Foolish Games Read online

  "Too late. I’m already involved. Besides what do you expect me to do? Sit back and let him hurt you? uh-uh. I don’t think so." Nick said shaking his head.

  Jessie sighed, closed her eyes and buried her face in her hands. "I really can’t believe this is happening." She said, "I thought I was rid of him for good."

  She looked like she needed a hug so Nick hugged her. He now understood why she acted the way she did towards him before. She was afraid of him. Well, afraid of getting herself involved with anyone who might turn out to be like Josh. Only he wasn’t.

  He released her then and looked into her eyes. She had such beautiful eyes. He tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her then. She responded to him and wound her arms around his neck. He gently leaned forward and Jessie felt herself being pushed back onto the huge bed. Nick’s kisses became more insistent then. Jessie couldn’t think clearly. The feelings he was creating within her made thinking impossible. She wanted Nick to make love to her but then she didn’t want to do it for all the wrong reasons. She knew for a fact that if they did have sex and she got into the sorority and Nick found out about it, he would be mad and hurt and she couldn’t do that to him. She had to tell him now, before things went any further. She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him back a little.

  "Nick.. wait."

  He put a finger to her lips.

  "Jess, I know what you’re thinking and I want you to know that I won’t do anything to hurt you. I swear."

  Oh to hell with the damn sorority! Jessie thought pulling him back down for another kiss. It wasn’t worth losing Nick for. She’d just have to work harder on her grades and pray for a major improvement or a miracle. As for the sorority, she didn’t need it. She’d be sure to tell them that tomorrow. But Nick. She needed him. More than she knew.

  Nick started undressing then and when he was done, he rejoined her on the bed. His lips went to her neck and across her throat as his hands loosened her towel. Jessie ran her fingers through his hair and pressed him closer to her body. The feel of his bare body against hers sent a mixture of fear and excitement down her spine. His tongue circled her breasts and her body shivered in response. His lips found hers again and Jessie broke the kiss.

  "Nick..I need to tell you something."

  "Is this your first time?" he asked softly, kissing her nose and brushing a strand of hair away from her eyes.

  "Yes." She said nervously.

  "It’s okay. Just relax." Nick told her. He didn’t want to hurt her but he wanted her so badly.

  A thought suddenly entered his mind and he got up.

  "Hold on a sec." He said before going into the bathroom and coming back out a couple seconds later.

  "Now where were we?" he said gathering her in his arms.

  "I think we were somewhere here." Jessie said before kissing him deeply.

  His hands caressed her sides as his lips travelled her body. Jessie suddenly felt his knee parting her thighs. He looked at her then.

  "Jess, are you sure you want to do this? You aren’t going to regret this are you?"

  "No. I want you." she said softly.

  That was all he needed to hear. He entered her swiftly and Jessie couldn’t help the cry of pain that escaped her. She closed her eyes and bit her lip. Nick waited until she was accustomed to him being inside her before his hands went to her hips and he moved with her and against her, creating a feeling within her so intense that she almost forgot to breathe. The pain was quickly subsiding and in it’s place, intense pleasure.. she wrapped her legs around him, her nails digging into his back as she let the feeling sweep over her entire being before she cried out again and fell against him, her mind dizzy.

  Nick kissed her then and she snuggled up against him before they feel asleep.

  CHAPTER 22

  Erica woke up the next morning feeling nauseous. Brian had an arm over her, holding her to the bed so she moved it gently before rushing to the bathroom where she threw up. She went to the sink and washed her face. She looked at herself in the mirror and it was then that she noticed that she was really pale. What the hell is wrong with me? She thought rubbing her forehead. She brushed it off as the flu and went back into the bedroom. Brian woke up then.

  "What’s wrong?" he asked noticing her complexion.

  "Nothing. I’m fine." She said with a dismissive wave of her hand. Brian walked up to her.

  "You sure? You don’t look so good." Brian said placing the back of his hand against her forehead to take her temperature.

  "Yes. I’m sure. I’ll just take some aspirin and i’ll be fine."

  "So something is wrong!" Brian said folding his arms.

  "Well okay. I do feel sort of nauseous."

  "That’s it. You’re going to a doctor." Brian said.

  "Brian, I don’t think i’m dying or anything!" Erica protested, "I just think that with school and everything, i’m a little run down that’s all."

  "But still, I’m taking you to the doctor just to be sure." Brian said, "So get dressed."

  "Don’t you have basketball practice or something this morning?" Erica asked when he started ushering her into the bathroom.

  "It doesn’t matter. You’re more important." He told her.

  On her way to the bathroom, she stopped abruptly.

  "What’s wrong?" Brian asked when she turned to him.

  She opened her mouth to reply but couldn’t as she fainted.

