Chapter 4
"Hey! Your foot went out of bounds! Penalty!!" AJ yelled.
"What?! It did not and you know it!" Nyla chuckled.
"She's right J, you're just upset that you're loosing again." Brian grinned; obviously delighted that AJ was once again loosing.
"Nu uh! I saw her foot go past the line! Automatic penalty!"
"AJ, if there had been a penalty, there would've been some kinda notice somewhere. Just face it, she's beating you, badly." Kevin smiled.
AJ mumbled. "There was a penalty."
Nyla walked over to AJ, sitting in his lap wrapping her arms around his neck, staring at him.
"Nyla...stop that." AJ squirmed below her.
She continued to stare intently at him.
"You know I hate when you do that!" AJ whined.
Still she stared at him and a reluctant smile started to spread over his lips.
"Nyyyyyylaaaaa!" He moaned, starting to chuckle.
"Ahh, that's better." She laughed, winking at him before slipping off his lap.
"No fair! You ran interference! How am I supposed to act upset and childish and throw a tantrum when you do that?!"
"That's it, you're not. Good AJ." She patted him on the head, walking back over to her chair and sitting.
"You don't play fair I tell ya!" AJ laughed.
They all laughed, continuing to tease AJ.
"I'm gonna go get something to eat. Anyone want anything?" Nyla asked as she grabbed her purse.
"Mmm...could you get me a coke? Large please." Brian asked, pulling his wallet out.
"Sure B, don't worry, I got it."
"Nyla! You pay for me every week! Let me get this!"
"Nope! Anyone else?"
Brian frowned. "I'm gonna run up a tab with you that's gonna end up a mile long."
She waved him off. "Ok, no one else?"
Everyone else passed and she started up the stairs.
"Hold up honey, I'll come with you." Scott called, coming up beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist and walking off with her.
"Be right back baby, gonna run to the ladies room." Celeste smiled, giving Nick a quick peck before jumping up and heading off.
Nick watched her leave and sighed. Sometimes he just didn't know about her. A lot of the time she acted alright, but whenever they were around Nyla, she acted like she had to prove something or whatever, other times she'd just look at him like she knew something about him that he didn't.
God he was hungry, he could've asked for something when Nyla had asked, but he hesitated and he didn't know why. It just didn't seem right for some reason.
Turning his head, his gaze locked on her and Scott standing in line waiting, his gaze drifting to Scott's arm around her waist and he sighed, he just couldn't shake that feeling, that feeling he had whenever he saw the two together, that...pain, kind of like a dull ache.
To say that he didn't still care for her would be a lie, they'd been through too much, seen too much together. She was a hard person for him to get out his system. Their breakup had not been his idea; the whole thing was complicated. All he knew was that he didn't want it to happen, but he couldn't stop it, she wouldn't let him. And for that a part of him was still mad at her.
"Nick! Earth to Nick, come in Nick!" Howie called, kicking him in the foot a bit.
Nick turned, being pulled abruptly from his thoughts. "Huh? Oh, sorry guys. What were you saying?"
"What were you looking at so hard just then? You looked ready to strangle someone." AJ announced.
"Nothing, just looking around, thinkin' ya know?"
They all studied him.
"Really guys, I'm cool."
"So, how are things going with you and Celeste?" Kevin asked, as he gestured for Brian to take his turn.
Nick shrugged. "Good."
"Ya seem really happy." Kevin went on.
"I am."
"Care to elaborate?"
"Elaborate how? I'm happy, what more can I say?"
"I just...I mean it's been about a year since you and Nyla...ya know. I'm just glad to see you're doing better."
All the guys knew how hard the break up had been for Nick, she'd been different than any of his other girlfriends, their break up hit him harder than any other. They tried hard to be friends, but it was strained. They all missed the way things used to be. They seemed so happy together, or so they thought. The next thing they knew, Nick came to them saying they'd broken up. When they asked why, he just told them it was for the best, but they weren't sure.
Nick nodded. "Yeah."
"And, things with you and Nyla?" Kevin went on.
Nick looked over at him. "Huh?"
"How are things with you guys? I mean, I know you don't talk much anymore but...ya know..." Kevin shrugged.
"Nothing's changed guys. We talk on occasion, but she's got her own life and her new boyfriend, and I've got my own life and my new girlfriend. There isn't much else."
His indifference was convincing, but they knew better. Deciding to drop the subject as Celeste came back followed soon after by Nyla and Scott, the game continued, but none of the guys missed the haunted expression that had now settled over Nick's face.
