IT HAD BEEN ONE WEEK since the social worker came to visit at Floyd Manor. And in that time, not much had changed, although things did not quite go back to the way they were before.
-"That's MINE!"
-"Give it BACK!"
-"STO-PPP-UH!"
-"YOU STOP!"
-"NICO!!!" -
A long sigh. A long blink. And the wheels of the chair skidded over carpet as he pushed back from the desk, his head peeking around the door to the computer room.
"Guys, play nice. And share," he adjusted his glasses with a pointed look. He started to roll forward again but backed up when he realized— "And hey, get off the pool table? No, put the cue ball down. It's not a toy."
Disgruntled murmurs of 'sorry's and 'fine's chorused as he slid back up to the desk, and the sounds of childish chaos resumed not long afterwards. But Nico didn't mind it. He could tune them out for the most part, and he was still getting his work done. Honestly, he preferred it this way. Having them all in one space made it easier to keep an eye on everyone. It felt safer that way.
Mama never did go back to her room— at least not for good. She slept in there, most nights. But she'd become quite taken with the living room, where she spent most of the mornings, afternoons, and evenings sipping the same glass and watching the same show. Thus leaving, the entirety of the first floor— the kitchen, dining room, and the foyer a minefield of eggshells in shark infested waters, all times of the day.
Food was prepared quickly and quietly, and meals were brought back down to the basement with haste. Nights consisted of tip-toes, and hushed voices, and soft pitter-patters up the stairs. No stomping. Not ever. But generally, she didn't bother them, and they didn't bother her. This was the new normal, not too different from the old.
Nico's Motorola RAZR turned in tiny circles as it vibrated on the desk beside the mousepad, sending periodic jitters of buzzing through the wooden surface. He paused to save his essay, satisfied with his seventeen-hundred words, and pleased to be down one more assignment.
Both his friends and his advisor had criticized him for the workload he'd insisted upon when he'd signed up for both summer, spring and fall classes. The goal was to graduate early, get into law school, pass the Bar sooner than later, and join the firm. That was the plan. He and Dad had laid it out together, and Nico was feeling more on track than ever.
His brows drew together at the 'UNKNOWN CALLER' which displayed on the small screen. He answered the phone with an air of skepticism.
"Hello?"
-"Hello. Good afternoon. I'm looking to speak with a Mr...," a deep voice hesitated on the other end, "um.. Nicolai Floyd?"
"This is he...," Nico got up from his seat to push the door up the rest of the way, effectively drowning out the sounds of his siblings playing in the room over, "May I ask who's calling?"
"Yes, I'm with uh... General Collections Agency Collections, and I'm calling to ask you about your outstanding debt..."
Nico paused for a beat. He didn't have any debt? Between his scholarships, and the rest of his tuition paid out of pocket, he didn't even have any loans.
"My— a debt?" he cringed, blinking as he scoffed in disbelief, "I'm sorry, what agency did you say this was? Who are you with?"
"Uh... General Collections, Collections Agencies... uh, Incorporated?"
YOU ARE READING
Before You Go | A Prequel
Fiksi UmumNineteen-year old Nico Floyd has the world on his shoulders. After his freshman year of college is brought to a devastating halt by the death of his father, Nico is left picking up the pieces of what remains in his childhood home of Heavensport Isla...
