My Crush or My Mate

3

As the date came closer, I realized I knew nothing about Nick. He worked with me for sure, but I seriously didn't KNOW him.Where he grew up, if he had any hobbies, or even if he liked parties. When I first met Mitch, he was a soccer fan, he loved sports and was willing to try anything at once. He loved Mexican food, a few pasta dishes and sea food. He loved the outdoors and had an adventurous soul.

"Hey, you okay?"

I shook my head, I had been sitting on the rolled up carpet, lost in thought of the past few minutes, and had a few stray tears slide down my face. I wiped them off and cleared my throat.

"Yeah, I'm fine, let's get this rolled out."

He smiled that same smile that made my legs weak, he hardly ever smiled or even talked , Nick seemed a very serious type and I wasn't really used to that. Mitch was loud, enthusiastic and high energy. He had made the first move in everything. He asked me out, He gave me gifts under my parents' noses, even the first time he kissed me. He felt like he had claimed me as his. Now here I am forcing a man on a date. He might not want to go on.

I had decided to change the carpet in the big room, and Nick had already helped with the first part of it and now asked me to help with the carpet. I think at first he thought I would say no, but was surprised when I accepted.

"Whew, this is actually a nice choice, it will make the room brighter."

"That's the plan,"I said coldly.

He looked at me, with those serious light brown eyes, like he was looking into my soul.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"This, the hard labor if you're as rich as your Uncle makes it sound, why not hire a crew to do it all in a month tops?"

I sat there for a minute. That was what my parents asked me too.

"It's a long story, but just know that I just need time."

"Time?"

"To think and explore all my options, I might move back here, or go back and marry into a loveless marriage for the benefit of my family."

He looked stunned. I guess he wasn't expecting me to share so much.

"Well, for what it's worth, you have good taste."

"Thanks."

We finished putting down the carpet and he put my bed back. We were done for the day, so I walked him to the door.

"Hey, um...about the party, you don't have to go with me."

This time it was a full smile, and I got a little lightheaded, he looked gorgeous.

"Even if I was impressed by your less than subtle date invitation, your not putting a gun to my head, I accepted because I want to go, so don't worry I'll be here to pick you up."

I had to laugh a little, and was happy to hear he wanted to go with me.

"Okay, then I'll see ya tomorrow."

"Oh, I forgot to tell ya, I can't come on Fridays."

"Okay, that's fine, I'll see ya when you come to pick me up then."

"See ya Saturday."

I followed him a ways out and watched him get on a motorcycle and pull out.

"Done for the day?" Jesse asked as Nick drove away.

"Yeah, your demon bride know you're here?"

"No, she's shopping with Yaz and Mom."

"Okay well, go back, so as not to call upon her fury."

Jesse laughed and rubbed his hands over his face.

"Can I come inside?"

"No, I don't want trouble, and least of all with her."

"Andy you won't..."

"I'm not chancing it. Good bye, Jess."

I walked into my house and closed the door, in his face.

As painful as I thought it was, but Jesse wasn't and won't be for me ever. The kiss of a few nights ago proved that. I had wanted it for so long, but the sad truth is I had wasted my energy in wanting it for so long. He was getting cold feet or something, he wanted me alone for some reason, and it was scaring me to see how desperate he was getting.

My stomach growled and so I went to the kitchen to make myself something, when a knock came at the door. I turned and opened it, there was a man I had never seen standing at the door.

"Hi, can I help you?"

"Yes, I was looking for Nicolai Silver Moon?"

"Who?" I pretended.

"I have it understood that he works for your family."

"No, I don't have employees."

He gave me a suspicious look and looked around behind me, like he could see through walls and was making sure Nick wasn't hiding behind one.

"Thank you have a good afternoon."

He walked off and I closed the door, and made sure it was locked tight.

I sat on my couch wondering who Nick really was now, Silver Moon. He reminded me of my old favorite Anime cartoon, but living in North Dakota, I understood it was a Native American name. Nick didn't look native. If anything, I would think he was half Latino and half white. Was he in trouble, and if so, what did he do or what for?

There had always been a mystery to Nick, but now I was sure of it. I was regretting going to sleep these past few nights. My dreams were nothing more than s*x and it was always with this guy. I never saw his face and when I woke up my body was feeling a type of echo of the dream. When did my life become so weird?

The next day, I woke up and went for a run, and by chance caught a glimpse of Nick who was running out toward what we called rabbit hill, and was just racing up the hill. I didn't stay longer. I kept going with my run, but he soon caught up.

"Hey,I didn't know you ran?"

"Yeah, I know the town well, enough to know where to go, but with everything."

