectic shift. The kitchen was clean, spotless a huge difference from the lunch rush just a couple of hours ago. You were the only one in the restaurant cooking a small meal for two. You were the youngest chef/owner and it was something you were proud of. For the longest time you worked hard for what you have. Now it was paying off. The restaurant was doing great, keeping busy and making more money than you could imagine. The staff became like family and you, were happy.

Feeling arms wrapping around your waist. You smiled, another reason why you were so happy. Your lovely girlfriend of two years were going strong. "That smells so good."

You turned off the stove. And served the food onto two plates. Turning around in her embrace, her dark brown eyes looked up at you. Smile on her face. "Hey baby. How was your day?" You leaned down and pecked her lips.

Nikki was quick to chase your lips for more. Pecking your lips a few more times. Before helping you with some plates. Taking them to your office. "It was okay. Ian and Bear being weird and Sarah waiting for her acceptance letters. The usual." She sat next to you on the floor. Seating so close your thigh brushed with hers. Setting the plate on the small coffee table. She loved when it was just you and her. Alone. You and your absolutely delicious cooking.

"Oh I almost forgot. The guys and Sarah want to ho trivia night again. This Friday, think you can come over with."

You looked away from your food, towards those dark brown eyes that were filled with hope. "I would love to babe but I can't. Friday we aren't close till midnight. We're hosting a party that day." Hating yourself for the smile fading slight from her lips. "I'm sorry baby."

"Nah it's okay."

And like that the conversation continued. Nikki knew how much work you put in your business. And she honestly couldn't be more proud of what you've accomplished. With how busy your were most day she came to learn to cherish every moment she had with you.

*_*

You arrived at Nikki's house early. Ready to take her on to the new cafe shop you both had agreed on. It wasn't too early, seeing as she did got out drinking with her friends. And today was her day off as it was yours as well. You could count on the team at the restaurant to not burn it down. Although Nikki hadn't responded to your texts or phone calls since last night. Which was concerning, main reason why you had come to her house earlier than you had said. But knocking on her door had been useless.

The more you went unanswered. The more your concern grew. You called Sarah out of all of Nikki's friends. Sarah was the only friend from Nikki that you're friendly with.

The phone rang for a few seconds before Sarah finally answered with a tired groan. "...Hello?"

"Sorry to bother you Sarah it's Y/n, uh I was just wondering if you know where Nikki is at?" Hoping, praying really that Nikki was with her.

You heard her shuffle. "Bear took her home, is she not there?"

"Fuck, no. I'll I'll go check at Bear's house. Thanks for answering."

"Of course."

You moved hurriedly to your car. Feeling like your heart was in your throat. You knew where Bear lived, only because his grandma was a regular before she passed. The sweet old woman often needed help with her year and you didn't live far from her. You didn't really talk to Bear, even though he was Nikki's best friend and you knew his grandma. There was just something about him that was, odd.

The second you were there you were knocking which was more banging at this point, on the door. You heard footsteps hurry to the door.

Bear opened the door smiling, only for it to quickly fall from his face at the sight of you. Y/n, Nikki's girlfriend. The worry in those y/ec was hard to miss. "Hey Bear sorry to bother you but I was wondering if you've seen— Babe come on. Breakfast isn't going to make its self."

It was like time froze, her words echoing in your head. Did you hear correctly? You were confused, hurt, angry?, heart pounding in your ears at what you just heard. Nikki came from behind Bear who still stood there frozen. Eyes not meeting yours. wrapping her arms around his waist from behind.

"Nikki?" It was all you could muster to say.

She didn't glance at you. Eyes set on Bear.

"W-What is this?" Standing there feeling completely lost, she wouldn't do this. No she wouldn't be this cruel. Especially not with Bear. The best friend she claimed she saw as a brother. If she fell out of love. Nikki would say so, she wouldn't string you along. She wasn't the type of person. She wouldn't.

Right?

"I'm where I belong. I don't love you Y/n. I never did, I was just confused. Now leave. I don't wish to see you anymore." And like that Nikki took the door and slammed it shut.

Leaving you standing there alone and heartbroken.

*

Three days went by and you heard nothing of Nikki. Which didn't leave you surprised. You tried to keep going. Move on from what happened but you were left so confused. The break up came out of nowhere. She had been different at Bear's house. Nothing like the Nikki you knew. She was cold, It still stung, remembering the harsh words that Nikki had said. The breakup was clear, maybe you were in denial. Maybe you were still looking for answers.

Where you went wrong?

When did Nikki stop loving you?

But she said she didn't love you.

Why would she date you for two years?

"Chef, come on dude. Screw her. I hate seeing you like this man. It's depressing and it's making me want to cry if I'm honest." Violet said, your other chef broke the silence. She had been hired just last year. You could honestly say she quickly became your best friend. The day Nikki had broken up with you had been, harsh. The day had been a blur. You knew you had spent it, crying mostly. The anguish of what you were feeling was unbearable. You tried to stay off your phone. Not wanting to see the pictures you still had or the one being posted online. You had not wanted to delete them. You didn't have the heart to do it.

Nikki was-is the love of your life. For you that love didn't-couldn't just disappear.

Two whole years and she out of nowhere says she doesn't love you.

You didn't believe her. Refused to believe her.

She didn't even look at you when she said it. It was what you kept coming back to.

"Dudes! You're not going to believe who had the audacity to come here." The voice of one of your servers, Chloe. She had come rushing into the kitchen. Eyes wide, looking angry and bit protective at the moment. Like you had said before everyone who worked for you had quickly become like family. Judging by Chloes attitude you had a feeling you knew who Chloe was talking about.

Violet and yourself pecked through the kitchen door windows. And you couldn't ignore how your heart ached at the sight of your ex. Wearing a blouse that you had gotten her for her birthday. Setting across Bear smiling and looking in love. Her eyes never leaving Bear.

"Oh the nerve." Ava mumbled, another waitress who stepped into the kitchen.

You just couldn't take your eyes off the pair. You felt your chest tighten at the sight of that smile. Without you realizing, you felt your eyes filling with tears.

"Okay come on, you don't have to watch this. Ava go get their order and be professional." Violet said as she pulled you away from the door. Leading you towards the break room.

"Fuck. I just don't get it Vi. She switched so suddenly." You cried as you buried your face into your hands. "There were no signs. No distance, no mood changes. No secrecy. She just changed."

The tattooed woman was just as stumped as you were. Other than her own relationship, she never seen a couple so in love. She was certain you and Nikki would get to live out your dreams together. Nikki had always been sweet and so damn in love with you. To turn around and do a whole 180 and "be in love" with someone Nikki had always referred to as a brother. It was odd.

"Maybe you should get the night off Y/n. I don't know what to tell you, how to make you feel better. Cause nothing I say, will. So go home."

You couldn't argue. You honestly didn't have the energy. So with a silent nod. You stood up and grabbed your things. Vi patted your back before leaving you alone and getting back to work.

You were almost at the exit when you heard a raised voice.

"Nononono don't do that! I thought we were having a nice date. Why does it matter? We were having a nice date."

Everyone in that restaurant turned to look. Including yourself. And you just couldn't help yourself, you made your way towards the table. Taking in how tense Nikki was up close. "Is everything alright."

And for a moment. A second. She looked at you. Afraid.

