So... guys, this is my second story, i got the idea when i'm nursing my headache a little while ago. it just came to my mind... hope you'll like it too )

Disclaimer: I don't own the song "Because of you" by Kelly Clarkson

Chapter 1

“No” I broke the contact of the man who had told her that he love her. Stupid guy, thought that I’ll let him in. I left him gawking at me, as if he can’t believe that I just walked away. Stupid guy, why are all men stupid?

I’m Nellie Richards. Oh, I’m not that bad, it’s just that I don’t want the word LOVE again. I can live without it. I’ve live 5 years without feeling anything in a man. That’s a great accomplishment to me. 5 years ago, I fell in love. Hard. But that guy didn’t appreciated that feeling, he said. “Sorry, but I don’t feel the same, I usedyou to get my ex-girlfriend, I thought you knew that.” I swallowed my pride when I told him I love him. But he just stomped my heart, break it to pieces, made it hard and cold, you name it. From that day on, I promised myself, “Never again.” Never again will she let a guy take hold of her heart.

I’m about to graduate in my college, this is my last year. I practically crawled to be able to graduate. The only thing that helped me is my scholarship and the small fund my parents left me when they died 8 years ago in a car accident. It didn’t hurt that much now when I remember them. At least they help her even when they’re not here anymore.

Looking at the sky, I imagine my mom and dad, looking at me. Probably, they’re not satisfied of what’s going on with my life. “Hey Mom, Dad, Finally, I’ll graduate… I just wish you were here… I miss you so much…”

The sun’s already down and she had to go to her work. She sings three times a week in a bar not far from her home. The pay’s fair so she can’t be absent or late even once. She walked fast. She should have been at work now if that guy didn’t prolong their conversation. She looked at the park when she saw cherry blossoms on the tree.

She touched the ring that she put on a pendant. 5 years ago, the same ring left her finger into a chain on her neck. The ring always reminds her of the fateful day she started believing that love isn’t true.

A reminder? Or you just want to have a piece of him?

She shook her head. Looking at the bar, she preceded to go to her work.

She sat on her place on the stage. She doesn’t like people looking at her but she got used to it. It’s part of the job.

Looking at girls who sat on rich men’s laps, she bit her lip.

“Did you think I’ll love a poor girl like you? Dream on, girl. Rich guys like me belongs to rich girls. You’re not one of them.”

It had been 5 years and those words still stings. Never again will she fall in love to a guy, especially a rich one. She heard the intro of the song “Because of You” by Kelly Clarkson. She smiled, the song suits her. She looked at her audience, when her eyes connected with blue ones. She remembered a guy with blue eyes the same ones he had.

“You know, I would like to drown on those blue eyes of your.”

Hearing the right beat, she started singing.

Because of you

Kelly Clarkson

I will not make the same mistakes that you did

I will not let myself cause my heart so much misery

I will not break the way you did

You fell so hard

I've learned the hard way, to never let it get that far

Because of you

I never stray too far from the sidewalk

Because of you

I learned to play on the safe side

So I don't get hurt

Because of you

I find it hard to trust

Not only me, but everyone around me

Because of you

I am afraid

I lose my way

And it's not too long before you point it out

I cannot cry

Because I know that's weakness in your eyes

I'm forced to fake, a smile, a laugh

Every day of my life

My heart can't possibly break

When it wasn't even whole to start with

Because of you

I never stray too far from the sidewalk

Because of you

I learned to play on the safe side

So I don't get hurt

Because of you

I find it hard to trust

Not only me, but everyone around me

Because of you

I am afraid

I watched you die

I heard you cry

Every night in your sleep

I was so young

You should have known better than to lean on me

You never thought of anyone else

You just saw your pain

And now I cry

In the middle of the night

For the same damn thing

Because of you

I never stray too far from the sidewalk

Because of you

I learned to play on the safe side

So I don't get hurt

Because of you

I tried my hardest just to forget everything

Because of you

I don't know how to let anyone else in

Because of you

I'm ashamed of my life because it's empty

Because of you

I am afraid

Because of you

Because of you

Her eyes began to blur. Yup, her life’s empty, yes she’s afraid. Yes she plays on the safe side so she’ll not be hurt and Yes she can’t trust anyone with her heart.

Just because of a guy named Jerry.

She stood up through the claps of the audience and began to gather her things. She’ll just have to tell to her boss that she’s not feeling okay. To hell with the pay, she’s used at not eating in a whole day, even three days in a row. She can’t sing anyway in that state.

“5 years and you’re still affected. Dammit, when will you forget that guy?” she scold at herself after she talked to her boss. She stepped outside and hurried home.

Then she felt fingers on her arm. She almost screamed when a voice spoke. “Is it me? Did I hurt you so much that day that you had been afraid to love? To trust?”

That voice, no this can’t be…. She turned to her back and saw the blue eyes in the bar.

The same blue eyes of the man who broke her heart 5 years ago.

“Jerry?”