Thank you guys for all the reviews of the last chapter! I was pleasant with all the hate Michael got for the last chapter in the reviews (It was intentional!). They were great and I really do hope you guys like this chapter too!

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After school, Nikita went straight home. Michael has been blowing off her phone since their argument but she keeps ignoring him. He said he was sorry but that isn't enough for her. Michael being with somebody shouldn't upset her so much, but it does. She's trying to convince herself that she's not jealous; that she's just mad he lied but she couldn't.

When Nikita got home, the house was empty. Nobody was home and she was happy about that because she didn't want anybody upsetting her anymore than she already was.

Normally she'd go to the kitchen to get a snack to eat but today she wasn't in the mood. She climbed straight to the two storey stairs of her house to her bedroom and she shut the door closed.

Nikita plopped on the bed and crossed her legs then grabbed a pillow and clutched it to her chest. She should've seen this coming. She saw how Michael flirted with Cassandra back at the restaurant a few weeks ago when they went to eat.

He likes her and she doesn't blame him. Maybe he's more into blondes than brunettes and Cassandra is a hot blonde girl.

There are thousands of other boys in her school, why does it have to be her best friend that she's with?

And to make it worse, she has to see them in the hallways at school everyday together, holding hands, laughing together, and kissing. This is a nightmare and she desperately wants to be awakened from it.

"Great, my last year of high school is ruined."

Nikita turned on the screen of her phone and looked at the picture of her and Michael together when they used to be best friends. When they would never lie to each other. She missed those days. She misses him. She misses her best friend, the one she's known for fourteen years and loves to death.

Nikita's head fell back on the bed as she let a tear run down the corner of her eyes. She wiped it away just as quickly as it fell. No. She refused to shed a tear over Michael. He's grown and can choose to be with whomever he wants. She just has to move on from him.

He's not worth her tears. Not anymore!

Nikita touched her neck and realized that her necklace was missing. It's been missing. She abruptly sat on the bed panicking.

"Where the hell is my necklace?"

She took her bag on the floor and begin searching in it. She emptied the bag out and she still couldn't find it. She looked in her jacket pocket, it wasn't there.

"No!"

This necklace she's had it for six years. It's never been off. She can't lose it now.

Maybe it's in her locker...

Just then the memories of when she absent-mindedly ripped it from her neck and threw it at Michael came back briefly.

"Why the heck did I do that?"

She was mad at herself. She needs that's necklace back.

Nikita sighed frustratedly and buried her face in a pillow and cried. She couldn't prevent it anymore. Everything is just wrong right now and she just wants her best friend back.

Michael has the ability to make her feel like shit and she hates him for that. She cried until she no longer could and fell asleep.

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6:27 P.M.

Alex came home and was planning to go to the school talent show tonight. Since her night was looking pretty empty and boring with no homework and her parents were out of town for the night, she for some reasons volunteered to help with tickets and shadowing people. Its part of community service and it goes to her credit for the school year.

Alex ran up the stairs to her room and to her surprise Nikita was home.

She thought she saw Nikita's car outside but she didn't really give much thought into it until now.

Nikita is never home until ten-eleven o'clock and today for whatever reasons she was home and it was only six thirty-ish.

Alex knocked on Nikita's door worriedly and wanting to know if her sister was okay but Nikita didn't answer.

She cracked the door open after the fifth knock and found Nikita sitting on her bed with wet, curly hair, stained cheek, puffy, red hair, watching some random network television.

"Whoa!" Alex exclaimed. "What happened to you?" She asked.

Nikita blinked. "Go away, Alex." She said.

Alex ignored her stubbornly. "Why are you crying?" She asked, genuinely concerned.

"Just leave me alone." Nikita replied. "Don't worry about me."

Alex rolled her eyes. "Nikita you don't cry often and the fact that you're crying right now means that something's wrong so don't tell me to go away; to leave you alone or not to worry about you." She said.

"Don't you have to go to the school talent show?" Nikita asked annoyed.

"Of course I do." Alex replied. "But you're my sister and you matter more, so don't try to lie to me." She warned.

Nikita was silent. She didn't say a word. She just continued to look at the TV. Her heart aching in pain, she just wants this to be all over when she wakes up tomorrow morning.

"He's dating somebody and lied to me about it." She finally replied.

Alex furrowed her eyebrows. "Who's dating somebody and lied about it?" She asked.

Nikita's focus went from the television to the picture frame on her night table.

"Michael?" Alex said hesitantly.

Nikita nodded. Tears flowing down her cheek as Alex plopped on the bed next to her brokenhearted sister and pull her into a comforting hug.

"I've been his best friend almost all my life, Alex!" Nikita cried.

"I know." She replied. "And you've also loved him as more than just your best friend for a few years now."

Alex knew. She's snooped in Nikita's phone a few times and the conversation her and Michael have over text message is certainly not as just friends. You'd be damned.

Nikita didn't say anything but breathe heavily. "How would you know that?" She asked after a few minutes of silence.

