Summary: Nicole has always done what is expected of her. She meets Bryan, a high school classmate that has dropped out and can't help but want to be with him. He's everything she could never have the courage to be.
Author's Note: This is my first sim story and I'm not very good at taking pictures yet, or photoshop so please be kind with suggestions :]
Chapter TwoChapter OneIn hindsight, she probably never should have let him jog with her that day three years ago. She did though, because of his uncharacteristic smile. She knew him from school anyway, although she hadn’t seen him there in at least a year. Anyway, she should have just walked the other way, but she didn’t and she was glad.
It was cold that morning but Nicole still put on sweats to go on her five mile run before school like always. After a mile or so she didn’t feel the cold anyway. After two, she had to stop and tie her shoe and that was when he showed up. A huge shadow lingered over her and she looked up. There before her was an incredibly cute guy. He had short spikey blonde hair that looked purposely messed up. He was muscled but not too muscled and he was wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt with a leather jacket that surprisingly didn’t remind her of Grease.
She raised her eyebrow and asked, “Can I help you?”
He smirked at her and helped her up. “I saw you running alone and thought you could use some company.” He smiled now and held out his hand. “I’m Bryan.”
She shook his hand. “Yeah, I think you went to my school for a little bit. I’m Nicole.”
“Oh, you go to Wilson High?” he asked as they began to jog around the park.
She resisted the urge to laugh at him for wearing a leather jacket and boots while jogging and replied. “Mhm, where did you transfer to? I haven’t seen you around.”
“Oh, I didn’t transfer.” He responded nonchalantly, “I dropped out.”
She raised her eyebrow but didn’t say anything. They continued their jog in silence. Thirty minutes later, they were at the park entrance about to part ways.
“I had fun.” She smiled at him and to her surprise he smiled back. It didn’t seem like he smiled all that much; in fact, he seemed pretty cold for most of their jog.
“Me too, we should do it again sometime soon.” He suggested, but it didn’t sound like a suggestion when he said it.
Even so, she didn’t expect to see him again. If she remembered right, he dropped out to be in a gang and he didn’t care about anyone or anything but himself. He was definitely not her type. With that in mind, she was shocked to see him waiting for her at the park gate the very next morning. It continued that way for about a week every morning. They took the same route as the first day, but at a much slower pace. Halfway through their walk a week later, they stopped and sat on a bench to talk.
“So, why’d you drop out?” she asked.
He chucked, “I was wondering when you were going to ask that.” She looked at him expectantly. “I just wasn’t into the whole school scene or the family scene so when I turned sixteen, I left.” He explained. She knew there was more to the story but she didn’t press him about it.
She nodded. “I don’t understand that.”
“Do you ever feel pressured by your family?” he asked. She looked at him but didn’t say anything. The truth was she always felt like she had to be perfect. “There you go.”
After a few minutes, she glanced down at her watch. “Oh my god! I’m late for school!” she jumped up and turned to leave. “I have to go!”
He caught her hand before she could run off. “Stay, we can go eat, or go to a movie or whatever.”
She looked down to where he was rubbing her hand with his thumb. She didn’t think he realized she was doing this. “Bryan...I have to go to school.”
“Just for today. You’re already late anyway.” He promised.
She thought about it for a minute and then nodded. “Okay, but let me call my friend to tell her to get my work.”
She pulled out her phone and called her friend, Samantha. “Hey Sam, I’m not going to be at school today-can you get my work? I’ll come by and get it tonight. Okay, great! Thanks, bye.” She hung up and looked at Bryan. “Where to?”
He grinned and grabbed her hand again. “Let’s go eat.”
He led her through the park, and to the parking lot, where a motorcycle sat waiting for them.
“Um-no way am I getting on that thing.” She said.
Bryan looked at her. “Unless you want to walk then…um yeah you are.” He replied, mocking her tone of voice. “We can go to my place and get my car, but we’re using that to get there.” He said, like it was a command and she couldn’t argue.
She nodded hesitantly and climbed on the bike behind him, grabbing his shoulders. “Fine, but don’t go too fast.”
He laughed. “You’re going to have to hold on to my waist.”
He started up the motorcycle and peeled out of the parking lot. She gasped and grabbed onto his waist. At first, she was terrified of the speed he was going, and the way he was weaving in and out of the cars, but eventually she relaxed and even started to like the feeling of the wind through her hair. She felt like she could stay on the back of that bike forever, feeling like she was finally free.
