Okay, here it is! Chapter 8! Let's see what Nick has to say about Lea's fighting…

Chapter 8

Lea remained silent as Nick led her into the large building and pushed her into his room a bit rougher than she had ever expected him to be. There was an apology at the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed carefully.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." She admitted weakly, the last blow to her stomach now taking its toll. But she didn't miss it-that pitying look in Nick's eyes at her words before he led her to the bathroom.

Why didn't he just point out the bathroom to her? It was humiliating enough that he had interrupted a good fight. He could just leave her alone to suffer the consequences. Lea wanted to shove him out of the bathroom, but instead only kneeled in front of the toilet, pretending he wasn't holding her hair for her as she gave up her lunch.

Silently, Lea washed her hands and looked at her reflection hesitantly, knowing he would be there behind her. Taking a deep breath, she quickly took in her pale skin, and the traces of blood she still had on her face. She'd forgotten about the pain, but now it was hurting more then ever.

"Go sit on the bed." Nick ordered her, and she watched his reflection as he spoke, noting how his lips became a tight line when he finished. Where was the familiar smile? She obeyed without question, knowing now that Nick Jonas wasn't all smiles and sweetness.

He came out of the bathroom a moment later with a wet wash cloth, wiping the blood off of her chin. Lea felt like a kid again, like when her mother used to clean off her cuts or scrapes-except her mother never had that expression on her face.

"Nick, I-" Lea began but he met her eyes at her words and she didn't go on. He cleaned the blood off of her collar bone-she hadn't even realized it was bleeding. The silence seemed to make it harder to breath.

"Is there anymore blood?" Nick spoke softly, his tone still not normal or pitying. Lea knew he was still disappointed in her, but only shook her head. There wasn't much she could really say to make it any better.

He sighed and set the cloth down before meeting her eyes again, shaking his head slightly. Lea bit her lip and opened her mouth to speak, but jumped instead when she felt his hand press gently on her stomach.

"How bad does it hurt?" Nick asked patiently, and Lea watched his lips as he spoke, memorizing how they looked as he said the words to her. Forcing her eyes back to his face and hoping he didn't notice what she had just been focused on, Lea shook her head slowly.

"Are you lying?" he raised his eyebrows, making Lea think again about her reply. In truth, she ached all over, but she'd felt worse, seen worse, and been in much worse condition. After all, she was out of the bathroom already. She could remember times when she was so beaten up…

There was no sound as they both waited for an answer. Lea didn't know what to say, not knowing how exactly to tell him "how bad". At least she wasn't crying-but that practically never happened.

"Can I see, then?" Nick sighed unhappily at her silence, making Lea's cheeks heat up. No, no, no. That was not something a guy should ask her- it was wrong.

He just wants to see how bad it is.

Her brow furrowed as she argued with herself, and Nick apparently realized his mistake, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't ask that." he said in a serious tone, but Lea noticed his pink cheeks. He was so innocent.

Lea lifted her shirt a ways, revealing the abused area and wincing at the damage that had been done. Yes, she'd seen worse, but it was still hard to keep from reacting to the sight of the injury.

"It looks bad, doesn't it?" she sighed, enjoying the cool air conditioned air on the quickly forming bruise. Nick nodded before looking at her face and sighing.

"Do you have to fight?" he blurted out suddenly, a glare on his face. She'd never seen him glare before. The day was full of strange events. Lea closed her eyes and let out a breath to keep herself from blowing up at him. No one ever understood.

"It doesn't matter." Lea said briskly, letting her shirt fall into place again and unable to meet his eyes. Nick's smooth fingers slid around her wrist and she failed at staring at nothing but met his eyes hesitantly.

"Yes." He stated firmly, "It does."

"Then, yes." Lea snapped, "I do."

"But why?" Nick asked impatiently, "Nothing comes of it!"

"I like to." Lea said shortly, not knowing why she liked fighting, and why she felt she needed to. But, she liked the adrenaline rush it gave her.

"I hate to see you go that low." Nick stated flatly.

"Then don't look." Lea spat at him, annoyed that yet another person didn't understand her. She yanked her wrist away from his grip and stood up, but only to lean against the wall at her lightheadedness. The consequences from the fight were always the worst part.

"Be careful." Nick breathed in her ear, suddenly behind her with his hands on her arms. She shivered at his touch and frowned. Nick mixed everything up. He took her life and made it a milkshake and now she just didn't know anything anymore. He made her question her fighting and feel guilty about it.

"You're my complete opposite, Nick." Lea sighed, "I'm a bad influence on you, so maybe we should just leave each other alone."

"What're you talking about?" he asked her softly, but she didn't turn to meet his eyes. His grips on her arms tightened as if challenging her to go on saying what he suspected she was saying.

A long silence went by as she thought carefully, but soon she broke the quiet with her simple words, "I don't deserve a friend like you."

"So, what-you expect me just start acting like I don't know you?" he sounded amused and Lea figured he was smiling yet again, "And that's not true, anyways."

"But I'm loud and…violent and don't care about breaking rules!" Lea tried to explain frustrated, "And you're just gentle and do what's right and follow all the rules…and just…I don't know-like perfect or something!"

"I'm far from perfect." Nick said immediately, sounding completely serious now.

"You just say that because you're humble." Lea waved her hand in the air, listening to his breathing behind her, "That's how perfect you are."

"Stop saying that." he demanded firmly.

"But-"

"Stop." Nick interrupted her, turning her carefully to face him. He eyed the cut on her collar bone before turning his gaze to her eyes, "I'm not perfect."

"I don't see where you go wrong." Lea insisted, not knowing what the purpose of this conversation really was. He smiled slightly, making Lea nearly shake her head at his constant cheer.

"Don't you?" he raised an eyebrow, making Lea smile ever so slightly at his cute expression of mischief, "Meet me in the stable at midnight, okay?"

"But curfew is ten!" Lea stated, her eyes widening and Nick smirked, "Oh. You don't have to do this just to be un-perfect." She frowned.

"Just meet me there." He chuckled.

"Alright…" Lea agreed uncertainly. Normally she wouldn't give it a second thought, because she honestly didn't care what the consequences would be. She just didn't want to get Nick into trouble was all.

The thought struck her as odd. Since when did she care?

Nick leaned down to kiss her cheek, his warm breath sliding across her skin as he spoke next to her ear, "Don't worry so much."

"I won't." Lea said honestly, unable to keep her worry while he stood so close and kissed her cheek.

I'd love to know what you think about this chapter, so review!