Then it was like she was looking right past you.

"Yes, now leave us alone." Her face said to leave. But her eyes.... You so desperately wanted answers, yet you knew you wouldn't get them from her. Not with how closed off she was acting. That's when your eyes for the first time turned to Bear. Who was not looking at you. His eyes on the table.

"Hey boss. Everything okay?"

With a single nod, you turned and walked away. You'd do anything to get answers. Even if it meant breaking a few laws.

*

Alone, dressed in all black is how you found yourself at the back door of Nikki's house. Were you really going this far? Yes. It wasn't jealousy fueling this need for answers. There was something strange about Nikki. Something was different and your gut was telling you to keep looking for answers. So that's how you found yourself at Nikki's. It wasn't breaking in really. Not if you had a key to the house.

Stepping into the house was not what you expected. The house was dark as expected when you turned on the lights. It was like no one had been there for days. There were the dirty plates from the late lunch you had made for both you the day Nikki had gone to the bar. The same blanket Nikki had used to wrap you and her as you made the food on one of the table chairs. What really made you freeze was Nikki's bag on the floor in front of the main door. The same bag you had gifted her for her birthday.

Nikki never really focused on the luxury things. Always wanting to be humble but you had remembered how her eyes lit up the moment she saw the bag. She had wanted it so badly up until she saw the price tag. You remembered the disappointment the way her shoulders had dropped. It was then you had saved up money from offering to work overtime. When you had finally gifted her the bag. She had cried. The happiness in her eyes, you also saw the guilt. Remembering how you had comforted her and told she deserved every thing. How you wanted to buy her something she deserved. She loved that bag. Had cherished it like it was her child. Never leaving it unintended, on the floor. She always kept it clean and organized.

To see it on the floor.

So many questions. Yet you had no answers.

But you did have an answer. Nikki had told you.

Why couldn't you accept it?

Why hold on?

Why suffer this pain when the woman you loved was in the arms of someone else?

*

It had been hard to find a moment. Somehow they were never alone. Always seen together. It hurt every time, it never got easy. But you had to ignore your own feelings. You couldn't focus on yourself. You knew it was weird. You had almost accepted it, until Ava had called you and said that Nikki had left a weird note on the table. You almost didn't ask for Ava to elaborate. But you did anyway. The napkin had read 'NOT ME'. You had no idea what it meant. Not me what?

"Bear. Hi. look I know we’re not really friends but I-Look Y/n I'm sorry for how Nikki broke up with you. But she doesn't love you anymore. She loves me now. It's time for you to move on. Just leave us alone." Bear then turned and walked out of the store. His shift over. You didn't know what you'd get out of talking to Bear. It was a long shot. But you had to give it chance. Seeing how closed off he was, you expected. Especially with how Nikki was acting towards you.

So you made your way out of the store.

"Nikki said you've been acting weird. This is like stalker behavior Y/n." Ian's voice came from behind you. You never really spoke to Ian. He like bear also had some type of issue with you.

And judging by the tone in his voice. You knew this conversation wasn't going to be pleasant. "Look Ian I'm-" It happened quickly, you had no time to think or even react. The sting from your jaw was painful.

"Stay away from my friends."

*

The bruise on your jaw didn't stop you. You didn't have to wait long to get some type of reasoning to keep looking for answers.

Nikki<3: not me plz believe me

That message had come in at 2:42 am. You had sent a message back asking what she was talking about. But you didn't get a response back. You waited. And waited but didn't get a response. You made an impulsive decision. Going to Bears house in the middle of the night. First checking his car. As expected the car was a mess. The back of the car had some trash bags, empty bottles. A bag from the store Nikki loved to visit 'The Green Man'. A small empty box that said something about a willow. There wasn't anything that raised any red flags. You turned your gaze to the house. Realizing how crazy and creepy you must look.

What am I doing.

What if she needs my help?

What if I get arrested for harassment?

You clenched your fist. You felt helpless, so stupid. Delusional really. Fighting yourself on what to do. You're avid that you knew Nikki. She's your perso-was-is your person. You felt like you knew her better than anyone. Never had you seen Nikki act the way she was acting now. She didn't look like herself, her mannerisms weren't, normal. They felt forced. They looked forced. Not genuine.

The windows of the house were covered. With that you'd have to find another way to talk to Nikki without Bear present.

*

"Yeah it's weird. Like apparently you make the wish and break the stick and bam. It comes true."

Setting alone at the cafe you over heard two girls talking.

"Yeah it's fucking crazy. I made one. Wished to pass my final exams and guess what I fucking passed with fucking A's. I didn't even study!" The girl laughed as her friend shook her head.

"Wait you wasted your wish on your exams?"

"Hell yeah. I mean money would have been nice but I really wanted to pass this shit. Ooo damn should have wished on love instead. Like a sugar daddy or something."

"Girl you're stupid. Why not just make Frank love you?"

"What? He doesn't like me that, unfortunately and I know how to take a hint. You should get one, wish on getting that job. Feel like these wishes are harmless cause they're not hurting anyone. They sell them at the Green Man. Called the One Wish Willows. It was pretty cheap for it to be real."

The cup stopped near your lips, the moment you heard the name of the store.

No. The one wish thing wasn't real.

It couldn't be.

That'd be....no he wouldn't. But you saw the box. An empty box.

It's not possible.

They're just gag gifts.

Right?

*

Your friends figured that getting you out of the house and away from the restaurant would be a good idea. They had seen how depressed you had become and they couldn't blame you. What Nikki did was just so, fucked up. So with that being said they had forced you out of the house and to a party.

Only did they realize that mistake when they weren't even ten minutes into the house when they saw your ex and her group of friends.

The moment you saw them.

Like she could feel your gaze. Her eyes connected with yours. Eyes widening in fear and confusion. A clear desperation taking over her face as she stumbled away from Bear. A scream filled with pure fear crashing on the coffee table as she fell back. "It's not me! It's not me!"

You had moved without even thinking about it. Your own eyes widening as she broke a bottle hitting herself. You had been quick to stop her before she could do it again.

"Dude what the fuck!"

"Holy shit!"

"Someone call 911!"

"The bitch is fucking crazy!"

"Nikki stop, please calm down." You pleaded. At the sound of your voice. The screaming stoped. A chilling feeling filling you at how quick Nikki switched.

Forcing herself out of your hold, "you just can't take a hint can you? I don't love you anymore. Fuck off already." She spat. The cut on her head bleeding down her face. As she laughed. Honestly looking completely crazy. But you saw the fear in those. The pure terror in those screams.

"That's not fucking normal, didn't you say Bear has like a few too many pills laying around." Vi said as she helped you up. Watching as Bear led Nikki out of the house.

"I ain't no expert but she has to be on drugs or something. Cause what I just saw was not normal. And what the fuck does 'not me' even mean? That was creepy on so many levels." Ava followed up.

Ian moved to get to you. Clear annoyance and looking unbothered at the whole situation. But before he could get any closer. A sharp sound of fist connecting with jaw was heard.

"Ah fuck!"

"Next time it won't be just that motherfucker. Punch my best friend again and it won't be pretty." Ava announced to the man holding his jaw. Slightly shaking the sting in her hand.

You were stuck on what you saw. Nikki's words not really registering. She had been bleeding badly. Nikki wasn't one to do drugs either.