All too soon, the ride was over and he was helping her off the bike. She looked at him with a huge smile on her face and he chuckled at her, “Liked it? Though you didn’t want me to go too fast.” He teased.
She smacked his arm. “Shut up.”
He just laughed at her again and led her to a black SUV in the parking lot of the apartment complex they were at. He didn’t open the door for her, but then she didn’t really expect him to.
“So, where are we going?” she asked, still giddy from the bike ride.
“Hm, IHOP?” he said, more than asked. She had the feeling that he didn’t really ask questions too much.
She laughed, that was probably the most un-Bryan type place she could think of. “Okay, sure.”
He pulled out of the parking lot and she was surprised to see how far away they were from her small town outside the city of Memphis; they were all the way in the bad part of town, where she was not allowed to go without her parents. The ride was silent, except for the radio playing some station she didn’t normally listen to.
"
When they got to the restaurant, he didn’t wait to be seated and just motioned toward a table near the back, away from the window and she reluctantly took a seat. She noticed a bunch of people staring at her, but when she met their gazes, they quickly turned away. She frowned, but didn't think about it for too long because Bryan lit a cigarette right there at the table.
“Bryan! You can’t smoke in here!” she hissed.
He smirked, “Do you see anyone complaining?”
She looked around, everyone was focused on their food and avoiding looking at their table. “No, but still.”
He kept smoking and she just gave up. “Hey! Marie!” he yelled.
A minute later, a cute waitress showed up, with her cleavage about to bust out of her top. Nicole looked down at her own b-cup chest and felt very inferior to this girl.
“Hey Bryan!” the waitress cooed. “What can I get cha?”
“Oh, how about eggs, pancakes, and bacon for both of us? And some coffee.” He answered.
Nicole glared at him as Marie walked away, shaking her ass. “How do you know I like that?”
He smirked at her, putting his cigarette out on a plate he grabbed from a nearby table. “Well, you do so what’s the problem?”
“Arghh...nevermind.” she replied.
He reached over and touched her cheek, making her look at him. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
She sighed. “You’re being an ass.”
“Well, I’m just being who I am Nicole.” He pointed out. “You know I’m not the nicest guy.”
He had a point, at school he had always been in fights or getting sent out of class. “Bryan can I ask you a question?” She decided to just come right out and say it instead of dancing around the issue. He nodded, lighting another cigarette. “God, you’re gonna kill yourself with those. Are you in a gang?”
He just looked at her and said, “I’m not gonna lie to you. I am involved in something, but you don’t need to know what.”
“I’ll take that as a yes then.” He shrugged and put out his cigarette as Marie came back with their food, swinging her ass again. Nicole thought it was a miracle it hadn’t fallen off the girl’s backside.
They finished eating quickly and soon they were back in his black SUV. He noticed her shivering and blasted the heat.
“Where to now?” she asked.
“I don’t know, I have to go the fairgrounds later tonight, but I have no idea til then.”
She was about to ask why he was going to the fairgrounds but her cell phone suddenly blasted “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” She checked the caller id and swore, “Crap, Bryan please don’t say anything.” He smirked but nodded and she flipped open her phone. “Hey mom.”
“Where the hell are you?” her mother screamed, “Why is your car here, but you’re not? Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”
“Well mom, I am at school.” She explained. “First period just let out. I’m in the bathroom right now.”
“Why is your car here?”
Nicole closed her eyes. Why couldn’t her mother just stay the clueless, uncaring mother she normally is. She felt Bryan tapping on her shoulder and looked at him.
“Nicole Jordan. I asked you a question.” Her mother said impatiently.
Bryan was holding up a note to her, with a really good idea on it. “Oh sorry mom. Samantha just came in here. I rode to school with her this morning.” She held her breath, hoping her mom would be that gullible.
“Oh okay sweetie.” Her mother replied. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. I was just worried. When will you be home?”
“I’m not sure.” Nicole replied. “Me and Samantha are hanging out after school. Mom, the bell just rang. I have to go.”
“Alright then.” Her mother said brightly and hung up the phone.
Nicole sighed in relief and turned to Bryan. “Sorry about that. I have no clue why she suddenly cares.” Bryan just smirked, but didn’t say anything. “So what are you going to do at the fairgrounds?” She was still curious.
“Don’t worry about it.” He said evasively.
“Bryan-" she had a slight whining tone.
“I told you that I don’t want you involved. Stop whining.” He snapped and started the car up again.
Nicole leaned back in her seat and looked out the window. “Sorry, I just didn’t think it was that big a deal.”
