"Nick."
"Oh, just please tell me this isn't just another dream," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, with a hand trembling in debate of whether or not it was safe to touch her face without her disappearing.
"It isn't, Nick."
I hesitantly stepped outside with her just watching me. Just to pause for the longest moment of my entire life as Rachel stood watching my every move looking like how I felt. I couldn't take it anymore, I wanted to grab her tightly to me in hopes of never having to let go. My hands were literally shaking at my sides.
"Can I kiss you?"
Rachel bit on her bottom lip and nodded her head. Leaning forward I gently touched her lips to mine, too afraid to move in case she changed her mind. I needed to know that she was really there. She kissed back as her arms wrapped around me with just as much desperation as I had for her. We exchanged a few words between kisses.
"Nick, I'm so sorry I left."
"No, you had every right to leave. It was so my fault, just don't leave me again, promise."
"I promise I'll never leave you again."
"I'll never touch alcohol again."
"Nick."
"Yes, Rachel."
"I want to get rid of the marriage myself."
I took hold of her shoulders so that I could stare straight into her eyes as rain fell all around us, to see if she was serious, she was. Rachel was trembling a little as she tried to gain back her breath which was seen in the air of little puffs of smoke, but her eyes told me how serious she was.
"What?"
"You said it yourself that you thought it would be easy and that they hired a moron. I mean, come on, the government forcing high school students to marry as a social experiment? Well, who better to help a cause than the people it involves? If you want something done right, you must do it yourself. Please, Nick, I'm really going to need your support on this."
I stepped closer to Rachel and took her hands in mine, gazing deep into her green eyes. "If it'll make you happy again, I'll do whatever it takes."
"It will."
Rachel lightly kissed me on the lips and went to her room. She left me there in the rain debating to myself. Looking at the door from outside trying to see through the heavy droplets I pushed back wet hair, taking a gulp of nothingness. Did I even want to get rid of my marriage with Rachel?
19
Rachel
It was great being home again, well our version of home. I could see from the bed that my wedding ring had just sat on my dresser to collect dust. I got up and picked it up to look at it. As I was rolling my fingers around the ring, I remembered that one day in school.
"Mrs. March where is your ring?" Ms. Dixon screamed, while slamming the book down on my desk, causing the whole class to jump.
"I forgot it in my room this morning and I think I might have lost it. Also, I am not Mrs. March. I am Rachel Olivia Hertz."
The class clapped. I was still upset with all that had happened with Nick. I just wanted to curl up and sleep instead of being in class.
"I'll give you just a warning for now, but if you don't wear your ring or if you give me that attitude again you'll be looking at a detention."
She was overreacting and I knew it then as I knew it now. I was also afraid of walking by Nick's room because of that one night. It still haunts me as I could feel every touch from Nick as he forced himself on me. I still couldn't believe when I came home that I had let Nick touch me, let alone kiss me! Why had I let him kiss me?
I heard a knock on my door which made me jump a foot in the air. I threw the ring back onto the dresser back to its spot.
"Sorry, Rach, but someone's on the phone for you." Nick was standing in my doorway since he opened my door. I strolled past him as I went to get the phone. It was Holly.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine Holly."
I rolled my eyes. I was a little sick of this question. My friends were protective over me like I was with them, in that sense we were very good friends.
"He didn't try anything when you got home did he?"
"No. He was too happy to see me home."
Holly didn't need to know about the mini make-out session. Nick was in the other room, looking much cleaner than he was when I got home. I turned so I wouldn't face him while I was talking on the phone.
"Rachel, were you serious about getting rid of the marriages?"
"Yeah I just have to get a few ideas. I really think if we all work together we could get some sort of an idea that will work."
"I guess. It would be great to go home to my family. God, I can't believe I just said that."
"Yeah, I know. So I've gotta go so bye."
"Okay bye, Rachel."
I walked out of the kitchen and into the other room.
"She was checking up on you wasn't she?" Nick asked softly, staring at the ground while he sat on the couch.
"She's my friend, Nick and she worries about me at
