If Hell were any Closer

Nikki's POV:

I stare open-mouthed at him, basically expecting for him to vanish into thin air, a side-effect of my drinking the night before. Yet when I rub my eyes, he is still there, and I am confused as ever.

"What are you doing here?" I repeat my answered question, gaping at him expectantly. Yet all he does is laugh lightly, striding confidently over to my form and pulling me into a hug, and I can't help but breathe in his familiar scent. Same scent, same boy, different me.

I stiffen in his arms, unsure of how to react as Cody gets out of the car just as he releases me. I shoot my best friend a glare to which he only shrugs innocently. Men are idiots, I tell you. "Well?"

He laughs, to my utter annoyance. How dare this bastard leave and then waltz back in, only to laugh at me? Oh no, this asshole must still think I'm the same Nikki he tormented all those years ago, because let me tell you something sweetie, I'm not. I've changed, for the better.

"Can't a guy visit his home town without being interrogated?" He chuckles, amused.

I huff in responses crossing my arms, "Nope. Better start explaining soon Mr. Rockstar."

His eyebrow raises, "well, I appreciate the title but I'm far from being a 'rock star'. Back to the question at hand, I am here to visit you, Cody here, and well, I missed this place," he shrugs.

"Bullshit," I call him out, earning a chuckle from both boys. I swear god if I didn't have a headache from hell, I would smack each of these idiots on the head, hopefully knock some sense into them.

"Fine. A bunch of the guys are actually coming into town this week, since we have nothing better to do. And figured might as well check up on little Miss sunshine right here. Talking to you Princess, by the way," he winks.

I flush at his words, looking away and tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, suddenly feeling embarrassed. They came home, after two years, to check up on me? I'm not sure if I should feel flattered or pissed off.

I turn to Cody, "is that why you decided to visit now?"

He rocks back and forth on his heels awkwardly, his hands shoved into his pockets, "maybe. I did want to see you and my folks as well though," he adds.

I nod and this time, pull him into a hug, which he gladly returns, squeezing me. "We've got a lot of catching up to do, huh?"

I nod, blinking back tears. I never knew how much I missed him until he was gone, and returned. I guess he played s bigger role in my life than I remembered, and I'm thankful that I at least get to see him again. I don't know why we never bothered to text over the two years that he'd been a graduate, never enough time for either of us I suppose. Plus I'd always assumed that he'd be different now, like Cody. Living the life he always dreamed and takes about, have a girlfriend, a band, an apartment. Living in London maybe; he always said that he planned to move back eventually.

A thought pops into my head and I raise my eyes so I can look into Oli's eyes, and then Cody's. "The others are here?" I ask, excitement flooding my veins.

Cody and Oli share a look, before the latter nods, and I cannot contain my excitement as I squeal and throw my arms around Oli. He laughs as he catches me, swinging me around before he sets me back on my feet. By that point, my head becomes fuzzy and Cody has to help steady me.

"Alright, can we go now!" I practically whine, making them both laugh. "Shotgun!" I pipe I'm, dashing to the front passenger door, ignoring the world that is clearly spinning around me.

__

"Okay just drop me off and pick me up around 4:00pm, I'll need a little recovery time from my first time drinking. Got it?" I ask for the hundredth time as Cody pulls into my driveway.

He simply rolls his eyes, nodding, "I heard you the first time. After that I stopped listening," he jokes, dodging me as I go to swat him.

I join them in laughter, before exiting the car just as Oli does. He pulls me by my forearms to him and tilts my chin up, so our eyes are locked together. I smile shyly at him as he brushes a hand through my hair.

"See you soon, beautiful," he murmurs softly, pecking my cheek, making me blush.

I swoon and nod, dazed as he waves 'goodbye', hopping into the front seat. I watch dreamily as they drive off, and as the disappear, I snap out of my haze and shake my head, clearing the fog. Still holding me heels and cell phone in one hand, I make my way to the front door, fumbling to find my key in my messy purse. When I finally maker to find the damn object, I rush to open the door, and breathe out a sigh of relief when I am safely inside, finally content with being alone. In my head, I have already envisioned the shower and hours of Netflix that I will have, all I need to do is get up the stairs, and take off my sloppy clothing, that I'm strongly considering burning. Serves my friends right, dressing me like a doll.

I practically drag myself up the stairs, stumbling every so often, but I finally make it there. I let out a sigh of happiness when I plop down onto my bed. I pass by the window, my eyes gliding past it effortlessly as I make my way to the bathroom, daydreaming of hot water loosening my tense muscles, ridding my pores of dirt and grime.

I'm so out of it that I barely notice a familiar black car parked down the street.

Notes