Hey guys! I'm in a really peppy mood so this chapter is SUPER long! And by SUPER long, I mean almost 3K words in this chapter ALONE. Let's just say that I love high school so far. Enjoy!

Chapter 12

Nina: It's the bubble.

Fabian: Excuse me?

I shook my head; partially forgetting that Fabian was right there.

Nina: Sorry. What did you say?

Fabian: Nina, why are you pushing me away all of the sudden?

Nina: You don't need to take it personally. I do it to pretty much everyone.

Fabian: Why, though?

Nina: I- I don't know. I just do… can we just pay attention?

Fabian: Did something happen yesterday after I left?

Nina: I found your sketchbook. I saw all the drawings. But, I have a question: Why me? Out of all the girls in the school, you choose pathetic little me. Why is that?

Fabian: Who said anything about you being pathetic?

I shook my head and covered my face with my hands.

Nina: Everyone says it behind my back as if I can't hear them. And, the truth of it all is that they're right. I am a pathetic waste of space.

Fabian: No. You're not a waste. Nina, when did people start getting to you?

Nina: I just… I always put on a mask before I leave for school. Let's just leave it at that.

Fabian: Nina-

Nina: I said leave it at that!

Everyone looked at us, thanks to my outburst. Even Mr. Winkler was utterly surprised by us.

Mr. Winkler: Is everything alright, Nina?

Nina: Of course, I just… sorry.

Mr. Winkler: Nina, I want you to stay back after class. We need to talk.

I nodded and sunk in to my chair. Great, I've humiliated myself in front of the whole class AGAIN and now I'm in the running for a detention. Perfect. Fabian continued looking at me, but I just ignored him. The bell rang and everyone filed out of the classroom except for Fabian, Mr. Winkler, and I.

Fabian: Nina. Please talk to me.

He tried to hold my hand, but I jerked it back. His face fell even more as Mr. Winkler came over.

Mr. Winkler: Fabian, I need to talk to you as well. Can you wait up outside?

He nodded, his eyes never leaving me. He waited out in the hall while Mr. Winkler asked me to sit.

Mr. Winkler: Nina, I-

Nina: If you're going to give me a detention, can you make it quick?

Mr. Winkler started to laugh, which made me very confused.

Mr. Winkler: Very funny, Nina. What made you think you were in trouble?

Nina: I… just… assumed, I guess.

Mr. Winkler: No need. You're fine. I just have to… talk with you. This morning, why were you late? And give me the real reason, not that 'I was sick' crap.

Nina: I- I didn't sleep last night and I-

Mr. Winkler: Was it Fabian?

Nina: Excuse me?

Mr. Winkler: Did something happen yesterday or last night that had you restless with him in mind?

Nina: I- yes, but how-

Mr. Winkler: I can see it in your eyes. You're a good actress and you are very good at hiding things, but I'm a drama teacher. I've seen it all. So what happened? You can trust me.

Nina: I… yesterday, Fabian came over and we went horseback riding. When I got back, I found a sketchbook on my bed. I can't draw for my life, so I knew it wasn't mine. I looked through it and… there were these gorgeous portraits of- of me and… I was just amazed and shocked and then I found a note that was a conversation between Mick and Fabian and- I- I'm so conflicted now.

Mr. Winkler: What did the note say?

Nina: I- he- Fabian wanted to ask me to a party but didn't have the courage to ask.

Mr. Winkler: Did he ever ask you to the party?

Nina: Yes, but… I said no-

Mr. Winkler: What? Why?

Nina: Well, I didn't say no at first, but… I need to tell him that I changed my mind.

Mr. Winkler: Why did you change your mind?

Nina: I… when I saw the sketchbook, I had an epiphany. I realized that Fabian liked me, like, really liked me and… I couldn't let him do that.

Mr. Winkler: What's so bad about him liking you? Do you not like him the same way?

Nina: No! The truth is, I think I'm falling in love with him, but… he deserves better than me.

Mr. Winkler: Excuse me? I thought you were this confident girl and you come at me with 'he deserves better than me'. What gives?

Nina: Mr. Winkler, I've had a hard past, with my parent's divorce, my mother's departure, my father's death, and the fact that I live with an abusive stepmother and one of my step sister's is exactly like her.

Mr. Winkler: Let me guess, Joy?

Nina: Ding ding ding! We have a winner! The point is, I've lost the people dearest to me and… I feel like they're always going to be in and out of my life until one day, they disappear. I don't want Fabian to have to deal with someone as broken as I am. I'm not a pity case and I'm not desperate either. He deserves better.

Mr. Winkler: But, Nina, what if to him, you are more than just a girl with a terrible past?

Nina: No, he wouldn't do that. He shouldn't.

Mr. Winkler: What if he saw a bright future… perhaps it was a bright future with you?

