Author's note:

Warning: strong language, drinking

-

Brian Murphy wasn't an unreasonable person. Moreover, he had a lot of understanding for all sorts of nonsense and that was the main reason for employing his friends, instead of looking for employees through the ads, as any normal businessman. He thought it would make them even closer and, apart from working place, give them a place to gather. But today, Brian regretted his carefree way of thinking.

Aline and Daniel were standing in the doorway, out of the world wasted, hysterically laughing at the door, hitting the wall.

„This isn't happening," he said, shaking his head and not wanting to believe what he was looking at. One look at Daniel was enough to figure out an outcome of his yesterday's late-night conversation with Nikki. Frankly, Brian started to fear about the dark-skinned woman's condition.

„We're a little drunk," Aline said and they both laughed again.

„Your shift starts in ten minutes. How are you going to work in this state?" Brian asked Daniel angrily. „Where have you been?"

Daniel was about to answer the questions but then his gaze fell on the picture at the opposite side of the store and suddenly, he was speechless, completely frozen in place.

„Sofia..." he muttered quietly, causing Brian to threw back his head and groan loudly.

„Please, go to the back room," he pleaded his friend but Daniel didn't listen to him. Instead, he went forward, approaching the picture. His hand went lightly over Sofia's face.

„I miss you!"

In the same second, Brian was next to him, grabbing him roughly.

„I swear to God, if you don't go to the back room right away, I'll take the picture down and you'll never see it again," he hissed.

The other man paid his attention to Brian and finally complied, disappearing behind the door leading to the back room.

Brian returned to Aline who was already asleep at the counter and dragged her behind one of the shelves. For the first time, he was grateful for not having many costumes today. He was sure that none of his customers wanted to see a drunken girl, sleeping at the counter.

„Give me your phone," he ordered.

Aline was having a trouble with finding a little device but soon she gave it to her friend. Brian found Maia's number and immediately pressed the green key. It took a few moments and then a familiar click was heard.

Maia: „You really have the courage to call me after everything that happened last night?"

Brian was surprised at the sharp and slightly hurt voice on the other side of the line. The Australian's answer caught him off guard.

Brian: „Umm...it's Brian...Aline's friend. Umm...I didn't know you weren't on good terms. Otherwise, I wouldn't call you."

Maia: (worried) „Has something happened?"

Brian: „Aline is in my store. She came along with Daniel and both of them are destroyed by alcohol. I was hoping you'd come to get her."

There was a complete silence for several short moments.

Maia: (angry) „Why don't you tell her to call her yesterday's dance partner? She looked very happy in his arms."

Before Brian had managed to respond to Maia's last sentence, the Australian interrupted the call, obviously not wanting to help Aline. He was frustrated, knowing he had no other choice but to call Diego. His friend had a day off but Brian needed him to take over the store because Daniel was unable to work. He called the man, explaining everything and then went to the back room.

Daniel was sitting on the chair, his head stuck in his hands.

„I suppose your conversation with Nikki didn't go well," he said, gaining Daniel's attention.

The other man raised his head tiredly.

„Nikki? What about Nikki?" he asked indifferently.

Brian was fuming. He was furious.

„I'm so angry now that I could hit you right in the face. You idiot!" he hissed, knowing Daniel probably wouldn't remember anything.

Diego appeared half an hour later, his head pushing through the entrance of the back room.

„Hey...how is it going? I saw Aline in front. She's about to fall down," he asked and Brian just shrugged.

„See it for yourself. I'm sorry to call you on your day off but I have no choice. I need someone to take over the store until I take them home."

Diego let out a somewhat high-pitched sound and rubbed the back of his neck.

„No one can help him. He'll destroy himself," he commented on Daniel's condition.

The other man decided not to comment Diego's statement but asked him to help him transfer Aline and Daniel to his car. He was grateful for today's decision to actually take the car. They placed both intoxicated friends in the back seat, arranged all the details about the store and then Brian took them home to sleep.

He was scared of Daniel's parents' reaction and was hoping they were both still at work. On the other hand, he was worried about the possibility of Daniel losing his keys and leaving him alone in the house.

