Nicole

Chapter: 18

Nicole sat beside Nathan who had the copy of Lord of Shadows opened in his lap. Behind her, Isabelle leaned on the headrest of the couch, scrolling through her phone. She often showed Nicole something she found interesting and though Nicole didn't let anything distract her while she was studying, she spared them a glance. She would've studied in her room but she wanted to be beside Nathan.

Derek had taken Axel outside for a ride around. Nicole felt pity for her brother but he didn't know how big of a favor he was doing Nathan. By the time both of them were back, the three of them remained in the same position they had been in for the past three hours. Nathan hadn't looked up from his book and Nicole was surprised Izzy's phone hadn't died.

Axel sighed tiredly and slumped on the couch while Derek's gaze immediately fell on Nathan. Nicole noticed and looked up from her biology book to give him the don't-you-dare-come-near-him look. He ignored her though, coming behind Nathan and looking at him overhead. Izzy made a sound and moved from behind Nicole to in front of her and down on the floor, leaning against Nicole's hanging leg.

"What're ya readin'?" Derek asked from behind him. Nathan looked up, startled as if he hadn't noticed him come. Nicole didn't blame him.

"The sequel to Lady Midnight," he merely answered and returned his gaze to the book. Nicole's eyes traveled up to Derek although he avoided her gaze.

"Ah, and what's it about?" Derek asked. Every time he used that tone to talk, Nicole's blood boiled hotter than a fiery sea.

"It's about what happens after Lady Midnight," Nicole said, sparing Nathan from answering. He threw her a look of gratitude that he often did whenever she spoke for him in front of Derek. "You know what a sequel is, don't you?"

Derek smiled at her although he refrained from saying anything in front of Axel or Isabelle. Axel noticed the tension between them and walked toward them.

"Hey, Derek, you gonna eat your ice cream?" Axel asked, moving his head between the two of them. Derek looked at Axel but then walked away to the kitchen. It was Nicole's turn to look at Axel in gratitude. He gently tapped her shoulder in acknowledgment before heading off to his couch again.

Nicole knew Derek was going to come back at Nathan again so she decided to put her biology book aside. She turned to look at Nathan. "Do you want to go to a restaurant?"

Nathan looked sideways at her and then back at the book. Then, he nodded, "Okay."

"I'm in too!" Izzy said, scrambling up from the floor and running to her room. Nicole and Nathan looked expectantly at Axel who returned their gaze with a weary look.

He sighed, "Oh, screw it, I'm in." He got up from the couch, grabbing the car keys again. Nicole stood up and went upstairs to her room.

She changed into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, zipping up her boots from the side. She grabbed her jacket and ran downstairs. Izzy was already down there, wearing a white and black shirt, tucked into her skirt and long boots. Nathan hadn't bothered getting ready while Axel was already ready.

As the four of them moved toward the door, Derek came out of the kitchen. Nicole cursed silently as he stared at the four of them.

"Y'all goin' s'mewhere?" he asked, knowing how much it annoyed Nicole but she suppressed it, fisting her hands at her side.

"Just the restaurant," Axel muttered carefully.

"Oh, cool, I'll come," Derek said, moving forward to the door but Nicole spoke up.

"I think you should stay here and finish that ice cream," she said, pointing to the vanilla cone in his hand.

"I'll eat it on the way," he moved but Nicole stepped to the side to block his path again. She had her back toward her siblings so they couldn't see the deadly glare she was giving him.

"I don't think that would be wise," Nicole muttered and Derek narrowed his eyes at her. Before she knew it, they were both in a staring contest and Nicole had forgotten her siblings for a moment, even Nathan. The anger she felt at him was because he injured her hand. No one had ever dared to do that and even when they did, she was sure to make them pay. She wasn't about to stop now.

She would've launched at him if Nathan hadn't grabbed her arm and pulled her back, snapping her back to her senses. Nicole shook her head as the four of them made their way outside and walked toward the car.

"What was that all about?" Isabelle asked in wonder and Nicole sighed.

"Nothing," she replied although she knew that neither of her siblings bought it. They all sat in the car. Axel in the driver's seat; Nicole in the passenger's seat; and Izzy and Nathan in the back.

"Where should we go?" Axel asked as he started driving. She noticed how there were light bags under his eyes. He hadn't bothered with his hair either which was tousled and damp. Even his clothes were wrinkled. He was tired but she suspected there was more reason to it than a day out with Derek.

"McDonald's," Izzy said immediately and Nathan made a face.

"No way, I want pizza."

"We could have Mexican," Axel suggested.

"Speak for yourself, I'm with Nathan," Nicole told him with spite that she often heard siblings use with each other. And then, all four of them had broken out into an argument. Their voices tangled together and each of them spoke louder and louder to make their decision audible. It didn't work though. There was only a chorus of shouts in the car.

"Oh, come on, who doesn't like—"

"No way, I am not eating Mexican—"

"I want pizza!"

The argument continued and now, not only were they fighting over what food they should eat but they were also insulting each other. It was the only chaos Nicole found comfort in. It surprised her because chaos was usually unwelcomed to her mind, and there had never been an exception. Now there was.

"You're a dickhead!"

"Look who's talking—"

"The first snake I saw—"

"Really? I thought you saw one in the mirror every day—"

"Hey!"

"I'm only—"

Then, a sound cut off all their voices.

"Could you find a way to let me down slowly? A little sympathy I hope you can show me." Axel had accidentally turned on the radio and the song had interrupted their argument as their heads snapped toward it and they stared at it blankly.

Then, they all burst out laughing.

Nicole had never felt lighter in her whole life. Instead of the chaos now, there was a chorus of laughter and the air felt lighter. Nicole laughed so hard that her eyes started watering and tears of joy left her eyes. For a moment, she forgot about everything in the world. School, Derek, her injured hand, her mother; all the problems seemed to fade away and Nicole felt as if this was all there was. Her siblings, her friends. Nothing else mattered.

"Let's take pizza," Axel said once the laughter subsided. Nathan's arms shot up in the air in victory while Izzy rolled her eyes, smiling nonetheless. Nicole shrugged as Axel drove to Dominos.