You followed quickly after Nikki and Bear. Seeing him and Nikki walking to his car. He wasn't even trying to help her.

"Bear. She needs to go to the hospital."

"..."

You turned him around by his shoulder. "Listen, that cut needs stitches." He refused to meet your gaze and Nikki didn't take her eyes off of him. And deciding to say what's been on your mind since the cafe.

"I know what you did."

The way he snapped his eyes to you. If you didn't believe before you sure did now. The way he tensed up. His eyes filling with doubt but yet noticeable dread. He didn't answer. Pulling Nikki into the car and then speeding away.

*

The wish box sat on your table. You had bought two One Wish Willows. The store was thankfully still open when you left the party. Your friends leaving as well seeing as the party died down after what happened with Nikki. They had left to meet their own partners after you insisted that you were fine.

Now you sat at your kitchen table, looking down at one of the boxes.

"There's no way." You mumbled. A part, a small part of you was spectacle but this had been stuck in your head since the conversation you overheard at the cafe in the early morning. "Well here goes nothing." You took the stick out of the box. Clearing your throat.

The moment you opened your mouth. You heard a window break. The sudden noice had been loud in the silence of the house. The noise causing you to jump.

Now standing, you stood quietly waiting to hear anything else. Break ins weren't common in your neighborhood. And even if they were. Lights on in a house meant someone was home. Criminals weren't that stupid. You waited to see if you heard anything else.

The hall leading to your room, where the sound came from was dark. The only light on was the one in the dinning room. The moon light shinning was the only source of light that was coming from your room. The eerie sight was enough to unsettle you further.

Taking a hold of your hockey stick you walked as quietly towards the hall. Not knowing if you should turn the light on. But you were too scared honestly to walk further into the hall without the light on. So you turned it on.

As rounded the corner to your room. You didn't expect a lamp to be thrown at you. The thing shattered on your face. It cutting and momentarily blinding you. You stumbled back crashing into the wall. As a sudden weight was then thrown on you.

"You have to stay away."

You opened your eyes, freezing at who you saw. Nikki stood over you. Head still bleeding eyes wide and wild. A kitchen knife in her hand. Barely moving out of the way of the blade as she swung at you. You dodged the best you could. But your head was throbbing.

"I can't let you ruin what bear and I have."

"Nikki stop!" You grabbed a cushion and smacked her hand with to. But the knife stayed tightly clutched in her grasp. You didn't want to hurt Nikki. Not if she wasn't in control? Right?

"No! I can't let you destroy this! You can't love me!" Nikki screamed her voice coming out disoriented. She then lunged at you. Both of you crashing over the couch. You tried to hold her wrist. Especially the one holding the knife. But she used her head. Head butting you until you saw stars. The knife nicked your cheek the more she pushed down on it using her body weight to get the upper hand.

You pushed up your legs. Throwing her off you. Stumbling as you tried to get back up. But Nikki filled with whatever Bear did to her moved like she was possessed. She was up faster than you ever saw her move. In her hands was the hockey stick.

You cried out in pain when she repeatedly brought it down.

"You have to go away-NO! she has to go away."

Your ears barely picked up on what she was saying. How she argued with herself. You tried to crawl towards the kitchen but she stopped her brutal assault.

"I neeed to do this." The disoriented voice continued. Sounding nothing like Nikki.

Your fingers grasped what you needed, but as your fingers closed around the object. You were roughly turned around. Back now to cold tiled floor. You had no chance to react. Not even a chance to scream when the knife was brought hard and fast. The blade digging into your chest, stomach.

With blood chocking your air way you couldn't scream. Gurgling as you watched the woman you love repeatedly stab you. Your breath hitching from pain and shock, your fingers still closed around the object. The numbness quickly settled in. The pool of blood only getting bigger. The woman on top breathing heavily as she finally came to a halt.

Watching as your chest stuttered. Desperate to get air in the lungs.

Barely hearing the words you were mumbling. So desperately trying to mumble. Your eyes held no anger. No fear. Just acceptance.

Wish Nikki could only look. Not understanding what she was seeing. She had to take you out of the picture. Real Nikki was getting too strong whenever you were around. Especially when you were around. The pull real Nikki had to you was...something she couldn't understand. The only thing she did understand was that she loved Bear.

She loved Bear more

Than

Any...

One

The sound a stick breaking was then heard.

*

Nikki gasped, a sob tearing from her throat as everything that happened the past week flooded in. What bear had done to her. How she had desperately tried to get help. How whatever was controlling her had broken your heart. Crying for what Bear did. The man she saw as a brother. Controlled her, abused her in a way she never would have imagined him doing to her or anyone.

freezing as she took in her surroundings, noticing as she held a bloody knife. Letting the knife drop in horror at who she saw on the floor.

"No nono." Dropping to her knees as she took you in. There were too many stabs wounds to count. Your face pale. The stutter in your chest was barely noticeable. "No please. Please no." Nikki's already bloody hands tried to control the bleeding but it was no use.

Taking in the broken willow in your hands. You had saved her. "Please. Believe me it wasn't me. I would never never. Stay with me please."

Too weak to talk. Too weak to move. You smiled gently. Weakly.

Nikki felt you slip away. Your eye dull of life. The cry that escaped her lips was pure anguish. She held you closely to her chest. Your body heavy, as she cried for what she lost. Who she lost. Remembering ever cruel thing said to you. By herself, Bear, her own friends. They had watched her change so drastically and they didn't do anything. Only you did. And now. Now you were gone.

The willow that was still in your hands, her eyes then going to the brand new One Wish Willow. Still it's box.

*

She gasped awake. Heart hammering in her chest. Nikki took in hersurroundings. Taking in that she was in her own home. The wound on her head was not there. The constant painful ache that was between her legs was not there either. But the ache in her chest remained. Her mind settling on one person.

You.

Where were you.

Stumbling out of her room. Legs weak. Feeling like she hadn't walked or used them in days. Hearing noise coming from the kitchen she hastily made her way towards the noise. Feet halting at who she saw.

"Good morning babe. You slept like a baby last night." You turned around a bright smile on your face. Looking as alive as ever. No stab wounds noticeable as you were only wearing a sports bra and some shorts. No bruises from the hockey stick. No bruised jaw from where Ian punched you. Alive and cooking breakfast.

Her wish ringing in her ears.

I wish Bear to be dead and Y/n to be alive. No questions on how he died. No one remembering this past week. No consequences.

oh, but she becomes so shy once you two start dating and your interest in her work becomes so much clearer!

you're always peering over her shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of the words on her laptop screen while she's focused on the couch. funny thing is, she hardly ever notices when you do because she's just in her element. fully in the zone.

that's not to say she doesn't catch you at all, because trust me, she absolutely does. and when she sees you trying to be sneaky, eyes slowly drifting onto her laptop, her face flushes and she quickly changes her tab—not because she's embarrassed, no, far from that. she's just nervous to see what your reaction would be, whether you'd like it or hate it. the latter is very much unlikely, which is why you pretend to be offended once she gets comfortable enough to finally show off her work.

