His last goodbye

Today is the first day of 2nd year college. I did a lot of researches for my studies for this year because I still wanna be the top of our class.

"Ok, so everyone we have 17 new students in our school and 1 of them is joining our class. He's from France but he is going to study here now, everybody please welcome Mr. Nicholas Richards." Our teacher introduced him. Well he was just a normal student. He's tall, he's cute, and he looks nice. He sat 4 chairs away from me.

****

The bell rings mean that it's time for a break. It was a usual breaktime for me. My sister graduated last year so I'm all alone in a table now.

Until.....

"Uhmmmm... Can I sit here???" An unfamiliar voice fronted on me. I looked at him and oh!!! its just the new student I forgot his name but I let him sat with me because I was lonely.

He introduced himself,

"I'm nicholas Richards"

And I replied "Yeah I know we're in a same homeroom."

He just smiled and he was obviously embarrased. It ended with silence just a normal breaktime.

*****

"That new student is sooo cute"

I hear rumors as I walk through my locker.

There are 3 girls, 2 lockers away from me. They were talking about him.

"I heard his parents owns a cafè on a mall near here! It's really successful!!!"

They keep on talking to each other about that new student. I smiled they are so humilated to that guy. He is not that cute. Well, he was nice by the first time I talked to him but I don't think he is cute.

When I got into the car, I saw Nich walking to his own car while he looked back at the whole school. I wondered why he did but I just neverminded about it and pointlessly continued scrolling on Instagram.

****

I was laying on my bed, scrolling on my Instgaram feed and one thing came into my mind.

I searched 'Nicholas Richards' there were no results I tried again. 'Richards_nicholas' and there it is I saw him. He's quite famous he has 5 thousand followers and there are only 6 accounts that he follows he has 211 posts and I have to admit it, he was cute. He looks good but he's just so shy in real life and I dont know why.

*****

It was 8:00 am we were in a class. We were giving our opinions about the legalization of drugs. I wasn't participating because I feel like it's nonsense! Well duh but drugs are still illegal and it will never be legal and our professor called Nicholas.

He was just sketching.

Our Professor asked him, "Mr. New student, What is your opinion about the legalization of drugs?"

and he replied "It should never be legal it damages the brain and shortens peoples life and it is addicting"

Our Proffesor was obviously amazed and he said "Very good, what about you Ms. Francine Abigail Peters why do you think addicting video games are legal and ciggarette is legal and it also damages the brain but drugs are not?"

It was nonsense if our professor called me, that was actually my answer. I became so darn nervous the question was really hard! I was speechless...

It took me a minute before I answered. Everyone was looking at me I dont know what to say and I just said, "I don't do drugs so I dont know the answer"

Our profesor was shocked about my answer and he said, "I'm not asking you if you are using drugs i'm just asking you these questions cause it's in the book"

Nicholas raised his hand and said, "Addicting video games are legal because they are part of entertainment. In some cities, ciggarette is also illegal so the legalization of it is based on the government."

Every one clapped their hands for him I was so embarrassed but to be honest it wasn't impressive!

And our profesor said, "Very good I think you should study harder, Ms. Peters because you were supposed to be the top of our class and I was expecting you to answer the question but nevermind."

****

The bell rings means that school's over. I saw Nicholas walking in the hallway. I brought a chocolate to thank him for saving me.

"Hey thanks for the help"

He looked at me and he replied, "You're welcome."

I gave him the chocolate and said, "Here thank you again"

He looked in the chocolate and said, "I'm sorry but I'm allergic to chocolates."

I was shocked darn! Is he avoiding me?!?!?!?

I asked him, "Are you avoiding me or something?"

He answered, "No. I'm really allergic to it"

And I realized he was being honest and I said, "Oh, Ok."

He added, "Thank you for your offer but I can't accept that it's like poison ivy or something."

And I continued walking on my way home.

****

It's saturday weekend!!!! I'm so excited. I have a lot of plans, my brother will be out with his girlfriend, my sister is going to be on her advocacies as a beauty queen, and me, I'm just going to the mall for shopping, go the the carnival on my own, go to the arcade on my own, and enjoy the day.

****

I was in the mall and I'm so tired I went to a coffee shop and sat on a chair and ordered a cup of milk tea and an egg pie.

Someone sat beside me and wow!!!! It's Nicholas!

I asked him, "Hey what are you doing here?"

He answered "Oh, Hi Francine I... own this cafe."

I was amazed like yeah that is impressive!