Nina: No! I've had such a dark life that there's no way out of it.

Mr. Winkler: Nina, you may have had a dark past, but Fabian sees a bright future for you, one that he's a part of. Does the idea of being in a relationship scare you?

Nina: Yes, because relationships mean trusting and loving and expectations and… I'm just not the kind of girl who can be with a guy like him.

Mr. Winkler looked at me and shook his head.

Mr. Winkler: Young love, so complicated. Look, Nina, you need to talk to Fabian about this. Let me ask you this, how do you feel when you're around him?

Nina: I feel… safe… and loved…

Mr. Winkler: Would you say that you feel… wanted?

I looked at him and my eyes widened.

Nina: Yes. He makes me feel wanted.

Mr. Winkler: Nina, I think Fabian takes you away from your surroundings and to another universe. Do you get what I'm saying?

Nina: Yes. I totally understand. That's exactly what I felt when we… we almost… kissed.

Mr. Winkler smiled at me.

Mr. Winkler: And when did this almost kiss happen?

Nina: Yesterday. That's why I found the sketchbook and note on my bed. I was teaching him how to go horseback riding when we got abandoned. The horse ran off and left us in the middle of nowhere. We- we started talking and we almost kissed but… Mara came and rescued us.

Mr. Winkler: Did you want to kiss him?

Nina: Yes, I did, Mr. Winkler. I really wanted to kiss him.

Mr. Winkler: I thought you were scared of relationships?

Nina: I am, but… I can't help my feelings for him. I- I think I like him, a lot.

Mr. Winkler: Would you say that you could possibly… love… him?

I thought for a moment and sat back in my chair. It's obvious that I like him, but could I love him? Love. The word felt so wrong.

Nina: Love. Mr. Winkler, you're asking if I, Nina Martin, might love Fabian Rutter?

He nodded and folded his hands, a smirk playing on his lips. I sighed and tried to think up a response. '…' '…' '…' was all I could get. What's wrong with me? I sound like porky pig when he stutters. I bit my lip, wonder what's wrong. Fabian has this affect on me. Suddenly, I understood. I knew my answer and it was… impossible.

Nina: Mr. Winkler, I- I think I'm in love with Fabian.

Mr. Winkler: Then tell him. He has the right to know.

Nina: But, how do I do that? I put a shield up every time and… I can't lose him.

Mr. Winkler nodded and stood up.

Mr. Winkler: Follow your heart and never think anything through. Trust me; love isn't something you can plan out. It's spontaneous. Go to that party tonight and tell him then. Just figure out the right time to blurt it out.

I nodded and thanked the young drama teacher. As I left the room, Mr. Winkler called back to me.

Mr. Winkler: Nina, can you send Fabian in? I have to talk to him.

Nina: Should I wait up?

Mr. Winkler: No no no. You go on ahead. You have classes to attend to.

I nodded and entered the hall way. Fabian was sitting on the floor, sketching in a notebook full of numbers. Why is he drawing in his math notebook? I looked over his shoulder to see that he was sketching me again. This time, I was smiling and looking out a window. It seemed so realistic that I started to try to recall the moment he might have saw me doing that.

Nina: That's funny. I don't remember doing that.

Fabian yelped and scurried away from me. I startled him. Oops.

Nina: Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. I just… came and saw you drawing so… sorry. I shouldn't have been so up in your business.

Fabian: It's alright. Is everything ok?

Nina: Ya. Mr. Winkler wants to talk to you now.

Fabian: Oh, ok. I'll see you in class.

Nina: Ya.

He entered and I was about to leave when Mr. Winkler started talking. I pressed my ear to the door and gasped at what I heard.

Fabian: So… you wanted to talk to me?

Mr. Winkler: Yes. I found out that you and Nina are having trouble. Go ahead and tell me what's wrong.

Fabian: I- I don't know what you mean.

Mr. Winkler: You know exactly what I mean. I'm talking about the almost kiss, the party, the sketches, the note, all of it.

Fabian: How- how did you-

Mr. Winkler: Nina told me everything and more.

Fabian: More?

Mr. Winkler: Yes. Fabian, do you truly care about Nina?

Fabian: Of course I do! Why would you even-

Mr. Winkler: She's been conflicted ever since she saw the sketches. She wasn't sure about coming to school because of them. She thinks you're too good for her.

Fabian: What?! How could she even think that?

Mr. Winkler: Fabian, you love a girl who has been damaged severely. You need to know that. She has had painful moments in her life-

Fabian: Well, so have I.

Mr. Winkler: …Like what?

Fabian: I- I don't want to share this.

Mr. Winkler: Fabian, you can trust me. This is between you and I.

I could feel Fabian's uncertainty. After all, I was in his position just a few minutes ago. Fabian sighed, reluctantly giving in.