"okay, shakespeare," you'd teased the first time you read a page of her book, brows furrowed and lips pouted in faux-offense. "what, you thought my reading ability was too low to let me read this?"

and she'd take your teasing so seriously at first. "no, baby! you're so smart, i just—" she'd continue to rant on about how smart and capable you are, and before she even realized the smug smirk on your face, you'd cut in the middle of her sentence with a simple:

"nikki. i'm pulling your leg."

"...oh!"

after that point, her shy nature around you would slowly fade into something of the past. and soon enough, she'd start writing short poems about you and her endless love and admiration that she has for you.

she'd be a little sneaky with it, asking you directly if you liked a specific line and questioning whether or not it was too corny to "add in her book." those lines never made it into her book. matter of fact, there wasn't a thought in her head that told her to add it in!

her mind was only on finishing the poem, writing more, and "accidentally" leaving them out for you to find. one day, however, she gathers just the right amount of courage to finally finish one, walk up to you, and ask if she could read it to you face to face. of course, you're over the moon when she brings up the idea, eyes lighting up and pupils dilating like she's never seen in the however many months you've been dating each other.

the first time she reads a poem for you to you, it's so beautiful it brings tears to your eyes.

her tone of voice and the sincerity in which she reads the lines has you trying not to make a peep or so much as breathe at all, afraid that one singular movement or interruption in the space would ruin the moment entirely.

when she's finished reading, you're a mess. she almost thinks you don't like it upon seeing your teary eyes and flushed cheeks, lips pouty and puffy from biting them to suppress any cries that might've slipped free. nikki immediately comes over, arms tight around your body and asking what's wrong.

you tell her how beautiful her writing is, through tears of course, because you're unable to do anything but admire her in the moment.

your phone, ringing beside your ear, jolted you rudely from your sleep.

with a groan, you reached blindly for it and squinted at the screen so that you could press the ‘accept call’ button.

“hey,” nikki’s voice rang through, a breathy murmur, “what’re you doing?”

“sleeping,” you grumbled out, eyes closed, head already leaning to the side as you felt that familiar warmth of tiredness trying to pull you back under.

“oh, sorry,” nikki replied on the other end, not at all sounding sorry. “yeah, it’s late. i didn’t mean to wake you up, i just—i was hoping we could talk.”

“mmh, i’m listening,” you mumbled out.

“good, good.” nikki’s voice came out in small, breathy sighs and then there was a long pause on the other end.

perfect, she hung up. back to sleep.

“i just was thinking of you.” you jolted again at the sound of her face, eyes fluttering for a moment. then, with a deep sigh, you decided to give up and instead just weakly pushed yourself into a sitting position. your head lolled momentarily, and then you jerked back upright.

“thinking…of me?”

“yeah,” she said, voice a little raspier now. “do you want to come over?”

you pulled your phone away from your ear to peer at the screen.

“nikki, it’s nearly one in the morning. i’m tired. we’ve got work tomorrow. you should sleep.”

“i will sleep,” she groaned out, tone a little aggravated now. “i just—fuck—“

there it was. the breathy, yet pretty sigh that indicated nikki had far, far more intentions for this phone call then just ‘talking.’

“holy shit—“ you laughed out, reaching up to rub gently at your eyes, “nikki, are you—are you touching yourself?”

the only response she gave was a little whimper. embarrassed? maybe. more than likely, it was because she was touching herself.

“what’re you doing?” you found yourself asking it automatically, more awake now. you wanted to know—wanted to see it, see what she was doing and better yet, be the one doing it to her.

“i’m—“ she whispered, cutting herself off with another little sigh, “i’m just touching my chest. i haven’t taken anything off yet.”

“…must be pretty worked up if you sound like that.”

“don’t be a dick.”

you laughed, against your will, and then listened to the other end of the call as she panted into the speaker.

“i want you so bad,” she whispered out. “wish you were the one touching me.”

“yeah?” you replied, instinctively. your eyes fluttered shut, picturing it—her, flat on her back with you between her legs. your fingers pumping inside her or your mouth pressed to her cunt, tasting her.

“yeah,” she responded, and there was the faint sound of rustling on the other side. then, “can i touch myself?”

“aren’t you already?”

“you know what i mean,” she bit out—then softer, “please. i wanna fuck myself.”

god. who could say no to that?

“go ahead,” you said into the speaker, “but your attitude is awful. say sorry,” you continued, purely for your own amusement.

“i’m sorry,” she whined out, automatic. you could hear the faint sound of something wet—her, probably—and it made you inhale deeply. “sorry—ah—“

“feel better?”

“yes—fuck, yes,” she sighed out, her breaths quick and shallow into the speaker of the phone. “god—‘m so wet right now. i couldn’t—fuck—fall asleep…kept thinking about you.”

“you want me there?”

“you know i do,” she whimpered.

you grinned, a little pleased at that. “tell me what you’re doing, nikki.”

she moaned vaguely, then inhaled a sharp breath. “i’m—just…touching myself.”

“that could mean so many things. c’mon, baby, be specific.”

there was another low hum, and then “i’m fingering myself,” she mumbled, panting softly, “i’ve got…two fingers inside me. my…thumb is rubbing my clit.” there was a little pause, just her breathy little sighs, and then she continued. “i wish it was yours, though.”

your eyes fluttered closed, picturing it. imagining your mouth against hers, tongue against hers, feeling her teeth nip gently at your lower lip when you tried to pull away to kiss down the rest of her body. one hand holding her jaw, nikki taking your thumb into her mouth, lips closing around the digit while she looked up at you like she wasn’t doing anything at all.

fuck.

“wish it were mine too,” you mumbled weakly.

there was another sharp inhale from nikki, a sound that you knew like the back of your hand.

“ah, fuck,” she whined out, “i’m so close.”

“yeah?” you replied, automatic, “you’re gonna cum?”

“yeah, i’m gonna—shit—“

there was a low, choked whimper on the other end. for a few long seconds, there was nothing but empty silence. with a little smile, you whispered, “nikki?”

then came her panting. her breaths came heavy, deep. she let out a weak, tired laugh, and then the short sound of rustling sheets.

“fuck,” she whispered into the speaker, “that was…” she let out another vague laugh, and then sighed, deep and slow. “sorry for waking you up.”

“this is, like, the only situation where i’d ever want to be woken up in.”

nikki hummed, slow. “that made me so tired.”

“post-cum sleep?” you murmured, grinning now. “i’ll let you go then, if you want. can i come over tomorrow?”

“i’d be pissed if you didn’t,” she murmured, teasing. “yeah, you can come over.”

“good,” you breathed out, smiling as you laid back down with the phone still pressed to your ear. you weren’t tired anymore—at all—and you weren’t sure how nikki expected you to fall asleep after all of that. “i’m gonna rock your world, freeman.”

“fuck, you’re cringe.”

The white fabric sits there sharp and new, soaking up the thick pink froth that was seeping wider by the second. It wasn't 'new', not exactly, it's been in your closet for months now, but this is the first time you wore it out. Every so often you'd pause in front of it as you skimmed through your closet, fingers hovering above the hanger. And then you'd push past it again, waiting for a better time. You had spent weeks protecting it from life, only to choose the exact wrong moment to finally let it live.

"Napkins, napkins,” Sarah says under her breath, moving before she finishes standing.

