House Of Wax•Nick Jones

11- Next Chapter

   4 Years Later  

   I stood in the shower as the steamy water washed down my body, the water now warming up my once cold body. Sighing, I ran my fingers through my hair to spread the conditioner into it, making it smooth as the water rinsed over it. As most people would say, I'm living good. I have a son on the way and a husband along with an amazing work situation, including my household. 

The truth is, I'm really not. Yes, I'm happy that Nick and I were able to make a family of our own but the images and losses haven't faded, especially Wade and Dalton's deaths. 

Nick has been nothing but understanding towards me and has even moved us closer to the cemetery where they both are buried. People would say I need to let go but I can't, I have tried therapy and every other possible mechanism to get rid of the grief and sadness I have inside me, yet nothing worked.

My thoughts were interrupted as someone knocked on the door, making me quickly snap my head up before turning the water off and getting out of the shower with some soap bubbles still lying on my body until I wrapped a towel around my body, my belly poking out perfectly as I did so. 

I walked towards the door and opened it to reveal Nick without a shirt and in sweats. "Why are you up so late, baby?", he mutters out as he rubs his eyes, revealing to me that he had most likely just woken up. I shrug and walked out past him, scrunching my hair as I did so, trying to ignore the question as to why I was up.

He continued to stand at the bathroom door before reaching in and turning the light off, then walking back over to our bed where I sat, shaking slightly. The bed dipped, telling me he had sat down behind me until I felt arms wrap around waist, hand resting on my big belly that carried our son. I felt my eyes burn as he rested his head on my back, breathing gently as I let the tears fall. 

"I miss them.. so much.", I mumble out, making him nod slowly against my back. He removed his arms and moved to the headboard, pulling me with him where I then rested my head against his chest as I cried quietly. Slowly and gently, he flattened my hair down as he let me cry into his arms. 

•

I gripped the suitcase handle as I stood in front of our car, trying to keep myself from backing out. I haven't left the house in such a long time because I was always afraid to do things without the boys but now, I know I can do it. 

Sighing, I pulled the suitcase to the trunk and tossed it in before shutting it and walking over to the passenger side door, where I then hopped in. This was it. I was finally gonna see Carly after a long time of not seeing her, I wonder what she looks like now. 

Nick came over to the driver's side and hopped in with a smile as he held the keys in his hand tightly, "You ready?", he asks, shutting his door. I nod which makes him put the keys in and start the car, sending warmth all around us as the heat surrounds us. 

"Let's go.", I say quietly while staring out the window at the snowy ground, trying to keep Dalton and Wade from my thoughts. I've been having nightmares again and Nick doesn't know, even though I swore if I did then I would tell him. I just can't. It stresses me out which means the baby gets upset and it's just a lot to handle.

I wanna think that the nightmares will fade again like they did before for 2 years but it hasn't happened yet. Pushing those thoughts away, I stared out the window while Nick held my hand in his, playing with our wedding ring every now and then as he stared at the road ahead of us. 

'Smells Like Teen Spirit' turned on suddenly and I smiled, turning to look at Nick with a goofy look on my face before reaching up a bit with defiant struggle before finally turning it up a bit, nodding my head to it as I thought of the times Paige and I vibed to this song even if it wasn't her favorite genre of music, it was still great back then.

•

"Okay, but he is so cute though.", I argue with Nick as I sip on some sprite that I had just gotten from a gas station that Nick had stopped by because obviously this kid is a sprite baby. "He isn't cute. He's a good looking man but he is--"

I hold my finger up, "Johnny Depp never ages, baby. He's a handsome fella.", I say to him with a sassy look on my face, making him chuckle before taking a chip out of his bag and popping it into his mouth as we stop at a red light. "If you had a chance to date him, would you?", he asks me.

I laugh and shake my head, "No. But he is attractive. Just because I think he is cute doesn't mean--"

"You little liar!", he exclaims with a chuckle. 

I roll my eyes and let my head fall back against the slightly reclined seat, "It would never happen you don't gotta worry about it, love.", I tell him and he nods, "I know."

 My phone began ringing, resulting in me answering slowly, "Hello?"

"Hey, when are you guys gonna be here?", Carly asks from the other side, causing me to look at the time to see it was 7 at night. "Don't know.. maybe 8 or 9? Nick is really slow..", I tell her quietly making her giggle from the otherside.

"Okay, I'll be waiting. Love you both, drive safe."

"We will, bye."

I hang up and set the phone down in my lap before letting the seat fall back more, breathing in slowly before falling asleep.