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Chapter 13

The silence was so loud you could hear a pin drop. Nicky watched as everyone's eyes were on him his skin crawled he hadn't had this many eyes on him since the-. He shook himself off those thoughts instead focusing on his empty glass. "W...what?" Enzo asked in slight disbelief Nicky nodded shifting around uncomfortably "yeah...wouldn't it be fun?" Enzo continued to stare at him before he scoffed. "More like dangerous" he stated "do you know that trained professionals are on the case and I'm certain they wouldn't appreciate someone who looks like they just crawled off the streets helping". Trinity gave him a very firm slap on his arm making him yelp and glare at her. Nicky bit his lip and stared at Enzo "ohhhh Im so sorry," he mocked "is Enzo protective over his job?"

Maritza rolled her eyes and looked at Trinity "they've been like this all night!" She took a sip of her drink, the ice clinking against the edges. Trinity nodded and looked at them both sternly "stop it now! Before I-" she was cut off by Nicky waving his hand half-heartedly "yes, yes we get it..." he trailed off and smiled at Enzo a little too wide. "We promise not to cause an actual fight!" Enzo smiled along but Maritza could see them giving each other stink eyes and she flicked her wrist "come on... please?" She was begging them now with her hands together. Nicky rolled his eyes and lay his head on the table "ughhhhh we get it!" Enzo looked at him with an eyebrow raised and nodded his head. "Yes we promise" he dug his hands deep within his pockets. The two girls kept talking as Enzo continued to give him the side eyes and Nicky continued to ignore him "wouldn't it be funny if you went missing?" Enzo whispered, picking his fingernails, smirking, saying it so that only Nicky could hear. "After all, you were never good at keeping your nose out of other people's businesses...look at Mr Peterson''. Nicky took a deep breath in and subtly flipped him the bird.

Nicky stretched as he walked out into the car park his bones ached from being sat down for hours. Mari and Trinity were hugging, saying how they would keep in touch, leaving Nicky and Enzo out of it. Enzo smirked at him and opened his arms wide advancing towards him "come on Nicky..." he kept stalking towards him his smirk growing wider and wider "how about a hug?" Nicky leaned back and looked at him with his eyes narrowed "Get away from me" he hissed back. Enzo ignored his protests and kept striding over, finally capturing and holding him close laughing . "There we are! You just needed a good hug" he watched Nicky scream and squirm against his bear hug, his swearing and yelling muffled by his jumper. "ENZO LET ME GO YOU ARE GOING TO SUFFOCATE ME!" Enzo eventually lets go, allowing Nicky to stumble back gasping for air "you asshole!" he yelled lunging at Enzo but he was caught and pulled back "Nicky, I already warned you!" Mari scolded him, handing him over to Trinity who didn't look impressed.

Trinity gave Nicky a hug who nuzzled her shoulder smiling "here's my number" she handed him a slip of paper "if you ever want to catch up!" He smiled and took the paper tucking it in his pocket "hmmm here's mine!" He scribbled down his own number and gave it to her. She nodded and said bye to Enzo giving him her number as well and getting his in return before walking over to her car waving at them all one last time before speeding off into the night. Maritza smiled at Enzo saying bye to him and reminding him that she was always available for him to talk to. She tugged at Nicky's arm trying to guide him to the car but he pulled his arm from her grip "I'm going to say bye to Enzo". Mari looked at him suspicious but eventually shrugged her shoulders and walked over to the car climbing inside into the passenger's seat watching him.

Enzo looked between her and Nicky "well?" he stated slightly impatiently, tapping his foot against the concrete. Nicky sighed and looked away "I'm happy for you Enzo, I'm glad you found a good job and I hope you do well in life...but that doesn't excuse what you did to me". Enzo's mouth went dry watching as Nicky turned around on the balls of his feet "I'll see you around" he stated. Walking off towards his car climbing in next to Maritza who asked him what had happened and he brushed it off. "Nothing" looking at Enzo one last time before pulling out and making the journey home.

"I had fun tonight" Mari giggles as he drops her outside her own apartment. Nicky smiled and stopped the car. "I'm glad! It was nice to see everyone..." he trailed off, giving the hint that he wasn't excited to see 'everyone'. Mari rolled her eyes playfully "I know you and Enzo have differences but I'm glad you didnt kill each other". Nicky nodded and smirked "yeah yeah I won't kill ya brother...yet" he said it in an almost joking way. "Mari took his hand in hers and rubbed it. They were soft and smelt of strawberries. "Thank You again..." she climbed out the passenger seat and Nicky rolled down his window leaning out of it "night Maritza." She turned around and hugged him through the car window "night Nicky". She briskly walked to the entrance looking back at him one final time before disappearing. Nicky started his car again and turned Queen's 'Don't stop me now' up as loud as it would go.

Arriving home, Nicky shut the door gently locking it with his key before throwing them onto the table. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck throwing his jacket onto the back of the chair as well. He sauntered over to the couch plopping down and exhaling deeply. He turned on the TV because he wanted to watch a horror movie and do nothing for the rest of the evening. He got up again to quickly get a snack since he hadn't eaten yet and he didn't want to cook. Opening the cupboards to see what he could find, his fingertips suddenly met with cold metal. He grasped the object and pulled it back looking at it in the palm of his hand, turning it over and over. It was the key to his old house.

His parents had moved after he ran away. He felt slightly guilty about not seeing them but he rang them regularly to make sure they were both ok. They were both enjoying their retirement away from Raven Brooks. Nicky put the key on the counter and looked over to the phone, biting his lip 'stupid Enzo...I could solve a murder!' He wanted nothing more than to prove him wrong. He felt in his pocket throwing Trinity's number on the counter. He leaned against the surface, arms crossed, he looked around his apartment. He hated it here. He hated the landlord, he hated the people and most all he hated being alone. He could easily sell it and take the key and run away back to Raven Brooks to live in his childhood home. But, the town made him feel sick whenever it was brought up in conversation his eyes flickered over to the phone again. The words 'leave it to the professionals' kept going round and round in his head. It was foolish but he picked up the receiver and started to dial Trinity's number, his hands shaking and the news playing in the background. "Hello?" Trinity's voice came. Nicky took a long shaky breath in. His heart threatening to break out of his rib cage "h...hey Trinity!" he played with the wire twirling it around his pinkie finger. "H...How would you like to solve a murder?"