Chapter 7.1 Savior

Donghyuck's Pov

We were at Chenle's sister, Claire's, house. It was huge, bigger than what he had originally explained to us. It looked simple on the outside, white cement with normal looking windows, but the inside was different. White marble tile was sprawled all over, with expensive looking furniture, and sparkling tables. The living room was filled with two massive white couches, and a large flatscreen tv. The kitchen had a swinging door, and the stairs were carpeted with a clean red looking shade.

It was over all an amazing house, but enough about that.

~

We all sat around the living room enjoying each other's company and playing video games. I sat in the corner away from the loud mess of Chenle and Renjun yelling at each other in Chinese, and the rest laughing loudly.

A figure sat next to me and started to talk, "Donghyuck, I have a question. Don't get mad if I ask, yeah?" She looked at me softly.

"Shoot." I said while glancing over at the tv, before glancing over at her again.

"That day when we were all at the cafe, was that Chan dude Nikki's boyfriend?" She asked quietly.

"It's complicated, why do you ask?" I turned to look at her with a confused stare.

"Well it's just that my friend, from my previous school is friends with people from our school, and I've seen a girl with Chan- claiming to be his girlfriend? I was confused and I just wanted to ask you if you knew something about it?" She said really quietly and quickly.

"I don't know. You'd have to ask them yourself. It's not my business to tell." I mumbled trying not to stutter as it would send the wrong message.

"Oh I just thought that you would have known something, you know since you both are close,"

"Yeah. I don't- we tend to stay away from that part of each others lives,"

"I heard Logan the other day talking to her, he was saying all this crap about me replacing her and etc. It just seemed off." She paused slightly before continuing, "She seems like a smart girl, I wouldn't want her to fall off of the tracks because of one lowlife." She patted my knee before returning to Marks side and laughing along with whatever stupid joke he made.

We all knew it.

We knew about the truth about Chan and Nikki's relationship, obviously. But we also knew that Nikki wasn't so fond of Nina, we weren't going to tell her anything, unless Nikki does.

We also knew about Logan.

He used to be a part of our group until he just disappeared one day. He came back a couple months later when Nikki had left for Australia and something had seemed to just change. He was more sporadic, and angry all the time. We tried being close but he would hurt us if we tried to get close. Of course we never told her. She heard the rumors but she doesn't nor will she ever believe it until she sees it.

He went to therapy, got better, but was always known as the mental guy, therefore he never really made friends aside from his soccer mates. We never thought he would get close to Nikki, but I guess it doesn't make a difference now.

-

As the night continued on we all got into our mini sleeping bags and got ready to sleep.

1 hour

2 hours

3 hours

'Fuck I can't sleep!'

I thought in my head as I was watching the stars shine brightly. I got up and grabbed my phone walking out into the backyard. After a while my phone buzzed silently as I looked at the time and caller Id i was confused as to why she was calling so late,

"Hello?" I quietly asked, scared to make any rash noises.

"Hi" Her angelic voice, laced with a sad tone, said.

"What's wrong? It's 2 in the morning, shouldn't you be asleep now?" I asked. My concern grew as she was in an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people.

"Can you pick me up?" Her voice started to become smaller and smaller as she continued talking.

"What happened?" I asked softly.

"I just-wanna talk- with you, I guess"

"I'll be there," I quickly said without a doubt in my mind, and quickly hung up.

I grabbed my things quietly, careful not to disturb anyone and walk home, but a voice stopped me as I was already out the doors.

"Where are you going Hyuck?" His voice asked as he groggily faced me.

"Home?" I said, well more like asked.

"It's 2am on a Saturday and it's a vacation, what do you mean going home?" He exclaimed, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Look Mark you wouldn't understand-"

"Then tell me the truth! Where are you going?" He said in an annoyed hushed tone.

"I'm going to talk to Nikki," I quietly stated as I put my head down.

"What? She's in Busan? Did she come back?" Without a word I sprinted off to my house and hurriedly got what I needed.

Along with my dad's old truck.

Nikki's Pov

The bumpy road was all that kept us busy in the old truck. I had seen it before, it used to belong to his father. Before he had gotten his new Mercedes. He loved it dearly saying that all of his kids would learn to drive in this thing. Every word coming true, well for the most part.

"Why did you want to go home?" He asked after silence.

"It was beautiful. The picture-perfect winter-wonderland." I chuckled as the sign for Seoul appeared. I reached for his free hand that was sitting in his lap, alone.

"I know." I forgot he was once a part of the soccer team. Before he had an ankle injury, and wasn't allowed to play anymore.

"Right. Sorry," I mumbled as I squeezed his hand a little to hopefully make up for the slight tension.

"It's fine," he chuckled as he turned the radio on lowly, humming to 'Malibu Nights' (« Stan Lany »)

"Do you miss our baby days?" I asked out if the blue as I laughed a bit.

"What do you mean?" He looked over slightly before making a turn and driving again.

"When we were younger. When things weren't so- like this, I guess." His let go of my hand and placed it on my thigh. It felt relaxing, safe almost.

"I missed it when we all were happy, before our parents had problems- when we all were together. Before you left for Australia." He sighed sharply before turning once again, into the all too familiar streets.

My head turned towards the window- seeing the beautiful city lights covered by a light layer of fluffy, white snow. Shops belonging to small families open, with welcoming lights and gifts. The little decorations and the jingle bells ringing. The kids singing carols in the street, together.

"I remember when we were little, singing carols like that." I laughed as he smiled at the memory.

"We thought we would all be singers one day."

"But now we're going to be a mix of athletes, painters, psychologists, business owners, and lawyers." I smiled sadly at the bitter ending that we all knew were bound to happen.

"Not being able to see each other everyday anymore." The stop sign turned red and he turned to grab my hand once again.

They fit together perfectly, almost meant to be together. "It sucks that it's already predetermined. Not really having a say, but being together for the last 8-12 years was amazing."

"Truly," I whispered as I got lost in his hopeless stare at my hand.

"It's not like we'll all disappear after graduation. Well still be friends. Just in different places." He said, almost as if it wasn't a big deal.

"I'll miss you the most," I said smiling out the window.

"Me too," He said his gaze drifting to me slightly before looking back at the side window

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

The cars behind us honked as the lights turned green, and the other cars in front of us sped away. As he put both of his hands back on the wheel we sped off to the direction of the sad, lonely neighborhood. My hand felt lonely now that his warm touch was gone.

"When did you learn how to drive?" I asked him quickly, noticing that he couldn't drive a couple months ago.

"Technically- never," he chuckled loudly as he increased the pedal, and of gas.

"Oh my god. You crackhead!!" I yelled as he stepped on the gas pedal and drove us off into the night.

We were parked in my driveway, debating whether or not to say something or just leave with the silence.

"Do you wanna have a movie night?" I turned and asked him spontaneously.

"I'd love too," he smiled as we both got out of the car and towards the door.

"Hello!" I called out, knowing that my brothers would be awake at this time, and my mom would be at the office drowning herself in business.

"Nikki?" Taeyong said as he stuck his head out of the living room doors

"What? Who?" Yuta then followed and stuck his head out as well,

"Oh my god my beloved sister what are you doing here?" Jungwoo said as he rushed over to give me a hug.

"Oh hey Hyuck. Why are you here?" He asked as he trapped me into a hug.

"I just helped her find her way," he smiled. Once he finally let go, and smiled brightly up at Hyuck, "Wanna join us for a movie night?"

I looked up at him with slight hope as he also looked down at me. "I'd love too," he smiled as Jungwoo dragged us towards the couch.

"Just like before,"