Seconds later, she materializes beside Nikki, who’s now skillfully moving your hair out of the way and behind your shoulders. Thin cocktail napkins are swiftly slapped onto your shirt, and the two girls work together while you watch, momentarily stunned into silence. Rubbing hard only makes the red syrup sink deeper into the fabric, spreading through the threads and dyeing the silver sequins. It's no use.

Across the table, Ian’s seat groans when he sinks lower. Bent at the waist now, arms locked tight around his middle, his laughter devolves into gasps without noise, face stretched in a silent scream while his whole frame jerks like something loose has snapped. Bear just keeps coughing, his eyes nearly bulging out of his skull while he attempts to rub his stinging lips with the edge of his shirt. When he finally is able to take a deep breath, his fingers stretch your way, then they freeze, afraid to make contact with the mess.

"I'm—" Bear coughs again, his eyes watering from the spice. "Holy shit, I didn't mean to… do that." He gestures wildly at his half-full glass. He didn't even taste it first, just downed half of the drink as if he had ordered it a thousand times before. "The picture made it look like a slushie! I didn't even look at the-- I didn't think it'd be straight tequila and fire. God, fuck, that was awful."

There’s a trail of red still oozing from the side of his mouth, dribbling down his chin, and his cheeks are almost the same shade as the stain on your shirt. He's rocking back and forth in his seat just slightly, and he keeps harshly squeezing his eyes shut every few seconds like it can erase the memory of the last five minutes. It’s evident that he didn’t intend to spit up like a baby all over you, but intent and innocence are two very different concepts.

You go through a million different responses in your brain.

And yet, you settle on:

"It's totally fine," you manage to say as Nikki shoves the last of the soaked napkins into her empty water cup. "No worries."

Ian finally is able to speak after several ragged inhales, swiping a tear from his eye. "That's probably the first time Bear has ever gotten someone wet—" He doubles over again, his laughter cutting through the silence of the table.

"Dude. Shut up." Bear coughs lamely a final time, his chair scraping against the ground as he stands. The wood table soaks up the remnants of his drink, leaving a crimson blob in its wake. He doesn’t look at it.

Instead, he glances at the neon-red blob that’s currently bleeding into his shirt collar, and then at the matching, much larger ruin soaking into yours. "I'm going to order another drink. A beer, or… something." Bear mutters. He shifts his weight between both legs, rubbing the back of his neck, and then pulls back when he realizes his hand is also covered in syrup. He rubs his palms on his jeans as he speaks again, “I can get more napkins, if that would… help?"

His voice fades into nothingness as he poses the question, but his eyes never meet yours. Instead, they fixate on Nikki’s, lingering for a brief moment before darting behind her, then returning to her and nervously scanning her features. He tracks her reaction, waiting for her to absolve him. There's a sharp remark somewhere in you, clawing at your throat. You swallow it down.

Nikki intercepts the pleading stare with an ease that almost makes it look like she didn't notice it at all. She looks from Bear, to you, and back to Bear.

"I… think that you've done enough." she sighs, swatting her hand towards the bar to dismiss him. As he scrambles off, she pivots to you, already tugging at the zipper of her jacket. "Here. Take my jacket. I have a tank top underneath, so it's not a big deal. We can go to the bathroom and change."

"No, no, it's fine, you don't have to—"

You don't have time to finish the sentence before she's pulling you up by the wrist and dragging you towards the restroom.

"Nope, I would be an awful friend if I let you spend the rest of the night uncomfortable." she says, pulling you toward the restrooms. "Besides, maybe if we wet the shirt before the stain sets, you'll be able to wash it out. C'mon."

You allow yourself to be pulled along, and despite you trailing behind her as if you don't want to go with her, there's a smile on your face.

"Okay, here," she shrugs off her sun-bleached bomber jacket and shoves it into your hands before you can object. It's molded to her body from use, and there's deep, soft lines where the leather bends. The elbows are faded, it's lined with scuffs and scars that could tell a story if you looked at them the right way, and there's cue chalk on the cuff of the left sleeve from the last time the group went out and played pool. "Go change. I'll stand guard here, my liege."

You don't fight her on it. You're entirely too eager to get out of your ruined top—the cold, damp fabric is clinging to your skin, chafing against you and making you want to scream. "Why, thank you, my loyal subject," you reply, slipping into a mock posh-accent as you hold the jacket up like a prize. "Do hold the perimeter, I would absolutely hate to get into another…" You trail off, searching for a suitably aristocratic word before finally settling on, "…kerfuffle?"

"Absolutely no kerfuff-ing here." Nikki promises, flashing a mock salute. "Now," she shoves you lightly into the stall behind you, "get changed. Be quick so we can try to get that stain out."

The heavy metal door clicks shut, leaving you alone in the cramped space. You hang the jacket onto the door hook, taking a moment to breathe. Above, a flickering neon sign begs, 'PLEASE DON'T DO COKE IN THE BATHROOM', and it bleeds into the dim overhead light. The stall is a masterpiece of the usual peeling band stickers, phone numbers, and scratched-out initials. The walls are an endless canvas of graffiti, some intentionally painted by the owners, but most added on over the years by patrons. You manage to maneuver yourself awkwardly out of your shirt without messing up what's left of your outfit tonight. When you set it on top of the toilet paper holder, a few small red droplets fall to the ground. You grimace, quickly scuffing them into the linoleum with the sole of your shoe. The smear on the floor, combined with the claustrophobia of the stall, brings back memories of too many late nights hunched over this exact toilet after one shot too many.

Over the thrum of 3 Doors Down crooning through the speakers, Nikki's laughter echos against the bathroom tiles. She's somehow found herself chattering away with a group of tipsy girls. You zip up the jacket, grab your shirt, and push the door open. Nikki is in deep focus, face to face with a familiar stranger from the bar. She's carefully using her pinky nail to clean up the woman's makeup, dragging the edge of the eyeliner until the cat-eye is perfectly sharp. She repeats the motion on the other side and then takes a small step back, squinting to asses the symmetry.

A satisfied nod gives way to an enthusiastic grin. "Perfect!" Nikki claps her hands together, bouncing lightly on her heels. "You look stunning!"

The woman revels in the compliment for a moment, turning to the mirror to take in her updated look. She beams, thanking Nikki profusely before she stumbles out with her friends in tow.

When the door behind her closes, Nikki turns to you. She takes in the the sight of in her jacket for a second too long before rapidly bringing her attention back to your face. "Speaking of looking good! Are you more comfortable now?"

Nodding, you smooth out non-existent wrinkles on your—well, her—jacket. "So much more comfortable. Thank you again. You're an actual lifesaver."

Stepping up to the sink, you drop the sticky top into the basin. It hits the porcelain with a heavy thwack. You reach to crank on the hot water, but Nikki's hand shoots out, catching your wrist.

"Jesus, no, you're going to make it worse!" She scolds, but there's an amused edge to her voice. "Here, let me—"

She gently nudges you with her hip to move you aside, but she stays close, making sure you’re watching. "First rule of spilled drinks," She begins, deliberately turning the faucet dial to cold water. "Never use hot water. Ever."

She flips the top inside out, positioning the back of the stains directly underneath the cold stream. "Second rule, always flush it out from the back so you don't push the dye deeper… or whatever google said last time I looked this up.”

She holds the fabric in place for a moment before pausing, standing up straighter. Her eyes dart around the room for a moment until they land on the abandoned glass of soda water one of the women from before had left. "I'm a genius. I hope you know that. A true genius."

