A/N: Sorry for taking so long to get this chapter out. Also I apologize for not replying to any reviews. I'm starting my classes next week so things have been crazy getting everything ready to go again. I'll try to update every week or every other week because I'll be writing stories and poetry for my creative writing class and I'm also learning Japanese so I'm giving that the majority of my time. Just giving everyone a head's up but I'll try to have updates on a weekend.

Thanks to everyone, I love all my readers cause you guys are fabulous and wonderful! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Bleach

"Nel…Nel…"

"You're going to do as I say and if you don't-"

She did not hear what else he had to say because it was shattering her heart. His threats towards her life were nothing compared to the threats to her brothers.

"I don't understand-"

"If you don't do as I say, I am going to humiliate you as you have humiliated me."

Nel shook her head, "I've never done anything to you."

"I beg to differ."

"Just…don't…"

"I won't do anything as long as you comply."

"Nel…Nel…"

"Okay, Nnoitra…I'll do as you say."

"Good girl."

"NEL!"

"Huh? What?"

Nel blinked her eyes and focused on her friend sitting in front of her.

"What is with you today?"

"I'm sorry Tia, I'm just really tired," she sighed. "I had a…rough night."

Harribel raised an eyebrow as she took a sip of her coffee, "about that."

Nel brushed her long bangs out of her face.

"The phone call yesterday-"

"Oh, that!" Nel laughed as she waved her hand. "I was confused."

"Confused?"

"Yes, I thought it was him but apparently it wasn't. I've just been a little paranoid and on edge lately. I blame the long hours."

"Nel, I can tell when you lie," Harribel told her.

Nel shook her head, "no, I mean it. I have just been under a lot of stress lately. I didn't mean to upset you."

Harribel put her cup down and folded her hands on the table, "I spoke with Nnoitra."

"Y-you did?"

"Yes."

"It's not like I care," she huffed.

"He told me to mind my own business. Do you have any idea about that?"

Nel gaped at her, "how would I know? I don't speak with him nor have I seen him! I thought I did but I was wrong."

Harribel remained silent, her eyes stern.

"You don't believe me, do you?" Nel asked her sadly, her head drooping.

"It's not that I don't, I just find it odd."

"I understand."

"Nel, look at me."

Nel lifted her head.

"Tell me the truth-"

Nel nodded.

"Have you had any encounters with Nnoitra?"

Nel pushed down the lump in her throat and fixed Harribel with an equally hard stare.

"No."

Harribel wanted to sigh but she nodded her head and stood up from the chair, "okay. I believe you."

"Thank you," she smiled up at her friend.

"I need to get back to work. I'll call you later, okay?"

Nel nodded her head.

"Just be careful and if you need anything-"

"I'll call."

Harribel grabbed her purse and gave her friend a somewhat sad and disappointed look before leaving. She knew Nel was lying but she wasn't going to start a fight and ruin their friendship. She had her suspicions but she knew that Nel would never drag her friends into anything that was dangerous. Nel was the type to face them head on and carry the burden on her shoulders until she passed out from utter exhaustion.

Even though Harribel lied about believing her friend, she also made a promise to keep a close eye on both her and Nnoitra. She swore that if anything happened, a certain creepy ass bastard would be getting their ass handed to them on a plate.

After the next two days of work, Nel found herself crashed on her couch Wednesday night, unable to move. Luckily her brothers made dinner but she felt her stomach in a knot and unable to eat. Every day was becoming a nightmare now that Nnoitra was back into her life. She did not know what to do or who to turn to. He had threatened her if she sought out help from others there would be hell to pay. She believed him. This time he was not playing around. In the past she would blow off his advances or anything he would have to say and that was that. This was a whole entirely different situation.

'I still don't understand,' she thought sadly. 'What did I ever do to him? What did I do to cause him to enter my life and make it a living hell?'

Nel found herself dwelling on this as her eyes began to droop.

Nel covered her mouth as she tried not to laugh too loudly. She pulled down her school skirt and coughed, trying to regain herself.

"You shouldn't do such things," Nel warned her friends teasingly.

Harribel grinned, "I didn't do anything."

"A-huh, I bet! What did he say afterwards?"

Harribel shrugged, "nothing really."

Tatsuki snickered, "I'm sure he had plenty to say afterwards!"

