Chapter 5: Nick Lazzare

ADRIANA

~~~

I can't help but stare at Nick for a long moment. No matter how much I try to find a resemblance, I don't.

Nick has no resemblance in common with Ryan. Ryan looks like a life size human Ken doll, while Nick... he's the exact opposite.

Jet black hair curls slightly over his forehead. His sideburns are neat and trimmed, following the perfect curve of his jawline. His eyes are the darkest obsidian colour, sharp and direct. They remind me of my mom's eyes.

High cheekbones, a straight nose and full lips gives him a dark, mysterious look. Compared to Ryan's boyish cuteness, Nick is dangerously attractive.

My heart skips a beat when I come to that conclusion.

Nick archs a brow when I keep staring.

"Are you done checking me out?" He mutters.

"I wasn't checking you out!" I snap. What a pompous bastard. I'm sure he isn't any different from Ryan.

I look down at his hand which he's still holding out to me. It will be rude not to take it, even though I'm tempted to do just that.

"I'm Adriana, but you know that already." I say.

His grip on my hand is firm and warm. My heart skips another beat when he holds on a little longer.

I should pull back, but I don't. I stand there silently, staring at him, waiting for him to let go.

"You can let go now." He says.

My eyes widen and I look down, only to find out I'm the one holding on to his hand.

I snatch my hand away, my cheeks turning hotter with embarrassment.

"I'm... sorry about that." My words tumble out of my mouth rapidly. "It was nice meeting you, Nick. I should probably head home now."

I start to turn away when Nick holds a hand out, stopping me abruptly.

"You said someone was after you." He says. It isn't a question, but I nod in response.

"I was searching for Ryan when I saw him standing in the middle of the road. He chased after me, but I think I lost him when I bumped into you."

Nick's obsidian gaze scans our surrounding, then travels back to me. There's just something so dark about the way he looks at me, like he's trying to assert dominance.

It doesn't make sense, but that is how I can describe it.

"Why were you searching for Ryan?" He asks.

"Something happened." I begin to explain. "He got into some sort of argument with my brother and..."

I pause suddenly when I realize something.

I look up at him, my brows pulling together in a deep frown.

"What are you doing here?" I question. "If you're really Ryan's brother, why are you so far away from your home?"

"You don't believe I'm Ryan's brother?"

"Don't change the subject." I snap and fold my arms, waiting for an answer.

Nick pulls off his headphones and pins me under his stare.

"I was searching for him." He says. "I got home, and my mom told me he came over to see you. I followed him."

"How do you know where I live?" I throw the next question at him.

"I told you he never shuts up about you." Nick's voice turns sharp. "It wasn't difficult finding your address in his room."

"But why did you need to find him?" I ask again.

"Because my mom needed me to." Nick snaps this time. "Are you done interrogating me?"

He looks really annoyed, so I cease my questions. I'm still amazed that Ryan has an older brother. He has never mentioned it to me.

"I'm going to head home now." I say, stepping away from him. "Ryan should be back home, because he left about an hour ago."

"Let me walk you home." Nick suggests suddenly.

I pause and turn around again.

"Why would you do that?" I ask.

"The man who chased after you is probably still lurking around." Nick answers. "And it's getting dark. Walking back alone will be dangerous. Besides, you're my brother's girlfriend. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

I should be touched by his concern, but he's obviously doing it because of Ryan. I sigh and shrug.

"Alright then."

He plugs on his headphones and walks at a steady pace beside me. As we head back to my home, I can't help but steal glances at him.

There's just something different about him. He doesn't leer at me, like the other boys at my school. He's distant and polite, despite how much I snapped at him.

He turns and catches my stare. I look away sharply, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me. I'm fucking embarrassed.

"I'm just surprised at the fact that you're Ryan's brother." I blurt out quickly to save my face. "He never told me about you. He said he was an only child."

"Ryan and I aren't exactly close buddies." Nick answers. "We're not actually on speaking terms right now."

"Why?" I ask.

"Ask him." He answers smoothly. "I'm sure he'll be glad to paint a tale for you."

"What could have happened between you two that would make him deny your existence?"

"Like I said." He drawls. "Ask your little boyfriend."

I huff angrily. Nick is just as hardheaded and stubborn as Ryan.

"If you and Ryan aren't close buddies, why are you walking his girlfriend home then?" I ask.

"Do you ever shut up?" He snaps suddenly, catching me unaware.

"Son of a bitch!" I mutter and increase my pace. I don't need his protection. If he's going to be an asshole, he can shove that attitude up his ass.

I'm just a few meters away from my home when I hear Ryan call out my name.

I whirl around, spotting him at the end of the road. He starts running towards me, and I brush past Nick as I hurry to meet him halfway.

He pulls me into his arms the moment he's beside me.

"Are you okay?" He asks frantically, his eyes darting from my face to Nick's face.

"I'm okay." I nod. "I searched for you, but you were already gone."

"Yeah I went back home." His arm curls around my waist as he glares at Nick.

In response, Nick's lips curl into a cold smile.

"Hello, little brother." He mutters.

"Stay away from my girlfriend." Ryan snarls, much to my surprise.

"I was just walking her home." Nick continues. "Don't get so worked up about it."

The tension between them is heavy, so heavy that I can feel it.

"Why did you come back?" I quietly ask Ryan.

"Because I heard he was back. My mom said he was coming to find me. She said she gave him your address."

I throw a quick glance at Nick. The motherfucker lied about finding my address in Ryan's bedroom, but that is the least of my worries now.

"Ryan, why didn't you tell me you have a brother?" I ask next. "You told me you don't have siblings."

Ryan holds Nick's gaze for so long that I fear they will get into a fight. Luckily, they don't.

Ryan finally looks away. He turns towards me and pulls me closer.

"I'll tell you some other time." He says. "But I want you to stay away from him."

"Why exactly should she do that, Ryan?" Nick cuts in. "Are you afraid I'll steal her like I did with the others?"

My frown deepens and my curiosity piques when I hear him. What others? What are they talking about?

Ryan glares at Nick for a moment longer before taking my hand and leading me away.

"Come on, babe." He mutters. "I'll walk you home."

I try to keep up with his long strides as he pulls me along, but something makes me turn around.

Nick's eyes are on me when I meet his gaze, dark and brooding.

"See you around, Adriana." His voice floats over to me as Ryan pulls me away.

I know I will be seeing him again.