The Movies Make It Look Easy

Chapter 56

Mark’s P.O.V:

I was sitting watching some crap sitcom on TV, enjoying the apartment being empty for once – I was seriously contemplating walking around in my birthday suit – when the door opened. Well, it didn’t so much open as burst inwards.
I leaped out of my seat in surprise, turning towards the noise. I raised my hands defensively, ready to karate chop any burglars. They wouldn’t know what hit them – my ninja reflexes were always just below the surface…ready for anything. I dropped my hands though when I realised who it was.
Nick slammed the door behind him and I stood there in silence. I couldn’t speak. I was shocked. He looked awful; like he’d been out on an all-night bender, and was now severely hungover…and had he been crying? What the fuck was going on?

He was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a random hoodie with no t-shirt under it. The part of my brain that wasn’t struck dumb at the sight of him was kind of surprised. Nick generally went to Shannon these days if something had happened. “What’s wrong?” I asked with concern. I hadn’t seen him this upset about something since his mother slipped into a coma.
He looked up at me with dead eyes as if, until that moment, he hadn’t realised I was there; as if he’d made his way here on instinct without really thinking about it. “I fucked up” his voice sounded heartbroken and an ominous feeling settled heavily on my shoulders.
“What did you do?” I asked quietly.
“I…fuck!” He spun suddenly and punched the wall.
Let’s just say the wall didn’t stand a chance…poor thing, it was so young… I mentally slapped myself to keep my wayward thoughts on track. I looked at the fist-sized hole that now decorated the living room wall, pieces of plaster dropping sadly to the floor. “What did the wall ever do to you?” I tried for humour. It wasn’t appreciated.
Nick’s fist clenched again and I quickly stepped forward. One hole I could handle; two, not so much. I led him to the couch and pushed him onto it.

After muting the TV, I sat in the armchair and watched him expectantly. Any second now…
“I fucked up” he repeated, but this time I think he was calmer – if only slightly. “After Shannon and Conor got back to the apartment yesterday…” he paused as if trying to collect himself.
I recalled our conversation on the phone yesterday, and hoped that Nick had had the chance to apologise to Shannon. Lee should be the one blamed – not Shannon. Though judging by the state Nick was in now, something had gone wrong. I just didn’t know what.
“They went into her room” Nick continued, “and I thought…I thought…”
I felt horror wash over me…please no… “I thought they were together, you know? So I went out.”
I sighed quietly in relief. Theory number One; that Nick had killed Conor, and possibly Shannon as well, and buried them somewhere in the desert, could be officially crossed off my mental list. Wait, there’s no desert near London is there? Oh well. I’d dubbed the list; ‘Sherlock Mark’s list of possible reasons for Nick looking like shit’…and yes, I had mentally named myself Sherlock Mark…whatever, I could pull it off.
Anyway, on to Theory number Two…crap! It was almost as bad! I focused again on Nick’s distraught face.
“I got really really drunk and I was so angry at her. How could she do that to me? So I met this girl…I barely even fucking remember what she looks like, let alone her name…and I brought her home…” Nick trailed off as he buried his face in his hands.
Fuck damn! I thought; Theory number Two was right, and I was beginning to think it was actually worse than the aforementioned Theory number One…fuck…
Nick looked up at me again; “I actually have no recollection of last night. I barely remember leaving the bar.” He slumped back on the couch before continuing. “Anyway, this morning, they both come out of her room at the same time as me and it got really awkward because of the girl; and by then I’d fucking forgotten she was there because I was still drunk, and she wouldn’t stop touching me. It felt so wrong…” he practically whispered as he rubbed his arms in revulsion as if he couldn’t quite rid himself of the feeling of something horrible.

By this point, I was pretty much screaming at him in my head. He was my best friend and I really shouldn’t judge, but that was just a bad call.
“So anyway, I got rid of her” he said despondently.
I froze. “You killed her?” I whispered; mouth agape.
He threw me a weird look. “What? No, of course not, I just got her to leave…I’m pretty sure I slammed the door in her face.”
Whew! That was a weight off my mind…perhaps I should tone down the drama…hmmm…
“And then Conor left because he had to catch his flight, and then it was just the two of us.”

