Well, I'd like to thank:
midnightshadowwings, aviator301/The Aviator, MetalMyersJason, maxtwin15, Jacky06, IGGY n' FANG FAN, redfeatherz, avikar, Bellaness, I-LIVE-4-MAX-RIDE-AND-TWILIGHT, kaylormonkey, Griffon's Flight
Thanks all of you! I love you all!
NOTE FOR AVIATOR: Yes, the Flock will become part of this fic but not for a while. I plan on this being a very long fanfiction which will probably turn into a trilogy or something like that.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Sasha pulled away from the school, she replayed what Kasandra had said in her head. Was it true? It just seemed too strange. It was as if Nick were two different people.
What had made him push her away? And why did he leave a note? With a red rose, too. She faintly recalled someone telling her a red rose was the flower of love or something like that.
Nick wasn't as bad as she thought he was. He was hot, looked really good in anything he wore, and… The teen diver wanted to hit her head against something. She desperately wanted to stop thinking about Nick and fantasize about Bobby, but Nick was the only thing on her mind.
As soon as Sasha got home she began to prepare for the date. She was barely worried about homework.
She decided on her favorite skinny jeans, flip-flops, and a white halter top with a floral print that cut off right at her belly button. Sasha usually never showed her stomach. Twisting her hair back, she took out a matching floral clip and neatly put up her hair, letting her side bangs out to cover part of her right eye. She worked on her makeup until it was flawless. All she had to do was wait for that phone call. She knew it would come after seeing what happened before. She stepped outside onto her back porch to watch the sun set onto the water.
She needed to relax.
--------
Nick parked in a near empty parking lot next to a beach. He was furious. How could Sasha do that? She was just like he thought she was: a complete brat.
The rational side of him (If there is one) thought that he shouldn't be so angry. He barely knew her. She was popular. It was expected that she liked another guy.
Then another side argued that she was a brat and he should never talk to her again for doing that. That was the side that made him push her away that day at Itex.
Then there was that one somehow dominant part of his mind that wanted him to talk to her again and do things with her that weren't just things friends did. The part that made him write the letter and draw the picture.
He felt too confused with his feelings, half of which he'd never really felt before.
He stepped out of his car and jogged out onto the beach, beginning a steady run along the sand. He liked running. It was gave him a way to think about everything and loosen up. He didn't worry about his broken hand. He was fast when he wanted to be. Right then he felt faster than usual, but he supposed it was just from being angry.
He was forgetting one very big thing: he would be running right past Sasha's house.
-------
Sasha kept glancing at her cell phone, almost unable to relax. The sun was slowly lowering close into the waters.
She glanced up and sighed only to see a running person nearing. Sasha stared, squinted, and finally stood and walked down onto the beach. "There's no freakin' way…" she muttered and stomped closer to him.
Nick stopped running, realizing someone, a girl, was coming towards him.
"Do you want to explain something to me?" Sasha began, sounding annoyed and angry already, once they were a few feet away from each other.
"Leave me alone, Sasha. Go have fun on your date with Bobby," he spat as he stopped running.
"How the heck do you know about that?"
"I saw him ask you out! I was going to apologize and you didn't even see me when I came by!" his voiced rose.
"Well it's not my fault a guy likes me! I happen to like him back! Why the heck is that such a big deal to you?" Sasha hollered back. She sensed a shouting match beginning. Her anger was beginning to bubble up with each word they spoke.
Nick stopped a second, as if her question stumped him. He was about to tell her everything. Everything he hadn't told her. Sasha exploded before he could open his mouth.
"You know what, Shadows? You're a jerk just like I thought you were! You aren't lonely, you probably just think you're too good for everyone else so that's why you never talk to any of us! Everyone says that you're an emo, that you do drugs, you're a cutter… But when I was talking to you I thought that was all wrong! I thought we could actually be friends and then I could stop what everyone else was saying! We were supposed to help each other get through this, but then you yell at me and push me away when I only wanted to help you!" she felt the tears coming. She wished she hadn't wasted so much time on her make-up just to ruin it talking to Nick. "You're just like everyone says you are. You're mean, you won't let anyone in, and you hate everything and everyone around you even if they want to be your friend and help you."
Nick stood, stunned. Her words had hit him hard. But he had his argument too. He started off quietly after Sasha cooled down slightly.
"I used to think you were a stuck-up brat, just like all the other girls at school. But then I started talking to you, and I liked you. I thought you were different." He paused. "I never told you this, but I have friends, yes actual friends, outside of school. And they're helping me through this now. I probably don't even need you. I was going to take you to meet them. They would have liked you a lot. They scuba dive, just like you do. They would have helped you too. But you're just like I thought you were, too: A stuck-up, careless brat who only cares about herself and doesn't think about anyone else and always has to get her own way! I can't believe I ever thought for second we could be together! How could I even think of ever dating you? I guess you're too good for me, aren't you? I liked you! But I guess it was a little too much. I can't believe I ever talked to you."
Sasha was the stunned one now. Nick Shadows had friends. Other friends. It just didn't seem possible. Who were they? Why hadn't he told her? Sasha wanted to yell at him again, but found no words. The other shocker was that he liked her. And in that not-just-friends way. Sasha thought loners never fell in love. As Sasha stood there, shocked and lost in thought, Nick turned and began to jog away.
Sasha noticed, and felt hurt again. He was leaving her, pushing her away. Even though his words hurt she didn't follow.
Suddenly, Nick collapsed on the ground. Another change was coming. Charley Sterling had warned Nick not to let any changes happen or his hand would be ruined forever.
Sasha forgot the argument immediately. She ran across the sand and fell onto her knees at his side. "Nick?" she asked, heart racing with worry again. She received no answer. She hesitantly reached out and checked his pulse.
He wasn't breathing.
"Oh… God… No…" she gasped.
Nick's phone went off in his pocket. She grabbed it out. The caller ID read 'Jack''. She flipped it open, deciding it was safe to. "Hey, Nicky-boy!" A man's enthusiastic voice rang out.
"Did you finally ask that Sasha chick out yet?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Was the fight big enough? Yes, Nick is not a complete loner... More surprises coming next chapter! Does Nick live? Who's this Jack dude? I have a question for all my readers: Should I make the chapters longer? It would mean that I don't update as soon, but would it be better? Please answer in reviews. And please keep the reviews coming! A 'Hello' is even loved and welcome!