Alex knew if she told Nikita that she's seen the history of her text messages with Michael, she'd flip and cuss her endlessly for breaking into her privacy.

"Why else would you be so upset about Michael dating a girl?" Alex questioned.

Nikita sniffled. She knows Alex is right but she's too stubborn to admit to it. She's in love with Michael. All of this is happening to her at once and she doesn't know how to deal with it.

"I don't care about that!" She lied. "He lied to me!"

"But you're in love with him!" Alex reasoned. "Look at you Nikita," She pulled Nikita away from her chest and looked into her sister's eyes. "You're freaking miserable when it comes to Michael. I'm surprised you have not already lost it every time a girl flirts with Michael." She continued. "You've been in love with your best friend since you were fourteen and he loves you back even more!"

That slipped.

Alex wasn't supposed to ever reveal this to Nikita.

"How do you know?" Nikita asked. Shocked and speechless.

Alex knows she can't lie her way out of this. It should've never slipped her mouth but it did and she hates to see her sister so vulnerable. They can really hate each other sometimes but it hurts to see Nikita like this.

"When you were in eight grade…" She begin.

….

Flashback

Alex's POV

It was Saturday morning on Christmas week. We were all excited to spend the weekend at the lake with Grandpa. We woke up early morning and dad took us hiking and then he took us shopping for camping gears in case we would want to camp at the lake with grandpa on our stay at the lake.

We were so excited, we couldn't stop talking about how much fun we were going to have at grandpa's on our way there.

Daddy called us parakeets. We laughed. It was such a great day.

When we got to grandpa's, it was even better. Daddy stayed with us and we baked cookies and helped grandpa and daddy cook grandma's famous lasagna then we lit up a little fire right outside the barn and listened as grandpa told us old adventurous stories.

You were always grandpa's favorite and even though I might have been jealous of it then, I was happy because you were happy.

The twenty third of December, daddy and grandpa went shopping for a Christmas tree and left us home to play because we had been too lazy to go with them. We played Frisbee and jump rope all morning long together. We were having so much fun we had not realized how fast time went until the house phone started ringing.

It was mommy. She had called and said that she was coming down to the lake to spend Christmas with us and that Michael's parents were coming along. It was a surprise. We were all excited. That year was looking like the best Christmas ever, then birkhoff called and said that he couldn't come to the lake and we were all bummed but that didn't really stop us from having a good time.

Daddy and grandpa came back a few hours later and we were all excited to help decorate the tree. After all it was our favorite thing to do on the Christmas holidays.

You said it was spiritual. I never knew why but I guess somehow it always does bring us closer together, because of that I loved it.

Decorating the tree was fun. We laughed at grandpa's jokes. We were having a great time and then you just passed out on us. Just like that. We didn't know what was happening to you and I just remember thinking to myself that I lost my sister. I couldn't move, couldn't speak. Didn't blink. I just stood there with unshed tears in my blue eyes and watched your numb body on the floor.

Dad called the ambulance and you were rushed to the hospital instantly. But I didn't know what was happening. I was just in shock.

Somehow I felt as if it was my fault you collapsed.

Maybe if I hadn't been so annoying and insisted that we jumped rope you wouldn't be so tired.

Yeah. I had blamed myself for that.

In the waiting room, daddy and grandpa were freaking out.

What's happening to my daughter… what's happening to my daughter?

It's all I could hear for what felt like centuries.

Mom and Michael's family along with Michael came soon. Mom cried too. More than anybody. We were all waiting for the doctor and I remember looking at Michael from the corner of my eyes.

His head in his knees. Desperate and praying for you to be fine. He had tears in his eyes and it made my heart ache.

The doctor had finally came and talked to mom and dad about what was happening to you and clarified that you'd be fine but was still unconscious. It was a relief to all of us. I knew it.

Mom, dad, grandpa and Michael's parents went to see you and wish you well soon while I and Michael stayed outside in the waiting room. I refused to go see you until you came out of consciousness but you wouldn't! I was so mad at you because you promised me every night before we went to bed that you'd always be here and would never leave me alone. I knew I was wrong for not wanting to go see you but I was still mad. I cried. Michael continued to cry in a corner too.

Michael had finally mumbled something barely audible to me but I heard him and moved closer to him.

"I can't lose Nikita."

That's what he had mumbled to me and I understood his sentiments because I felt the same way. You're my big sister and my best friend. Even though we usually fight but I hadn't realized how much I loved you until then.

So I replied back to him tearfully.

"Neither can I."

But there was something much more personal to it for Michael.

I've seen the way he looks at you when you weren't looking and I've seen the way you looked at him back. The way you guys acted around each other, the way you guys seemed to understand each other all the time always made me wonder.

And then Michael said it.

I wasn't expecting him to say that at all.

"I love your sister Alex. I really do and I don't know if I can live my life without her."

Of course you can. I had thought.

But I was only twelve. What did I know?

"I know you love her Michael. I love her too." I replied to him.