Soon, they found themselves in the tall man's neighborhood and Brian stopped the car in front of his house. Unfortunately, Daniel's mother Felicia was in the garden, taking care of flowers. The only sober man got out of the car and Felicia looked up. Just one glance at Brian and she immediately knew what was going on. With tired steps, she approached her son's friend.

„Again?" she asked.

He nodded firmly, making her sigh.

„As much as I've loved Sofia, sometimes I wish they had never met. Now he wouldn't go through all this."

„I don't know what to say to you. If he himself doesn't want to change, no one else can help him," Brian replied.

Worried mother asked him to help her with Daniel and just as they went toward the car, the car door opened and Daniel pulled himself out.

„I'm fine!" he yelled, raising his arms. „See. I can walk by myself."

Brian just crossed his arms and Felicia was looking at her son in disapproval. The tall man staggered by them, disappearing behind the door of the house. Felicia faced the car again, narrowing her eyes.

„There's somebody else in the car," she stated.

„Aline," Brian replied. „It looks like they both spent the entire morning in the bar together. I don't really know what happened but she isn't in much better condition than Dan."

The smaller woman put her palm on Brian's chek, smiling slightly.

„You're such a good friend to both of them. Thank you," she said. Brian smiled uncomfortably, greeting Daniel's mother and then taking Aline home. He had no trouble with getting her in the bed and decided to left a note on her dresser. He had to go back to the store.

As soon as he arrived and opened the door, he saw a familiar female figure at the counter. Nikki. The woman looked up at him, smiling sadly. Brian immediately hugged her.

„I heard what happened. I'm sorry. This is somehow my fault," she apologized, not taking her arms off his shoulder. Her friend's hug was very comforting.

„No," he replied immediately. „It's not your fault. Are you okay?"

Nikki just lowered her gaze to the ground, taking a shaky breath. The man looked at the picture of Sofia. He couldn't forget how everything fell apart after her death. And he knew how unfair was to blame Sofia but he couldn't help it.

Nikki followed his gaze but as soon as she saw the picture, her gaze was on the ground again. Diego was looking at them from the door of the back room. The dark-skinned man approached Nikki, putting his hand on her shoulder. She looked up.

„Your heart won't be broken forever," he said, a slight smile creeping on his face. „Dan is a jerk. Not always but it seems like Sofia's death had damaged him on an emotional level. I feel sorry for all these girls who would do anything for his attention. And I'm sorry you became one of them."

The writer widened her eyes, looking at Diego in shock. Brian wasn't so surprised.

„You know?" she asked and Diego just nodded.

„I think we all figured it by now but no one dares to ask anything. It's not hard to guess. You're the first person who managed to break through Dan's walls. And definitely, the first person who lured a sincere smile on his face. I can't tell you how long I haven't seen him smiling. I'm not going to ask what happened. It's obvious you haven't got the reaction you wanted but Nikki...it's not all that bad. So I'm saying once more...your heart won't be broken forever."

Nikki's emotions were wandering all over the place. She was wondering how can she still keep her composure. She hugged Diego, thanking him for his honesty and support. He was happy to hug her back.

„Are you going to the beach with us?" Brian asked.

„I think I'll skip. I'm not good company today."

He raised both of his eyebrows questionably, silently telling her she wasn't right but Nikki didn't want to give up.

„Tell Marina I'm grateful she came to my place yesterday. And have fun."

The man stopped her.

„Just one question. What about Isaiah?"

She squinted her eyes. In all this turmoil, she completely forgot about the waiter with whom she went on a few dates.

„I told him everything and kinda broke up with him."

Both of her friends had their mouths wide open in surprise.

„Really?" Diego asked.

„Yeah. He realized what was going on and it wouldn't be fair to him if I continued to see him. It's better this way. Everyone going their separate ways before more people get their feeling hurt."

