Jen and me got on really well. Over the next three months we became really
close. I took her out loads of places on dates and I even convinced her to come
to a few of Howie and AJ’s parties, with the rest of the guys and their
friends, family, wives or girlfriends.
But something was wrong. It wasn’t obvious but
I knew her well now. She was purposefully staying distant from me to a certain
extent. It was as if she had something to hide, something she didn’t want me to
know about, but I didn’t want to upset her by challenging her about it.
My mind drifted back to the bar, when she
agreed to get to know each other better. That hint of doubt in her voice…..
I was jerked back to reality as Jen rested her
head on my shoulder, fast asleep. We were in Brian and Leighanne’s car, being
driven home from the nightclub. I smiled at her sleeping form. The car was
pulled over at Jen’s apartment, and Brian leaned over to me, "We’re at
Jen’s! Shall I wait here for you?"
"Yeah, please!" I replied as I gently
picked Jen up, not wanting to wake her.
I carried her to the door, and awkwardly tried
to open the door with her keys with one hand while holding her in both arms.
After fumbling about a bit, I got the door open. I laid her down on the couch
and kissed her forehead, before going back out. Locking the door from the
outside, I pushed her keys through the letterbox so she was locked in safe and
got her keys back.
I went back to the car and was driven home. I waved goodbye to Brian and
Leighanne and stepped inside. Feeling a bit tipsy, I collapsed on my own couch
and instantly fell asleep.
Kevin’s point of view
I sat watching more news about increased sightings of UFO’s across the world.
Things seemed tense with the other guys, except AJ, who didn’t seem to believe
in ET or anything.
I switched off the TV as the phone rang.
Kristin picked it up before I could move.
"Hello? Yeah ……. OK…… right, I’ll tell
him. Bye."
Kristin put down the phone.
"That was Brian. He said if you see or
hear from Nick, could you tell him?" she informed.
"Why? Has he not tried his cell?" I
asked.
"Yeah, but he isn’t answering either his
home phone or his cell."
"Not like him to be up this early……… ah
well, he probably couldn’t sleep or something. Or he won’t get up!" I
chuckled.
Brian’s point of view
I put my phone down after calling Kevin’s house. I was confused. Nick was never
up this early, and he rarely ignored his cell phone.
"Is everything OK?" Leighanne asked,
putting Lil’ Tyke down on the floor.
"I’ve called his cell three times already
and he isn’t answering," I worried.
"Maybe he’s asleep," she suggested.
"But he always answers his cell after at
least two tries!" I dismayed.
"He did have a lot to drink at AJ’s party
last night, Brian," she reassured.
"Yeah, you’re probably right,"
I hoped she was. I’d hate to think Nick had been kidnapped or
something. I was becoming such a worrier.
Nick’s point of view
After getting up early, I hastily got ready and
ate some breakfast. I felt lonely in the house by myself, so decided to go and
see Jen before she left for work.
It was still dark when I left, and a bit chilly
outside, and I absent-mindedly left my cell at home. I didn’t realise I didn’t
have it with me until I reached for it to call Jen and tell her I was coming in
the car.
Withdrawing my hand, I shrugged my shoulders
and turned back to the road, just in time to see someone or something trying to
dive out of the way of my car. I slammed on my brakes and closed my eyes, but
too late.
I heard the thud as metal met the person or
animal.
When I opened my eyes, I looked out of the window
to see what I had hit. In the darkness, it looked like a dog, lying sprawled on
the tarmac. I sighed unhappily and sat back in my seat.
"Hey, watch it next time, buddy!" a
deep voice, about the same deepness as AJ’s, shouted at me.
I spun my head in the direction of the sound.
The thing I thought was a dog was now standing upright, rubbing his head. He
turned and ran down the next street, limping.
As I sat, I concluded that it must have been
some kid heading home from partying all night, and they must have dived out of
the way in time. The thud might have been the car hitting the curb.
Shaking myself back to reality, I reversed back
onto the road and headed towards Jen’s again.
I parked outside her apartment and locked my car up. As I approached her door,
I could hear voices, Jen’s and another, male voice. I frowned in worry. Was Jen
cheating on me?! As I pondered, I put my ear to the door and listened.
"How did this happen?" Jen asked,
irritated.
"Look, I just sprained my ankle a little
trying to get out of the way," the guy protested.
"You tell me to be careful with Nick when
you can’t even cross a road safely!" she sighed.
"You know I don’t like that guy!"
"I don’t care. It’s my life!" Jen
stated. "Anyway, are you sure you’ll be alright on that leg?"
"I’m sure," he moaned.
I frowned at the familiar voice. The guy that
was in there was the same guy he had nearly run over a few blocks back! I’d had
enough. I banged my fist on the door angrily.
A few seconds passed before Jen opened it. She immediately
saw the rage in my expression.
"Nick, what’s wrong?"
"Who the hell were you talking to?" I
asked, fuming.
Jen’s face dropped, showing fear. She gulped,
backing off.
"WELL?" I raged.
"You’d better come inside," she
stated, stepping aside.