"Actually, It's my parent's business but now that I'm in college, they hand it down to me" He added

I was so satisfied and amazed he's so successful at a young age.

I said, "Wow it's a good thing that they are trusting you"

He smiled.

I was about to pay for my orders and he said, "No you don't have to, it's ok Miranda charge it on me"

I was shocked and I tried to stop him even though I know he is unstoppable.

"No Nicholas. It's okay. I can pay..."

And he said, "No need it's rude to make you pay we're classmates."

I nodded my head and said, "Oh thank you."

He just smiled and we talked a lot about each other.

He asked me, "So can we talk about ourselves?"

I laughed and just said, "well I can't say no. You treated me..."

He laughed and asked me again, "Can you tell me a bit about your family?"

Is this a job interview or something?!?!?!?

"My mom was a business woman and my dad is the same but they died just 2 years ago"

He made a sad face and said, "So sorry to hear that"

I felt love after he said that i continued, "My sister is a fashion model, My brother is the one who's taking care of our company and me, I'm.... I'm..... I'm actually a nobody."

Then, there was silence and I asked him,

"And you, can you tell me about you?"

He started talking "My parents are both business minded people they've been good in making me feel that they love me but I never felt it even once, I'm an only child. Just last year, they separated. I was closer to my dad than my mom but the court decided to give me to my mom and we moved here in Los Angeles. We left dad in France and I'm secretly communicating to him in texts. Sometimes when Mom's not home and I'm free, my dad and I talk to each other in a video call.... God I miss him" His tears fell down and I became emotional.

"That was harsh I'm sorry"

He looked at me, "It's okay."

"So today we will prepare for a report for your performance task, because it's only the 2nd week of school, I want you guys to get to know each other so I'm partnering you up. Because life is not just about math and science I want you guys to pick your own topic, reports will be next Monday. Okay, So I'll announce who will be your partners" and blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah then,,,,,,,,

"Francine Abigail Peters will be working with Mr. Nicholas Richards."

Wow!!! What!?!?!? With Nicholas this is crazy!! I dont wanna talk to him yet we just talked yesterday 'bout ourselves this will be awkward but there's nothing I can do it's the stupid destiny.

****

School just ended I have to ask permission to my eldest sibling first! I went to his room and there, he was was writing. I dont know what it is but it is probably for his girlfriend.

"Carson, I have to work on a school project with my classmate for tomorrow." I told him.

He was so serious in typing in his computer. He's not answering so I tried to disturb him I read what he is typing loudly, "BABY I LOVE YOU SO MUCH YOU ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE"

Then he closed his loptop and yelled at me "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING STOP READING MY SONG!!!!!"

I laughed and said, "What kind of song is that??? It looks so stupid I don't think your girlfriend will like that"

He looked at me seriously and asked me, "What is it?"

Then I spoke, "I just want to ask for permission we have to make a school project so maybe I will be a little late tomorrow, we will do it after school."

And he looked so curious and said "Be home at 9:30 pm sharp you know the rules! If you disobey, you'll be grounded."

And I thanked him and left his room.

****

It was finally morning all night, I've been thinking of topics that Nich and I could discuss for tomorrow I mean today. OMG!!!!! I don't know why but I am left again. There is no one in our house. This is not the first time. I tried to make myself look good before going to school.

****

School's over time for making the report

"Francine, Let's go" Nicholas called me and the door of his car is open. I went inside and I thought he will be driving but he has a driver.

While we were still in the car we already talked about our report.

"So maybe we could make something that is not an ordinary report" He said while I was drinking water and then the driver accidentally pressed the break so..... I accidentally spited the water I was drinking on Nicholas's face and then it was so awkward his driver laughed

"Sorry" I apologize and made a sorry hand sign. His face is wet, his uniform is also wet, and the seat of his car is also wet.

"It's ok never mind were on our way home so I can change in there." And what he said was a relief to me.

****

We arrived at his house I went to the salas and sat on a sofa while I was watching TV. Nicholas quickly went to his room to change. I bet he's mad at me he just doesn't show it cause he doesn't want to offend me.

Afterwards, he sat with me in the sofa with his desktop and some snacks. "Okay so do you have any topic suggestions?" he asked.

I replied "I have 7 suggestions no.1 anti-bullying, no.2 things 100 years ago, no.3 self help books to discuss, no.4 study hacks, no.5 foods, no.6 artists, and lastly environment and agriculture."

He was thinking so deep, and finally, he said "let's go with the environment and agriculture topic"

I nodded my head and we were making it. Typing, researching, and, more blah blah blah....

