No Ordinary Love, Part 3, chapter 210
210
“How was it?” I impatiently asked as Nik, Ana, Rhianna and Sweetheart returned from the preliminary hearing. Nik looked very angry, clenching his fists, Ana was mostly gathered, a little unfocused but she was keeping it strong. Nik however, was fuming. Sweetheart gave me a look that warned me to be tactiful.
“The judge accepted the case,” Rhianna said as Ana walked pass me and sat on the sofa. Sweetheart touched my hand and kissed me very briefly.
“Talk to Nik,” Sweetie whispered so only I could hear.
Nik asked Ana something then rushed out of the room but I heard him running upstairs to his room and the door that closed with big bang.
“The defence got only until this Monday to get ready for the trail,” Rhianna continued. “We were lucky she agreed it’s urgent since there’s possibility of another child’s life being in danger. Plus I got the impression she just doesn’t like the guy, which is good.”
“What about…” my eyes fell on Ana and I couldn’t say his name. Sweetie figured it out before it became more than obvious.
“Nothing,” she said. “He didn’t even try to make a deal. He stated no comment kind of thing.”
“Well, he can do that only until Monday,” Rhianna retorted. “I can hardly wait to get my hands on him.”
“Where’s Ema?” Ana asked sighing looking at me.
“She’s up with Kai,” I replied. As someone who stayed at home to watch over them it would be stupid I didn’t know. “They’re playing some game Kai got yesterday. Don’t worry, she studied for over an hour I said it’s ok to take a break.”
“Ok,” she nodded. “Do you still need me?” she asked looking at Rhianna.
“No, darling, go have some rest,” Rhianna kindly said and Ana excused herself and left to her room. “God, I’m so glad I had normal parents,” Rhianna commented once Ana was out of sight.
“How did it really go?” I asked now that I could.
“I stayed outside, so…” Sweetie shrugged.
“That’s why I came here,” Rhianna said looking at Sweetie. “during all the time we were in that room he didn’t not once look at either Nik or Ana. He just sat there like some arrogant prick. Never opened his mouth. He didn’t even look at me while I talked. Just sat there, like ‘let’s get over with this’,” Rhianna was irritated. “He didn’t even think to try settle it before it gets on trial. Nothing. Of course, his asshole defender claimed how there’s not enough evidence, this is just a lame attempt of two children that turned back to their father to squeeze some money from him. He started this story how, they were always trouble, I expected that so I stopped him, Nik was boiling I thought he’ll make a scene, but he didn’t.”
“That fucking bastard,” I shook my head. “He must think he’ll get away from this.”
“Well, then he’s about to face a huge disappointment. We have a rock solid case. Nothing can beat that,” Rhianna sounded absolutely sure. “I just need you two to try keep them all calm and sane. They can’t do anything irrational, ok? They need to remain calm, especially Nik.”
“Ok, we’ll take care of that,” Sweetie assured her. Rhianna said her goodbye and left, and Sweetie and I stayed alone.
“How are you?” I asked her hugging her.
“I’m good,” she nodded a little. “You should go talk to Nik. He’s very hurt and angry right now. He’ll listen to you.”
“Ok,” I nodded and kissed her then headed upstairs. I halted in front of Nik’s door, listening. Nothing. Not a single sound. Gently I knocked, no answer so I slowly pushed the door open and carefully got inside.
Nik sat with his back facing the door, turned to the window, sitting on the edge of his bed, head buried in his hands. I walked over to him and sat right next to him.
“Hey,” I whispered and very unsure of whether it’s agood thing to do or not I put my hand gently on his back. He didn’t jump, didn’t flinch, didn’t hit me. Good. “How you’re doing?” I asked lacking anything more appropriate to say. That simple question though it’s obviously stupid to ask in these moments still somehow to me seems the most considerate thing to say.
“Like shit,” he returned remaining motionless. “Like I could kill him.”
Very understandable feeling. Very appropriate.
“You need an extra pair of hands?” Yes, I know it’s stupid to joke but it’s my mechanism of coping with things. I suck at comforting people at their hardest moments. All I wwant to do when someone’s so broken is make that person smile again.
