part 16

"Brody? Brody Carson?"

Brooklyn just nodded her head.

"Why baby?"
"He came over, I guess he saw my car or something? And he asked about Nicklas and he got mad, pretty much called me an easy whore, I punched him, and he hit me back." she whispered sliding her hand across her bleeding lips.
"Brooklyn! You just wait until I tell your-"
"No! Don't tell him. Don't tell anyone. I just- Can I have some ice please?"

She didn't answer the questions that her mother asked her. She didn't even lift her pounding head from the table. Her ice bag was dripping onto the white tiled floor. It had long since melted from the heat of the bruises that were forming on her cheek up into her eyebrow. What would she tell Nicklas? The first night she was away from him she goes and gets herself hit. She never thought he would hit her, Brody, the boy she claimed as almost a brother since she was 12 years old. He didn't even hit her when they played pick up games. Why did everything change all of a sudden. Was he jealous of Nicklas? He had no reason. He was the entire reason she had ended their 3 year relationship. And with some trashy excuse for a blond. She was surprised that girl could see through all the eyeliner she smeared on her manipulative blue eyes . Whatever, she was over it. Him-on the other hand, she couldn't say the same. She was half way to sleep, on her water bed pillow when she felt her back pocket vibrate the chair under her.

"Hello?"
"Hey babe" Nicklas said, his voice bringing a painful smile to her face.
"Gaa how was the game?"
"Okay. We made it to the shoot-out and since we can't win those to save our lives we lost."
"What was the final?" she said throwing her melted bag, basketball style into the trash bag.
"2-3. Not that bad."
"Beats a shut out."
"Brooklyn? Are you okay? You sound...different." he asked obviously concerned.
"yeah I'm okay. I'm heading home soon."
"Wait? You're not staying? You just got there."
"I just don't want to be here, that's all"
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes."
"Brooklyn..."
"Nicklas. I'm getting ready to leave. I'll probably get home around the same time as you."
"Okay. Bye Babe."
"Bye."

"Brooklyn are you sure you don't want to stay?" her mother pleaded as she walked with her to Brooklyn car. "I mean...you haven't even seen your father yet? You know how he worries about you all the time."
"No mom." she said sliding into the drivers seat. "Don't even tell him I was here."
"Aw Brooklyn I love you" her mom said, reaching into the car to hug her, tears in her eyes.
"You too mom." With that she pulled back out of the driveway.

Down the long paved road spotted with amazing 3 story houses on each side. Their lights shining making them look as though they were smiling, happy, filled with loving families, as hers used to be. She couldn't help but still blame herself for the way her family had fallen apart. Everything had always been about her. Her hockey. Her school. Her. Her. Her. Her parents never had time for themselves. Maybe she was self centered.

It was a little after midnight when she pulled into her parking spot under the sheltered parking garage. Nicklas' silver BMW parked next to hers. The snow had stopped falling, the wind had fallen silent too. She walked as slow as possible into the lobby and to the elevator. She had no clue what to tell Nicklas. The truth would be a good place to start. She hoped he had fallen asleep waiting for her. She let out a heavy sigh as she slid her key into the lock. She could hear the living room TV, other than that nothing but silence. She quietly dropped her things on the kitchen floor, and smiled another painful smile at her Nicklas wrapped up on her couch under a dark green blanket. His right arm pillowing the back of his head, that hand wrapped in his curling blond hair. His left hand clutching his phone, as if he were waiting for an important call, his arm lying on his chest, raising and falling slowly with each deep breath he took. His feet placed over the top of the opposite arm of the chair. He was obviously too tall to be sleeping there. A soft delicate smile resting on his angelic face.

She let out another soft sigh and tiptoed across the room to him. She bent down and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. She turned to her bedroom, debating if a shower would wake him.

"You know." Nicklas said with a long deep yawn. "You're a horrible liar."