Chapter Seven
"Don't even start," Fabian had noticed Mick enter their room looking quite worried and furious at the same time. "I know I screwed up!"
"You really did, didn't you?" Mick said as he flopped on his bed. "I mean, she was crying her heart out, mate. I thought you love her."
"I do," Fabian said mostly to himself. "At least, I think I do."
Mick put his hand on his forehead in defeat. "What made you even say that you want to 'cool off' on your friendship?"
"It's just that…" Fabian trailed off not knowing how to begin. "It's that I, I mean, It's like…"
Mick was absentmindedly playing with his phone when he gave Fabian a look that says 'spit it out already'.
"Fine," Fabian blurted out. "You want the truth? I'll tell you all about it! It's Nina! It's like she's uncomfortable around me. Sometimes, it's okay, sometimes, she flinches or stiffens when I touch her. It's driving me crazy! Yesterday, it seemed fine that she slept on my lap but today she flinched when I touched her. It seems like I'm hurting her and I don't want to hurt her any further!"
What Fabian doesn't know is that Mick had called Amber who obviously didn't mind her calls as she comforted her best friend. Mick had intended it to go to voice mail.
"Mate, just chill," Mick said to Fabian who was catching his breath. "I'll just go get glass of water."
Mick walked out the room knowing that Fabian needed some time alone. As he entered the kitchen, he saw Patricia and Jerome having a full time make-out session.
"Seriously?" Mick raised his eyebrow at the two. "We're having a serious problem here and you guys are snogging?"
Both Patricia and Jerome turned red. For the first time, Jerome was speechless and couldn't think of a snappy comeback.
"So," Patricia tried to make a decent conversation with Mick. "What did Fabian say?"
"The truth," Mick said simply. "Just go on with your snogging. I'm just gonna get a glass of water for Fabian."
Mick went back to his room carrying a glass of water with him.
"What took you?" Fabian had calmed down a bit.
"I came upon Jerome and Patricia snogging," Mick shrugged as he handed Fabian the glass.
"Mhmm…" Fabian drunk all the contents of the glass in one gulp.
"Not thirsty, are we?" Mick grinned.
Fabian didn't reply and just placed the glass on the nearest flat surface and lied on his bed.
"What are you gonna do next?" Mick asked.
"Sleep," Fabian closed his teary eyes and thought no more. He felt that sleeping means escaping reality for a while.
Nina had thought of the same thing as she ignored Amber's constant blabbering and closed her eyes.
"Nina? Are you even listening?" Amber pouted.
"Sorry, Amber," Nina replied in a throaty voice. "I'm just not in the mood."
"Well, maybe, you need to hear this," Amber told her as she shook her phone to grab her attention.
"What about it?" Nina sat up.
"It's a voicemail from Mick," Amber told her. "He sent a message too. The text says that it's for Nina and that Fabian didn't know he recorded it. Also, he's now cried himself to sleep."
"That's a relief," Mara said and Amber and Nina looked at her. "I mean, at least, he didn't do anything rash."
"Well, are you going to listen to it?" Amber asked Nina.
"Well, I better face the music now," Nina sighed. "It's gonna happen sooner or later anyway."
Amber clicked the button and Fabian's voice filled the room.
"Fine," Fabian said rather angrily. "You want the truth? I'll tell you all about it! It's Nina! It's like she's uncomfortable around me. Sometimes, it's okay, sometimes, she flinches or stiffens when I touch her. It's driving me crazy! Yesterday, it seemed fine that she slept on my lap but today she flinched when I touched her. It seems like I'm hurting her and I don't want to hurt her any further!"
With a beep, the voice message had ended and Amber and Mara look at Nina with worry and concern. Tears had started falling again.
"It's my fault, isn't it?" Nina asked particularly to nobody.
"No, it's not," Mara replied.
"Well," Amber said reproachfully. "You are uncomfortable around him."
Mara gave Amber a 'you're not helping' look. "That's not true, Nina."
"It is," Nina sobbed. "It's all my fault! I deserve this!"
"Why don't you fix it up with Fabian?" At the mention of Fabian's name, Nina sobbed harder and Mara and Amber thought it best to give her time alone.
A/N: Not one of my best chapters. :( Sorry. I feel tired and sleepy. I'll update ASAIC :) As Soon As I Can :) R&R. :)