The mysterious 'he' happened to walk by their classroom which sent Nel and Tatsuki into a bigger fit of giggles.

"I swear you two are so immature."

"We're not the ones who are attacking Starrk when he least expects it," Nel protested.

Tatsuki wiped her eyes, "I think you need a new plan."

Harribel grumbled, "this is the last time I tell you guys anything."

The bell finally rang and the three quickly gathered their things and made their way downstairs to the cafeteria. Nel's stomach growled loudly and she could not wait to eat, even if it was a flimsy packed lunch.

Locating a table, they plopped down and began to pull out their lunches. Little talk was to be had until a few bites were taken. Harribel pushed her cold rice away and frowned.

"Nel."

Nel was taking a big bite out of her apple and her cheeks were puffed out, "hmph?"

Harribel leaned down, "I didn't want to tell you but…that guy is checking you out."

Nel's eyes widened and she swallowed the mouthful of apple, "wha?"

Tatsuki went to look over her shoulder but Harribel waved at her quickly.

"Don't look, not yet!" she hissed.

Nel lowered her head, "who? Who is looking at me?"

"I don't know, I haven't seen him around. He's probably in the grade above us."

Nel scratched the back of her head, "why would he have lunch with us during this period then?"

Harribel shrugged, "no idea."

"If it's his last year then he could have special privileges," Tatsuki suggested.

"Is he cute?"

Harribel made a face.

Nel pouted, "it's never the cute ones."

Tatsuki patted her friends shoulder, "it will be okay."

"Okay, look now," Harribel said.

The two girls looked over their shoulders and spotted the upperclassman sitting with a few people. He had black hair that went to his shoulders, beady eyes and a wide smile that stretched across his face which showed his perfect white teeth.

Nel turned back around and cringed, "he's…"

"Nnoitra," Tatsuki said with a shudder.

"You know him?" Harribel asked.

She nodded, picking at her food, "yeah, he's a jackass."

"Oh?" Nel seemed curious.

"He's in my karate class," she shook her head and sighed. "He doesn't fight anyone who is beneath him or-"

"Or?" the other two girls pressed on.

"A female."

"What? Why?" Nel seemed outraged at this, as did Harribel.

"I don't know. He says that women should not fight or cannot be comparable to men," she clenched her fist. "It's a load of crap."

Harribel nodded, "it is. You could kick is ass anytime."

"Thanks!" Tatsuki smiled. "Unfortunately his dad is in with the dojo trainers and he doesn't have to combat any of the females."

Nel poked a hole in her juice packet and slurped on it.

"You sure he was looking at me? If he doesn't like females he might be gay."

Harribel snorted, "he might be but I'm pretty sure he was checking you out."

Nel shrugged, "I don't care. Anyone who puts women down doesn't deserve any of my attention. Besides, he's not even cute."

Tatsuki agreed, "yeah. Moving on…who is ready for science class?"

Harribel and Nel groaned at the thought of having to dissect a frog.

The end of the day had finally arrived and Nel was gathering her books that she needed for homework, out of her locker. She felt a presence behind her and she turned her head to see the guy from the cafeteria standing above her, that freaky smile wider than ever.

"Hey."

"Umm…hi…" she replied meekly.

"My name is Nnoitra Jiruga."

"Nel-"

He cut her off, "I know who you are."

Nel looked surprise, "umm…"

"So," he leaned up against the other locker. "How about you and me go out and grab something to eat."

Nel noticed it was more of a demand rather than a question.

"I'm sorry, not interested," she declined.

Nnoitra's smile disappeared and he leaned down, "don't make a scene. Just accept my request."

"You mean your demand," she felt her anger building.

Nnoitra hissed at her, "just do it."

Nel shoved her last book into her bag and slammed her locker door.

"Look, I've heard about you and quite frankly, you disgust me. You treat women as if they are servants beneath your feet," she said loudly, her eyes were narrowed with anger.

"I would rather throw myself off a bridge than go anywhere with you."

Nel huffed and spun on her feet, walking away from the fuming Nnoitra behind her. She could hear the howling laughter coming from his friends that were standing a few feet away. She could feel his eyes burning into her back but at that time she did not care because she figured she would never have anymore interactions with him again. She wished she knew how wrong she was at that moment.