Rhenna

Thirty-Three

                       About an hour later I was piling into the suburban with everyone else.

"You can keep the car for another day". Danilea said from the back. "I'm sure Elin doesnt want to walk the distance between our houses. Besides my mom wont need it tomorrow".

"K. Thanks".

Nick dropped everyone off before we headed to his place. By the time we reached his house I was exhausted. I basically stumbled up the sidewalk and thought the front door.

Yara was in the living room when we came in. She twisted around on the couch and smiled at us. "Hi boys".

"Hay mum".

Her smile grew when she met my gaze. "Back again, huh?"

I nodded.

"You can help yourself to anything in the house dear".

I thanked her then followed Nick to his bedroom.

"Dont mind my mom". He suddenly spoke up. "She gets excited whenever I have new friends over".

"She seems nice".

He let me into his room.

"You sure you dont want me on the couch or something?" I asked.

"My mum works second shift tomorrow so she's gonna be up for a while".

He got out the sleeping bag and set it up. He was just about to lie down when I said. "You can sleep in your bed. I'll take the floor".

He glanced over at me. "Naha you get the bed".

Before I could protest he flopped down onto the bedding,and curled himself up in the sleeping bag.

What an annoying prick.

I set my crutches at the end of the bed and sat down on the mattress.

"Can I ask you something Nick?"

A soft grunt was the only response I got.

"If you get all this money stealing then... why dont you buy a bigger house?"

The question had been bugging me since the first night I slept here. Or failed sleeping here.

I heard Nick roll over, but I didnt look down at him.

"My mum doesnt know about my 'work'. She thinks I'm a mechanic at a local shop".

"Oh".

"Besides...I need the money for something else".

I didnt want to pry but I was curious. "Like what?"

A few minutes of silence passed between us. Just when I thought he wouldnt answer, or that maybe he fell asleep. He spoke up. "Bail money for my dad".

So his dad's in prison.

I laid down.

"Flip the lamp switch would you?" Nick inquired.

I flipped onto my side and clicked off the lamp. The room fell into darkness.

"Night Elin". Nick whispered.

I pulled his blankets over me. "Night Nick". They smelled surprisingly good. Like detergent and cologne. It was a fresh kind of scent.

I think I was out in less then twenty minutes after that.

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I was a little disoriented when I woke the next morning. I was lying in a strange room, by myself, with a half fogged mind. It wasnt until I remembered last night that I calmed down.