Without missing a beat, she plucks the lime wedge off the rim.

"What are you doing?" you ask.

"Science," Nikki replies simply, a small, triumphant smirk on her face. She squeezes the lime directly over the red splotch. "Citric acid breaks down the fruit dye. This ain't my first rodeo."

After a few more minutes of meticulous dabbing (not scrubbing), you grab the soaking shirt and wring it out. It's not perfect, it probably never will be again, but it's the best you're going to get it.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" you praise, holding up the newly cleaned shirt in awe. "I owe you my life, I think."

Nikki waves you off, feigning nonchalance. "It's nothing. I'm just a modern day Einstein. No big deal."

You scoff. “Oh, totally. Definitely Einstein-adjacent."

With a laugh, you turn to leave, but Nikki grabs your shoulder before you can take a step.

"Hey."

The word hangs in the air, laced with something raw and all too real. She tilts her head down, closing her eyes. All the levity from seconds ago is gone, replaced with a tight, unfamiliar seriousness. Her eyes are open now, but they remained glued to the floor.

"I, um, I figure I should say this now and tell you before everyone else," she stammers. "To, you know, give you a heads up, because we're…" She releases your shoulder, gesturing vaguely between the two of you. "Yeah. But… I put in my two weeks today."

You freeze. A sick sort of desperation gnaws on your chest, and you can almost feel sharp teeth sinking into your heart. Do something, your mind screams, say anything to make her stay. But the impulse is extremely selfish, and guilt paralyzes you. Besides, you know better. You're well aware that once Nikki makes up her mind, there's no convincing her otherwise.

"Oh." Is all you can say for a long while, and it feels entirely inadequate, but it’s all you can manage. The shirt suddenly feels heavy in your hands. "I wasn't expecting that." You add with a nervous chuckle. "Cassell's not cutting it for you anymore?"

Nikki lets out a huff of air that barely counts as a laugh. "I mean, not really? I mostly took this job to pass time, honestly. And then I got the fellowship I was talking about a while back to be a Writer-in-Residence, and I just…"

There's an attempt to meet your eyes that's immediately followed by her eyes darting back to the ground again. She digs the heel of her boot into the floor like she could chip through it and fall into the abyss—an easy escape from a difficult conversation.

"…A Writer-in-Residence?" You prompt, if only to fill the silence before it eats you alive. You have an idea of what it is, but now hearing her talk is something that comes with a countdown, and every moment with her is another grain of sand that falls to the bottom of the hourglass.

"It's, yeah, it's kinda like… insane, honestly. They're giving me a stipend to live on, and an apartment to live in for the next ten months. No dealing with fuck-ass customers who don't know the difference between a violin and a viola, you know?" She offers another fake laugh that falls flat, but you appreciate her trying to inject some levity into the situation. "All I have to do is sit there and write my manuscript. It's literally all I've ever wanted, I couldn't turn it down."

You shake your head. "I'd never expect you to turn something like that down, Nik. It's… wow. Where is it?"

"…Chicago. I have to leave in a little over two weeks." She admits, scrubbing a hand down her face. "Which… is the only bad part about this whole thing."

You look down at the same scrapped and dirty floor tile she's been looking at. Chicago. That's a good four hour flight from LA. A whole different timezone. The desperation that was gnawing at you seems to encompass your whole body now, fingers twitching towards her like you want to do something you're not sure of yet. You're desperately searching for a plan, something to fix this, to make it better, but there's nothing you can think of that would make it work. You can't pull her out of her orbit and into yours, you're two different people with different ambitions. You've been content with watching as she circles her needs while you circle your own.

But you can't watch her from states away, and neither of you have plans on switching trajectories.

You sneak a glance at Nikki, and she looks so utterly defeated. She shouldn't be, this is her dream. She shouldn't be worried to tell you that she just got the opportunity of a lifetime.

"Well," you start, forcing your voice steady, "We're wasting time in here, aren't we? We should be ordering shots." You nudge her foot with yours. "Celebrating your new job, and shit. If we have a timer going, I'm not wasting it in a bathroom. Come on, I'll buy the table a round of shots and we can make the most of the time we have, deal?"

Nikki perks up, the ghost of a smile forming on her face. "Deal."

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@i-will-give-you-love @poisonlove @indigo491

despite your mood, you aren't able to take your eyes off of her and those pearly white teeth. she's sharing high-fives with her whole table, congratulating them even though they didn't contribute to the answers she's been spewing for the past three rounds at all.

"that's ridiculous," you grumble, shaking your head and taking a sip of your drink.

ariel, a friend of a friend, laughs softly next to you. "unbelievable, honestly," he adds on, arms crossed over his chest in defeat. he's definitely given in to the feeling at this point, just sitting back and watching his own team tank their reputation.

across the table, phoebe narrows her eyes. "dude, you've got to be kidding me. that girl has been killing us since before the first round even started."

you nod in agreement, laughing quietly when she grabs at her blonde hair and pretends to scream in frustration. at least she can find the good in this terrible, ego-ruining situation.

the host pauses for a few minutes, letting the song play for a minute or two to let everything air out—maybe the tension.

or maybe he forgot to pause it again.

whatever it is, you just wish he'd ask the next question because you need to prove that you're smart.

the dark-haired girl across the room is still laughing it up with her friends, throwing her hands up as if she's retelling a story that's ten times more annoying replaying it in her head now that she's really getting the chance to think about what happened.

there's a gleam in her eyes—bright and full—that you're hoping to get rid of with your next correct answer. well... okay, maybe not get rid of, because that makes you sound like an asshole. maybe just... make it dim for a couple of rounds as you start taking charge of the scoreboard and bring your team to victory.

you want those cheap, plastic crowns they give the winners more than anything.

for no reason but to have bragging rights!

"i'm never coming to trivia night again if they win," you mutter, eyeing the girl you've had it out for all night.

across the room, she grins.

the weird thing is, she's not grinning at her friends this time. no, she's not even looking at her friends, or anyone elses friends, she's looking directly at you. like she heard the whisper even from two tables over and it amused her more than words could explain, so she just had to smile and rub it in your face.

she looks like she's enjoying your sorrow, relishing in the fact that she's the one who's beating your ass and making you hunch over like some high school kid with the worst posture you'd ever seen.

you... dislike it.

because hate is too strong of a word to use on a pretty girl at your local bar's trivia night.

they host trivia every wednesday night, and usually it's pretty low stakes, but you love the rush of winning anyway. a couple college students, some older men and women, regulars you see on normal nights nursing beers while arguing about obscure movie facts. they never participate during trivia night, and yet they still argue in dark corners about the right and wrong answers. admittedly, you used to be one of those people.

but now? now you're out for blood, and you're prepared in every aspect of the word. tonight, however, has somehow turned you into a feral vampire. now that you realize you're against some real competition, you're sole purpose of being here tonight is beating her.

whatever her name is.

"alright, let's keep the ball rolling!" the host yells, earning a few shouts and claps from the trivia tables.

finally.

the girl across the room seems to drop her attention from you and focus back on the middle-aged host, his hair wild and his beard thick.

you're focused too, so much so you keep your eyes trained on her to... track her movements and possibly catch any cheating tactics... before tearing your eyes away and paying all your attention to the host. you're just trying to catch her cheating, you tell yourself.

the host clears his throat. "round four, general knowledge."

pssh, easy.

upon the host revealing the category, the rooms hushes to overall silence.

