--Chapter 12--Nothing You'd Expect--
As Nicole and Bryan walked down the hall, people starred. Nicole knew they were definitely looking at her, not Bryan. She got to her locker and opened it, hiding her face inside.
"I can't do this Bryan." she said.
"Nicole. You're fine. You don't look as bad as you think you do." he said with a slight laugh.
She looked at him with a 'not-the-right-time-to-make-jokes look'. He threw up his hands and backed away. "Alright, alright...I know, I know. Gotta learn the whole timing thing."
She gave a snigger and hid her face back in the locker.
"Hey Nicole." said a familiar voice.
Still hiding her face she said, "Hey Jeff."
He looked at her, then at Bryan. "Who are you?"
"Who are you?" Bryan asked, defensively.
"Jeff Hardy..."
"Bryan Nelson."
"Are you related to Nickeh?" Jeff asked.
"Nickeh Nelson?" he asked.
"Yes."
"She's my cousin." he replied.
"What a small, fucking world." Nicole said, lifting her head out of her locker.
"Nicole...what the fuck happened?" Jeff asked, looking carefully over her bruised face.
"I'll give you one guess." she said.
"Son-of-a-fucking bitch. I'm gunna kill him. Okay, you promised you'd tell someone if he did it again." Jeff said.
"I did. I told Bryan." she shrugged.
"Nicole, I meant like the police or something." Jeff said.
Bryan butted in, "Look, if she goes to the police, he'll kill her. I know him. This isn't the first time he's done this, alright. I know him a little better than you do. Sorry man, but she does too. It's for her own good. She knows to call me."
Jeff looked at both of them, obviously very concerned. "Okay. Whatever you say. I gotta get to class, and so do you. I'll see you two at lunch?"
"Well, we're going to go out for lunch." Bryan said.
"Oh, ok. Am I taking you home?"
"No, Bryan is. I'll talk to you later. Bye Jeff." Nicole said giving Jeff a quick peck on the cheek and going the opposite way, with Bryan.
"Was that...your boyfriend?" Bryan said.
"Not technically. He hasn't asked me out yet." she said. "We did just meet."
"That doesn't stop you." Bryan laughed, as they walked into class. Only to be met by a pair of well-known brown eyes.
"Nice to see you two again. And you're together. How interesting. Lovin the new look Nic, it brings out your eyes." he said, taking a seat.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Bryan asked, balling his fists.
"Oh, this is my school now. Hope you don't mind." he said, winking at Nicole.
"Robbie, why are you doing this?" Nicole asked, tears forming in her eyes.
"Because..." he said, getting up and coming close to her. "You belong to me and you need to learn that. Now, have a seat baby, the bell's about to ring."