My heart sank because I knew what was coming and I really didn’t want to hear it.
Nick took a deep breath; “we were shouting at each other, and she said things…and I made her fucking cry! And I actually wanted to kill myself right then and there. Girls crying, and tears in general have never bothered me before, but when she even looks like she’s going to, it tears me apart and I’d do anything to make her feel better; and this time it was me making the tears fall” he spoke quieter and quieter, and I was sure he’d forgotten that I was even there. “I said I was sorry and I tried to tell her that I love her, but…”
That made me sit up straighter. I mean, I knew he loved her; anyone with half a brain could see that, but if there was one thing I’d learnt over the years, it was that Nick always put on this persona that he didn’t do girlfriends, didn’t fall for girls, and didn’t love…period. Of course, I was his best friend so I knew it wasn’t true; I knew him too well, but even with me he put on an act and he built up a wall.
For him to admit that he loved her, was in love with her, was….monumental. I hoped like I’d never hoped for anything before that they’d work it out…that it would be like all their other fights and blow over soon.
“She told me to leave” he finally looked at me and this time I was sure that he had tears in his eyes. “She said she didn’t want to talk to me, or even look at me…so I left” he said, utterly dejected.
I sensed something was missing from the story, like the last piece of a jigsaw that you can’t seem to find; no matter how hard, or for how long you look. Unfortunately, I didn’t know what it was, and I didn’t know if Nick had left it out on purpose or if he hadn’t realised it yet.
He dropped his head into his hands.

We sat in silence for, I don’t know how long, until out of the corner of my eye, I saw the door handle move. It was one of those times when everything seemed to slow down and you know something horrible is going to happen but you’re powerless to stop it.
In seemingly slow motion, Lee walked through the door. He looked at me and then over to Nick’s hunched form. A malicious smile grew on his face like he knew what had happened. How could he know?
Everything sped up again until all I could do was watch the scene unfolding before me; helpless. I saw him slip his phone into his pocket before he walked over to the couch. I felt my whole body tense, an elastic band stretched tight, at Lee’s close proximity. “Bad day?” he enquired in a tone that suggested he was having the best day of his life. I hated him.
Nick slowly looked up and I’ve never seen a more hateful, murderous look before. Bring on Theory number One. Hell, I’d even help transport the wanker’s body to the nearest desert…wherever the fuck that was.
Nick stood up and turned to face him. “Excuse me?”
Lee held up his hands in a gesture of mock innocence. “I just asked if you had a bad day, you don’t look too good.”
Nick snarled…yeah, he actually goddamn snarled. “What the fuck business is it of yours?”
Lee’s expression darkened, “you just hurt the girl I love – of course it’s my business.”
Nick glared at him. “Fuck off before I hurt you.”
Lee laughed, but the sound was cold and didn’t contain an ounce of humour. “Yeah, I’d like to see you try. Shannon isn’t here to defend you this time. That was one hell of a slap; very kinky. She loved it as much as I did. I wonder what she’ll be like in bed.”
Nick lunged for him but I managed to step in and hold him back – barely.

Revulsion filled me as Lee’s words went round and round my head. If he ever touched Shannon, I’d kill him. “Stay the fuck away from her, you fucking freak!” Nick shouted.
“No” Lee said adamantly; “I love her.”
“You don’t love her. Fuck, you don’t even know her.”
“At least I wouldn’t do what you did to her last night.”
“How the fuck do you know what I did or didn’t do last night?”
“You might not kiss and tell, but the girl you fucked last night sure does.”
I felt Nick freeze and I – stupidly – relaxed my grip on his arm so I could stare at Lee in horror. What the fuck was going on?
“Oh yes” he continued with a satisfied look; “Natalie and I are very close. She tells me everything.”
Oh fuck! Was the only thing I had time to think before Nick was on him – punching him over and over again. I managed to haul Nick off him but the damage was done; he lay unconscious on the floor with what looked like a broken nose.
“Fuck, Fuck, FUCK!” Nick shouted, kicking Lee’s prone form once more before I was able to pull him away. “What the fuck have I done? No wonder she was so upset! She must fucking hate me! Fuck, I hate myself!”

Well, it looks like the last piece of the puzzle was found; I thought as Nick ripped himself away from me and sprinted for the door. I looked at Lee’s unconscious body as the apartment fell silent once more. Words couldn’t describe how much I hated this kid, so I kicked him once to make myself feel better before going back to sit in front of the TV.
I unmuted it but found I couldn’t concentrate. I dialled Shannon’s number but it just rang and rang until it eventually cut to voicemail. I hung up and let my head drop against the back of the couch; the first pains of a migraine beginning to blossom behind my eyes. All I could do at this point was wait and hope everything would be okay.