"question one," he begins, "which planet in our solar system has the most moons?"

every table immediately breaks out into inaudible whispers, muttering too loud every so often with the wrong answer that someone definitely locks in and presses their buzzer with in mind.

you ignore it. instead, you lean down to converse with your teammates. "jupiter, right?"

phoebe cringes in disbelief. "no, doofus, it's saturn."

"yeah," ariel confirms, ever the all-things-space-lover. "i'm pretty sure saturn passed it recently."

glancing around the table one last time, you make sure the two of them give you a reassuring nod before standing up straight and slamming your hard onto the buzzer with aggression you'd never known you were capable of before tonight.

the host turns, nodding over at your table for the answer.

but across the room, the dark-haired girl presses down on her buzzer at the exact same moment you do. instantly, you glare over at her table.

unable to tell which table buzzed in first, the host points at both tables and asks for the answer, willing to provide both teams with a point.

"saturn!" you call first, hoping you're quick enough to be the only table to get the point.

the shorter girl smirks smugly across the room, shrugs her shoulders like this entire thing is a joke to her, and leans over the table to make sure the host hears her answer clearly. "saturn. it has one hundred forty-six moons."

you frown at her addition of the exact number.

both teams score the point either way.

and still, that's not enough to satisfy your need to beat her at this stupid game.

upon the ding sounding on the stage and the scoreboard lighting up with a point for both table one and table four, the girl across the room grabs her glass and raises it toward your table. a peace offering, one might think. you, however, see it as mockery, and narrow your eyes competitively in response.

the host makes sure the score is correct before tapping his mic and asking the next question.

"question two," he hums. "who painted the starry night?"

ariel is pressing the button before you can even blink, taking your job for you, much to your dismay.

he whispers, "van gogh."

"obviously! but i could've pressed the button myself!" you reprimand him, swatting his hand away until he's practically melting into phoebe's lap in pain that's entirely fake and unnecessary.

you turn back to the host, glancing at your rival before parting your lips to speak.

"van gogh."

once again, both teams hit their buzzer at the same time.

and, again, both teams are correct.

you're pissed.

in a playful, competitive game-night way.

phoebe laughs from across your table, patting ariel's shoulder in utter amusement. you turn to face her and give her the biggest frown she thinks she's ever seen in all her years of living.

"i think there's steam pouring from your ears," ariel teases.

you can't help but laugh at him. despite that, you reach down to your fry basket and throw one square at his face, then one at phoebe's chest. they both eat them without a care in the world.

again, the scoreboard lights up with a point for two teams, and the host continues on with the questions.

"how many players are on the field for one soccer team during play?" the host inquires, the sound of him scratching his beard caught in the mic.

table four buzzes in.

ariel yells over the noise, "eleven!"

one point for your team, none for hers.

"what is the capital of new zealand?"

before your teammates even have time to speak or work out the answer with you, you're already pressing down on the buzzer, confidence flowing through your veins faster than it has all night.

"auckland," you answer, cocky.

bzz.

"incorrect!" the host hollers, twirling his finger in the air.

table one buzzes in right after.

this time, however, a guy stands up and throws an answer out there for his team. he looks a little rough around the edges, eyes darting to his teammates and back to the host like he's nervous or something. his cheeks are flushed, and he can't help but stare at your dark-haired rival after he yells, "wellington."

ding!

the host whistles. "wellington, correct!"

table one erupts into cheers and laughter of all kinds.

you simply drop your head onto the table dramatically and huff out a loud, long sigh of disappointment. giggles sound from the table across the room, and you can't help but peer up a little and catch your opponent fully laughing at your reaction. the guy next to her has his eyes bulging out of his head just looking at her, waiting for some sort of approval or praise or... whatever.

he looks very out of place in a space like this.

seconds later, the host winds up another question. "question four... in greek mythology, who flew too close to the sun?"

phoebe, pressing the button and whispering the answer, nods up at you to call it out.

"table four, your answer?"

quietly, you nervously answer, "...icarus?"

everyone at table one holds their breath for a few of the longest seconds ever, then the host checks his answer cards and steps up to the mic again, eyes drifting between the two tables that have been competing neck-and-neck since the start of the night.

"correct!" he calls. "one point for table four, which means they're tied with table one. twenty-seven to twenty-seven!"

the questions continue on before round four's almost ready to commence, and as both teams get the answer to the last question of round three, the host begins to realize the little rivalry between them.

more so, between you and... that girl.

"looks like we've got a battle brewing between table one and table four tonight," he sings.

your teammates laugh.

her team cheers obnoxiously over the music.

and, for the second time that night, the girl raises her glass towards your table. maybe as another peace offering, but you shoot it down with a cock of your eyebrow before finally sitting down.

she winks before you take your eyes off of her, and you can't help but feel your heart flutter a little inside your chest. she's annoyingly good—both at trivia and managing to get under the skin of a complete and total stranger who has been trying to beat her and her team since they walked in at the beginning of the night.

history, geography, music—she's managed to keep up with you in all of those categories, and it really doesn't matter which one she's put up against. every time you think you've finally managed to get her, she pulls some impossible answer out of absolutely nowhere. it's honestly impressive, but frustrating nonetheless.

"how do you know that?!" you call across the room after the correctly identifies a zoomed-in picture of a painting from some almost-prehistoric artist.

she cups her hands around her mouth before yelling.

"because i'm smart!"

ariel and phoebe immediately start booing. playfully, of course, because they're enjoying this banter almost just as much as you are.

the blonde girl across from you calls, "you're sexy, too!"

"thank you!" she yells back, laughing.

the third round ultimately ends in a tie.

a tie.

after an hour and a half of competition.

the host promises a sudden-death tiebreaker after a short break—"to give time to cool everyone down," he says—and the entire room explodes into conversation. everyone starts moving out of their seats, going to the bathroom, wandering outside for some air or a quick cigarette break, talking with their competitors.

everyone's just doing whatever they can do to get their minds off the showdown that awaits them after the break.

after some careful deliberation, you decide that you need a drink. and a few minutes away from the mess of food and drinks that already occupy the table, all done by the two idiots across the table from you.

you're only kidding, of course, because they're your idiots, and they've been helping keep the score up.

"okay," you clap your hands together, pushing your chair out from the table to stand up. "i'm going to grab myself a well-deserved drink."

ariel glances over, fry halfway into his mouth. "get me one?"

"me too," phoebe adds.

rolling your eyes, you wave them off.

"i think you guys have had enough for tonight," you decide playfully, "i'm officially cutting you off."

both of them groan in faux-annoyance before waving you off with their tongues sticking out, ariel throwing up his middle finger at you once you turn your back.

you rub your forehead on the short walk there, laughing quietly at just how ridiculous and wild this night has become. what you thought walking in tonight would just be a normal trivia night has become one you'll remember for the years to come. it's fun, you can't lie, and definitely one of the better nights you've had as of late.

and maybe you're a little grateful for the dark-haired girl who's been beating your ass all night. she's a good competitor, someone on your teams level, and your level of respect for her has only grown as the minutes passed lighting quick tonight. you, however, need a moment away from that headspace to calm yourself down and collect your thoughts for the next round. sudden-death is pretty tense, although you've never went up against a team who's pushed yours into it.

luck needs to be on your side tonight for this to work out in your teams favor. you need table one to slip up on their answer and lose.

you need this—

oh.

so much for clearing your head.

there your opponent is, leaning against the bar.

she's already looking at you, smile widening at the perplexed look on your face.