“Thanks,” he chuckled abruptly, then shook his head and removed his hands. “Give me a cigarette,” he said not looking me in the eyes but looking in my direction down at the floor.
His face was pale, dark circles appeared under his eyes, his lower lip chopped of all the biting. I pulled out my pack, offered it to him. We both put a cigarette in our mouths, I lit him first then myself.
“He didn’t even look at us,” he began after he exhaled the first smoke looking outside through the window, watching the tall pines basking in the sun. “Not once. Like we weren’t there, like we don’t exist,” he paused.
“He knew that would piss you off,” I commented.
“I know,” he agreed instantly. “That’s what I kept telling myself all the time so I wouldn’t launch across the table and rip his head off. Fucking bastard.”
I watched him smoking some more not saying anything. People tell me I’m a good listener because I always know when I should keep my mouth shut. This was one of those moments.
“He didn’t even say a single word. Didn’t even cough, can you imagine that?!” Nik’s eyes looked at me and I nodded. “He was always so…” he pursed his lips together shaking his head. “You know what his lawyer said?”
Nik wasn’t looking at me so I couldn’t just shake my head.
“What?” I asked.
“That filthy horse said how we were always lowlives,” he continued. “Apparently, I was always no good, expelled from all schools, a parasite. Well, I guess that’s what anybody would think of me if they’d hear his version of the story.”
“I don’t,” I disagreed.
“I know,” he sighed. “But you’re an exception to all the known rules so you don’t count.”
“Fair enough,” I agreed.
“He said Ana’s…” his eyes filled with tears as his jaw clenched.
“Fuck what he said,” I spoke. “He’d do anything to protect his ass. Fuck him. You know the real truth so again, fuck him.”
Nik remained silent for a while, put out his finished cigarette and lit another one. He got up and walked to the window and leaned on it, looking outside.
“She never had a single boyfriend, you know,” he spoke with quivering voice. “She thinks she’s too damaged for anyone to look at her that way. And no matter what I say or do for her… she’ll always see herself that way,” he looked at me. “Broken and damaged.”
“Maybe when this is over, it’ll help her move on,” I said vaguely and Nik shook his head.
“It won’t. She thinks all men are like him, except for me,” he glanced back at me. “And you probably by now. But that’s probably because you don’t notice anyone but Sweetie. It hurts you know. It rips my heart out that she’ll never have a chance at love,” he cried but didn’t sob. “She’ll never find her Ville.”
“Things change, Nik,” I returned hopefully. “People change. So will she. One day some nice guy will come her way…”
“You don’t understand,” he cut me off. “It’s not that men don’t hit on her. It’s her that’s not giving them any chance. The moment someone invites her for a coffee or something she shuts off. She cuts them out, scares them off.”
“And what, they just give up?” I shrugged.
“Like that’s something strange,” he snorted. “Of course, they do. No one wants to bother with woman who doesn’t want them.”
“Would you give up?”
“I’m a professional quitter, Ville,” he returned. “I give up before I even think to try.”
“You’re a bad liar,” I returned with smirk and got his attention. “You finished the course, didn’t you? And I don’t see you running away right now when it’s the hardest.”
“I still can, you never know, right?”
“You won’t,” I was sure.
“You know, that idealizing nature of yours is amusing.”
“You won’t run away,” I repeated. “Maybe you would, if this would be only about you,” I paused and he stared at me speechless with eyes squinted a little. “But, it’s about Ana, Ema and that little girl that’s your half-sister even if you don’t like it. That’s why you’re still here. And why you’ll stay,” I ended.
A very little grin played in the corner of his mouth as he walked over and sat next to me.
“You’re very strange man Ville Valo,” he said with a grin. “Very, very strange man.”
“Are you hitting on me or something?” I returned playfully.
“You’d wish, you psycho,” he said pushing me away a little with his right hand giggling.
“Actually no, but you wouldn’t be the first,” I returned laughing liting myself a new cigarette.
“You had men hitting on you before?” he asked intrigued.
