A Little Too Late

Chapter 13

"We'll see about that," she said as she moved the laptop back into her lap and began working again.

"Is there anything we can do besides say sorry?" Victor asked.

"No," She mumbled as she flipped through some papers, pulled one out and began typing again.

They looked at one another and frowned. They tried asking her some more questions, but she just kept on working.

"Hey Pookie," Sean said as he tapped her shoulder a few hours later.

"Yeah?" She asked refusing to look up from her laptop.

"How are you feeling?" He asked softly.

"Fine," She mumbled as she kept working. "Real good, want to go home."

"Everything looks good," he said smiling. "I think we can leave; we can make sure you still take it easy."

"Finally," She sighed as she saved her work. "I'm ready to get out of here. I'd like to go back to my place but I know that's not possible."

They noticed that she was quiet on the way home and once they pulled up to the mansion she was very hesitant to enter.

"What's wrong?" Jess asked.

"Nothing," She said as she sighed and entered the mansion.

"I put your room downstairs so it would be easier on you," Gabe said as he opened the door and let her walk through. "If you want to change anything just let me know."

"Start cussing again for one thing," She mumbled as she walked into the room. "You're like a freaking stepford robot right now, fucking creepy."

Gabe burst out laughing as she rolled her eyes. "You fucking got it Trouble. Now any changes to goddamn room you want made?"

"No," She shook her head. "It's not like I'm moving in permanently or anything."

"Fine," he shook his head, "but if you want or need anything just fucking let me know, got it?" She nodded and he left leaving just her and Jess in the room. The room was done in a country rustic theme and as much as Nicole didn't want to admit, she really did like how Gabe pulled it off. She was into so many different things, she never know how to decorate things but yet somehow he managed to pull things together. She always chuckled when her playlist would go from heavy hardcore rock to C-Pop or K-Pop to classical to hip hop. Her mind and crafts were the same way, she was all over the place and her house showed it to so she really wasn't sure what to expect when she allowed Gabe to decorate and yet he managed to surprise her. At her place each room was a different theme and yet it worked. This room was done in a country rustic theme and yet she spotted a gothic mirror and little anime knickknacks on the shelf and various things that normally wouldn't work but they did. She was once again amazed at Gabriel Coleman's magic touch at decorating.

"Hey," Jess said as she dropped her bag on the bed. "Talk to me."

Nicole shut the door and sat on the bed. She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, "I just...it's hard to be here."

"Why?" Jess asked. "Because of the past?"

"Yeah," Nicole admitted. "It's just hard to be here knowing their past relationships and this is where they promised to stay in contact and they broke that."

"I get it," Jess nodded. "They did break their promise to us but the way I see it, they were also manipulated by those bitches and they are trying to make it up to us now."

"That's true," Nicole nodded. "But still—"

"It's hard to get past the hurt, I know," Jess sighed, "but they have been changing their ways."

Nicole yawned, "Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it," she mumbled as she laid down.

"Why don't you get some sleep?" Jess chuckled. "We can talk later."

She covered her up and left the room. "How is she?" Sean asked as Jessica entered the living room.

"Asleep," Jess said as she sat on the couch. "So what's your plan?"

"What do you mean?" Luke asked.

"You know damn well what I mean," Jess rolled her eyes.

"We have no idea," Victor shook his head. "Saying sorry doesn't do anything. We are trying to show her but it doesn't seem to be working."

"It's not going to work overnight," Jess rolled her eyes again. "Just keep doing it. I mean it is progress that she is here."

"True," Silas nodded. "And she did say we were going to be in the twin's lives."

"As uncles," Sean mumbled and Jess looked at him suspiciously.

"Did you really think you could fill the role of father after what you did to us? Seriously Sean?" She asked in disbelief. "Just be glad you are able to be their uncles at this point."