Chapter 33

*Chapter 33
Clear View University*

**Today was tedious.** Classes were lifeless and lunch was dreadful. I looked down with annoyance at the parent permission slip in my hands. Apparently last minute Mr. Sawyer got a pass for the history class to go on a field trip today. He had given the permission slips to everybody on Wednesday when I, fortunately, was in Italy.

Since I wasn't here that day they called Silva to ask and of course he said yes. So here I was, allowed to skip classes with permission, well only the last 4 classes of the day.

Today was my first day back after the whole Italy thing. I still had a limp which I told people that I fell off the stairs and my shoulder was killing me from the bullet wound. Like I had thought, there was no pain Wednesday night because of the adrenaline but Thursday morning I almost died of pain.

It wasn't a new feeling but that didn't mean you got used to being shot. I had already swallowed 3 Advil's today but it was like nothing could stop the pain. My arm was in a sling because you know I fell off the stairs.

Nikolai was resting against his locker, causing me to stare at him. The truth is Nikolai is beyond gorgeous even if he looks roughed up and tired. Walked closer I punched his shoulder softly. He grinned before groaning. "Ugh, my head is killing me." I raise an eyebrow and rolled his eyes. "I can't remember what happened Sunday night and it is killing me! Never before have I blacked out."

Of course, I knew what happened that night but I can't tell him just yet. "Maybe you just drank a little too much?" He just nodded before wrapping his arm around me, causing me to groan in pain. "Fuck" he pulled his arm away with a guilty look on his face.

"Shit I am so sorry Tatia." I rolled my eyes at him but nodded and together we walked to the awaiting bus. "Come one, Sawyer is going to through a fit if we're not there when he gets there." This was also perfect timing because seconds after we reached the bus, so did Mr. Sawyer.

Like we both thought, he got so angry when all the students were not here yet. We had to wait another 5 minutes before everybody was here and we could get on the bus.

Museum of History and Research of Fire Power
"Students, listen!" Mr. Sawyer shouted. Everybody went silent and we listened to him. "Here are your passes." I looked at the plain white laminated tag with the Museum's name. "Nobody in this class has the same subject so go your own way. I want you all to go and study as well as research your topic. When you are done, walk around and do whatever you want. We meet back at the bus around 5 pm."

Mr. Sawyer gave us our passes, Nikolai and I started walking around looking for the Pearl Harbor exhibit and soon we found it. We took notes on Nikolai's phone about the things we didn't have and took photos which we will add to the project and show the class when we do the project presentation.

There wasn't much we didn't already have so we were done long before the rest of the class. Nikolai and I walked around the museum talking about everything and anything. "No-no-no the color orange just isn't my color. I can't imagine wearing it." Nikolai argued with me as I chuckled. We were talking about what colors fitted us the best. I said Nikolai would probably look good in orange and he just didn't think so.

"Well if you say so." He just shook his head and grinned. Suddenly the silence was broken when his stomach rumbled. His cheeks turned bright red and I choked on my laugh as to not embarrass him anymore then he already was. "Do you maybe want to go grab a bite?" He asked as if he wasn't the one starving.

I decided not to say anything but rather just nod.

If you walked out of the museum and across the road there was a small diner. Nikolai and I decided to go and get something to eat. It was almost 4 o'clock and we had finished the Pearl Harbor exhibit and had already explored the museum.

Nikolai took the honour of standing in the line to order while I got the table and took out my laptop from the backpack. While I waited for Nikolai I started typing the new information we got today and uploaded the photos to my laptop.

"You know, I just remembered something," Nikolai stated as he sat down on the other side of the table, placing out food and drinks on the table. "Yeah, what's that?" I asked, not stopping my process on the laptop.

"While I remember you being at the club Sunday, you were there with a guy." Raising my eyes at him I started getting nervous. "Really?" He nodded before pointing between us. "You were talking to me when your date arrived." I chuckled and nodded "Yeah I know that, but when we left to get a drink you were gone. I had guessed you left with one of the girls."