Diego and Brian both nodded in sympathy and gave up on trying to persuade her to go with them. They knew she has to be alone now and try to digest everything that happened. Nikki greeted them and then returned to her hotel, locking herself in her room. She pulled a few DVDs from already forgotten movie box, in hope that they'll help her to forget about Daniel and have a peaceful sleep tonight.

Sleeping wasn't a big problem. She was so exhausted that she fell asleep on the half of the first movie.

-

„Have you sent a message to Dan?" Marina asked as she was walking with Brian to the beach. After yesterday's short hanging out with the male half of their squad, the Latina was hoping they would all come today. She, Diego and Brian also informed David about yesterday's events to warn him to be careful with his words.

„Yes, I have. He said he would come. Do you know he didn't come to work today either?"

Marina sighed, rubbing her temple. In the last two days, after Nikki had admitted everything to him, Daniel's behavior became even worse. He became totally unbearable and she didn't know whom to ask for help. Nikki and her positive influence were her last hope but that was a total fiasco.

„I'll talk to him," she said briefly. Both friends saw a group of people on the sand from the distance. As soon as he noticed the dark-skinned figure with a curly black hair, Brian's smile became wider and Marina just fled forward.

„Nikki!" she called cheerfully, kneeling and hugging her friend. Nikki was surprised but she immediately returned the hug. „I'm so glad to see you. Are you okay?"

The woman just smiled.

„Much better. Finally got some sleep.", she replied.

Aline and David squeezed her hand sympathetically. Nikki was really grateful for all the support she had received. They were Daniel's friends who could easily turn against her and yet, nobody did it. All five of them were standing by her side.

They resumed the conversation. Marina was staring at her watch. She was worried about Daniel because the tall man was already supposed to be here. Daniel seemed to have heard it. Just at that moment, his figure appeared at the horizon. Marina looked at Nikki, who became tense. It was understandable. She would be surprised if Nikki would welcome Daniel with a wide smile.

As he was approaching, the rest of them could see he was carrying a guitar in one hand and in the other a glass bottle of some alcohol.

„Un-fucking-believable!" Brian hissed.

Daniel came in close proximity and make eye contact with everyone, except Nikki.

„Hey..." he greeted his friends, immediately sitting down to Aline. He offered her a bottle of whiskey but the Latina just frowned, raising her hands in defense.

„I'm never drinking with you...ever again!"

Daniel raised an eyebrow, shrugging and then opened still closed bottle.

„I've never been so sick before. Really don't understand how can you survive this?" Aline complained but the tall man just shrugged again, looking briefly at Nikki, who was silent. The tension could be cut off with a knife.

„Suit yourself!" Daniel replied indifferently and then took a long sip, straight from the bottle. That made Marina react.

„Give me that bottle!" she said firmly, grabbing the piece of glass from his hands.

„Hey..."

„Dan, we have to talk."

„Give me my drink back and let go. There's nothing to talk about," he replied in an alarming way, trying to catch the bottle but the Latina got up, moving out of his reach.

„Have you even sobered since yesterday? And why didn't you come to work? Brian needs only one reason to fire you."

„Marina..." Daniel hissed warningly, gritting his teeth. He got up, trying to approach her but she held her ground, turning the bottle upside down and savoring the heavy drink on the white sand. Daniel was enraged, while the others were just looking at her in astonishment. Brian immediately stood beside her. Nikki was also ready to meddle in.

„Listen to me..." Marina started calmly but her voice seemed to be Daniel's trigger.

„No, you listen to me!" he shouted furiously, squeezing his hands into fists. His face was green in anger. „I said I don't want to talk because there's nothing to talk about, is it? Instead of my behavior, why don't we rather talk about the fact that all of you knew what was going on? Everybody, except me. Nobody told me she was falling for me," he said, shaking with anger, his hand pointing at Nikki. „And now you're angry with me because, when I found out, I haven't reacted as you wanted and I've supposedly hurt her feelings. Well...deal with it. I did what I did...there's no need to mention it anymore. And me...if I want to drink, I'll drink. I don't give a flying fuck what any of you thinks about it."

„Dan...don't be such a dick," Marina said quietly, making him even angrier.

