Two Can Play That Game

NICKI

Oh my God! I didn’t just slap him across the face did I? Not in front of his ex? Or in front of Miss Drew?

I scream frustratingly. Why did I completely flip out just then?! I didn’t like Dan in any way AT ALL! So why did I just go psycho on him?

I can’t think straight, confined in the school walls. I stomp my way over to my locker. As I unlock it, I get an image of Sky and Kayla, all three of us laughing together.

But then, my place is taken by Sasha, and instead of my best friends loving boyfriends, jocks surround the table and so do Paige and the cheerleaders. Some of whom, wouldn’t be that bad if it weren’t for Paige being in the time. And Sasha, well, her being in the team is kind of unavoidable isn’t it?

I slam my locker shut, gripping the helmet and leather jacket as I walk out of the school doors.

When I start toward the car park though, someone grabs my hair and viciously pulls on it.

A pained gasp escapes my lips as I crumple to the floor, dropping my stuff and clawing at the hand with a steel grip on my hair. Suddenly, more than 3 people are punching and kicking me. A hand drenched in some sort of liquid is pushed to my mouth, stopping me from screaming or fighting back.

‘Stay away from our guys’ a voice hisses before dropping me to the ground.

My vision blurs and I hear the distant voice…or voices of people.

Then I give in to the dark.

DAN STRIKER

I’m reaching a point of desperation now, I still can’t find Nicki, she’s not sitting with Sky and Kayla because they’re sitting with Paige and Sasha, and both their boyfriends are busy organising stuff for soccer and their dance crew.

The thought of losing her was making me nauseous, I didn’t want her to not be part of my life. I didn’t even know why I needed to make sure she was safe! She just always had this happy vibe radiating from her. Her smile, even sarcastic, could lift anyone up to cloud nine.

Being around her is just…entertaining. No, you like her presence more that entertainment. My mind whispered, but I couldn’t listen if I didn’t know she was alright. I needed to explain.

I rounded off to the car park, desperately scanning the cars parked, then I mentally slapped myself. Nicki came in, looking smoking (shuttup brain) on a bike!

An audible sigh of relief escaped my lips when I found her bike perched at the side. Trying to blend in but still outshining the other pieces of twisted metal.

I sprinted toward the bike parking, and even though I could see the bike, I needed to re assure myself. From the corner of my eye I could see something move back into the school. But before I could investigate I tripped over a large object on the ground.

‘No!’ a fierce voice yelled from further away.

I scrambled from the limp thing on the ground. I squinted, trying to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating the body-

Body!? I instantly sat up and rolled the person over.

My heart actually stopped. It was Nicki, with split lips and a bruised head. Her eye was swelling and turning into a taunting purple. My eyes travelled down her body and found more bruises scattered all over her.

I slung my eyes under her and started to pick her up bridal style but was shoved viciously away from her.

I looked up to see my attacker and found the blazing eyes of Justin, Tyler, and Jase.

Tyler and Jase rushed to Nicki and I could hear Tyler take on the role of leadership.

‘Call an ambulance and then go and alert the principal and the girls, but make sure you tell the girls alone, we don’t want to cause a scene’.

Jase nodded curtly before taking off to the school, he was surprisingly fast, but it made sense since he was the soccer teams striker. Ha! I thought randomly, making the connection between his position and my name.

A shadow falling upon me threw me back to reality.

‘What did you do to her’ Justin growled maliciously, not trying to control his temper. I saw his fists clench and hastily stood up so that, IF it came to a fight, we’d be on even grounds.

‘I did nothing to her’ my voice snarled back in equal hostility.

The sound of the ambulance was nearing and I could hear the hushed whispers of the principal and a few school teachers and nurses.

‘If anything happens to her, I’ll come after you’ Justin whispers to me, veins nearly popping out of his neck and arms.

This was bullshit, This guy couldn’t tell me what I could or couldn’t do.

‘Who do you think you are, are you forgetting who you’re talking to?’ I snapped back, hands clenching into fists of their own.

A disappointed smile took over his face as he risked a glance at a strapped in Nicki beginning to be wheeled off into the ambulance.

‘Yeah, I know who you are, you’re the guy that hurt Nicki, maybe not physically, but emotionally’ he sighed as his eyes followed the van.

I actually staggered back. Was he right? Had I caused her emotional pain or confusion? I couldn’t have, we hate eachother, we’re nowhere near the relationship status I’D like us to be.

With sudden realisation, I turned to the retreating Justin, who was jumping into his Mazda MX-5 to go to the hospital.

‘Justin, I could never hurt her as much as you hurt her that Friday night at the fair’.

Justin’s body froze as he began sitting in his car, and visibly tensed. If I couldn’t see any better, I’m sure a flash of pain or regret crossed over his eyes.

Then, he slammed his car door shut and raced away to the hospital.

I couldn’t go, I was talking with one of the directors to discuss a movie role. A flash on the ground caught my eye and I found the key to the Suzuki Hayabusa on the ground. I pick it up, with the intention to driving it to the hospital so that Nicki could be at ease about the expensive bike.

When I stroll into class, Sasha is instantly at my side.

‘I heard about the ambulance and the guys who tried to attack you, you alright? God knows why they were defending her, especially Justin’ she pauses thoughtfully. ‘I’ll have to have a word with Paige about him’

The full effect of her words dawn on me and I shrug out of her embrace.

‘Do you know anything about this?’ I narrow my eyes at her accusingly.

She looks surprised, and then looks at me in disgust.

‘Do you honestly believe that I would set up an assault on a girl who poses no visible threat to me? You know that I don’t play dirty unless something’s not right by me’

I give her my best apologetic look, knowing fully well that she was right, I knew all too well.

‘Sorry babe’

She beams at me.

‘We back to normal again huh?’ a proud look on her face. A questioning on mine.

‘When are we going public again?’ she asks, letting a serious mood fall between us.

I actually stumble back a bit. Nicki my mind desperately screams. But I’ve already hurt her enough, Justin pointed that out to me very well not too long ago and I think it’s best that we remain away from each other, as friends.

Decision made I give Sasha a small nod and flip out my phone to call up my manager Adam.

‘My man, set up a media conference, Sasha and I are going public’ I end the call before he can react.

Sasha is now looking at me seductively and begins towing me out of the school.

‘Come on Striker, let’s catch up on old times’

And all the while we’re kissing and trying to take off our clothes, I can only replay Sasha’s reply to my confronting question.

‘Do you honestly believe that I would set up an assault on a girl who poses no visible threat to me?’

And even though I wanted to disagree, my mind and heart decide that the answer is yes.

Because she does pose a threat to you.

Then another thought struck as I replayed the rest of her answer.

You know that I don’t play dirty unless something’s not right by me.

In a sudden flash of answers, her and Paige talking, her trying to sleep with me the night of her arrival, her trying to get me away from Nicki, her taking Kayla and Sky away from Nicki, the phone call to Justin, the attack on her.

I push Sasha off me and her eyes narrow at me, only to turn wide when she hears what I say.

“You”

The only word I’m capable of breathing right now.

A/N I'm pretty sure this is a double update =D Thanks for reading!!