The Movies Make It Look Easy

Chapter 59

Shannon’s P.O.V:

I sat cross-legged on a random patch of grass in sight of the apartment; procrastinating. I knew I’d have to get it over with at some point, but I hadn’t quite mustered up the courage…yet.
Though the girls hadn’t had any objections to me staying with them for a few more days – well, actually, I hadn’t seen Carla; she didn’t come home from the club with the others…who knew whose bed she was in – I’d felt it was time to leave, to go back to reality.
So here I was.

I’d managed to procrastinate all day, but now, as the light was beginning to wane, well; I was just going to have to suck it up. I sighed; knowing and doing were two completely different things.
This was going to be hard.
Taking a deep breath, I stood up. I took a moment to brush the grass and leaves off me before grabbing my bag and heading for the apartment – for home.

Mark’s P.O.V:

I never thought I’d see the day; but I was actually getting bored of TV and Xbox. It’s practically blasphemy, I know; but still.
Nick silently – and moodily – came back into the room; computer in hand. He sat back on the other end of the couch.
I’d swear on anything, that soon there’d be a perfect indentation of his ass in that exact spot…sitting there was all he seemed to do these days.
I didn’t bother to strike up a conversation; I knew I wouldn’t get a response. If Nick continued acting like this, I was going to have to slap him out of it – literally. Actually…that could be kind of fun…

I glanced over to see him tense suddenly. I frowned, but decided against saying anything. It was probably nothing.
His hands slowly clenched around the edge of the laptop, and I began to seriously worry for the computer’s wellbeing. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t nothing. “What’s wrong?”
It took him a moment to answer as he glared angrily at the screen. “Natalie just e-mailed me.”
My mouth fell open. I literally never would have guessed in a million years what was going to come out of his mouth. “You’re joking, right?”
“No” he ground out.
“How the hell did she get your address? Is she stalking you?” That’s all we’d need; Lee being obsessed with Shannon, and Natalie with Nick.
“I don’t care about that right now” he said as he scrolled down the e-mail.
His face…well, it wasn’t pretty.
I had to wonder what the bitch had said to make him not care that she was probably stalking him. “Why?”
In answer, he tilted the screen towards me, so I could see exactly why he didn’t care.

It was a photo; well, there were multiple photos. All dated from the night before. I leaned closer. “Is that Shannon?”
“Yes.”
I whistled under my breath; she looked hot. However, my sense of self-preservation prevailed; I wasn’t going to even contemplate voicing my opinion. I obviously wasn’t the only one who thought she looked hot though – in each of the seven or so photos, she wasn’t alone. “Ben?” I guessed, surprised.
Nick nodded tersely.
“I didn’t know they were, ah, acquainted?”
None of the pictures were particularly incriminating, but the two looked quite close, like they knew each other well. Shannon certainly looked like she was having a good time, talking and laughing.
I also noticed that Ben was always pushed up against her, had his arms wrapped around her, or was touching her in some way…she didn’t seem to mind.
I glanced up at Nick and immediately regretted it. His expression was full of anger, but also hurt. I could almost see the thoughts crossing his face. While he was here, moping, she was out with another guy. Granted, there was no evidence that she was with him – we all knew that she was a naturally touchy person – and besides, she hadn’t done anything wrong. It was Nick who had cheated. But still, it must hurt to see.

“They hooked up on Halloween.”
I’d almost forgotten what I’d asked by the time he spoke. “Wait, what?” I stared at him. “How did I not know about this?”
He just shrugged; “it never came up.”
Damn, and I thought Lee was the only one to worry about – it seemed there was another – possible anyway – contender…one who wasn’t a psycho. I actually liked Ben – just not for Shannon. I’d have to rethink the implications of the photos though; maybe there was something there?
“Natalie is a bitch” was all I said though.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was related to Lee” Nick agreed as he deleted the photos, one by one. I didn’t bother asking why - stupid and unnecessary question and all that.
“I know there’s some way of blocking people” he muttered to himself as he fiddled with the keys.

I sat up straight again and stared blankly at the TV screen. I was surprised that there were things I obviously didn’t know. Learning about Shannon and Ben had completely blindsided me.
Nick stood up to put the computer back in his room. I was guessing he’d figured out how to block Natalie.
I was now seriously wondering about her sanity. One thing had been clear about the pictures; neither Shannon nor Ben had been aware they were being taken. The thought left a bad taste in my mouth.
Was there more to the story that I didn’t know about? I mean, who in their right minds would act like such a crazy person just because they thought someone had cheated on their best friend? And it wasn’t even true, which just made the whole situation even more baffling.

