Chapter 4
Nikolas walked quietly into the auditorium where Emily was. He stood at the door and leaned against the frame, smiling to himself as he watched Emily boss everyone around.
"Argh! No no no!" Emily sighed in frustration. "The banner is supposed to be silver, not black. Black is not Christmas colors! And the background of the banner is supposed to be silver. The writing is supposed to be red and green!"
Brad looked terrified. Emily felt bad for scaring the kid. 'This is what I get for growing up with the Quartermaines.' She thought to herself. Her face softened and she sighed again. "Look, don't worry about it. I'll talk to Aimee and get everything fixed." He smiled in relief and walked away.
"Freshman." She muttered under her breath. She had the sudden feeling that someone was watching her and she whirled around to find Nikolas leaning on the door with a silly grin on his face. She smiled as she approached him. "Hey! How long have you been here?"
"Not long" He replied, his grin growing wider.
"What are you smiling at?" She asked.
"Nothing, I'm just amused watching you boss everyone around."
She playfully elbowed him in the stomach. "I do NOT boss people around. I was just telling them what they did wrong and merely suggesting that they fix it." She defended. "Besides, it's not my fault that they got it wrong the first time. Who else is going to tell them that they made a mistake?" He chuckled softly. "This dance has to be perfect, Nikolas!"
He placed his hands on her shoulders. "I know Em, and I'm sure it will be perfect. But, they're doing the best they can." As she rolled his eyes he added, "Relax. Everything will be fine. You're just stressing yourself for nothing."
She sighed. She knew he was right but she couldn't help but be stressed. The dance was Friday and there was still so much to do. She hoped checking out Nikolas' new cottage will help ease her worry. "You're right."
She pulled him into a tight hug and Nikolas's heart fluttered at her touch. He reluctantly released her when she pulled away. "I'm almost done! I just have to go talk to Aimee really quick, grab my coat and then we can get out of here." She assured.
He nodded. "It's no problem. I'm a little early anyway, I don't mind waiting. Take all the time you need." She smiled and walked away.
Nikolas watched her from afar, admiring her beauty. His feelings for her were intensifying more every second he was with her. What would she do when she found out how he felt about her? He thought the question he kept asking himself over and over again all day. He knew she didn't feel the same way and he was worried that if he did tell her, then it would ruin their friendship. Losing her wasn't an option, and he was terrified that if she did find out the truth, then he would lose her for sure or at least severely damage the relationship that have.
He couldn't tell her, he decided. The stakes were too high, and there was no way that he was going to risk what they had for his own happiness. But how in the world was he going to spend the day with her when all he wanted to do was kiss her and hold her close? He would get through it like he usually does. Hell, he'd been doing it for the past 6 years; he could manage being just friends with her and never having anything more. Couldn't he? He wasn't so sure anymore.
Nikolas would just have to settle for being the best friend. Watch her fall in love with everyone but him. Be the one who comforts her and listen when she needs to vent about her boyfriend. 'Hey, it's better than being nothing at all.' he thought. Even though he felt this way now, he probably wouldn't forever right? He would find someone and move on from Emily. Yeah right. He would never get over Emily. He would always be in love with her, if she knew it or not.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when he felt a hand on his shoulder. The only touch that made his stomach do flip-flops when he felt it. He looked down to meet a pair of chocolate brown eyes. "Nikolas? Are you ok?"
He swallowed the lump forming in his throat. The one that always does when she touches him. "Yea, I'm fine. Just thinking."
Concern obvious on her features, she studied him carefully. "We don't have to go check out the cottage today. We can do it another night." She said
"No, no don't be silly. I'm fine." He flashed her a reassuring smile. "You ready to go?"
She hesitated, still unsure, and then nodded. "Yea, let me just grab my stuff and we can get out of here." She turned around and walked to a chair where her books were sitting. She picked up her books and walked towards him. She stood in front of him and looked him over a second before setting her books down to put her jacket on. He instinctively took her jacket and helped her into it. She smiled. "Thanks."
"No problem." He replied. He grabbed her books for her and led her out to his car.
The ride was driven in complete silence. Emily wasn't sure what was wrong with Nikolas and she figured she would wait until he talked to her about it. She just gazed out the window until they came to a stop. She hadn't even realized that they were there until Nikolas cut the engine.
Nikolas turned to her and smiled. "We're here." He got out of the car and walked around the hood to open the door for Emily. She thanked him and he led her to the small house. He fished out the keys and opened the door.
"Wow." Was all Emily said for a few moments. The place was beautiful. Although it was empty, it was large and elegant. The room was all white, with a fireplace in the front room. The kitchen was off to the right and on the left there was a fancy staircase. She knew right away that she would have a ball decorating this place. Ideas were already popping into her head.
Nikolas stood in the doorway, watching as Emily walked around the house admiring everything, occasionally touching things. The only thing he was admiring was her. He didn't even notice anything around him. Nothing in the world existed at that moment but him and Emily. 'Man, I got it bad.' He thought to himself.
She turned all the way around until she faced Nikolas again. "Oh my god, Nikolas! It is absolutely beautiful!"
"I was thinking the same thing." He said aloud, his eyes never leaving hers. She looked down as she blushed, which made Nikolas' grin grow even wider. He slowly walked down the two small steps that follow the door and walked towards her until he stood right in front of her. "So, you like it?"
She looked up and met his eyes once again with a silly grin on her face. "Are you kidding? I LOVE it! Wow, Nikolas, your taste has definitely improved." She teased. "This place is a definite step up from gothic rooms and gargoyles."
He laughed softly. "Alright, now that you have seen the place, and made fun of my choice in homes, do you have any ideas on how to spruce it up?" He asked.
Emily turned her back to him to look over the place again. "Hmm, let's see." She walked over and examined the white colored walls. "I was thinking maybe a beige color on the walls. What do you think?" She turned her face towards him for his approval.
He smiled warmly at her and shrugged. "Sounds good to me. This is your project, remember?"
"You know, you may live to regret giving me so much power later on." She laughed.
"Well, that is a risk that I am willing to take." He paused for a moment to take in her reaction. A serious expression took over his features. "Look Em, the reason I asked you to do this is because i trust you. Plus I wanted to spend more time with you." He confessed.
She smiled. "I'm flattered. And, I'm honored you would ask me to do this for you."
"Ok then, now that that is cleared up, what else do you have in mind?"
Her face lit up at the question. She turned around and walked to the center of the room. "Ok, well furniture wise, I was thinking a white, sectional couch in the center of the room. Then, a glass end table right next to the couch." She paused and gestured her hands to where she would place everything. "We can put a white, leather recliner on the other side of the end table, so it will be lined up, and we can top it off by putting glass coffee table in the center." She finished. She looked over at him to see his expression, but he just stared at her with a big smile plastered on his face. Her heart fluttered and she cleared her throat nervously.
"I think it sounds perfect."
Emily sighed in relief, glad that he liked her ideas. "Great! When do you want to start fixing this place up?"
He shrugged. "Whenever. I would like to get this place ready as soon as possible so whenever you want to start painting and picking out furn--"
Emily cut him off. "What? We're going to be painting?" She asked, clearly amazed.
Nikolas just laughed. "Yea, why not? It will be fun."
"It does sound like fun. I just never pictured you as the painter type." She teased.
"Hey, I can paint." He defended.
She raised her hands in surrender. "Ok, ok. I'm just saying that I am going to have to see this to believe it." She giggled. "Well, is there anything else?"
He pursed his lips and shook his head. "I don't think so. Although, I am starved! What do you say we get out of here and go get something to eat?" He asked.
She shrugged. "Sounds good to me."