And there was someone who entered I asked Nicholas, "who's that?"

He replied, "Probably my mom."

His mom just walked and went upstairs kinda like she didn't even saw us she just went upstairs and didn't even looked at us. It was like we dont exist.

"Nicholas what was that?" I asked. He made a curious face and I said "I mean is she normally like that?"

He just said, "Yeah she just minds about business. It's like I don't exist in her life. That's why I prefer dad than her, if my dad was here, maybe we're watching a movie or something. By the way just call me Nich. Nicholas is too long and most of my friends from France call me that"

I smiled and said, "So we're friends???" And he half smiled and replied to me, "Yeah why not?"

I said, "And you should also stop calling me Francine I hate it! Call me Abby" and he nodded his head with a cute smiling face.

I was typing and he looked at what I was typing so I wasn't able to concentrate and he said, "Wrong spelling for miscellaneous"

God darn! I was out of concentration again! I said "Oh yeah ok" and I fixed it

Today is Monday, the day for the report. As usual, I am normally nervous when it comes to presentations.

"I'm nervous" I whispered with doubt

Nich replied "You should not be." And he grabbed my right hand. Well for me it was nothing! Definitely nothing! but I can't deny he's cuter today but he's wearing the same uniform, same glasses, same looks. But he's really cute.

"So we'll be having Mr. Richards and Ms. Peters, your presentation please..." and we quickly went to the front of our class. It was normal but I was way more nervous than before.

I started talking, "The title of our presentation is the anti-pollution project. So when you hear the word pollution what comes into your mind firstly? That's right! Something like ashes, chemicals, etc. There are different kinds of pollution for example we have air pollution.." and blah blah blah blah.......

****

I am glad it finally ended it was really hard to talk to a lot of people but good thing, Nich is here.

"Results will be announced tomorrow class dismissed"

I saw my brother waiting for me in his car I was really shocked this is the first time he'll be picking me up. I think he saw me walking with Nich and I saw his curious face but I just let him be. Cause I know he can't do nothing about it. I went inside the car and asked my brother. "What a pleasant surprise you're here."

He made a curious face with one eyebrow raising. "A pleasant surprise huh? Well why don't you check your phone stupid little girl!!!!" He's yelling.

And I said,"Don't call me that" but I quickly grabbed my phone from my pocket and I was so shocked about this.

It was surprising I have 36 missed calls from my stupid brother "I never heard you called!!" I yelled and he yelled back at me like what I expected

"Maybe you need a hearing aid!!" He yelled at me 10x louder than before.

Damn my phone is on silent mode again. We arrived at our house I went to my room and lay on my bed thinking of Nich. I know it's only 3 weeks since we met but he's really cute and nice and funny and caring...no! I don't like him but I think I have a crush on him now.

I was thinking of Nich until I felt that my brother was looking at me I was so startled so I accidentally threw my teddy bear away and I said with doubt, "H-hi! How long have you been in there?"

He's looking at me and replied, "Like 5 minutes?" I gulped. He went inside my room and sat on my bed I sat properly and he started talking to me.

"So, there's a cute new guy in your school" I became more nervous I know he's just caring about me but I hate talking bout boys with him. He's a guy he knows everything about being one but i said,. "Look, Nich and I are just friends ok?"

And he answered with insulting voice tone. "I didn't said a name but when I asked you about a guy Nich was the first thing that came into your mind I knew it you were thinking of him."

I gulped and became more nervous damn! He's really smart and I was so dumb I should have just said that I don't know what he was talking about.

"Whatever" I said and went to my study table and pretended that I was studying so he will leave I opened my science book in nowhere.

And he said "I just want you to be careful. Mom and dad are not here anymore to guide you before they died I made a promise to them that I will take care of you and your sister. And I just don't really want you to be hurt again. I know that you also don't wanna happen what happened with you and Chris" And again, he reminded it to me, my tears fell down and I asked my brother to leave me alone and he did.

Why did he reminded Chris to me again?

Chris was my first love. The first guy I loved. We met on a school camp. He was cute, nice, and he's smart. We talk to each other online almost everyday. But there was one day when he called me and asked me to be on the starbucks cafe. I thought it was a date but it was more than what I was expected. He broke up with me and left me crying in a table looking like a fool. That was so embarrasing! A lot of people looked at me and they talked about me. But since then, I never heard about him. And then, I promised to my self that I would never love again. I still don't. I don't love Nich yet I just like him. Love is so different from like. It is so different. Before is different from after so, like is different from love. Or maybe not. But of course it is. Like duh!!!!!