„I'm a dick and I'm going to stay a dick! I want to be a dick!" he shouted. „You go and comfort Nikki...it looks like she needs you more than I do."

„Marina...leave him alone," Brian said, in order to calm down the situation.

Daniel took an empty bottle of whiskey and threw it into the sea. There was a loud splash in the place where the glass touched the surface.

„Guys...calm the fuck down. We have all the attention on the beach," Aline said quietly, looking around.

„I don't give a damn...I've got enough of your crap," Daniel hissed and then faced Nikki. He looked straight into her eyes, smiling sarcastically. „Shouldn't you be with Isaiah? If you're with him, I really don't understand why you turned to me."

After his last monologue, the tall man turned and started to walk away.

„I knew coming here was a bad idea. I never listen to myself. Never," he murmured.

„Where are you going?" Marina yelled.

„To the hell!"

Daniel soon disappeared from sight and Marina let out a breath she was holding. Brian put his hands on her shoulders.

„I told you to leave him alone," he said but Marina immediately shook his hand off, staring at him angrily.

„If you had been a little bit...just a little bit better friend to him, maybe we wouldn't have such a big problem now. I'm trying to solve it...at least, I'm not sitting with my arms crossed, like you."

Brian narrowed his eyes. The Latina obviously wanted to cause a negative reaction.

„What do you want me to do?" he asked defensively.

„Fucking react!" she shouted, which caused him to start yelling at her until the dark-skinned hands appeared between them.

„Stop! Just...stop! It was enough!" Nikki ordered in a shaking voice, separating them. They both immediately stopped.

„I'm sorry!" Marina apologized instantly, as Nikki sniffled, trying to stop a new rush of tears. To speak the truth, she was sick of crying.

„Please...can we go somewhere else? I can't be here anymore."

Aline was holding her around her shoulders.

„I think it's time to go for a drink," David said, and the group began to move away from the beach, to the bar. Nikki was hoping for some good music and a waiter to have a lot of hard stuff behind the counter.

They reached the bar in silence, each of them lost in his own thoughts. As soon as they entered, Nikki's ears filled with Enrique and Serayah's voice in the song Don't You Need Somebody. Her face immediately lit up at the dancing music. All six of them approached the counter. The bar was still half-empty since it was only 9:00 p.m. The guys ordered a beer, Nikki and Marina tequila and Aline decided to settle with a juice for tonight.

„Aline? You really won't drink?" Diego asked, teasing her. The Latina squinted her eyes in his direction.

„I still feel sick so lay off," she replied.

Diego laughed loudly, raising his hands in defense but David interrupted them.

„Guys...look at this," he said, pointing out in the direction of leather chairs, not taking his gaze off of what he saw.

The rest of them turned around. In that exact moment, Nikki's breath got caught, her hand covering her mouth.

Daniel was in some blonde's arms, his head stuck in her neck. She was running her hand all over his shoulders, grabbing his shirt. Everyone knew very well what was going on and nobody needed a verbal explanation.

Marina grabbed Nikki's hand, clenching it firmly.

„What the fuck?"

„Un-fucking-believable. It's not even half an hour since he left the beach. How the hell he had already managed to find this one?" Brian asked.

Nikki closed her eyes, not wanting to look at this for even a second anymore. Her stomach turned upside-down, nausea hitting her hard. She swallowed accumulating saliva and finally faced the truth.

Daniel Linares was a jerk. The biggest of all.    

-

Author's note:

As I promised, this chapter is a bit bumpy too with a strong language. But it's also a chapter causing a lot of reactions among my friends.

I remember my boyfriend telling how Daniel lost his loved one and how he has a right to do whatever he wants. He thinks Nikki has overstepped the lines and now she has no reason to complain.

However, my best friend and a few other female friends are on her side. They think Daniel is a dick for acting like that toward a woman.

I would love to hear your opinions. Whose side are you on? Who is right and who is wrong?

If you liked this chapter, please don't forget to vote, answer my questions and comment. I would love to see what you guys think.

Next update: Friday!

Stay true to yourself and have a nice day!