DISCLAIMER: NONE OF THE HUSH HUSH CHARACTERS BELONG TO ME, ALL RIGHTS TO THEM BELONG TO THE LOVELY AND TALENTED BECCA FITZPATRICK
THIS CHAPTER IS SHORTER, BUT THE NEXT CHAPTER IS LONGER AND INTRODUCES YOU TO NORA'S DAD...
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CHAPTER 4
NORA'S POV:
When we arrived at Scott's later that night I sat and watched Patch and him play beer pong and do shots together for a while. I'm glad that I agreed to be the designated driver for Patch because I'd probably ended up drinking to avoid my problems and there's not enough alcohol in the world for that and I don't want to develop another problem by becoming a drunk. After a few hours passed I went to get some fresh air. A few minutes later I looked up to see Vee walking towards me.
"Hey, Nora." Vee gave me a small smile. "Mind if I sit down?"
"No, go ahead." I was a little puzzled as to why she'd want to. She sat down next to me and an awkward silence settled between us, out of the corner of my eye I could see her looking down at her hands she was fidgeting nervously as if she had something she wanted to say.
"Scott is off getting stoned with Patch, it's not really my thing." Vee said in a voice that told me she was trying to make small talk to fill the uncomfortable void.
"Yeah, that sounds about right for them. So how come you're not drinking?" I tried to meet her half-way in breaking the ice.
"I'm just not in the mood I guess. Plus, I have a dress fitting for the pageant early tomorrow and I don't want to be hung-over."
"I have one too." I told her.
"I actually wanted to talk to you." She said quietly after a few minutes of silence fell over us again. Turning to look at me a little she went on. "I wanted to thank you for being so nice to me at school recently, you know, with all the Chauncey and Scott drama. I mean, we aren't really close anymore and haven't been for a long time, you didn't have to do that but you did. I know that things are kind of weird between us and I don't even really know why anymore."
"We haven't been close for a long time. Things really changed in middle school, you changed, but you don't have to thank me, I was being polite."
"Okay." She gave me a shy smile. "I just think this strange awkward thing between us kind of sucks. I mean we used to be really good friends and really close, I know we are really different people personality wise, but I'd really like to at least get to a place where we could be around each other and it be comfortable again. I know Patch hates me, I hope that you don't hate me too."
"I don't hate you, Vee." I was surprised she thought I would. "You and Patch have never really gotten along, he's a difficult guy, don't take it personally he's that way with everyone. I think it would be great if we could be cool with each other again."
"Okay, good." She said with a satisfied smile. "So when did you finally realize you were in love with him?"
"What? With Patch?" Vee's question surprised me.
"Obviously." She giggled.
"It's not like that, we're still just best friends." Why did I sound more like I was trying to convince myself than her?
"Oh, I'm so sorry." She blushed a little. "It's just that I thought you two were together now, that's what everyone at school is saying."
"Well it's not exactly how it sounds." I sighed. "Can you keep a secret?"
"Of course, I won't say anything." She said in a serious voice and nodded.
"Patch and I are only pretending to be together." I bit my lip. "It's all an act. Dante has been after me, harassing me and my mom has pushed it because she wants me to date and marry the mayor's son, she went as far as talking to him about future wedding plans so Patch did me a favor. I thought if I had a boyfriend maybe my mom would lay off."
"Is it working?" She asked curiously.
"It seems to be. She's letting him be my escort for the pageant and she agreed to stop pushing the whole Dante thing. It hasn't been long enough for me to really be sure yet though."
"Isn't it kind of hard though, I mean being in a completely fake relationship?"
"Not really, but it's only been a few days so we'll see I guess." I shrugged.
"So there's really nothing going on between you and Patch?" She sounded confused and maybe a little bit of disbelief and suspicion was in her voice.
"No, we're just really close in a friendship kind of way. Nothing more than that." I got lost thinking about it for a second as she studied me for a minute before speaking up again.
