Flashback (Nicole's POV)

Weeks Ago

You lean against the wall while dozens of people talk, drink and dance around you. You pay them no mind of course your attention is focused on the couch in the center of the room. More importantly the two people sitting on couch, John and Miranda. John is your best friend and has been since childhood. You know everything about each other well mostly everything. Miranda on the other hand irritates you more then anything. She seems to be flawless without even trying and John is so hung up on her. To her it's a game it's fun she doesn't see how he feels. You see how he looks at her and you saw how he looked at all the girls before her. Yet no matter what you do or say he doesn't look at you that way.

John had invited you to this party saying it would be fun. You agreed instantly hoping maybe to be able to be alone with him. Yet as soon as you walked in he started to look around as soon as you saw her you realized why he had come. To see her....always her. You were angry and well now your so many beers in, god knows how many, you don't know what your feeling.

Guys keeping coming up to you to try and flirt but you can't summon the energy to care. Most leave after a few minutes of you barely acknowledging them. You just can't pull your attention away from John and Miranda. They are just talking now but every so often he will touch her in some small way, on the arm or shoulder sometimes even the hand. She doesn't seem to notice at all just smiling as they talk. She doesn't appreciate him not like you do it bothers you more and more.

"Why don't you just talk to him?" someone says next you. You turn quickly surprised by the comment. Standing next to you is a tall muscular guy kinda hot actually if you weren't in such a bad mood. You know he has been talking to you for like five minutes but you have barely responded. Your surprised he stuck around then you remember he asked you a question.

You try and recover quickly but between your booze addled mind and being put on the spot all you get out is, "What?"

He looks at you with a smile forming on his face, "John, I know him from school you keep staring at him. If you stare at him any harder he might burst into flames. Your the girl he's always hanging out with, Nicole right? Why don't you tell him?"

You look at him with annoyance he doesn't know anything, "Tell him what? I don't know what your talking about." He just stares with an amused look on his face yet his eyes just seem thoughtful. He's not believing anything your saying and you can't help but talk, "It wouldn't work i know it." He just continues to stare still amused. You finally sigh, "I'm scared it will ruin everything...ok" Why are you telling him this. It must be the beer otherwise you would have told him to fuck off.

He nods, before talking "There we are! Let me get some water I think you have had enough ****. Then we will talk about. Wait here."

As he's walking away you call out to him, "Why do you care? I don't know you!"

He looks at you the amused look is gone from his face. He glances to the couch where Miranda and John sit. His eyes rest on Miranda for a moment and you see a familiar look on his face once that you know is often on your face when you see John. He swallows before speaking, "Let's say out goals may align. Also my name's Tom so now you know me."