Michael grin at me and his face broke into a smile for the first time that night. It was beautiful.

"She's amazing." He had said while blushing. "I don't see how anybody wouldn't."

But after that he just looked lost and sad, so I hugged him and he hugged me back.

I've always thought of Michael as an older brother so that didn't really feel awkward. Besides, I liked hugging him.

"Can you keep a secret, Alex?"

He had asked me after a few minutes of silence.

My eyes lit up as I pulled away.

Secrets…

I'm twelve and curious so of course I loved secrets.

And I could keep them too.

I nodded at him.

"My lips will be sealed."

I made that gesture where you lock your lips and throw the key away then pinky swear with him.

"I love your sister." Michael whispered.

I giggled sheepishly.

"You said that already." I noted.

"No, I mean I love, love, love her. As in I'm madly in love with your sister and would die if she dies too."

Then I understood.

I understood alright. I've watched Romeo and Juliet in titanic a few times so I understood "I love thee. I love thee with a love that shall never die."

It's a Shakespeare's quote so I understood very well.

"So why don't you tell her that?" I asked him.

"Because I'm a coward." Michael had replied as he looked at a picture of you. "What if she thinks I'm a freak?" He asked.

I chuckled.

"What if?"

That's why I hate guessing.

"What if?

"What if?"

What if?"

Pshh.

I dared him and he felt intimidated so I dropped the subject.

It was time to go but Michael insisted that he stays with you. He begged the nurse to let him stay so I wanted to stay too.

Mom and dad agreed to let us stay. They knew that we were worried too and they wanted to give us the chance to see you even though it was silly of us considering we were all going to see you tomorrow morning once you woke up.

I got tired from watching the TV and fell asleep next to Michael. I could feel him pressing a kiss on top of my head and throw a warms blanket that was provided to us by the hospital over my goose bumped skin. I smiled in my sleep.

I wanted to thank him but I was too tired to get a word out.

A few hours later, I woke up from hunger and thirst and wanted to get a midnight snack with cocoa from the vending machine in the hospital.

Using the money that dad gave me; I bought cracker with cheese and chocolate chips cookies with a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallow.

It tasted good so I wasn't really thinking about anyone then.

I finished my snack and went to get a cup of water from the filter. While drinking my water, I sat down to think. Why wouldn't I go see my sister?

I missed you so I wanted to see you.

Then I realized that Michael wasn't in the room sleeping on the floor or on the chair in the room.

I shrugged.

Maybe he went to see you.

Quietly, I made my way down to your room. I was about to come in but then I hear Michael's voice and I stopped.

He was doing what I had dared him.

But you wouldn't know if you were still unconscious.

"I love you more than anything."

I heard him whisper it to you while holding your hand. He kissed your forehead and tucked your hair behind your ears.

I smiled.

He's sweet and really does love you.

I loved him for that.

(Of course not in that weird way that he loves you.)

"I want you to feel better munchkin. I wanna look into your eyes and see you smile back at me like you always do with your beautiful brown eyes. They make me weak."

I giggled.

He was poetic and I loved that too.

Suddenly, I felt jealous.

People have complimented me about my blue eyes many times before but they never said it made them weak then I realized it was because he's in love with you.

"I wanna say so much to you, but you need to wake up, baby." He continued.

I couldn't stop smiling.

He meant it.

He really loves you.

"I love you so much, Nikita!" He proclaimed. "I love you."

After a few minutes, I started to feel like a creep just standing there and listening to Michael pouring his heart out to your unconscious body.

I felt really eerie.

So I begin to leave.

But I froze just as I was about to leave. I didn't mean to but he kissed you. On the lips!

And I could have sworn on my life you kissed him back. Your lips moved against his.

I've seen a few kisses on TV but this was real. Holy shit it was real and it looked magical in my eyes.

I suddenly wanted to be kissed too.

You guys kissed and I've always wondered if you knew Michael kissed you and that you had kissed him back.

"I love you."

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Nikita looked up at Alex. Tears streaming down her cheek. She remembers. She remembers it all like it was yesterday.

"I knew." Nikita revealed.

She did. She was awake.

She didn't hear him proclaiming his never ending love to her but she felt him kiss her lips.

She remembers.

"Why didn't you tell him you loved him back?" Alex asked with confusion written all over her face.

"Because back then it was awkward." Nikita replied. "I was scared to lose him as my best friend if we didn't work as boyfriend and girlfriend." She said regretfully biting her lips and wiping the tears in her eyes with the back of her hands.

"And now I guess I'll never know."

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This is it! Oh, this was a really long chapter and I'm hoping you guys liked it! I probably won't be updating my stories for a while until December and I felt like it'll be horrible if I left you guys hanging with that last chapter for too long so I decided to update one last time. Keep in mind that during the hiatus with my updates, I will be writing for all my stories and wrap up everything pretty quickly and post them regularly once I start updating again. Anyways, I hope you guys aren't too sad but who knows, I might change my mind! Please review and let me know what you guys thought of this chapter. Until next time, Xoxo!