"Look, I know we don't really know each other anymore and it's not like I'm in any position to advise you on your life." She eyed me seriously. "But the way he looks at you, and the way you look back at him, there's a lot more than just friendship happening between you two."
"We've been through a lot together and it appears that way to other people." I was really questioning things again. Could Vee be right? Maybe there is something more between us. I've always felt a deep connection to Patch that I couldn't even begin to put into words to describe, but our close friendship has always prevented me from thinking anything romantic about him. In general I'm not the type of person to let people in, Patch is the only person that truly knows me on a genuine level and he accepts me good and bad. Becoming involved with him could be problematic, I don't want to get hurt and I sure as hell can't afford to lose him, he's all I have.
"I don't mean to be nosy or cause trouble." She worried her lips and twisted her hands in her lap. "It's just something I've noticed for a long time now. It's obvious he's in love with you, and not in a 'only friends' kind of way. I'm talking about real true love, the kind that every girl dreams about. Why else do you think everyone believed you two were really going out so quickly?"
"I don't think so Vee, Patch doesn't do love, he isn't like that at all, not even with me." I said, but now I was was even more confused.
"Neither did Scott, but here I am." She said with a smirk. "We denied our feelings for so long I thought it would never become anything remotely serious if it happened at all. I mean, I cheated on Chauncey with him, I knew he'd been with tons of other girls, I just saw it as casual sex when deep down if I was being completely honest it was a lot more, a whole lot more. It was just so hard for me to believe and so risky to think that it might be something really special that I just ended up denying it. Love is complicated and your situation is especially so. Honestly though, I think there's something there. Love complicates relationships between friends, but you and Patch are a lot more than friends and you have been for a long long time. I think you're fooling yourself if you think otherwise."
I didn't really know what to say or how to respond, Patch and I aren't in love...are we? Maybe there is something there, but what makes her so sure that what she see's is real love?
"Mind if I steal my gorgeous girlfriend, Grey." Scott stumbled over to us before I could ask her more.
"Bye, Nora." Vee smiled and waved as she left with Scott. I waved and returned her smile aiming for looking cavalier, but my mind was reeling with what she had said. All of it was on repeat in my head and it was killing me. What's even weirder is that I'm actually hoping that she's right, which is completely and totally insane. This is Patch we're talking about. Patch Cipriano. My very best friend in the whole world.
"Why are you talking to Barbie?" Patch came over to sit with me.
"We were just chatting, no big deal." I was nervously praying he wouldn't notice my obvious discomfort and start questioning me.
"So are you guys like BFF's now?" He asked sarcastically.
"No, we were just talking, don't worry." I smiled up at him.
"She's Vee, everything about her is weird."
"She's with Scott now so whether we like her or not we're going to have to deal with her and I'd rather do it in peace. I have enough people to fight with as is." I looked up at the starry night sky. It reminded me of Patch's.
"I get it."
"You're not even going to remember this conversation in the morning." I laughed.
"I'm as cool as a cucumber, Angel." He slurred and stumbled over his words.
"Yeah uh huh, sure you are. Let's get you home Mr. Cucumber." I stood and helped him up.
"Nora, you're my best friend. I don't know what I would do without you." He said as we walked towards my car.
"Right back at you and it's a good thing neither one of us is going to ever have to figure that out." I smirked and helped him into the front seat before walking around and climbing behind the wheel.
"Why is my ass getting warm?" He turned to face me with an adorable confused expression.
"I turned the seat warmers on, it's freezing outside." I laughed at his drunken stupidity. Yep, he would definitely not be remembering any of tonight's conversations.
"I like it, it feels good." He nodded making me laugh again. Drunk Patch is always a lot of fun. When we pulled up to his place I helped him out of the car and unlocked the door and guided him to the bedroom so he could lay down.
"You know you're really beautiful." He said as he climbed into bed. "I notice it every time I look at you."