  Jessie woke up the next morning feeling thoroughly relaxed and oddly safe in the arms that were holding her. She felt Nick’s breath fan across her cheek and looked up at him. He was sound asleep, totally oblivious to her observing him. His hair was sticking up all over the place and something about the way he slept made him seem vulnerable somehow. Nick, she thought. What would she do without him now that she had him?

  She traced his lips lightly with her finger and saw him smile a little before finally opening his eyes. He kissed her finger then before going to her lips.

  "Good morning to you too." She replied when the kiss ended.

  "Now I don’t mind waking up to this every morning!" Nick said pressing his body closer to hers.

  "Neither do I." Jessie replied kissing him again. Their kisses got deeper and deeper and Jessie realized that Nick wasn’t going to stop there, so she was the one who broke the kiss.

  "What’s the matter?" Nick asked concerned but slightly annoyed that she stopped.

  "I have a class in a while and if I don’t go now i’m going to be late!" Jessie said getting up and pulling on Nick’s robe which was nearby. She noticed that her body felt a little sore after last night but she didn’t care. A small price to pay for a night of pure ecstasy right?

  "Can’t you miss this class just once?" Nick asked with a groan.

  "No I can’t. I’m already doing horribly and my dad will kill me if I fail this class!" Jessie said going into the bathroom.

  "Oh and speaking of your father, what are you going to tell him when you get home?" Nick asked her when she came back into the room.

  "My father probably doesn’t even know i’m missing." Jessie said dryly, "But if he does ask, I’ll just tell him that I spent the night at Erica’s!"

  "Do you lie to your father a lot, Jess?" Nick asked her softly looking at her as she gathered her stuff.

  She stopped what she was doing to look at him.

  "Only when I have to." She replied. "I don’t like to Nick. Believe me, I don’t. But when I was dating Josh, I found myself doing it a lot. I don’t even know whether my father actually believed me or not. I mean, he’s a lawyer, he’s supposed to know if i’m lying or not right? If he did, he never said a word. I just think that he doesn’t care." Jessie told him.

  Not this again! Nick thought.

  "Jess, that’s not true. We’ve been through this already!"

  "I know, I know but I can’t help it. That’s how I feel."

  She turned the room to leave but Nick’s voice stopped her.

  "About last night, J
ess."

  "What about it?" she asked turning red.

  "How come you and Josh never-"

  "Josh wanted to, believe me!" Jessie said cutting him off abruptly, "But I couldn’t. I didn’t love him so I told him that I wasn’t ready. He was okay with it at first then he started getting really pushy about it. He never forced me when I told him that I didn’t want to. For that i’m grateful. Last night when you found me though, he wouldn’t take ‘No’ for and answer so he tried to rape me." Jessie said. She couldn’t look at him now.

  "I’m sorry you had to go through that." Nick said softly.

  "So do I Nick." She said, "More than you’ll know."

  CHAPTER 23

  When Erica woke up, she found herself lying on a bed in a strange room.

  "Brian?" she said when she saw a figure next to her.

  "I’m right here honey." He said holding her hand, "You scared me half to death when you fainted like that."

  "I’m sorry. What happened? Where am I?" she asked still not sure about her whereabouts.

  "I was so worried that I brought you to the hospital. As for what happened, I’m not sure, I think the doctor took some tests so we’re gonna find out in a while." Brian told her.

  As if on cue, the doctor walked in followed by a nurse with a clipboard.

  "How are you feeling?" the doctor asked Erica.

  "I’m still a little dizzy." She replied, “What’s wrong with me, doctor?"

  "Well nothing exactly." The doctor replied.

  "What do you mean ‘Nothing exactly’?" Erica asked him, "I haven’t felt this horrible since..well..ever!"

  "Calm down, Miss Matthews. You’re in perfect health. What you’re feeling is quite normal." The doctor said.

  "What are you talking about?" Erica asked frustrated. She didn’t mean to be so rude but she wished he would just say it already.

  Brian looked just as confused as she was but kept his mouth shut. Erica was doing enough talking for the both of them.

  "What i’m trying to say is that you’re pregnant."

  The room fell deathly silent.

  "What?" Erica asked. The shock in her voice obvious.

  "But that can’t be.." Brian said shaking his head, "There’s no way."

  "I’m sorry but it’s true." The doctor said.

  The nurse, who was silent before, said something to the doctor before walking out the room.

  "I’m sorry to have to leave like this but I have an emergency to attend to. We’ll just send you some papers to sign and then you can leave." The doctor said then left the room so Erica and Brian were alone.

  "How could this have happened?" Erica asked. She didn’t need a baby right now. How was she going to finish school? She knew how disappointed her parents were going to be when they found out.