Fabian: Fine. My mother died when delivering me. My dad blamed me for her death and fell in to a deep state of depression until one day; he decided to end his misery. The next morning, I was the little five year old in the newspapers, the one that found his father hanging from a ceiling beam. I became an orphan and, luckily, my Uncle Ade took me in and brought me up. Sadly though, my parents hadn't left me to anyone in their wills, so… I was taken away at the age of 10. I've been in the same foster house ever since. I live with Mick, Jerome, Alfie, and Eddie. Eddie and Mick are Mr. Sweet's biological sons and Jerome belongs to Victor. I- Alfie and I are the only orphans in the house.

I nodded, understanding what happened to Alfie's parents. They got mugged one date night and were never found again. Alfie lost any hope of finding them, so he eats away his memories, hence his addiction to food. Suddenly, the door opened and the person crashed in to me. I fell to the ground with the person on top of me.

Mr. Winkler: Fabian, wait. I know that this hurts for you, but- oh… what…

Nina: Sorry. I couldn't leave Fabian behind so I just… stood outside the door.

Mr. Winkler: You just stood there, doing absolutely positively nothing?

I nodded and I knew he didn't believe me. He closed his classroom door, leaving Fabian and I on the hall way floor.

Fabian: So…

Nina: I'm sorry about earlier. During class, I mean. I was being a bitch-

Fabian: Hey. Don't call yourself that. You hear me? That word's too disgusting to describe you.

I chuckled and looked in to his eyes. He pressed my glasses up my nose and back to their place while I blushed.

Fabian: You know, I didn't believe when you said you actually had glasses. But, I have to say: you look gorgeous in them.

I blushed even harder and tried to pry my eyes away from his, but I just couldn't.

Nina: Thank you. I- thanks.

He nodded and kept eye contact with me. After about a minute of silence, he broke his gaze from my eyes and directed them to my lips. He immediately looked away with a hint of pink on his cheeks.

Fabian: So…

Nina: So…

We looked at each other and smiled, my eyes flickering to his lips. He caught my eye and smiled lightly. I smiled, my eyes flickering yet again.

Fabian: Do you like what you see or…

Nina: What? Oh, sorry… I didn't mean to stare. I just…

Fabian: It's alright, actually. I… I don't mind. In fact, I… I just…

He lost his words as he stared at my lips. He started to lean in and I did the same when high heels started clicking against the tile. That didn't stop us from almost having our lips bushed together until we heard the person start screaming.

Joy: Nina! What the fuck do you think you're doing?! Fabian, get off of her!

Suddenly, Fabian was ripped from above me by Joy, who wouldn't fuck off. She started clinging to his shirt desperately, a scowl directed towards me.

Joy: What is the matter with you?!

I got up on my own and retorted.

Nina: Me? You think there's something wrong with me?! I'm not the lunatic who's clinging to Fabian right now.

Joy: Listen and listen well: leave Fabian alone or I'll make you.

Nina: That a threat?

Joy: No shit.

Nina: And if I don't?

Joy suddenly sprang at me, clenching my braid in her fist. She continuously yanked it while shoving me in to a wall. She scratched my left arm with her nails while Fabian tried to pry her off me. I started to slump down, avoiding the punches she was trying to throw, when Fabian was finally successful in interfering.

Fabian: Joy, what the hell was that?!

Joy: That little bitch has been trying to steal you away and its working!

Fabian: Joy, you don't know what you're talking about!

Joy: Fabian, you love me! Please-

Fabian: I don't love you and I never will!

She looked at him with sad eyes and tried to change his mind.

Joy: But, Fabes-

Fabian: No! Just leave Nina alone! Leave us alone!

He walked over to me and helped me up, briefly taking a look at the scratches Joy gave me. The claw marks weren't very deep, but they were deep enough to bleed moderately.

Fabian: Here, let me take you to the clinic.

Nina: There's no need for that, Fabian. I got scratched in the arm, not the leg. I can walk on my own.

Fabian: Well, at least allow me to accompany you. I mean, I was a witness so I can tell them what happened-

Nina: No! I mean… no one needs to know about what happened, ok?

Fabian: What are you talking about? The school needs to know that you're being bullied!

Nina: By my step sister? Please, they'll just push it off as a sibling thing. Besides, they'd call my step mother and if she found out that I ratted Joy out, I can kiss school goodbye. She's threatened to take away my school privilege with the excuse that she'd home school me. She'd make my life in that hell hole a hundred times worse. Please, promise you won't say.

Fabian looked at me, wistfully wishing to help me. Finally, he nodded and grabbed my bag, which had been flung when I was attacked. He slid it on his shoulder and offered me a hand.

Fabian: I'm still coming with you. I don't trust anyone around here except for you.

Nina: Thank you for everything.

I took his hand and from there, we walked over to the clinic.