Together Forever

"Good morning!" Leah greets me as I enter the kitchen rubbing my eyes to clear the vision.

Since it's Sunday, no one has to go anywhere so we all are staying at home. Though we have a plan to go out in the afternoon. And as always, the cooking responsibility is upon Leah so she's setting the table with breakfast.

"Morning," I say and run my hand through my disheveled hair.

I pull out a chair and sit down looking for my coffee but see nothing.

"Where's my coffee?" I pout, earning a chuckle from her.

"Oh, I left your mug on the countertop. Can you bring it?"

"Sure," I reply, heading to the other side of the kitchen.

The kitchen is pretty big, one side is used for cooking and the other is separated by a partition which is used as the dining area. My eyes fall on the familiar Mickey mouse mug and immediately a smile appears on my lips. This mug was a gift from my dad on my tenth birthday. Since then, I have been using it and never let anyone else touch it.

I take the mug off the counter and about to turn around when someone hugs me from behind. I get startled and gasp loudly as the coffee spills on my dress. I turn my head and you know who's there. "What the hell! Nicki?" I whisper yell.

When did he come here? I didn't even hear footsteps.

He hushes, "Hey, don't shout. You can't act at all, I see." He whispers back.

"Leah will see us!"

"Fucking hell! God, save me from this idiot. We are doing this for Leah to see, aren't we?"

"But..." I try to argue but get cut off by him.

"Shut up! She is coming. Act normal." He commands and right then I hear footsteps coming near us and suddenly it stops. I gulp in tension staying in his arms, still looking in front.

God, I can't act! I can't!

"Good morning, baby," Nick whispers in my ear, knowing that Leah is watching us.

"Mo... morning!" I stutter, nervously.

"Did you sleep well?" He asks, moving his face closer to my hair and I stiffen.

If it wasn't Nick, I would have murdered him right now.

"Yeah," I answer.

"Evie?" Leah's cracked voice sounds as we both turn around to see her standing at the doorway looking at us in disbelief. I immediately free myself from Nick's arms and look at her, flustered. Her face turns pale and she seems like she can't believe what she's watching.

Shit. It needs to end soon. I can't hurt her like this. They both like each other, just so insecure. And here I am caught up between them. I tried to make Nick understand but he's too stubborn to listen to anyone. "Hey, Leah. I'm starving. Let's go." Nick says casually as if nothing happened and she gives him a small nod before he leaves the kitchen.

After Nick is gone, Leah stares at me weirdly and I just keep my eyes down before walking out quickly. I don't know how to look at her pale face. Leah is so precious to me. And hurting her is the last thing I want. I will make it end soon. I will make sure of it.

The elevator opens with a click and we all step out, heading to the parking lot. We don't have anything to buy but yeah, we are still going shopping. I look at Leah by the corner of my eyes who seems lost in thoughts. She has been acting weird since morning and I know the reason but I have nothing to do at this moment.

Playing Cupid is not an easy task at all!

"Who's going to drive today?" I ask as we reach the car.

"Me," Nick replies excitedly and climbs in his Mercedes. I open the door and about to get into the backseat when he calls me,

"Where are you going? Sit here." Nick orders, patting the seat beside him.

I look at him in surprise. Every time we used to go out together, Leah sat with him. I forgot we are now acting. Turning to Leah, I see her giving me the same look she was giving today morning. But she quickly composes her and smiles.

"Yeah, go. I am sitting here." She says, getting into the backseat.

I sigh and get inside as well. After sitting down, I look at Nick tiredly trying to make him understand to stop it but he just ignores me and starts the car.

What have I gotten myself into?

After a ride full of awkward silence, we reach the shopping mall and enter inside a big shop called 'Ecstasy.' But none of us in the mood of shopping right now except the stupid Nick. Whatever, we can't just sit around lazily.

If it was any other time, Leah would have started running around the mall already. But today she is just moving some dresses lost minded, not even bothering to look at them properly. I don't really like shopping and without her over excitement, everything seems so boring.

I know what we are doing is stupid. If Nick just could ask her out directly, she would agree. She would be happy to. But someone's too afraid of rejection. Maybe everybody acts dumb when they fall in love. After strolling around aimlessly for thirty minutes, I pull out my phone and start scrolling through the Instagram when someone throws a dress at me. I look back and Nick giggles coming towards me. "What happened to you two? We aren't here just to see and not to buy, are we?" He asks, placing his hand on the counter behind me, trapping me.

"You are a dumbo. Can't you understand why Leah is so quiet today?" I ask, he shakes his head.

I roll my eyes, "Because of what you did today morning, dumbass."

"You are talking about the hug? Yes, I did that intentionally for Leah to see but one thing, I hugged you many times before. Then why is it bothering her if it's really doing?" He frowns. "Because friends don't back hug," I state and his eyes glisten in amusement.

I don't know if it's right or wrong. It's just my perspective. I think back hugging is something couples do, not friends.

"So you are saying she's jealous?" He smirks, moving closer.

People would really think we have a thing because of how we are standing now, so close.

"No, she's hurt. Heard me? Happy now?" I snap, angrily.

"Ok, ok. I'm gonna stop it soon. No worries. By the way, good to hear my plan is working." He chuckles as I push him away.

As soon as he moves, I look in front lazily, and right then our eyes meet, causing me to freeze on my spot.

There Ethan is standing on the opposite side with a girl clinging to him.

He first looks at me in shock then averts his gaze upon Nick. And despite the distance, I can see his jaw tightens immediately.

Again we met.

Bad luck, isn't it?

I gulp and take a glance at the girl quickly. She is around my age. Pretty tall, a slim figure like models, wearing a very short dress and jumping with another one in hands probably wanting Ethan to say how that is looking on her but he was ignoring her.

Who's she?

I haven't seen any girl with him yet.

Well, what am I saying? She is probably one of his many girlfriends. If so, then why did he seem disturbed by her?

"What are you wat-" Nick stops as he turns around and spots Ethan glaring at us.

"Whoa! Again Mr. Lady killer." He whispers and smirks devilishly.

"Nick, don't do any..." I can't finish my sentence, he grabs me by my waist and pulls me towards him in a matter of seconds. Someone is dying to be dead.

I try to free myself, "Nick, please. Why are you doing this? Leah is not anywhere near us." I say, looking around.

"But the hottie boy is here. And I love making people jealous." He winks.

I look back at Ethan who seems damn angry and hurt at the same time. Now he is thinking I really lied to him saying that Nick is not my boyfriend. And now I have nothing to do. Really nothing. As we have already started it, I can't just back out from it. I'm in deep shit.

But I can't really get why he is always angry seeing us together.

What's his problem?

When I finally manage to free myself from Nick's grasp, I look at Ethan in fear just to see something that breaks my heart into pieces.

He throws the dress away from that girl's hand, pushes her against the wall, and...

Then they kiss in front of everyone...

In front of me.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