Page 58 of Tell Me Everything
Nina crossed her arms. Kelsey grabbed her order and left the shop without giving us a last glance, her head held high. If I'dbeen in her shoes, I'd have run away from Dark Nina, too. She was someone I didn't want to be around. Once my former best friend had left, Nina smiled again, her bad mood long gone.
Sensing my confusion, Sophie smiled. “Nina protects her family.”
The girl tapped her heart twice with her fist. “I'm a guard dog.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon at Nina's. Her house wasn't the biggest, but it was so welcoming. Her house was the complete opposite of mine. Nina gave us both fluffy pyjamas and warm socks. I glanced at Sophie.
“It's more comfortable. You don't have to change.”
Once the three of us had changed, we dropped onto the bed with bottles of Coke and chips. For a homebody like me, this was my favourite part of the day. Being able to chat about anything and everything with my friends while lounging was something I particularly relished.
Nina turned back to me. I knew she was going to ask me a personal question, so I took a chip to give me courage. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why were you afraid to become friends with us? It’s okay if you don't want to answer.”
I took another chip, giving myself time to clear my head. Nina didn't beat around the bush. It was a quality I greatly appreciated. She was also good at stressing me out. So I let go. “Let's just say that some people made me believe for a long time that I was worthless and unworthy of love. I ended up believing it, I guess.
“Who would do such a thing?” Sophie asked, frowning. “No one close to you, I hope?”
“My father.”
There it was. The secret I'd tried to keep from the world for solong was now out in the open. I thought sharing this part of me would be wrong, but against all odds, I felt calm.
“What a dick,” Nina spat.
I hesitated to elaborate. I was the biggest coward when it came to opening up to others. Their kind looks encouraged me without making me feel like I had to talk.Breathe in. Breathe out.
“When my brother died, my father never recovered. All his joy of life and love for others disappeared. Now he's a bitter drunk.”
A heavy silence settled over the room. They were both hesitating how to react to the chaos that was my life. Nina was the first to react.
“Your brother’s gone?” she repeated, her voice soft and calm.
“Yes, he passed away three years ago.”
It was strange to talk about my brother like that, in past tense. It made the fact that he was never coming back a little more real, but I no longer felt the guilt that crushed my chest whenever I thought of him. I missed Mick. I'd always miss him. That didn't stop me from needing to get better. Without him.
“I'm sorry,” Sophie murmured. “Now I understand why you're afraid to get attached to others.”
She brought me closer like a mother would. Nina threw herself on top of us to hug us. Tears welled up in my eyes. Without hesitation, I hugged them back.
Chapter 22
Elena
On a bright day when I was locked in my room with Derek Hale, Alex waltzed inside and closed my computer in one swift motion. What had gotten him in such a good mood? Alex opened my curtains and dropped onto my bed. The sunlight was blinding.
“Let's go out for a drink! I need to get out. It's been too long.”
Eyes still squinting, I tilted my head to one side. It was at times like this that I remembered how different we were. Where I was the introvert who never left the house, Alex liked crowded places.
“You go out all the time. How is that possible?”
Alex flicked me on the forehead. “Because I spend all my time with you.”
He hardly ever saw his friends anymore because of me.