He sighed, "Great, just when I thought you might know something. Did you happen to get the name of the girl? I only remember bits and pieces but there are a lot of blank spots." I shook my head and said no. Why was he remembering, that stuff was supposed to be potent? If you were injected with it, there was supposed to be no way to remember anything.

Suddenly I remembered what Riley told me in Italy. He'd been giving that potion to his wife so that it couldn't be used against her if the time a raised. Shit, this wasn't good.

If his father had been giving it to him also that would explain why he was remembering what happened that night. This could lead him to remember everything if he didn't stop searching for answers.

"Well, why don't you stop looking for answers, they clearly give you headaches. And why bother, you had a fun night that's all." He nodded but then shook his head.
"I wish I could forget about it, but it feels like it’s important information. Like it's something I should know and not forget." There was this look in his eyes that made me worry. Has he already figured it out or was that look just because he thought I might know something.

"Well, I wish I could help you but I can't. Like I said Dimitri and I left you with the girls and that was the last time I saw you." We both left it there and ate our food that was now turning cold. Although I had a blank look on my face, a lot of things were running through my mind.

It wasn't time for him to find out just yet, I had to make sure he stopped this search. Either that or everything was going to come crashing down before it was time. Before I was ready.

After we ate I paid the bill before he could which caused him to give me a playful stink eye and not talk to me as we walked across the road to the bus where students were gathering.

On the ride home the kids talked about their project and when they would meet to put all the information together. Some of them even sounded excited, I guess they were either the geeks or the Historic lovers.

Nikolai and I sat in the back because we were the first to get on and he had claimed the whole back row for us. After I sat down he was on his own mission and laid on my lap causing me to glare at him. Since then he's been pouting and poking my stomach.

I flinched when he poked a sore spot on my stomach where his father had gotten a punch in. He frowned and tried to lift my shirt. Before he could get it up I pushed him off my lap. There was a grunt and everybody turned to stare at us in the back.

I smiled the sweetest most innocent smile while he gave me a blank look and shook his head before bursting out in laughter. This caused everybody in the bus to laugh with and ease the tension between us.

He sat back down on the seat but didn't lie down again. After the laughter stopped he looked at me. "Did you hurt your stomach falling from the stairs too?" The way he said it, made it sound like an accusation. "Or is that boyfriend of yours just abusive?" I frowned at him. "What are you trying to say?"

He had this fake grin on his face and shook his head in disappointment. "I'm saying you didn't fall off the stairs. I'm saying you're limping, have a banged up arm and obvious bruising on your stomach because you have an abusive boyfriend."

I glared at him and didn't say anything for a while, then broke the silence by saying, "First of all, Dimitri isn't my boyfriend and no he isn't abusive. I did fall off the stairs and if you are accusing me of lying, then I think you should find somewhere else to sit."

Nikolai angrily stood up and took the first open seat far away from me. The rest of the bus ride was silent and I couldn't wait to get home. He was such an asshole. Sure I lied to him but the fact that he would, without evidence blame something on Dimitri made me angry.

When the bus pulled into the schoolyard I was the last to get out. I hope that if I waited a while that Nikolai would have left and wouldn't bother me again. That hope came crashing down when I saw him lean against my car waiting for me.

"I'm sorry," Was his first words as I reached my car. "I didn't mean to place blame on that- that guy!" I didn't look up at him, so before I could get in the car he grabbed my arm and pulled me against him. "Tatia, I'm sorry. Please don't be angry." For the first time, I looked up at him.

"Nikolai, I fell off the stairs and the fact that you would accuse me of lying hurts a little." He looked down, guilt written all over his face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it." Without saying anything I tried to pull my arm out of his hold but he wouldn't have it.

The next thing I knew, I was pressed against my car and his lips were on mine. Oh fuck, this wasn't going to end well.

**Copyright © 2018 by Grace Write**