Autumn Leaves (Watty Awards 2013)(Editing)

Chapter 5

Nicki tried to get ready as quietly as she could. She realized that showering would wake up Lisa and Zach, so she washed her face and ran some baby powder through her hair to absorb any oil, a trick that she had learned from her grandmother. She gently braided her hair to the left side of her head, and let a few pieces fall loose to frame her face. It didn't look so bad. But her red, swollen face was an issue.

She ran back into the kitchen and rummaged through Lisa's fridge. She and Zach were health nuts. Nicki was bound to find something that could help her. She grabbed a cucumber out of the crisper drawer and cut it into thin circles. She brought them over to the couch, laid down, and placed them all over her face, paying special attention to her eyes.

A beep snapped her out of her slumber. She cursed loudly. God damnit. She'd fallen asleep. Her phone vibrated.

"Give me five minutes. Sorry!" Nicki tossed her phone on the couch and bolted up the stairs, two at a time.

She had no makeup. She tiptoed into Lisa's room and into their adjoining bathroom. In the first drawer in the vanity she found concealer, mascara, and blush. It was much less than she usually used, but it would have to do. She tried to cover up the dark circles underneath her eyes. Suprisingly, that was the only battle scar she had after drinking so much the night before. She took one last look at herself in the mirror. She was still in last night's clothes.

Nicki ran out of the apartment. She saw a black BMW idling in the street. Was that him? She realized she had no idea what kind of car he drove. The tinted passenger window rolled down, revealing Tyler in the driver's seat.

She started walking over. He got out of the car and went around to open her door for her. No one had ever done that. Before getting in, she glanced at him. He was looking down at her, with those brown eyes of his. Those flawless brown eyes...

"Thank you. For getting the door, I mean," Nicki said, clearing her throat. Her voice still sounded like a stranger's.

He closed the door gently and walked back around to the driver's side. Nicki was all too aware of him sitting only inches away from her.

* * * * * * * * *

Tyler pulled into the parking lot.

"Really? IHOP? This is where the big bad Bruins go for breakfast?" Nicki said with a chuckle.

"Don't laugh. It's my favorite. It's the only place that lets me eat as many pancakes as I want," he said. It was true.

She was still smiling at him. He saw that she was still in her clothes from yesterday. The darkness under her eyes sold her out, she clearly had not slept at all. Despite the lack of sleep, there was a glow radiating from her skin, and her cheeks were perfectly flushed. She was a pretty girl. Not what Tyler was used to, but pretty. He usually leaned more towards bleach blondes with boobs bigger than their heads. That was what he liked. But there was something about Nicki that drew him in. Maybe it was her soft, chocolate brown eyes. He noticed the way the sun lit them up whenever it shined in her face.

"Well then let's get some friggen pancakes. I'm starving," she said as she opened her door and got out of the car.

Tyler pushed his thoughts away and joined her. For a Sunday morning, IHOP was pretty deserted. They walked up to the hostess.

"Two please," he said politely.

The girl picked up two menus and said, "Right this way."

They got seated and ordered drinks. Tyler got a coffee, Nicki an orange juice. She picked up her menu and started looking it over. He watched a few pieces of hair fall lightly in front of her face as she moved her head. She looked up at him.