"fancy seeing you here," she chirps.

you let out a laugh, filled with disbelief. "oh, hell no."

the girl's brows furrow, jaw dropping slightly as she turns a little, just enough to look at you but still lean comfortably against the bar. "what? what's with that look on your face, you weirdo?"

"you've spent the last hour and a half making my life miserable!" you exclaim, though a smile still manages to creep on your face.

she's even prettier up close.

she places a hand over her heart, feigning offense.

frowning playfully, she says, "miserable? i thought we were having a little bit of fun."

you scoff.

"we?"

the dark-haired girl shrugs. "sure."

she grabs her drink from the bar, taking a sip without breaking the eye contact you were somehow brave enough to trigger. even then, that pretty smile never leaves her mouth.

neither does the smugness in her expression.

"you looked like you were enjoying yourself," she comments, setting her glass back down. she tilts her head, eyes flicking down once before returning to your eyes.

you shift your weight, one hand in your pocket, the other hanging by your side. "yeah, i was enjoying you getting simple answers wrong."

she rolls her eyes.

"okay, auckland."

a giggle bubbles up in the back of her throat.

this girl is really laughing at her own joke like she's the funniest person to ever walk the earth. and she's laughing right in your face! god, this girl is evil in more ways than the ones you've seen.

a beat passes.

then two. and you're not even attempting to walk away.

neither of you move even an inch away from each other, which is weird. because if someone had asked you ten minutes ago, you'd have said that this girl is the absolute bain of your existence and the most irritating girl you'd ever laid eyes on.

yet standing here, away from the noise and overwhelmingly competitive game, she seems... different. still cocky, and impossible, and annoying, but somehow a little more likeable. she's more real this close, warmer in the aspect of her personality and the sweetness laced in the sound of her laughs and voice. maybe she isn't as evil and frustrating as you'd originally thought.

she notices the switch in your demeanor, too. how you let yourself relax a little more, shoulders not drawn as tight as they were before. your eyes have now gone back to their original size, which scratches her belief that they might be stuck in a permanently thin line after you go home tonight and try shutting your eyes to sleep. if you even do, seeing as you're full of knowledge.

"are you always this competitive?" she asks suddenly.

you blink, eyes flicking back to her. "only when i see someone as real competition."

she nods, satisfied.

"good answer," she adds.

"and you?" you fire right after, tilting your head in the same way she did at the beginning of your conversation. she notices, her lips curling a little higher. "what are you like?"

the girl laughs, and you let out a small chuckle.

"oh, i'm awful."

go figure. she's been killing every team at this bar all night with her endless knowledge of all things weird, crazy, and literally insane. it's been funny watching how she celebrates, though, so that makes up for it.

you nod. "that much is obvious," you reply. "i don't even know why i asked."

"see?" she says through another round of giggles, smile bright and wide. "this is why i like you."

huh.

she likes you.

"what?" you ask, smile a mix of confusion and amusement.

the girl simply shrugs in response, brushing the words off like she hadn't even said them in the first place. it makes you laugh again, and only then do you realize you'd never even caught her name in the past five minutes that you've been brewing a conversation up with her.

maybe it's because she's your opponent, but still, that's basic manners, and you're not trying to seem like an asshole.

you lean a little harder against the bar, picking at a loose thread in your jeans. "i just realized i never caught your name... and that's always pretty important during conversations."

her eyes drift back to yours, widening for a moment like she just realized.

"oh shit," she gasps. "you're totally right."

"i tend to be," you tease.

she rolls her eyes but continues nonetheless. "i'm nikki."

nikki.

even her name is gorgeous.

you nod. "i'm y/n. it's nice to meet you, nikki."

"you too, y/n."

the way she says it makes you cringe, cheeks flushing. "awhh, don't say it like that!"

nikki cocks a brow in confusion, and yet she still laughs and physically recoils a little. "like what? i didn't even say it in any sort of way!"

"yes, you did!"

the shorter girl lets her jaw drop in confusion.

when you open your eyes again, she's already looking directly at you. and jeez, her eyes are so mesmerizing to stare into.

you just stare for a second.

then she laughs.

slowly, the moment passes. and before you know it, her drink is gone and you're both still staring at each other with miniature stars in your eyes. the music continues to play through the overhead speakers, the trivia break still ongoing as people continue to whisper and gossip about which team they think will win.

you've found yourself to be quite comfortable in the presence of your so-called rival, which is starting to become less weird as the seconds pass. she's not half as bad as you thought she was.

"y'know, everyone else got annoyed and gave up in the middle of round two because we were both, like, ten points ahead of all of them," she comments, nodding over at the half-empty tables in the middle of the room.

and it's true, everyone but your two tables gave up because they knew they'd be just be fighting themselves if they even attempted to continue.

her eyes meet yours again.

"you keep firing back," she finalizes. "that's why i like you."

for the first time all night, you don't have a comeback.

render yourself speechless.

literally.

nikki notices without any struggle.

because of course she does.

a slow grin spreads across her lips, smug and knowing.

"wow," she hums.

"no. don't say anything."

she shrugs and says something anyway. "you're speechless."

you shake your head. "i'm not."

"oh, you totally are."

her response and relentless elicits a groan from you, feigning annoyance as you throw your head back before your eyes return to hers.

nikki laughs again, and it's so nice.

she's so nice.

which is unfortunate, because now you're starting to notice things. the way she leans closer when she talks, just so you can hear her over the music. the little beauty mark just below her left eye. the fact that her confidence somehow feels more charming than arrogant when you're standing this close. how she's likeable in more ways than one now that you've got a little glimpse of her true personality beyond the competitive nature of it.

neither of you notices the host calling people back until someone shouts that the tiebreaker is officially starting and that everyone needs to get back to their tables to watch the showdown.

dramatic, now that you're thinking about it.

nikki pushes off the bar.

"that's our cue," she hums, sweet.

you point at her, a little closer than you were before. "if i lose, i'm putting the blame entirely on you."

"if you lose, it's because i'm smarter."

rolling your eyes, you step away from the bar.

"keep dreaming, nikki."

she starts walking backwards toward her table, eyes still locked on you. she's moving slowly, almost like she doesn't want the moment to end just yet. the feeling is mutual, and you're sure she notices.

"you know," she says, "if i win, i think you owe me a drink."

"and if i win?"

nikki smiles, bright and beautiful.

"then i guess i owe you one," she shrugs.

the host calls everyone to attention a few seconds after she spins on her heel and turns her back to you. at the announcers voice, the room quiets once more, buzzing with tension—but a little less now.

nikki takes her seat, still watching you from across the room with that permanent smirk of hers.

she's still glowing.

and now you're not so sure if you want to beat her anymore, not sure if you even want those cheap plastic crowns that the winners get every thursday. maybe you just want this night to keep going, maybe never end.

maybe you just want to make sure you see next thursday.

and the one after that.

and after that.

and maybe even between trivia nights.