“Mhmm,” I nodded. “But it was more frequent few years ago. These days nobody hits on me any more, men or women. I’m an old rag,” I chuckled. “Sweetie ruined me completely.”
“Yeah,” Nik laughed at my joke. “So, how does it feel?”
I glanced at him confused.
“I mean when a guy is, you know…”
“Oh, it’s cool,” I replied getting what he was talking about. “It’s flatering in a way, if it’s a cute guy.”
“Wait, if it’s a cute guy?!” he laughed. “How can a guy be cute?”
“Men can be beautiful, too, you know. Obviously, not the same as women are but still. Like George for example. He’s very cute guy. Weird but it’s ok, I like weird.”
“Hold on, do you hear yourself?” Nik raised his eyebrow. “If I wouldn’t know better from first hand experience I’d think you’re gay right now.”
“Would that change anything?”
“Of course not. I’m just saying you’re confusing me right now, that’s all. If you could hear yourself right now, trust me you’d get the same wibe.”
“That I’m gay?”
“That you’re swinging both ways,” he pointed out.
“Well, that’s how I always thought about myself so it’s not far from the truth,” I returned but it only got Nik more confused. “I kissed a fare share of guys back in days. I was curious and felt like doing it but that’s it.”
“And just for the sake of conversation, have you ever…”
“Wanted to have sex with another guy? No. My pecker always remained dead around boys.”
“That’s good to know,” Nik joked.
“Yeah, you’re safe with me,” I flashed a huge silly smile. “What about you?” I asked and Nik’s mood went a bit down.
“I’m definitively all dead around guys,” he scratched his head nervously.
“You can’t be sure until you meet George,” I pointed and Nik frowned. “Seriouslly, if he doesn’t flick your radar you’re definitively straight.”
“Is that how you knew you’re into girls?” he returned joking.
“No, but he definitively cleared all doubts,” I giggled. “Seriouslly, you have to meet him.”
“Sure, but where is he?’
“He’s apparently having a good time with his boyfriend, since he didn’t visit in ages. In case someone asks you, he’s still living on this address,” I cocked my head. “That little fucker was here last time, two days after Ari was born,” I said as I pulled out my cell and typed George a message: “in case you wonder, Sweetie and I split. She took our three kids and disappeared.” I laughed as I pressed ‘send’ and put the phone back in my pocket. “I bet that will make him call.”
“You’re a bad ass,” Nik shook his head.
“Just a little,” I winked. “Ever since he got hooked up with Alex he’s totally lost it. I bet they spend all day in bed.”
“That’s what love does to a person, I guess,” Nik sighed and it caught my attention.
“Any significant girl in your life?” I asked.
“No, not yet,” he shook his head but blushed.
“Any insignificant then?”
He sighed and bowed his head and I got my answer there.
“This is embarrassing,” he shook his head. “Can we talk about something else?” he clumsily asked.
“You know, it’s ok, I don’t mind,” I assured him. “I mean, I won’t push you if you don’t want to talk about it. But honestly, it won’t change a thing, for I already suspected it, so it’s not really a surprise.”
He squinted his eyes, going red in cheeks for a brief moment then shook his head and asked, “Is it that obvious?”
“No,” I assured him. “It’s just the bits and pieces I picked and put the picture together.”
“How?”
“Well,” I sighed. “First you’re constantly embarrassed around Sweetie and me if we’re kissing and you’re not getting used to it so that’s one. Then you’re very curious about anything related to our relationship… in general, you’re throwing tons of questions that only inexperienced people would ask. You just don’t ask them all at once. Not to mention how shocked and embarrassed you were when you walked in on Sweetie and me down in the office,” he went red in his face again. “See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about,” I said showing at his face. “You got to stop doing it,” I grinned.
“I’m sorry, Mr sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll but I’ve never watched to people having sex with me present in the room, ok? I don’t live that crazy life you do.”
“Ha,” I laughed. “See, that’s such bullshit, you know, a myth. All these years I never, NEVER had any groupie humping me, never witnessed a single orgy or anything like that, or some mass drug abuse. Or maybe I just did something wrong and missed it all, I don’t know,” I shook my head. “The point is, I never watched people have sex apart from the porn tapes, but if I’d bump into one of my friends going down on his girl I wouldn’t find it so shoking as you had. That’s all.”
