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Chapter 12

Nicky Upon entering the diner, the strong smell of oil and deep-fried food hit Nicky like a tidal wave. Maritza and Enzo were tucked away out of sight in a booth on the other side of the diner. He would have missed them if he didn't see Maritza waving him over and smiling wide while Enzo looked bored and sorta pissed off, probably because of Nicky cornering him outside. He slowly made his way over avoiding a stressed looking waitress who held a large tray of drinks. She moved around him, placing it down on a nearby table and serving the family their order. Nicky strutted over to the table trying to look confident so he couldn't give Enzo anything to comment on him with. "Come sit next to me!" Maritza patted the spot next to her, old torn leather that was flaking around the edges from years of sitting. Nicky could sympathise with the waitress as he was also on his feet for most of his shift except for when he was able to get a quick drink and a snack from the staff room (the cupboards were filled with stuff) before he was asked to serve table seven or something like that.

Nicky slipped into the seat and glanced out the window at his car, parked up outside the window. "How has your job been treating you, Enzo?" Nicky asked, trying to start a conversation with his old friend despite threatening talking to him a few moments ago. Enzo cracked his fingers eliciting a small popping sound as another waiter hurried past their table. He turned away from watching the cars drive past the diner on the darkened road smiling at Nicky and Maritza "good actually...I've been offered a promotion."

Maritza folded her hands neatly in her lap. She was interested in what her brother had done over the past few years since she had seen him...years. It made her feel guilty for not seeing him or calling him. Her thoughts stopped momentarily as they ordered their drinks. Nicky had ordered a cherry coke, She ordered a cream soda and Enzo ordered a rootbeer. The waitress serving them was tall and skinny. She had ginger hair, and a very pretty face . Nicky looked at Enzo who was rambling about his job and his boss "of course..." he looked at Nicky.

"Your dad lost that promotion didn't he?" ...there goes Nicky's willingness to be nice!

Enzo smirked as he saw Nicky's eyes twitching. Jay had lost his promotion when he retired. Mr Turnbull often said that Enzo was much better than Jay Roth when comparing the two. For example, Enzo would be called to his office for a meeting to present his newest article and he would be told "Jay Roth could never write this!". Nicky stared at him with daggers in his eyes. If looks could kill Enzo would be six feet under. His dad was always working hard and he wasn't about to let Enzo walk all over that! He gripped his drink hard, the cold glass stinging against his fingertips. He wanted to punch Enzo but he simply hummed and took a sip pretending that he didn't hear him. Enzo was trying to get under his skin, probably to pay back for what Nicky had said in the parking lot. Maritza shot Enzo a look that clearly read "be nice".

Nicky smirked and decided he should be allowed to say something back to Enzo and call it payback. "I see you inherited your stepmother's dickhead attitude". Enzo looked at Nicky wide-eyed. It had been a few years since their dad married Caroline Bell. She was a bitch to the kids behind Miguel's back for years until he divorced her, probably why Enzo was so sour whenever his family was brought up when they were younger, even now he had the same expression: nostrils flaring and his lips tightened like he swallowed a lemon. Nicky looked Enzo in the eyes pretending to seem apologetic. "Sorry...touchy subject?" He asked sarcastically Enzo looked like he was about to say something but Maritza held up her hand and sighed "Stop. It. Now". She sounded like his mother, Nicky rolled his eyes and huffed while Enzo crossed his arms and sulked like a five-year-old.

JAB

Nicky felt something hit his leg from under the table. He looked at Enzo who was sitting there smirking, clearly guilty...this son of a bitch just kicked him! What was he four?! Nicky was busy thinking about how he was about to kick Enzo's ass to New York that he didn't notice another waitress came up and pulled the pen from behind her ear, opening her notepad "hey folks what can I get yo-Nicky, Maritza...Enzo?" Nicky didn't have any time to think his legs move on his own, he stood up and pulled Trinity into a hug much like what he did with Maritza when she arrived at his apartment. She smelled like the diner mixed with sweet flowers.

"Trinity!" Maritza said as she embraced her friend after not seeing her in...years. She felt guilty again but shook it away. It reminded her how selfish she had been missing all those phone calls ignoring everything around her to be with a man that didnt even love her! One of her friends was babysitting Mel, it felt strange to be social probably because she had been wrapped around Thomas's finger their whole time together. Trinity let go of her and smiled wide "What are you all doing here?" She asked looking at Enzo who was hunched over in the corner he grunted out a "hi" not springing up to greet her like Nicky had done she looked at Maritza who looked ready to burst "Well, Nicky and I decided to come visit Raven Brooks and we saw Enzo! So we all decided to get drinks and catch up" Nicky nodded agreeing with the story Maritza guided Trinity to sit down next to her.

Trinity sat down next to Maritza tucking her hands under her legs. Her hair pulled back in a tight bun, she glanced at the clock watching the hands slowly move "I get off in about five minutes." She said repositioning her apron with a smirk on her lips Nicky's eyes scanned her. He finished his drink quickly, staring at her with his chocolate brown eyes. They were so broken and traumatised, Trinity tapped the table thinking, her bottom lip pushed out before standing up quickly "I need to go back but I will ask if I can go home early" she trudged back into the kitchen yelling something behind her shoulder like "I'll be back!" She opened the door and disappeared. Nicky looked at Enzo who looked away. Maritza was smiling wide almost wolfishly.

Trinity returned a few moments later saving Nicky from a very bland conversation in which Enzo continued to drone on about his most recent promotion and job . She sat down next to him telling him to "budge over!" She removed her apron, placing it down on the table "how is your life going?" Nicky asked, crossing his arms and leaning back as Trinity rolled his shoulders smoothly. "Eh, I'm getting on with it" Nicky nodded, pulling out his hip flask and pouring a small amount into his cup earning a disapproving look from Enzo "I guess the therapy didn't work". He snapped tauntingly. Nicky screwed it shut, then put it back in his pocket. "I've actually been cutting down". He looked at Trinity who's eyes flickered down at the peeling wood table, the cracked leather creaking slightly as she shifted around.

The following conversation was actually rather pleasant. Trinity told them about her plan to do some camping which Nicky commended "I'm useless at camping" he joked earning a laugh out of Maritza and an eye roll from Enzo. Trinity told them about Sam when the subject of the murder came up after Enzo mentioned the crime scene "I...I didn't expect it to be him!" She exclaimed tears welling in her eyes slightly. Nicky stretched his hand across the table, his rough warm hands holding her softer ones. "I'm sorry Trinity... I knew you were both close" she nodded and squeezed his hand feeling slightly comforted "I know" Enzo nodded and repositioned his glasses "yeah, the police are doing everything they can to find the killer". Trinity nodded, she played with a strand of hair. "Sorry I've ruined the mood haven't I?" She questioned. Nicky shook his head still holding her. "No, you didn't! You don't need to be sorry for anything".

In a matter of seconds, Maritza was diverting the conversation away from the murders and asked about any other plans Trinity had for the future. Nicky listened to her ramble on about how she had been dating recently. She thought that she had found a girl that she would like to spend more time with. Her name was Elizabeth and they had met at work but she wasn't there that day. Nicky didn't know if it was the alcohol making him loose tongue or the fact that he was willing to throw everything out the window. He just knew that it came out quickly and smoothly.

"How about we try and solve the murder... like when we were younger?" He watched as Enzo's eyebrows knitted a confused look while Mari and Trinity looked shocked, stopping mid sentence to turn their attention to him. The whole table was now looking at him but it felt like the entire diner was staring at him as he shrunk back into his seat.

'You idiot' he thought.