The most frustrating part was that it didn’t seem like I was going to get answers anytime soon. The chances of me walking up to Natalie and asking why she was such a crazy bitch were – actually, there was no chance; that pesky self-preservation thing kicking in again. I sighed in frustration – I didn’t like being in the dark.
Nick settled himself back on the couch, and without looking my way, he spoke. “Don’t tell her, Shannon I mean, about the pictures…they’ll just upset her.”
I nodded but didn’t get a chance to reply because there was a loud thud outside the front door, followed by muffled cursing.
We both stared in the direction of the noise, and Nick slowly stood up and walked past me to the door.
My gaze flicked over to him just in time to see his hopeful expression before he’d passed my line of sight.

Shannon’s P.O.V:

Well, that was embarrassing.
I’d like to think that there was some obstacle in my way that somehow blended in perfectly with its surroundings, like an inanimate chameleon. But no, sadly it was just my own clumsiness.
Yes, I tripped over my own feet, banged my shoulder against the doorframe, and unceremoniously dumped my bag on the ground. Well, this day just kept getting better and better. I’d sat on that patch of grass, envisioning over and over again how this encounter would go. I’d imagined gracefully entering the apartment, looking at Nick once with clear disdain, before completely ignoring him.
Obviously not.
It was just my luck that I’d done perhaps the most ungraceful thing possible; before I’d even gotten in the door. And I knew that unless he was in the shower, Nick would have clearly heard my idiocy (the walls were far from thick), and my outburst of cursing while I got on my hands and knees to pick up the items that had rolled from the open top of my bag, definitely hadn’t helped.
And yes, of course that’s where he found me – on the freaking ground like a madwoman, while he looked all perfect; his shape outlined by the warm light spilling from the apartment – my home.

I winced when I heard the door open, and I kept my eyes firmly on the ground as I picked up the rest of my things. When I finally looked up, my gaze immediately found his, and I felt my face flame with embarrassment.
His lips twitched in amusement and one eyebrow arched sardonically in that oh, so familiar way of his. My heart beat faster, and God I’d missed him.
What the hell is wrong with you! I chided myself.
“Hi” he whispered and I stumbled slightly as I picked myself up. He immediately caught my elbow in his hand to steady me, but I shook it off.
“Don’t touch me.” I was proud to say that my voice didn’t waver. His touch was too much to bear.
He instantly backed off. “Are you okay? I-” he trailed off, his gaze flickering over me with something close to relief.
I wasn’t sure if he was asking if I was okay because he’d just found me on the ground, or if he meant in general. I wasn’t going to ask. “I’m fine, not that you care of course.”
Okay, now I was just being a bitch. Damn.
“Of course I care, Sweetheart” he began, but I cut him off. “Don’t call me that – and if you cared, we wouldn’t be in this situation. Now, can I get inside please?”
“Shannon can we please just talk about this?” He was practically whispering.
“There’s nothing to talk about” I said harshly.
He looked at me with such sad eyes that all I wanted to do was apologise; but I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.
He did step back though, but not enough for my comfort – I still had to brush past him to get inside.
Completely intentional on his part, of course – bastard.

When I stepped inside, my eyes were drawn to Mark; slouched on the couch. He smiled at me, a little uncertainly, and I saluted him – my problems were only with Nick.
I heard him close the door but he didn’t move from his position behind, and a little to the side of me.
I felt my shoulders tense and without another word, I went into my room and shut the door firmly after me. I looked around in satisfaction; glad to be back in my own room with my own things.
First thing’s first; I wanted a hot shower.
I couldn’t help the yawns that overcame me as I rinsed conditioner from my hair – though I’d left before everyone else, it had still been late enough by the time I made it back to Nikki’s the night before.
Not to mention the fact that I’d woken up early, jittery with nerves at the prospect of coming home. The bottom line was; I was tired.
It was weird though; I still really didn’t want to see Nick, or talk to him, but I felt calmer, more centred, now that I was home and he was in the other room.
It felt like I was finally returning to normality.

I stood in my room after my shower, debating what to do. I wanted to catch up with Mark, but at the same time, I didn’t want to have to deal with Nick.
I just wanted to crawl into my bed but I knew I couldn’t hide forever.
We’d have to learn how to act around each other at some stage; I didn’t want to constantly be bitching at him.
It was time to be mature and just deal with it. Being an adult sucked sometimes.
Grabbing a small bottle of red nail polish, I made my decision.