  "It’s not possible, "Brian told her, "We only started sleeping together a few days ago."

  Then it hit him harder than he imagined.

  "Oh God!" he said taking a step back from her, "It’s not mine!"

  Erica saw the pain in his eyes and tried to get off the bed only to feel nauseous again. Brian was right. The baby wasn’t his at all but she needed to explain.

  “Then whose baby is it?" he asked harshly, "Who the hell have you been sleeping with?"

  Erica shrank back at the harshness in his voice.

  "Wait! It’s Kevin’s isn’t it?" he asked hoarsely. He couldn’t believe what was happening to him.

  "Yes, but Brian, we only slept together once!" Erica protested but Brian was past hearing.

  "You slept with my cousin when you still claimed to be in love with me?" he asked her, "How could you do that?"

  "Brian, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to..but it was only that one time!"

  "Look Erica, you know what? I’m tired of this. Tired of your apologies, your excuses, but most of all, i’m tired of you!" he turned on his heel and walked out.

  "Brian wait!" Erica called but he ignored her and kept on walking.

  Erica lay down on the bed and started to cry. What the hell had she gotten herself into now?

  CHAPTER 24

  Nick parked the car in front of Jessie’s house. She got out the car and he followed her inside. She needed to collect some things for school. As soon as they walked through the door, Jessie saw her father.

  "Where have you been?" he asked gently, his voice filled with concern.

  Jessie was startled.

  "I spent the night at Erica’s." Jessie said quickly.

  "You could have called and said something." Her father continued.

  "Why? You never cared where I was before!" Jessie stated a little harshly.

  "Of course I care Jessie! I’m your father! That’s my job." Mr. Andrews said, "Look I know i’ve been a little busy lately."

  Jessie rolled her eyes at him.

  "Okay so i’ve been busy a lot! But I promise to make it up to you." he said, "Jessie you’re my only daughter and I love you. I want to spend as much time with you as I can."

  She looked at Nick and he gave her a look that said "I told you so." Jessie sighed.

  "Okay I promise to inform you next time." She said.

  "Thank you." her father gave her a hug then. It was then he noticed Nick.

  "Oh hi Nick. Sorry I didn’t see you there." He said shaking Nick’s hand.

  "It’s okay. You were worried about your daughter. I understand."

  ‘I almost forgot to tell you," Mr.Andrews said turning back to Jessie," You would never believe who stopped by last night."

  "Who?" Jessie asked not really up for guessing games.

  "Josh!" her father replied.

  Nick and Jessie instinctively looked at each other.

  "What did he want?" Nick asked since Jessie was in too much of a shock to speak.

  "He wanted to see Jessie. Have you two met?" Mr. Andrews asked Nick.

  "I guess you can say that." Nick replied calmly.

  "What did you tell him?" Jessie asked her father.

  "I told him that I didn’t know where you were and that I wasn’t sure what time you’d be back. He left after that." Mr. Andrews explained, "Is something wrong?"

  "Dad, I think you should sit down. There’s something I have to tell you." Jessie told her father then.

  Her father looked at her strangely before taking a seat.

  Erica was at home thinking about what she should do about this baby. First of all, there was no way that she could balance school and the baby. Okay so she had enough money to hire a nanny to take care of the baby, but then that would be unfair to the child. She didn’t want someone else to bring up her children. That was supposed to be her job. She didn’t want to be like her parents who were too busy to take care of her but always left her in the care of Claire, her nanny, when she was younger. But then again, she could always have an abortion. That would be the perfect solution to this problem. Her parents didn’t even have to know. But she didn’t know if she could do it. It would mean taking the life of someone who had never really gotten a chance to live. Erica sighed and rubbed her eyes. She didn’t know what to do. Maybe she should tell Kevin and see what his reaction would be. She couldn’t believe that the ONE time that she had sex with Kevin she had gotten pregnant. They’d slept together on their four month anniversary and Erica felt really guilty afterwards because she knew that she still had feelings for Brian.

  Erica was confused. She got in her car and drove over to Kevin’s house.

  CHAPTER 25

  "Why didn’t you tell me?" Jessie’s father cried going over to his daughter. He was deeply hurt that he had to find out this way.

  "Honestly I didn’t think that it would come to this dad. I knew Josh had a temper but I didn’t think he’d actually want to kill me!" Jessie said.

  "Jessie, he hit you! He had no right to do that in the first place! If I had known sooner, I would have had his ass in jail before we moved here!" Mr. Andrews said.

  "Dad, i’m sorry." Jessie said. She was on the verge of
tears.

  Nick stayed out of this. Jessie and her father had to get this out now.

  "It’s okay honey. I’m just glad you told me so we can do something about it."

  "What are you going to do?" Jessie asked him.