CHAPTER 4: Just Friends

Three years later

In Florida...

Finally! Yes!

Nichole was excited. A national publishing company was willing to publish her book nationwide and abroad. They invited her to come to New York to sign the contract.

Three years ago, she was penniless. And now, she's in the brink of becoming a nationwide, and probably an international wide, acclaimed author! How exciting! She hurriedly visited her boyfriend, Derek, who's at work to tell him about the offer. He congratulated her with a kiss.

"Let's have dinner outside to celebrate tonight," Derek said eagerly.

"We'll see, tonight I might not be at home," said Nichole.

She kept her eyes on the letter, pretending to be busy putting it back in the envelope. She's on purposely avoiding his eyes so he couldn't see that what she's planning to do.

"Nichole, I love you," Derek said. He could sense that she's planning something.

"Love you too, Derek." Nichole kissed his lips and left before he could ask questions.

She hurriedly went to the biggest mansion in the nearby area. A servant answered the door and she waited in a big luxurious living room that could fit her whole apartment in it. After a while, a stylish young man appeared. He came out with a ravishing blonde leaning smittenly on his shoulder. He made a signal to Nichole to wait and went out briefly with her.

Soon, he came back alone without the blonde.

"Did I interrupt anything, Neal?" asked Nichole bluntly.

"Nope, as you see, I'm fully dressed." He grinned.

She looked at him doubtful. He noticed she held a white envelope in her hand.

"I'm alone now. Share me the excitement," he said

She excitedly showed him the letter.

"New York! Congratulations!" Neal said. They hugged for a little celebration and he showered her with praises.

"I'll go home to Chicago for two weeks this coming midterm break," said Neal after they cooled down.

"Finally, you 'll face your relatives."

He nodded with a grin. "Yup, first time in three years. There will be a big Ardlay party to celebrate Sir William's wedding anniversary. I'm sure I'll meet all of them there."

"Rich family party. I read about it a lot in a novel. I wrote about it too although I never go to see one." She laughed.

"Want to come? You can be my date."

"Oh no... ," she said hurriedly. "I didn't mean that..."

"But why not?"

"Me?" She laughed. "I don't think I belong there. I don't even know what to wear, I mean... What's good enough for the Ardlay party! It's like... wow!"

Nichole knew that the Ardlays and their immediate families were the most prominent families in America.

"You're a renowned author, Nich. Soon you'll be attending many parties too. It'd be an honor to take you to your fist one. I'll help you to get ready."

"But,..."

"I insist. I'll arrange someone to take your around Chicago too. You'll see the Midwest and you could write about it in your novels."

"True, it's useful for my novels! I go. Thank you."

They went to the most exquisite boutique to buy dresses and accessories. He didn't tell how much he spent that day. But by seeing that sparkling diamond necklace and the matching accessories, she estimated the price tag for that only should be around one year of her living expense.

"It's my gift to you to celebrate your brilliant achievement." Neal said calmly. "In addition, as my date, you have to wear the best." He grinned charmingly.

"You spoiled me too much today. How should I thank you?" she asked. She flung one arm around his neck, one hand gently caressing his cheek.

"I'm alone tonight. Want to stay?" he whispered. "I tell you how I want it to be done today." He grinned, pulled her towards him at the same time.

They went to the bed, kissed, took each other clothes. His hand moved expertly to unsnap her bra and went lower to reach her panties. But she stopped it.

"Neal, do you love me?"

This useless question again, why don't they just let me having fun without having to mention the "love" word, thought Neal.

"You know I am not a marrying type, dear," he said kissing her. "You should ask that question to your own boyfriend."

"But why?"

He recited dully the words he's been saying countless of times to girls who asked him a similar question.

"You're the most amazing woman. Beautiful, smart, but I need to focus on school. My career is my first priority, I am not looking for a commitment yet."

"How many times have you said that same lie to other girls?"

"Plenty, to be honest." He giggled. "You know me too well. Does he know you're here?"

"No. Well, perhaps..."

"You probably should go back."

"So you can have fun with that new blonde? Baby, are you that cruel to me?" she brushed her lips teasingly to his. "I want you for myself tonight. Take me, just one last time." She moaned.

"Naughty girl," teased Neal. "You said that too last time. You'll break his heart."

"His fault. I've waited him to propose for years. I will stop seeing you only when he supports his words with a ring, I told him so."

She freed his hand to let him pull her panties. They made love...

That was not their first night together. The first night was a year after they became friends. Neal took her for a ride in his private yacht. They were chatting as usual. At some point, Nichole was telling Neal about her boyfriend who hesitated to propose to her. He listened sympathetically. This wasn't the first time she brought up this problem.

"I want to be a formal Mrs. who's legally married not just a partner in bed," Nichole said frustratingly. The problem was like a thorn in a flesh for her. "How many more years should I wait?"

Then, all of a sudden, she hugged Neal.

"What if you kissed me, Neal," said Nichole.

"Will you break up with him?" asked Neal.

"No. I love him. He loves me too. It's hard to find such a devoted man. He promised he'll marry me. I don't know what's keeping him, though. He knows it hurts me," said Nichole madly. "Kiss me, Neal."

"You won't regret it, dear?" confirmed Neal.

"I'd regret it if I never slept with you," answered Nichole. "The hottest bachelor on campus, probably in the universe. I witnessed all these girls fawned over you. You said because I taught you how to win their hearts? Then why should I only enjoy it from the sideline? Because I have a boyfriend? If he can hurt me, then I can hurt him too. Make love with me, Neal. Let's make him jealous to death."

Thus the first kiss and their first time in bed together.

Somewhere between that day on the beach when they first introduced themselves and the first kiss, they had become the best of friends. They didn't care about the future, how they'd be later on. What matters was as of now, they'd support each other, help each other, be for each other. And when they're together, the quiet dark room never failed to light up and be filled with enviable pleasures...

ooOooOooo

In Lakewood...

Candy lay on his bed fully awake, naked, while her boyfriend slept soundly next to her. Too soundly, in fact.

She couldn't sleep, she's not done yet. He always finished way too soon and left her lay awake half done with scorching heat in her skin wanting to have more. She wanted longer foreplay, longer touch, longer kiss.

This man couldn't even kiss right. As usual she compared kisses to Terry's supreme kiss. That kiss... the benchmark of all kisses which she had been hoping for someone to match. She had changed several boyfriends because of various reasoning. But, after all these years, the benchmark was still left unchallenged.

Blast you Susanna, thought Candy.

She's thinking of the idea of soul mates, wondering if they even existed. Archie and Annie, for example, were they soul mates? Looking for a husband was really not easy, she thought. One way or another, there's always something that made her not happy with the man. She started to wonder if she's becoming too picky.

She felt her head almost exploded hearing his snore. I will break up with him tomorrow. I can't stand this anymore.

The following day she did exactly like what she had planned. They broke up and she moved out from his house.

-To Be Continued -

Thanks for reading.