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Epic Struggle of Man Versus Woman (pt 2)

Nikki was lying on her bed desperately trying to cram in one more chapter of history before she gave up. She really didn't want this assignment hanging over her head all fall break. She was eighteen now and finally after almost a year and a half of dating she was going to separate from Jordan for a whole week to go visit Bria at Stanford. Deciding to give up after another fruitless hour, Nikki fell asleep. The next morning she drove all the way to Stanford on her own. Then she and Bria proceeded to run all over campus for the entire week. Nikki barely talked to anyone at home to include her boyfriend. The cousin's were just having too much fun.

Tiredly Nikki pulled into the driveway the following Sunday. Nic and Gio jumped on her as soon as she opened the door. They sat close to her as she shared stories of Bria and the college, their eyes lighting up when she gave them little trinkets from her travels. It was only eight o'clock but Nikki felt her eyes starting to droop so she took a shower. She was surprised when Junior knocked on her door as she was crawling into bed to tell her that Jordan was waiting downstairs. Nikki frowned. She wanted to see him and yet she was just feeling really worn down. Intending to keep the conversation quick she padded downstairs in her tank top and new cotton shorts with Stanford on them. Jordan didn't look happy to see her.

"Hi Jordan," she said softly.

"Hey. I won't keep you from bedtime long. I just wanted to talk to you for a minute."

Noticing the odd coolness in his voice she grabbed her jacket and slipped into a pair of flip flops by the door. He made his farewells then followed her to the porch.

"So what's up?"

"I've been trying to reach you since I talked to you Tuesday. What happened up there?"

"I know. Bria and I were having so much fun hanging out that I just lost track of things," she told him honestly.

"And you couldn't have taken five minutes to call me?"

"I didn't realize it was such a big deal to you," Nikki said defensively. He seemed overly angry for a simple missed call.

"Nikki I spent the last few days wondering if you were sick or hurt or out with someone else. I've had to endure my Dad telling me that you are no good for me. That your indecent clothes and the prideful way you flaunt your body should have warned me. But I didn't listen. And now I find you don't even care enough to call when you get home," he ranted.

"Your Dad is bad mouthing me now?" Nikki asked startled. She knew the man didn't seem to care for her but she didn't know he'd verbalized it to his son.

"He's not the only one. I've been defending you to my friends and family for over a year and this is how you repay me. You embarrass me with your lack of caring. I bet you had a fling while you were away. Is that the truth?"

"You know, I'm not dealing with this. Go home Jordan," Nikki's words were filled with ice.

"Just tell me the truth," he said desperately.

"Get outta here. I can't believe you even asked me that."

"You can't believe…What else can I believe? You've been throwing your body at me since day one. What makes me thing you wouldn't do that with someone else?"

"I never threw myself at you Jordan. And I never cheated on you. You happy now!"

"No! Where were you all week Nikki? What did you do when you weren't with me?"

"I already told you. Believe what you want." Nikki was starting to feel cold and numb, her feelings twisted around. He wasn't making any sense. He just seemed lost in his rage. She turned to walk in the house but he grabbed her, turning her around sharply. Instinctively she reached out and smacked him hard in the face.

"Don't come near me anymore you silly little harlot," he emphasized, shaking her with each word before he released her to walk to his car.

It took a week for Nikki to accept his phone call. He'd called every day, at least ten times, to say that he was sorry. It hadn't been him, it was the worry and stress, it was her cavalier attitude towards his feelings, it had been a weak moment. Begging became his language of choice which he did until she agreed to go out with him. He told her to dress up, that it was going to be a very special night. And she did because she was enjoying his groveling. The blindfold he put over her eyes was mysterious and touching. Surf crashing against the shore forty-five minutes later told her they were at the beach, but not anywhere that he'd taken her before. The other parts of the beach they frequented were much closer than that. They traversed some stairs, the door squeaking open at their arrival. A table for two was waiting for her when he removed the blindfold in the little beach house.

"Where are we?"

"The Todd family beach house. My brother let me borrow his key. He knew I needed to do something special to win you back."

"Well this is special." No one had done something this romantic for her. He served her dinner: chicken primavera that he promised his sister-in-law had made. He served her favorite soda, vanilla coke, in wine glasses. There was soft music in the background that occasionally was overtaken by the sound of the surf crashing on the beach. He offered her a dance after dinner and she agreed. They turned around in a small little circle since he couldn't dance very well. Things were going well, so well that he kissed her long and soft. This time Nikki pulled back.

"I know you're not throwing yourself at me Nikki," he told her softly, caressing her cheek with his hand. The touches blended into another kiss and slowly his hands wound into her hair. Tonight he wasn't going to hold back, he'd show her how much he cared. She went still in his arms when he started removing her clothes.

"I'm not ready for that," she told him shyly.

"I'll take good care of you Nikki. You're mine remember?" He kissed her again till she was muttering incoherently. "You want me Nikki?"

"Yes."

"Tell me," he demanded.

"I want you," she told him eagerly. His hands started taking her clothes again, this time she was firm, "But I'm not ready for sex Jordan."

"You're not ready for sex with anyone or just me?" he asked stiffly.

"Not anyone. Jordan, maybe we should go. I had a really good time and I don't want to ruin it."

"Yeah, let's go," His tone held bitterness. Nikki nodded with apprehension. She went to the bathroom to right her clothes, returning to see him locking the sliding glass door. Clasping hands they walked to the front door, he locked the door before she could open it. Nikki suddenly found herself against the door, between his body and the unyielding wood. Her yells didn't matter to him, her kicks and punches not fazing his solid body. He took from her what he wanted, not heeding her earlier words then levied punches to her body for her attempt to fight back. Eventually Nikki quit fighting, quit letting the silent tears course down her face. He offered her a towel for the blood staining her thighs, resigning himself to clean her up when she didn't move to do it herself. He told her that she had to know it was coming, that he'd only be able to take so much of her flaunting herself in front of him. When they pulled up to her house she didn't wait for him to come open her door, choosing to run up the steps, dropping her purse in her haste to get inside and lock him out.