"Yeah, um, right. I'm going to go get you some water." I said awkwardly before heading out to the kitchen. Patch also says a lot of weird things when he's drunk or really super high, but he's never said anything like this.
"Here, you need to drink this." I handed him a cold water bottle.
He took a big drink it. "Ew. It's just water."
"Yes, and you need to drink it. Alcohol dehydrates you." I grinned. He rolled his eyes at me before gulping down the entire bottle.
"Happy?" He handed the empty container back to me.
"Ecstatic." I smirked and ruffled his hair after I took the bottle from him. "But I have to get home."
"No, wait." He grabbed my arm. "Don't go. Stay with me."
His bright midnight eyes were boring into me as if he were trying to see clear to my soul, even in the dim-lit room they looked captivating in a mysterious sort of way. He made my body ignite with that one simple look, my every nerve burst on fire, that's the effect he has on me. It made it almost impossible for me to resist, but I know he has no idea what he's saying and by the time he wakes up in the morning he will have forgotten it all.
"I can't I have to get home." I pushed him till he was laying down. "And you need to sleep this off. Good night, Patch."
I quickly left his apartment before I could change my mind or he could say anymore. After everything Vee had said and what Patch had just slurred to me I was even more confused than I already had been before.
PATCH'S POV:
"Oh fuck..." I groaned at the sound of the alarm, pounding on the top with my fist to get the head-splitting noise to stop. My head feels like someone dropped a two ton brick on it. After I woke up a little bit more I remembered why I had set my alarm to wake up early on a Saturday morning. I hopped out of bed to shower and get ready to meet Nora and her mom. After I climbed out, drank some coffee and popped a couple Motrin's my hangover subsided, now I have a different kind of pain to endure: Nora's mommy dearest. That woman hates my guts and every moment we spend together is a living nightmare. I'm hoping that since she's accepted my "relationship" with Nora she'll make a little bit of an effort to at least be civil if not nice to me, but in reality I know that's just a pipe dream. A few minutes before ten I was on my way over to the Grey's house. Nora was already outside when I got there.
"I'm surprised you showed up on time considering the state you were in when I left you last night." She smirked up at me.
"Yeah well, you know I'd do anything for my girlfriend." I made a sexy face and winked at her.
"Right." She giggled. "Seriously, thank you for this. I know this is the last thing you want to do on your Saturday morning."
"It's not that big of a deal." I shrugged and tried to reassure her again as her mom walked out the front door towards us.
"Morning, Patch." Mrs. Grey said coldly, walking right past me. Nora and I exchanged an amused smile before following her to her car. We got in her white Mercedes SUV and buckled in, I stayed silent the whole drive listening to Nora and her mom fight over the radio, that turned into another fight over Nora and her constant need to be a disappointment to her mother. I don't try to step in and get involved in their fights anymore, I learned a long time ago that it doesn't do any good, there was nothing I could do to help my best friend so I just have to set there and keep quiet in these situations while grinding my teeth and clenching my fist to keep from making things worse. What I really want to do is rip her mom's throat out for the way she talks to Nora and treats her.
By the time we pulled up to the formal-wear boutique and walked inside you could literally feel the tension looming in the air it was so thick. I watched and waited as Mrs. Grey spoke to the woman who worked there before motioning us to follow her to the back. We sat down on a long, antique couch and I looked around noticing how fancy it was inside the shop. It was like being inside the Queen of England's palace. A few minutes later the woman grabbed Nora and pulled her into one of the many dressing rooms while me and her mom sat on the couch in an awkward silence.
"I know you already own formal tuxedo's, but I'm going to get you a new one today anyways." She eyed me as she spoke. "I'll pay for it of course, no need to worry about that. If you're going to be my daughter's escort you need to look your very best. When she picks her dress we'll find you a matching tie and cumber bun."
"Uh okay, thank you." I attempted to be polite and smile at her but she ignored me and pulled out her iPhone to text. We sat there waiting for Nora a little while longer before she walked out of the dressing room in a poufy green dress and I had to fight back the urge to break down in laughter at the ridiculous thing.
