Chapter 13
Mark tried to break free when Magda kissed him, but he was so tired and he felt like the world was spinning that he just couldn’t get Magda off him. He suddenly thought of Toni, the pain welling up in his chest. He wanted her so badly, but she had hurt him badly as well, hurting his his ego and pride. He started kissing Magda back, all the time imagining and half-believing she was Toni. They pulled apart, breathless. Magda was about to lean in for another kiss when Mark pushed her away. He was so confused. “I’m sorry.” he told Magda. She was about to open her mouth to speak but Mark had already went in the house and shut the door behind him. He ran blindly towards his room, frequently stumbling or knocking something over. “Mark!” his parents cried as they saw him running across the hall and into his room. He locked his room and flung himself on the bed. He could hear his parents knocking on his door and calling out his name, but it was as if he heard it from afar. His mind was so full of questions and the answers to them were just so unacceptable. After what seemed like an eternity to him, they eventually stopped knocking on his door. He couldn’t believe he actually thought that it was Toni he was kissing. He wanted Magda to be Toni at that moment that he half-believed it was her. He cried tears of confusion and frustration. He totally didn’t know what to do.
Toni just sat in her bed, totally drenched from the rain. The other girls sat around her, wondering what she could be thinking of. They pleaded for her to change her clothes but she couldn’t be bothered. She didn’t speak, and her eyes had this far away look in them, almost as if she were in a dreamy state, although she looked like she was having a nightmare. Tears were falling from her eyes, but she didn’t even bother to wipe them away.
It was getting late, and they were all tired, so one by one they left Toni, giving her a hug before they left. Sandra was the last one to go out of the room. She didn’t want to leave Toni. She looked so delicately fragile that she looked as if she would break at the snap of a finger. She sat in front of Toni, who had been looking out the window. Sandra tried talking to her. “I’ll be at my room if you need me okay?” she said, going over to the door. “Don’t worry about me too much. I’ll be okay.” Toni answered, making Sandra turn around. “Okay.” she said as she shut the door behind her.
It was already late in the evening, and Toni felt so tired. But she couldn’t sleep. All she could see was an image of Mark and Magda kissing. She couldn’t believe how Mark had so easily replaced her, and with someone she greatly disliked. Mark told her before that he had gone out with Magda, and it was one of the biggest mistakes he had ever made. Suddenly wanting to talk to someone, she picked up the phone and dialed a number absentmindedly. Upon realizing that she had rang Mark’s number, she slammed the phone down. She picked it up again, and slowly dialed another number. “Hello?” “Hi… I’m so sorry to call you at such a late hour…” “Toni! I didn’t realize it was you. Listen, we didn’t catch Mark at the hotel. Are you okay?” “Oh Nicky, things couldn’t get worse.” “Hang on a sec.” “I’ll tell you what, “ Nicky said as he went back on the line. “Since I’m already wide awake, why don’t I go over there and cheer you up?” “Oh no, you really don’t have to. I just needed someone to talk to. And I’m really sorry to wake you up.” Toni said, feeling herself blushing, and she didn’t know why. “Well, I’ve made up my mind. Whether you like it or not, I’m going.” “Nicky!” But before Toni could protest any further, he had hung up the phone.
Half an hour later, Toni was about to fall asleep when she heard a tap on her window. She had her back turned away from it, and her heart nearly jumped from her chest. “Could it be?” she thought. She turned around excitedly. Her face fell, as she saw it was Nicky. She thought it was Mark, for he always would tap at her window when they would go and watch the sunrise. She went out of the room and opened the door. Nicky gave her a hug, then he picked a paper bag from a chair. “I brought you these, ‘cause I know you like them and I’m quite certain these will cheer you up.” he said, as he handed it over. “Chocolate chip cookies! Thanks!” exclaimed Toni. Nicky sat down on the sofa while Toni went in the kitchen. She placed the cookies on a plate and poured some milk on two glasses. Nicky meanwhile, made a detour towards Alessia’s room. Seeing that the door was open, he looked in, to see if Alessia was alright. Seeing that she was sleeping soundly, he walked in and planted a soft kiss on her cheek as he pulled the covers up to her chin to keep her warm. Toni saw this, and she felt so happy for them. They were so much in love, like she and Mark had been a couple of months ago. Nicky sat beside her, and they started eating. “So, what is it you wanted to talk about?” Nicky said, munching a mouthful of cookies. He swallowed hard, and he continued to ask cautiously, “Is it… Mark?” he said gently. Toni sighed softly. She told Nicky the whole story, while trying to fight the tears that were threatening to pour down at any moment. She swore to herself that she wouldn’t cry anymore, for it showed her just how weak she was, and she was tired of crying all because of Mark. But the pain was just too great to escape. Nicky was absolutely speechless after hearing the whole story. He didn’t know what to say, for Toni saw it all happen with her eyes. “Well, I wouldn’t know what to do if Alessia ever did that to me, and I know she wouldn’t. All I can do is sit here with you, and try to comfort you in anyway I can, since I honestly don’t know what advice to give.” Nicky gazed into her eyes. He wished this all never happened to Toni, it was too much for anyone in this world to take. Toni looked down, trying to cover her face with her hair. She could feel herself blushing. She had never realized how cute Nicky’s eyes were. Nicky put his arm around her, holding her close. She felt herself blush even more. “Stop it!” she thought. “You know how much he loves Alessia and vice versa so stop it! And Alessia is your friend for crying out loud!” she scolded herself, feeling so embarrassed. She suddenly started crying, as she felt so safe in Nicky’s arms. The feeling made her miss Mark even more, and she cried harder, knowing that it was Magda that he now held in his arms, and not her.