The Search

Chapter 24

Day 7

Jade

Today is Saturday, the Saturday we all go to Alex's games. A whole day of basketball and I am ready for it.

Alex is pumped, basically jumping up and down making Lexi giggle. He picks her up, relieving my aching arms. She's a fussy baby today, I'm a little nervous bringing her to the games.

He tickles her and plays with her for a while letting me grab something to eat while she's distracted.

In the kitchen Colten is listening to music sketching in his notebook. He never lets us see what's inside, I don't mind as much as I did at first. I've just always been a very curious person.

Nikolai stands by on his phone eating some toast and I can't help but take a peak over his shoulder only to find him texting Derek. Again just curious, I didn't read anything.

Ollie runs into the kitchen with tears falling down his cheeks. "Oh my God, what happened Ollie?" I ask scaring Nikolai.

Nikolai silently curses placing the toast and his phone down and picks him up.

He's sniffs and tries to wipe all of it onto his shirt sleeve but I stop him and grab a Kleenex helping him wipe his face. Nikolai places him down on the counter and I hug him lightly rocking us from side to side. 

"Do you want to talk about it or do you just want to hug it out?" I ask.

"Talk and hug." He resounds chin trembling.

"Okay, take a couple deep breaths. I'll do it with you, ready?" I ask beginning to take deep breaths.

Once he's settled down a bit he takes one more deep breath and then begins to explain, "I spilt water.." he stutters a bit trying to speak,"I wrecked Sophie's papers."

"Oh sweetie." I say softly and pick him up heading towards the kitchen door, "let's go take a look."

Nikolai follows and we head up to Sophie's room where all the kids are staying at the moment. When we enter I notice right away the wet floor and wet papers littered all over the desk. It looks like he tried to dry it up with a towel, because it now lays on the chair.

I put him down beside the desk and look at the papers. It looks like the Essay she's been writing all week. Nikolai looks at me with wide eyes and gathers a bunch in his hands trying not to rip them.

You can see most of the words but some are smudged. As long as we're careful we can dry them out and try to make out the words later. It's good she writes dark and neatly.

Sophie enters the room and when she looks up utter terror crosses her features. She jogs forwards looking at all of her hard work and tears spring to her eyes.

I cringe waiting for a reaction. "I'm sorry Sophie." Ollie cries grabbing onto my shirt. "I'm really sorry."

She's frustrated and I can tell why but I know she will regret it later if she yells at Ollie now. Nikolai brings her into his side whispering something into her ear.

She nods, wipes away her tears and takes a deep breath, she kneels down beside Ollie. "Did you do it on purpose?"

He shakes his head right away, "no, I would never, ever."

"Then it was a mistake." Sophie says softly, "it's okay to make mistakes, I do all the time," she shrugs.

He immediately hugs her softly crying into her shoulder. I grab the papers Nikolai couldn't hold and we head to the door to give them a couple minutes alone.

I smile at her when she looks and I send her a wink as I close the door. God I'm so proud of her.

————-

In two hours we're at the school and Alex is warming up with all of his teammates. Lucas head bobs up and down with the music. "I don't think I've ever watched a sport in my life." He says laughing.

I hum, "it's fun, especially when your team is winning." I tease.

"Is he good?" Luca nods towards Alex who bends forward to stretch.

I shrug, "you'll have to wait and see."