When We Met: The asylum

Part 19

        "Steven." I said not sure of what to do. Me and him had a falling out after I didn't move in with him when he moved out. "Munchkin." His entire demeanor changed, his puffed out chest caved in, his dark dense eyes became light and soft. He ran to me and wrapped me in a hug. "I'm so sorry." He whispered as he hugged me. "I understand." I whispered back.

        I don't think the guys knew that he was my brother because Colby got upset and Sam and Corey just stared in disbelief. Jake stood up and walked up to us. "Jake nice to meet you." Jake extended his hand for Steven to shake. "You know him?" My brother questioned. "Yeah. This is Jake. That is Colby, next to him is Sam, next to him is Corey." I said pointing to the boys.

       "They are my friends." I said smiling. Steven shook Jake's hand and walked up to the others. "Guys this is my other brother Steven." I explained and they all shook his hand. Colby's mood slowly changed back to normal.

         "So your whole family calls you Munchkin?" Jake asked. I nodded in response, "One time she ate 3 whole boxes with 50 munchkins in each. 150 total munchkins when she was 3. Never got sick, she just ate em all no problem. So when we are happy with her we call her Munchkin and when we are upset with her we call her muncher." Steven explained and I went to go find Kev outside.

           "Kev?" I asked seeing him outside sitting on the curb crying. I sat next to him and pulled him into a hug. "She's healthy and happy... And with dad." I said softly. "You were supposed to grow up like me and Steven. This wasn't supposed to happen to you." He cried. "Yes it was." I said "No!" He yelled.

         "What I went through made me who I am. I'm stronger, smarter, quicker, careful, I stand up for what I believe in, and more kind because of everything that happened to me. Yeah it sucks to be living it but in the end it made me a better version of myself because I refused to become like them." I said hugging him tighter to let him know that I will be okay.

        "Nik? Where did you go?" Steven called. "Over here." I yelled back. "Kevin?" He asked sitting on the other side of Kev. "She was supposed to get our childhood." Kev started crying again. "If I was supposed to, then I would have gotten it. All that matters is that we are here together right now. With all of the love we have for each other and those around us." I said giving a comforting smile to my brothers.

         "When did you become so wise?" Kev asked with a light chuckle. "When you looked away." I laughed. "Let's go back inside see if they still need us then get something to eat. Up to you if the guys come." I said standing up and brushing my pants off. "I want to get to know them." Steven said. "They are a lot of fun." Kev said with a laugh. I nodded and we went back inside.

        They interviewed us a little more but after about half an hour I was done. The officer who was asking me questions gave me a post-it note with a number on it. "If you ever need anything... call. It's my number." He said holding onto the hand that had to paper in it. "Thank you." I nodded and turned around with wide eyes.

       The guys looked at me and smiled trying to hold their laughs and jokes in. Once we got outside the jokes came one after the other. "5 people in 2 days." Jake said making me tilt my head in confusion.
"Lobby lady, Colby, the waiter at the diner, the guy on our hotel floor, and now a police officer." Jake clarified.

      "The waiter? The guy on our hotel floor?" I asked. "Oh yeah. Remember that guy that was walking by when we walked back in after dinner? He left you a note. And the waiter was eyeing you all night!" Jake said. Colby was silent, but I saw Steven and Kev pulling him farther from the group. I tried my best to listen.

      "She's happy with you." Kev said with a grin. "She's not gonna pay attention to anyone else." I heard Steven say after some time of not being able to hear. "Just don't pull a Mason." Kev said and I ran up to him.

       "Don't mention he-who-must-not-be-named." I said glaring at my brothers. "Oh? Who's Mason?" Sam teased. "You didn't tell them about Mason?" Steven asked. "Nope." I answered. "He's Nicole's first real boyfriend." Kev said. "Only real boyfriend." Steven added. "Mark didn't count in my book." Steven said patting my back.

        "He was good in the beginning." I defended. "He was terrible." Kev said laughing. "He was not!" I said crossing my arms. "It just didn't work out, good thing too. I wouldn't want him to see me this past year." I added. "That's it?" Kev asked wiggling his eyebrows.

          "And other reasons..." I admitted while my brothers laughed. "Am I missing something?" Corey asked. "She's talking about you guys. If they never ended things she would've never met y'all." Steven said laughing.

"Alright enough of this talk lets get food!" I said hoping to change the subject. "John's?" Steven asked "please!" Kev begged. "There is literally no begging needed. I will always be up for John's." I said chuckling. "Can I drive?" I asked turning to Sam. "Yeah. You know where we are going." He nodded and handed me the keys.