"I look fucking ridiculous." Nora's voice was cold as ice as she crossed her arms and glared at her mom.
"Nora Grey, you watch your language right now. That's no way for a proper young lady to talk." Her mom snapped. "So you don't like that one?"
"No, it's hideous." Nora cringed.
"Okay, well try on another one then." We sat there for another twenty minutes as Nora tried on some of the ugliest dresses I've ever seen. I'm a little startled by this and wondering how they manage to stay in business trying to sell some of these abominations. Who the hell wears this stuff?
"This is getting freaking annoying." Nora muttered as she stepped out in a yellow dress that made her look like she was wearing a lemon costume.
"Even I agree that one is pretty bad." Mrs. Grey sighed. "Go through the dresses set aside and try to find one you like so you can stop trying everyone of them on."
"Thank you." Nora sighed in relief before walking back into the dressing room. Ten minutes went by before Nora came out again, this time though she didn't have on something poufy or ugly, she was wearing a long black fitted gown with beads that reminded me of a starlit sky and made her eyes sparkle and her skin look creamy with a golden glow and a slit up the front showed off her gorgeous endless leg. She was simply breathtaking, literally. My mouth went dry and my breath caught in my throat and my heart beat went erratic. I couldn't take my eyes over her.
"Wow." I whistled as my eyes continued to drink her in.
"So you guys like it?" Nora blushed.
"Nora, you look beautiful." Mrs. Grey said as she stood up and walked towards her. "You like this one?"
"Actually I love it." She admired herself in the three-way mirror.
"Then this one it is." Her mom looked relieved. "I'll have Pearl alter it so it fits you perfectly and I'm going to get Patch fitted for his tux."
"You look like an angel." I walked over to her.
"Why thank you." She beamed as a blush lit her cheeks. "Now it's your turn."
"Patch, this is Ted, he's going to help you get fitted for your tux." Mrs. Grey introduced me to an elderly man. He pulled me into a dressing room and gave me a tux to try on before poking tons of pins in the fabric. It seemed like it took forever as he poked and prodded me everywhere before finally instructing me to take it off very carefully.
"I sincerely hope that man is straight." I whispered to Nora when I walked out of the fitting room in my fitted jeans and t-shirt. "Because I swear he was trying to feel me up."
"Oh please, you love the attention." She giggled and pushed me as we walked and I pretended to stumble.
"Okay we're done let's go." Her mom ushered us quickly out of the shop. We drove back to Nora's house in peace and quiet and I let out a sigh of relief when we finally pulled up in front of her house and I could make my escape.
"Damn that woman is scary." I said when Nora's mom had disappeared inside the house.
"I know, and that was her in a good mood." She rolled her eyes.
"What are your plans for the rest of the day?" I changed the subject.
"I have to go to Portland and have dinner with my grandparents later. I decided not to fight this one since it's just my family and I didn't have any plans anyhow. What about you?"
"Scott is going to some cheerleader's party with Vee tonight. It doesn't sound very fun to me since you're not going so I'll probably take it easy. Watch TV and have a few beers."
"I guess I'll see you Monday." She gave me a hug goodbye. I wrapped my arms around her holding her close and I could smell her Victoria Secret shampoo she always used. 'Very Sexy For Her' it was called if I remember right, and it was. When she pulled away I missed the feeling of having her in my arms, I refused to show it though, I simply waved goodbye and walked back to my jeep thinking yep, Scott was right and I'm totally screwed.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? NEXT IS DINNER WITH THE GRANDPARENTS AND YOU GET TO MEET NORA'S DAD...THINGS ARE STARTING TO REALLY HEAT UP FROM THIS POINT ON SO I HOPE I DO A GOOD JOB OF WRITING IT AND KEEPING YOUR INTEREST :) PLZ REVIEW/FOLLOW/FAV :) TY TO ALL WHO READ AND ALL WHO REVIEW!