heartstrings

Chapter 13

Evangeline
November 1st 2017

It was definitely warmer than yesterday outside. Nic's car was still in the driveway.

My stupid ideas had taken over once again. As I ran over to his car I saw the confusion splash over his face.
"You aren't gonna come in?"
He didn't answer for a while.

"I really shouldn't, I kind of have to go home."

He couldn't leave yet. I wasn't ready to let him go for today, not after what he had done for me.
"Oh come on, please. Only my brother's home and I could use some company."

Lies. Lies. Lies. I love being on my own. I'm really social too, but I appreciate my alone time once a day.

So why was I ready to give it up for him?

I don't even know him that well, but with him, I feel safe.

He pushed the car door  open and stepped out of it gracefully.
"Lead the way Eve"

Together we walked up the steps, when we finally reached the front door, I pushed my key into the lock.

I walked in front of him, leading him into the kitchen.
"Eve! Is that you?" I heard my brother yell from the other room.
"Yeah Alex it's me!"

My brother was unnoticed, until lunchtime rolled around. In the meantime Nic and I talked A LOT, it wasn't like deep talk, it was soft and funny, really funny, I can't even recall the last time someone made me feel so good.
He genuinely makes me feel understood.

The three of us sat down for lunch together, we ordered some pizza, since I can't cook at all.
Nic made such a big effort to interact and talk to my brother, that I felt my heart warm up a bit.

I was never able to get through to him like Nic seemed to. They got to talk about sports, mostly basketball, TV shows, video games and things like that.

"So Nic, how long are you staying? We could play some video games if you'd like to." Alex seemed to really like having Nic around, and so do I to be honest, he seems so easy.
He took another bite from his pizza. "I can stay for as long as you and your sister will have me."

I almost chocked on my water when he said that, and it made me question if he'd enjoyed today as much as I had.

While I cleaned up, Nic and Alex sat down on the white couch in the living room and switched on Alex's Play Station.
"So what kind of games do you like Nic?"
He looked into the air for a second, really thinking about his answer, he seems to always do that. He analyses everything he says or does, doesn't that get tiring, I never think about what's going to come out of my mouth next. It's always a surprise for everyone including me, but that's probably why I embarass myself way too often.

"I don't know, I mean I don't really play much, only with friends a few times."

And with that Alex let his creativity go wild, he chose game after game and I just sat there watching observing him, the game, him, his hair, him, his posture, him, his face, him, his lips, him and my brother sometimes. But mostly Nic.

Before I knew it was half to ten pm and night rolled around.
"Alex time for bed. Come on get up, go brush your teeth and go to bed."

He groaned obviously not pleased with my decision. "Come on Eve twenty more minutes. Please? Mum will never know."

Nic got up and stood in front of my brother.

"Hey buddy, we don't want to make your big sister mad do we?" He tried his best to whisper it into his ear, but whispering is definitely not his strength.