I quietly stepped out of my room, pulling a hoodie I’d stolen from Adrian long ago, around me. Nick was sitting to the very left of the couch, Mark to the right.
I skirted around the couch and sat on Mark’s lap – my back to Nick. I’d ruled out the armchair because that would require me to look at Nick, and I was hardly going to sit between them.
Okay, so I was all for maturity, but I could still be petty - right?
I smiled slightly at Mark’s confused face – just a small quirk of the lips before I focused on my toes. I balanced my feet against the arm of the couch and shook the bottle of polish.

Mark chastely settled one hand on my knee, his other arm firmly by his side. I was kind of surprised; chaste wasn’t a word I would usually associate with Mark, but then, I knew exactly why he was acting like that – the reason was sitting on the other end of the couch.
I hated awkward situations.
I felt a small tug on the end of my damp ponytail and frowned up at Mark. He looked down at me with his usual self-confident smirk – and for that, I was glad. “How are you Sweetcheeks?”
“Fine” I smiled as well as I could through the yawn that left my eyes watering. I deliberately ignored the true meaning of his question. I was determined to keep the conversation light.
His smile widened; “you look a bit tired there. Any particular reason why?”
I frowned, not sure why he was asking. There was no way he could know that I’d gone out. “Yes. I went out last night.”
He nodded his head as if confirming something. I also didn’t miss the way his gaze darted over to He Who Must Not Be Named. My brain was one big question mark. I had no idea what was going on.

“With who?”
I turned my attention back to my toes, putting his strange behaviour down to his gender, rather than anything I had done.
“Nikki and her two roommates” I answered truthfully, biting my lip in concentration as I attempted not to paint my entire foot red.
“Really?” He sounded like he didn’t believe me.
I narrowed my eyes, glancing up at him briefly. Why was he acting so suspicious? Especially when I was telling the truth. “Why do I feel like this is an interrogation? Yes, I went out with the girls – I didn’t know that was a crime” I said sarcastically, and perhaps just a tad bit sharp.
He shrugged; his eyes wide and innocent. I didn’t believe it for one second. “So you spent the whole night with them?” he pressed.
I shook my head. “No. Carla fucked off almost immediately, and I got separated from the others around halfway through the night.”

He shifted beneath me, his steady gaze never leaving the side of my face. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to know exactly what was going on right now. “So you were by yourself for the rest of the night?”
“No. I was with Ben.” I answered without thinking. I froze as soon as the words left my lips; wincing slightly. I knew how that must have sounded, and I knew I was probably coming off as a bitch – like I was trying to one-up Nick or something; make him jealous.
I didn’t mind being a little petty. Hell, as far as I was concerned, I was perfectly entitled; but this was too far. However, I wasn’t about to apologise, or backtrack.
I pretended like nothing was wrong instead.

The room was silent except for the sounds issuing from the TV – I was obviously expected to elaborate. Lucky me.
I just shrugged one shoulder and went back to painting my toes. “I was surprised to see him. He kept me company until…”
The words caught in my throat.
“Until?” Mark prompted.
“Until I spilled my drink over myself and went home” I concluded firmly.
I didn’t want to tell them that Natalie had poured a drink over my head unprovoked, for an array of reasons – not least of which was the fact that I didn’t actually have any proof that she’d done it.
“He brought you home?” Mark asked sharply.
I shook my head again; “no, he just got me a taxi.”

Part of me was surprised that Nick had managed to stay quiet for so long. I’d expected him to interrupt at the first possible moment. I wasn’t going to turn around to check his expression though.
“You’re not seeing him again though, are you?”
My excuse was – and will always be – that his innocent tone was completely disarming, especially when my thoughts were focused on Nick. “We’re going to lunch actually.”
I heard Nick move on the couch, and heard his angry exhalation of breath. I didn’t dare look up to see Mark’s reaction - he seemed to have gone utterly still – but he did wrap his arms lightly around my waist. I couldn’t tell if that was a good or a bad thing.
I mentally slapped myself; why the hell did I have to go and tell them that? They were going to get the wrong impression. I shouldn’t care, but unfortunately I did.
Mark didn’t ask any more questions. He just settled into watching the TV, his arms still around me as a slightly tense atmosphere fell over the room.
I finished painting my toes, my eyelids heavy. I put the polish aside and rested my head against Mark’s chest – sleep overcoming me.