“Like I said, you’re very, very strange guy,” Nik pointed out.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I nodded and made him giggle. I jumped a little as my cell went off. I glanced at the screen, “It’s George, be quiet ok?” I said to Nik and he nodded as I answered and switched it to speakerphone.
“What the fuck is going on?!” George yelled from the other side and Nik and I did our best not to laugh at his squeaky girly voice. “Where’s Sweetie, where the fuck are you? And when the hell did you got the third child?!”
“Well, if you’d visit more often you’d knew,” I returned.
“You’re fucking with me, right?” he asked probably doing some math and thinking.
“I thought that’s Alex’s part but if you’re desperate I can help, but you’ll have to ask Sweetie for permission to use me for purely humanitarian purposes,” I giggled.
“Ha, ha, fuck you,” he said sarcastically then laughed. “You’re all fucked up,” he giggled. “Seriouslly, is everything ok?”
“Umm, yeah, you could say so.”
“Oh, shit, let me guess, she’s again on some crazy mission to save the world?” he snorted. “I swear you should just give her a good spank, you know, not the one you do every night but the educational kind of spank, wait that sounded so wrong, right?”
“More than you’ll know,” I laughed my ass off and so did he and Nik.
“Who’s there?” George asked hearing Nik’s laughter.
“It’s Nik. Say hi to him and be nice.”
“Hello, Nik.”
“Hi, George.”
“You cute, Nik?” George teased, Nik blushed and looked at me confused and that made me laugh. “He blushed didn’t he?”
“Yep,” I confirmed.
“Aww, that’s cute, wish I could see that. Don’t worry Nik, I have that effect on people.”
“Easy now, Georgie,” I warned him. “Nik’s a nice guy.”
“I like nice guys,” he returned seductively.
“You like everything with dick and pretty face,” I returned.
“What’s there not to like?” he simply returned. “Are you pretty Nik?”
“No,” Nik replied.
“He’s very pretty,” I instantly added and made George go all mmm. “Long, light brown almost blond hair, big brown eyes, skinny.”
“Oh, my I already love him,” George exclaimed. “I think I’ll drop by one of these days.”
“You should since Ari began walking you mother fucker,” I said. “And bring your tool, my hair needs some cutting, ok?”
“With pleasure, I love your hair,” he returned. “Say Sweetie I love her.”
“Back off you dog, I’m not sharing.”
“You always forget I had her first.”
“Mhmm, in your dreams, baby. Love ya, ok? And come, bring Alex if he’s around,” I said.
“Love you, too honey. See you and see you, too Nik. Bye,” he said and hung up.
“Is this guy for real?” Nik made disgusting face.
“Yeah, he’s as real as person can be,” I assured him.
“Where did you find him?”
“He’s Sweetie’s best friend,” I started and told him the short version of how George and Sweetie met and how George ended up here with us.
“So when he said he had her first, he actually thought he met her before you did,” he made a conclusion.
“Yeah, it’s just our internal joke.”
“Thank God,” he said. “I swear that was the weirdest conversation ever.”
“No, it’s just the usual chat with Georgie boy,” I assured him. “He’s a great guy, actually, you’ll see.”
“I’m somehow already scared of him, actually,” he admitted.
“Don’t be, he’s a real kitten. He’s just a big tease that’s all. Trust me you’ll love him when you meet him.”
“I wouldn’t have my hopes that high,” I objected.
“Oh, just relax and don’t forget to breathe,” I pointed out. “Seriously, relax, man,” I added when I noticed that I wasn’t so convincing for the first time. Only then after few additional seconds Nik eased up a bit. “I’m going down for some coffee, want to join me?”
“Yeah, I’ll come in a few,” he nodded so I got up and headed to the door. “Hey, Ville?”
I stopped and looked at his direction.
“Thanks for brightening up my day.”
“Anytime darling,” I winked and grinned before I left him.