Bryan glanced at her but kept driving. She leaned up and turned on the radio. Some rock band she had never heard before filled the car and she hurriedly turned it down and changed the station.
“Ugh we are not listening to this crap.” Bryan said and turned off the radio.
“Fine.” She could tell he did not want to argue right now, and considering she was basically stranded in an unfamiliar part of the city, it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to make irritate him too much.
They sat in silence for a little bit, until Bryan pulled the SUV into a dingy mechanic shop.
Nicole wrinkled her nose. “Where are we?”
“This is Cade’s mechanic shop. I’ve known him since before I dropped out.” Bryan answered, getting out of the car. She reluctantly followed.
“Hey Cade!” Bryan yelled. A guy that was dressed a lot like Bryan popped his head out of an office.
“Hey B! What’s up?” he came out of the room and noticed Nicole. “Woah, who’s she?”
“This is Nicole, Hey man, I need a favor.” Bryan said.
“Sure man. What’s up?”
“I need you to sit with Nicole for a little bit.” Bryan said. “I have to go on a run-and I don’t wanna take her.”
“What!” Nicole yelled, just as Cade agreed. “I don’t need a babysitter, Bryan.”
Bryan turned to Nicole and pulled her away. “Look, this could get kinda nasty. I don’t want you hurt.” He explained.
She gave him a look. “Well, if it’s so dangerous then don’t go.”
“Nikki…it's what I do. I’m not going to stop.” Bryan said, in a final tone of voice. She noticed the nickname and that he was trying to her to stop being mad so she just let it go so she didn’t cause a scene.
“How long are you gonna be gone?” she asked.
He grinned at her like a little kid. “Half an hour; an hour tops. Then we can go to a movie.”
She laughed at his face and said, “Promise?”
He nodded and turned back to Cade. “I’ll be back soon. Anything happens-call my cell.”
Cade nodded and led Nicole to the office he had come out of earlier. “So, you got your hooks into my boy, huh?”
She gave him a strange look. “What are you talking about?”
Cade motioned to a couch and she sat down. “Well, ever since he met you, you’re all he talks about.” Nicole felt a blush rise up to her face, but didn’t say anything because the phone rang.
About two hours later, she finally heard Bryan’s SUV. She ran out to the parking lot and smacked him as soon as he got out of the car.
“OW! What the hell was that for?!” he yelled.
“You JERK! I was worried!” she yelled back, glaring at him.
He grinned and pulled her to him in a hug. “Aw…how sweet. You were worried?”
“Yeah…” she mumbled.
He laughed, “Well, I’m back, and I couldn’t be better.”
“Where were you?” she asked.
“I can’t tell you.” She gave him a look. “Yet…I’ll tell you one day, soon.”
She groaned knowing he would say that. “Fine, whatever.” And climbed into the car.
He opened his door so he could talk to her. “I’m going to tell Cade we’re leaving. I’ll be right back.”
She nodded and looked around the car for a sign of what he had been doing. In the back seat, she found it under some jacket. It was a small hand gun. She picked it up just as Bryan opened the door.
“Do you at least have a permit for this?” she asked.
“Why would I?” he replied, starting the car. “There’s no fun in that.”
“So is that the same reason you’re in a gang?” she asked. “It’s fun?”
He laughed, “No, I’m in a gang because I want to be.”
She shook her head and put the gun where she found it, making sure it was well hidden. “Did you…kill someone today?”
He reached over and squeezed her hand. “No, I promise that I will never kill anyone…and then come see you.”
She figured that was probably the best promise she’d get and let it go. She felt him squeeze her hand and looked up to see him smiling at her and she couldn’t help but smile back.
“So where are we going?” she asked.
“Movies remember?” he answered, grinning at her, passing other cars that were going the actual speed limit.
She laughed. “I thought you were joking.”
“About a movie? Never!” he grinned uncharacteristically.
“What’s up? You’re acting weird.” She asked, eyeing him.
“Nothing’s up.” He said. “I’m just in a good mood. Is that a crime?”
“No…” she had an idea of why he was acting weird, but she decided to drop it. “Nevermind. Let’s go see a movie.” She forced herself to say brightly.
“You know?” he said. “I just remembered, I have something to do…so I’m gonna take you home.”
She tried not to let that bother her…after all look what he had been doing an hour ago? Whatever it was, it couldn’t have been good and here she was, not even caring. She was horrible! She stayed silent on the way to her house, not even noticing Bryan speeding. He dropped her off and drove off again without saying a word and she tried not to be sad as he drove off.
