A few days later I sat on my bed putting my hair into a braid, it was more like attempting to do so, when I heard a knock on my door. I put the hair tie in and I went to answer the door. Nick was there and grabbed my hand. He ran out of the house dragging me behind, without even saying a word.
"Nick, it's too cold to be outside."
"You're wearing a turtleneck. You'll be fine."
Did he not remember how cold I got compared to him? I wasn't wearing shoes.
"You didn't even give me a chance to close the door," I yelled, nearly stumbling over my feet to keep up with him.
"It doesn't matter."
"It doesn't matter? Do you know how cold the house is going to get? Where in the world are you taking me?"
"Rachel, I've talked to a few people and they've agreed to meet with you."
"Now, Nick? Without any warning? Without letting me plan on what I'm going to say? How many are going to be-"
I stopped talking when we got behind the big building. There weren't a few people, but rather around just short of a hundred. Fear took over me quickly.
"I can't talk to them," I squeaked.
"What? I had to do some major work to get them here and for what, nothing?"
"I have public speaking problems. Like right now I feel like I'm going to throw up then have a major stress freak out. Or the other way around so either way you put it I'm not going out there."
"Oh, come on, are you serious?"
I just looked at him thinking that I was going to fall over from my shaking knees. I was so going to throw up in front of a big portion of my school peers. Now if that isn't scarring I don't know what was.
"Look, Rachel, you said it yourself, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. I know you have the bravery to do this, but you have to control that fear of yours' before you can accomplish anything."
I bit my bottom lip, playing with my fingers. I thought my insides were going to explode from anxiety. I couldn't take my eyes off the crowd of students waiting for someone to talk. Yup I was going to be revisiting my food.
"Look, I'll be right here if you do need me."
"I do need you though. Stand next to me. I need your support," I pleaded.
"Rachel, you can do this. Go up in front of them and talk. It's not like talking is a problem area for you."
I went to go glare at him, but Nick pushed me in front of the crowd causing me to stumble a little. That was when every single person turned to stare at me with about two hundred eyes on me and I forgot how to breathe. It seemed that the entire world had been silenced. I had never felt so afraid or like I was going to throw up ever in my life. Not a single thought came to my mind as I stood in front of my peers. I was such a failure.
I was shaking from head to toe and it wasn't just from the fear. Not having a coat or shoes, I was sure I was going to get sick. I had never more in my life except this moment wished so hard to have wings. To have the wings I have always wanted to just fly away from my problems and awkwardness.
"Um well, Nick and I well umm..."
I turned to look at Nick who wasn't being very helpful. I kept biting my lip now fearing it would bleed.
"Rachel and I found out some information about this thing they call a marriage. We would like to stop and get rid of it, but we need your help on making a plan."
Nick took my hand. Some of the horror started to melt away with him right here with me. Feeling like a child next to him, I wanted to hide in his arms. Nick's fingers separated my own just to interlace and lock our hands together tightly.
"We'll need to work together to get the job done. We can't just do this by ourselves or they'll win. This is our lives, not theirs and because of that we need to stand up against them. Yet, not let them know what we're up too at the same time so we win with a big surprise." To my own astonishment it was me talking.
On our way home Nick was very quiet. I kept turning to glance over at him to get some response out of him, yet he never even glimpsed at me. He even took back his hand a while ago. I felt like a disappointment.
"Nick-"
"After we get back I'll put the heat on higher for you," Nick said, his voice had lost its patience; all was spoken in one tone still not looking at me.
"Thank you, but are you alright?"
Nick took a step into the house so he was blocking the doorway then spun to look at me. "You were supposed to take charge, Rachel."
"You're angry at me for my stage fright."
"No."
"You are. I can't believe you. Ah, at times I could just ah! You make me so angry," I growled.
I pushed him aside and went into my room. I sat on my bed and tried to think of something to help us. I wrote in the space under 'Ways to freedom' I wrote big messy letters and underlined several times what I wrote.
Draw attention to us!
This was written under one other idea…
22
Nick
It was early February and it hadn't