"Yeah, mind if I run with you for a bit?"

"I don't want to interrupt."

"Nah, it could be fun."

I looked at him and nodded and he was right. The run was easier with a partner. We ran to the school and then down to the park and then raced back to the house. I missed stepped and I tripped. He tried to catch me but tumbled, landing on top of me. There it was, the moment everyone talked about, we were both breathless and sweaty, but this didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable. My eyes went down to his lips, they were so close.

"Are you guys okay?"

I looked up and found Jesse looking worried. Nick got to his feet and helped me up.His touch had me erupt in goosebumps, and a heat ran up my arm.

"We're fine, Veals."

"Andy, does your head hurt or anything?"

Jesse was ignoring Nick, and was only looking at me.

"Jesse, we're fine, but thank you for asking."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

Nick looked at his watch.

"I better get going, but I'll see ya tomorrow Andrea."

"Okay, see ya."

He glared at Jesse and ran in the direction of the old Rothen house.

"You shouldn't trust that guy so much, he's sketchy."

"He doesn't know anyone, Jess, he probably likes his privacy."

"Is he coming over today?"

"NO. He asked for the day off."

I started walking toward the house, as he followed.

"For what?"

"It's none of your business."

"Meaning he didn't tell you."

"Jess, just stop, he hasn't done anything for me to distrust him, so leave him alone."

"Just watch your back when you're around him, you might trust him, but I don't."

"Fine sure."

He looked at me with tender eyes and placed a soft hand on my cheek. Then he went to his truck, and I went inside to shower and start my day.

The rest of the day, Jesse's words rang in my ears. First, the man had come to the house looking for Nick, and nobody really knew anything about Nick. I even asked my uncle and he couldn't add on to things. I was grocery shopping in Beaver and was going into the pharmacy for pain medicine. The cut on my shoulder was nothing more but a scar now, but it sometimes sent a sharp pain up my arm. There might be some nerve damage. When I went out, I looked back at the old football field, when something caught my eye. Nick's motorcycle was sitting there behind the second high school gym. What was he doing here?

Well, if no one else could tell me what was going on, it was time for me to find answers. I drove my truck over to the front entrance to the gym and parked. I got out and looked around. My choir class had taken place up stairs in this building. My memories swam through my mind. I smiled. There were no differences, trophies and awards in the cases. Then when I turned to look toward the gym, there was a poster.

"Self-defense Classes.

Kids- ages 8- 12 (9:00-12am)

Teens- 13- 16 (1:00pm-4:00pm)

Adults -17+ (5:00- 8:00pm)

Fridays with Master Nicolai.

"Self-defense, wow."

"1!"

(HuH!)

"2"

(HuH!)

"3"

(HUH!)

I poked my head inside the gym and found rows of kids in the same stance. All with normal clothes and feet bare of shoes and only socks. A little girl spotted me and when I pressed my finger to my lips, she giggled, but didn't say anything. I sat up on the bleachers and watched. Nick was an amazing teacher. He had the patience to correct his students without being harsh or putting them down. The kids respected him, and he respected them. I hadn't realized how long I had actually sat there for, when they took a resting stance and bowed to Nick and then they were dismissed. The kids got their things and walked out to wait for their parents. He turned and came right up to me where I was sitting.

"Spying are we?"

"No, I saw your bike outside and got curious."

"So what do you think?"

"This is awesome, kids need this kind of discipline in their lives, and you make a pretty nice teacher."

"That's why I opened the classes. I love kids, and why not help them?"

I smiled at him, he had a good heart, and if it made him some money too, then why not?

"Well, color me impressed."

He looked at his watch.

"I have an hour before the next group gets here. Want to go get some lunch?"

"I..um..sure."

We went and ordered some burgers and fries and came back to the gym.

"So how long have you had this going?"

"Four years about, I grew up in a difficult neighborhood and never had this kind of chance and I was bullied a lot."

"What did your parents do?"

"Nothing, they just wanted me to suck it up."

"Sounds a little like my Dad, he always told me to punch the crap out of someone if they wanted to fight, then to give it to them."

"So I opened classes and if I ever caught wind of them hurting anyone, I discontinue them."

"Have you had to do that a lot?"

"Just a handful of times everyone else has been good."

We finished eating and the next class started to come in. I took the trash and threw it away, said bye to Nick and headed out.

As I drove to the house, I felt stupid for believing Jesse, and for thinking the worst of Nick, he hadn't done anything to deserve it. Once at the house, I took my things inside and got settled and took my pain medicine. I was just glad it didn't get worse while I was with Nick.