Demons From the Past novel Chapter 14

"I wanted to tell you all my secrets, but you became one of them instead."

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|Nate|

"Are you going to tell me what happened between you and Verena?" Marcus asked me, his voice cautious.

I gave him an annoyed scowl but didn't answer.

"So, what did you do this time?" He prodded.

"What makes you think I did something?" I snapped in irritation.

Marcus gave me a weary look, "The fact that Verena hasn't been here to train with you for over three days, I mean she'd practically started living here in our apartment. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the peace and quiet, I just can't deal with your sulking."

"I'm not sulking."

"Then why do you look like you have a chainsaw shoved up your arse?"

I just gave him a glare. I was this close to knocking his teeth out. What annoyed me the most was the fact that Marcus was right. I'd been completely miserable since Verena had left that day. I'd never felt this way before, I felt like someone was constantly plunging a knife through my chest.

I wanted to go to her and tell her how I felt but at the same time I wanted to stay as far away from her as possible. When she was around I felt like a different person. I wanted to be a different person around her. I was terrified of the things she made me feel. I'd bottled away my emotions for so long that I'd forgotten how to deal with them and now this girl had launched herself into my life, forcing me to open up, forcing me to feel.

"She was the one who couldn't keep her nose out of my business!" I said angrily.

"So what?" Marcus countered, "You're so deluded Nate, you fail to look at things beyond yourself. You don't let anyone in, you think you're sheltering others from yourself, doing them a favor by staying away, but really you're just too much of a coward to open up to anyone. The minute someone starts to break through the imaginary barriers you've built around yourself you freak out! You push everyone away." He paused to catch his breath, before I could say anything else to argue he spoke up again, "Verena cares about you, as messed up as that sounds Nate, the girl actually cares for you. I can see it in her eyes. That's the only reason she broke into your room that day, because that was the only way she could get to know you. You're just too blind to see it. Or maybe you just don't want to accept it?" He challenged.

He let out an exasperated sigh when I didn't respond, "No offense buddy, but you're a complete douche all the time. And suddenly this girl enters your life and you're laughing and cracking jokes, you're getting out of the apartment and going out without me forcing you to."

I kept my eyes trained on the ground, refusing to meet his gaze. After he failed to get a response from me he continued, "You know what the funny thing is Nate? You care for her too. You have feelings for Verena and you can't deny them, that's the reason you're so miserable right now. Not seeing her is driving you insane but your huge ego would rather make you suffer than permit you to go up to her and apologize."

"Maybe you should just stay out of my life Marcus, I never asked for your opinion!" I spat out.

"Maybe you should realize that people who care for you are worth more than you let them in on. She deserves to know you, the real you. Stop being a coward!" He snapped.

"What if she can't handle it? What if she runs away once she knows the real me?" I spoke quietly, finally saying what I'd been thinking.

"Why do you always expect the worst from people?" He asked.

I sighed softly before giving him a sad smile,

"Because that's all people ever give me, their worst."

He shook his head sadly, "That maybe so, but as far as I know Verena didn't run away when she read those articles, you were the one who dragged her out. She wanted to help you but you were the one who hurt her."

I winced a little when I recalled that incident, no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get Verena's face out of my head, her pained expression when I'd said those hurtful things to her.

"I'm not going to tell you what to do Nate, you can make your own decisions. Just please make the right ones this time." With that being said he walked away, leaving me alone with my disordered thoughts.

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I let out a shaky breath as I stood in front of the daunting college building, I watched silently as the students streamed out. They all looked so carefree, so blithe.

I felt a jab of longing pierce through my heart. My life had once been that way, I had everything going for me until. . .

I shook my head rapidly, trying to rid myself of those dark thoughts. I was here for a reason, I needed to find Verena.

My eyes spotted a familiar figure walking obliviously towards me.

Skylar.

My eyebrows knit together in confusion when I didn't see Verena beside her. I approached her slowly, I could see her eyes widen in shock when she saw me

"Hey." I greeted her awkwardly.

After she'd recovered from her initial shock Skylar gave me a hostile look and started walking away from me.

"Look, I just want to know where Verena is." I said, swiftly stepping in front of her and blocking her way.

"Why do you care?" Skylar snapped angrily.

"I really need to speak to her." I answered, my voice pleading.

She gave me a pointed look, "She hasn't been coming to college since the past three days, if that's what you want to know. She doesn't leave her room no matter how much I try, she's a complete wreck. She wouldn't tell me anything but I have a feeling it has something to do with you, she's been this way ever since she came back from training with you that day, she wouldn't stop crying."

I winced at her words. "You're right it is my fault, that's why I need to see her. I know she's been staying with you since that incident with that man breaking into her apartment. If you'd just tell me where you live so I can go and talk to her. "

"What makes you think I'd help you?" Skylar demanded, "You need to stay away from my friend, if you care about her you'd stay away."

I shook my head sadly, "You're probably right. But the thing is, I can't stay away from her. No matter how hard I try I just can't." I exhaled softly, "Just please help me out here, I need to see her. Please Skylar."

She eyed me seriously for a while but finally her shoulders sagged in defeat. Maybe it was because she took pity on me or maybe she just wanted to get rid of me but the next thing I knew she was jotting down her address on a piece of paper and handing it to me.

"I'll be home in an hour, that's all you get, not a minute more." She stated firmly.

"What is he doing here?"Aiden's sharp voice broke in.He eyed me with clear hostility.

My face drew into a scowl, for some reason I couldn't stand Aiden. Something about the guy was off and I didn't like that he was so close to Verena. As much as I wanted stay here and punch him in the face a couple of times, I had much more important things to do right now.

"Nothing, he's just leaving." Skylar cut in quickly. I noticed that her voice wasn't nearly as hostile as before.

"Thank you." I said sincerely, giving the girl a nod as I turned to walk away.

"Also, I will break your face if you ever hurt her again." She said seriously, her eyes conveying her threat.

I gave Skylar a small smile before heading for my truck.

At least one of her friends has my approval.

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*Play the song now and continue reading*

|Verena|

I sniffed as I stared blankly at the television screen, I had absolutely no idea what I was watching.

Not that I cared.

My thoughts were ultimately consumed by the person who was responsible for my current state. Nate Cohen. I felt like I was going through a bad breakup, which was strange, considering the fact that Nate and I had never been together and I that had only known him for a few short weeks.

I hated feeling so miserable. I hated him for making me feel this way.

"Damn you Nate Cohen, damn you for being the way you are! I wish I never knew you!" I croaked out miserably.

I knew I shouldn't have invaded his privacy the way I did but I only did it because I cared about him. I shuddered as I recalled how menacing he'd looked when he'd caught me in his room.

'You've done nothing but cause problems for me! The minute you stepped into my life you turned everything upside down. Why can't you just leave me the hell alone?'

'God, I wish I never saved you that day. Should've just let that man kill you, my life would've been easier then.'

My eyes welled up with tears as I remembered his harsh words.

I'm never going to see him again, everything will go back to normal then.

I was angry at myself for being so pathetic, I was angry at Nate for treating me that way.

It was all my fault.

Why did I have to start having feelings for a man who clearly felt nothing for me?