Mark’s P.O.V:

“She’s asleep” Nick said.
I looked over at him blankly, my brain still focused on the TV. Oh, right; Shannon.
I looked down, craning my neck almost painfully to the right to catch a glimpse of Shannon’s face. Sure enough, her eyes were shut, her breathing deep and even, her hands tucked beneath her chin.
She looked so innocent.
I lightly brushed her hair from her face before looking back at Nick and nodding once in affirmation. He didn’t look surprised.
“How did you know?” I kept my voice low, not wanting to wake her.
He just smiled crookedly; “no need to keep your voice down; she’s out for the count.”
I glanced down at her and back up incredulously. “Yes, but how do you know?” I insisted.
He shrugged nonchalantly; “I just do.”
I stared at him, not satisfied at all with that answer. He couldn’t know her that well…could he?
I decided to ignore it; Nick was weird – I’d already known that.
“Should I…?” I didn’t know what to do with her…was I supposed to just sit here all night?
Nick rolled his eyes and stood up. “I’ll take her to bed.”

I watched in silence as he approached me and gently gathered Shannon into his arms. Sure enough, she didn’t wake up.
Her head just rested against his shoulder, one hand holding a tight handful of his t-shirt – right above his heart. He didn’t seem to mind. He sighed quietly and pressed a kiss to her forehead before carrying her to her room.
I wrinkled my nose; it was all far too sappy for my liking.
I stared at the TV instead and picked up the remote; flicking through the channels until I came across The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Perfect.

I found my thoughts straying from the movie that I just couldn’t seem to take seriously. Nick hadn’t returned yet.
All those questions I’d asked had been for his benefit, of course; knowing that she probably wouldn’t answer if he’d voiced what had been on both of our minds.
She’d suspected something – she wasn’t oblivious enough not to notice, but she was either too polite to ask, or she just didn’t care. She probably thought I was just asking intrusive questions to irritate her – she hadn’t seen the way Nick waited avidly for each of her responses; as much to hear her voice as the answers I supposed. She hadn’t seen the way his gaze never once left her.
It was horrible to watch – I hated being caught in the middle.

I pondered what she’d told me.
She and Ben were meeting up for lunch. I had to wonder what it meant to Ben. He wasn’t a wine and dine kind of guy. He was cut from the same cloth as Nick and I. Well, the same cloth as me – Nick wasn’t into that; not anymore.
Was it possible that he was only interested in friendship? I really hoped he wasn’t trying something on with Shannon…we were friends, but Shannon belonged with Nick, I couldn’t let him just sweep her off her feet.
Though something told me she had more sense than to let that happen. Then again, she had fallen for Nick, who definitely had a reputation.
My thoughts were completely conflicted.

I’d also seen that Shannon had regretted mentioning Ben. Her wince had said it all. I didn’t know if that was because she hadn’t meant it to sound like they were involved, or because she just wanted to spare Nick’s feelings.
Damn. Shannon’s homecoming had just posed more questions, brought to light more unknown elements in the web that was slowly being woven around them. More players had been added to the game.
I ran my hand through my hair in frustration, feeling a sudden need to curse long and loud. I would have too, if it wasn’t for Shannon sleeping in the next room.

I heard her door closing behind me. Nick dropped onto the couch with a sigh. His expression was blank, and yet, he couldn’t hide how exhausted he looked.
He scrubbed a hand down his face; “she lied, you know.”
I frowned. “About what?”
“About spilling the drink on herself. I don’t know what happened, or why she lied. I just know she did.”
My eyebrows shot up. How the hell did he know these things? I literally couldn’t get my head around it. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask, but I decided against it. I changed tack completely instead. “What will you do if her and Ben…?” I couldn’t finish the question.
He clenched his hands around one of the couch cushions. “There’s nothing I can do to stop her – I have absolutely no right. I can only hope –" he stopped abruptly, taking a deep breath. “Even if I hadn’t…done what I did, I still couldn’t stop her. We were never properly together, never exclusive” his mouth twisted bitterly, harshly, as he spoke.
I could see how it affected him…how frustrated he felt. I didn’t blame him.

After that, we didn’t speak.
At one point, I opened my mouth to ask if he was glad she was home, but I thought better of it. After all, it was a fairly idiotic question.
Of course he was glad. He was probably fucking ecstatic. He just didn’t show it…but then he never got too emotional over anything. Not until Shannon anyway.