Author's Note: Sorry about the long gap in between chapters! I've been preoccupied lately… hehe, SlayGal knows why ;)
Chapter 13: Bye, Bye Love
Saturday night Faith and Nick walk into 'Burr', the bar where Kenny's band is playing. He follows her through the crowd as she navigates towards the bar. As she pulls herself onto the last vacant bar stool, Nick asks her something but over the background noise she cannot hear him.
Leaning closer, he asks, "Why is this place called 'Burr'?"
She shrugs her shoulders because she has no idea. She had never given it much thought. Turning towards the bar, she sees Kenny approaching.
"Faith, you made it." Kenny greets her.
She smiles. "I told you I'd be here." She notices his gaze move past her and land on Nick.
"Who's your friend?" he asks.
She picks up on the hint of jealousy in his voice.
"I'm Nick." He stands behind her and as he answers his hands come to rest on her sides. She is amused by the territorial gesture.
"I have time to make a few more drinks before the band goes on stage. What would you like?"
"A strawberry margarita and…" she looks at Nick.
"Diet coke, thanks."
Kenny nods. "Coming right up."
After a few seconds, Nick speaks again.
"I don't like him." he says suddenly.
Faith begins to laugh. "Are you this protective with everyone, or am I special?"
Kenny returns with their drinks and sets them down on the counter.
Nick's hold on Faith tightens. "No, you're special." He says just loud enough for Kenny to hear.
With their drinks in hand, Faith and Nick wander around before finally finding an empty table. As they sit, Kenny's band sets up their equipment on the stage.
"So how'd that history quiz go?" Faith asks, trying to make conversation.
"Pretty well, I think." He looks, just for a second, past her and at the stage. "You made quite the story around school. Everyone's been talking about how you jumped out the window." He pauses, "Are you ever gonna come back?"
She shakes her head. "No, I don't think so. I've got more important things to be worried about now. I wasn't in school all that much, anyway. I had a lot of absences…" …because of all the times I was too beat up to show my face in public.
The crowd on the dance floor cheers, bringing Faith's attention to the stage where a guy with a microphone announces the bands' first song.
Tipsy from her drink, Faith stumbles out of her chair and moves to the dance floor, pulling Nick with her. She begins to dance while Nick is still hesitant. "I don't really dance." He complains, but she ignores him. She hasn't danced in weeks and feels the need to let loose some of her energy. Completely unaware of the attention she is drawing, she lets herself gets lost in the music. Nick is aware of the stares that are fixed on her, however, and pulls her closer.
The first song ends and a slower one begins. Faith slips her arms around Nick's neck as she talks to him.
"Having fun?" she asks, giggling.
He raises an eyebrow, but answers her. "Yea, I am." She giggles again. "Are you okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
He looks over to their table where their drinks are. "You've barely had two sips of your margarita and you already seem drunk. So, again I ask, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, stop worrying. I'm just having a good time."
As she rests her head on his shoulder, he lets his suspicions go and instead focuses his attention on the girl in his arms. They remain on the dance floor for the next few songs, dancing and laughing at Nick's lack of coordination.
A sudden rush of pain floods Faith's mind and she stumbles backwards. Nick reaches out and steadies her and she vaguely hears him ask if she's all right. He mutters under his breath, saying that he knew something was wrong. She excuses herself and clumsily pushes through the crowd of people on the dance floor, making her way to the hallway that leads to the bathrooms.
She stops when she reaches the hallway and leans against the wall, groaning in pain. She feels as if her head might explode. A hand touches her shoulder and, expecting Nick, moves into the circles of his arms. When her head reaches his shoulder, she notices the height difference and immediately opens her eyes.
"Faith…" Kenny says quietly, "How are you feeling?"
She backs away, but finds that she cannot escape his grasp. She moves to push him and finds that her strength is gone. Panicking, she screams. His hand covers her mouth and her scream is muffled, now barely audible above the music. She bites down on his hand and she is momentarily let out of his grasp. She trips as she attempts to get past him and he grabs her, pushing her against the wall. Suddenly his lips are on hers and his hands are on her body.
"Get off!" she yells.
He only laughs as he pins her to the wall. "C'mon Faith, you can be my official groupie. We could have so much fun together…"
His lips are attacking hers again and she's terrified. Suddenly he pulls away and Faith looks up to see Nick standing before them, framed by the light behind him.
"Nick?" she asks hazily. She doesn't hear what he says, only sees him turn and leave. Another assault of pain rushes to her head. She screams, startling Kenny, but when the pain passes she feels her strength return.
Kenny approaches her again but she shoves him and he crashes into the opposite wall.
"You bastard!" she shouts as she stands over him, "What did you put in my drink?"
He looks up at her, amazed. "I put enough drugs in that drink to keep you calm for the whole night!"
She resists the overwhelming urge to hit him because she knows she will not be able to hold back. "Don't even think about coming near me ever again." She turns and runs, not stopping until she is safely outside of the building. Standing on the sidewalk, she looks up and down the street, searching for Nick. She cannot find him and she doesn't want to be alone, so she goes to the only other place she can think of.
Ten minutes later, the door to Ms. Nelson's apartment opens to find Faith, disheveled and crying, standing in the hallway.
"Faith, are you all right?" Ms. Nelson is shocked.
Faith shakes her head. "No, I don't think I am."