Chapter 17

“Jesus, Nate. What the hell are you doing in my apartment?” I asked, holding my poor startled heart. I did give him a key but I didn't expect him to scare me like this.

“Becca,” he slurred and I noticed that he was slightly drunk.

“You could have called before coming. You scared the crap out of me and why the hell are you drunk?” I asked and started to walk past him.

“I’ve missed you,” he muttered and placed a hand on my shoulders, turning me around roughly.

“We do hang out often, Nate.” I sighed and pushed him lightly. I had a gut feeling that he wasn’t here to just hang out with me.

“Look, Becca, I want you.”

What?

“What?” I asked, scrunching my eyebrows in confusion.

“I mean...I want to be with you,” he pinched the bridge of his nose, ” as more than a friend.”

“Well, I think you are super drunk and you are talking bullshit,” I let out a dry chuckle.

“No, I’m serious. I’ve been trying to avoid this feeling so hard but I...fuck, I just can’t see you with another guy. It fucking kills me,” he blurted with a painful look on his face and I stood there in shock, not knowing what to say to that.

Was he serious?

“Just stop it. Stop playing these stupid games with my mind. I think I should get you a cab,” I took out my phone but he pulled it out of my hand.

“No, I’m telling the truth which I would have never told you if I was sober. I was so blind that I didn’t notice the perfect thing right under my nose,” he held my hands and I looked up into his grey eyes which I once adored.

“Nate,” I breathed out as I felt my head spinning at his confession.

“Do you remember that night? I know it happened in a spur of a moment but I can’t forget that night, Becca,” he pushed a strand of hair away from my eyes. I could smell the alcohol in his breath and tried to push him away by placing my hand on his chest but he didn’t move.

What was he trying to do?

“It was a mistake and I’m with Xavier now so please just go. We can talk about this when you are sober,” I spoke softly but he pushed me against the nearest wall, making me gasp at his sudden action.

“Are you saying that you don’t feel anything for me? I can make you feel better than him.” He licked his lips, looking at me with those bloodshot eyes. A small part of me was scared as I have never seen Nate behave like this.

“Nate, let me go or I swear I’ll kick your balls,” I replied angrily. I wasn’t going to take his bullshit anymore.

Why does he always have to ruin my mood?

“Fuck! I'm sorry," he let go of me and continued, "Please Becca, I’m sorry for being an asshole. Just give me one chance, babygirl,” he begged and I stared at him in disbelief. I couldn’t believe that he was behaving like this. Never in a million years, I would have expected this turn of events. If he had said this a month back, I would have jumped with joy but now I felt.....nothing.

Absolutely nothing!

And that’s when it hit me, I was in love with Xavier and not him.

“I’m sorry, Nate but I’m in love with Xavier.” I whispered and it felt so real when I said it out loud.

“That guy? Fuck! We have known each other our entire lives and you hardly know him,” he scoffed.

“And yet he makes me so damn happy than I’ve ever been in my entire life,” I spat at him and noticed his nose flare up in anger.

“Maybe I should show you how happy I can make you, for you to realize that I'm the one you should be with,” with that he crashed his lips to mine, making my eyes go wide, and just when I was about to push him away from me, I heard the front door burst open.

“God, I felt so bad for not driving you home so I got us dinn--” Nate let go of me immediately and I already knew who it was when I heard the familiar deep voice behind me.

Xavier!

He stopped talking and I turned around to find him, shooting daggers at Nate.

Fuck, this must look so bad.

“Xavier,” I started, walking towards him.

“Stop.” He held out his hand and looked at both of us with shock and pain evident on his face. He placed the take out bags on the floor and walked right out of the door without another word. I felt my heart break into a million pieces as I watched him leave.

Oh, God! No, no, no!

“This is all because of you. You just had to ruin the one good thing in my life, didn’t you?” I turned around to face Nate and tried so hard not to break down in front of him.

“I’m sorry, Becca. I didn’t mean to,” he mumbled under his breath, running his hands through his jet black hair. I grimaced at his response.

“All you do is say sorry all the fucking time. Just go to hell, Nate." I slapped him so hard that the sound resonated through the walls of my apartment and rushed outside to find Xavier walking down the hallway.

“Xavier...stop!” I ran to catch up with him. Man, he was so fast. I tugged at his jacket sleeves just as he was about to turn left.

“Just hear me out,” I spoke, trying to catch my breath.

“You know, when you told me that you had a thing for your best friend. A small part of me feared that I was just your rebound but then I thought I was just being silly because I knew those eyes could never use me like that,” he choked out his words, and tears flowed down my cheeks.

God, he was so wrong!

“It’s not what you think, Xavier. He just--” I sobbed and tried to explain but he cut me off.

“I really want to be alone right now, Rebecca.” He replied and continued to walk swiftly towards his truck which was parked opposite my building. I was not going to leave him until he hears me out. I wiped away my tears angrily and walked outside my building. This was all a huge misunderstanding because of stupid Nate. Urgh! Why the hell did he kiss me? I followed him, calling out his name but he didn’t turn around.

“You were never the rebound, Xavier. In fact, I lo--” my words were cut off as a car came rushing towards me and I felt my body flying in the air. Everything happened in a fraction of second and I hit the ground with a loud thud.

Ow! That hurt!

I felt pain shooting right through my head instantly. What the hell just happened? Was I dreaming? I touched my head and looked at my hands through my blurred vision.

Blood!

Holy fuck!

I tried to move but I felt a sharp pain shooting through my right leg and I squeezed my eyes in pain.

“Rebecca, open your eyes.” I heard Xavier’s voice faintly. I tried to focus on his voice and felt my forehead getting wet.

Was he crying?

Was I going to die?

“Rebecca!” I heard someone yelling my name distantly and felt my eyes closing against my own will.

“Fuck! Don’t leave me, baby. Just hold on, you are going to be fine. Call the ambulance,” he yelled at someone. I tried so hard to fight my body and keep my eyes open but it hurt so damn much and I just let the darkness engulf me with one last thought in my head.

I didn’t want to die, not without telling Xavier that I loved him!