The Maison Series: Book 1

Untitled Part 12

"Holy crap! Where the hell is my leg?" Niko freaked out the moment she woke up. Niko made the mistake of looking at what used to be her leg. She waved the nub around, and giggled at the idea of tying long streamers to it before snapping back into reality.

"I'm doomed, either that or I'm dead and for some reason, I went to hell. Any minute Hitler will walk through the door." Niko was unaware of Ray's presence. "Nothing to do now. I'm useless."

"You're not dead. Cut out the dead crap." his harsh words suprised her.

"My fucking leg is missing! Gone!" Niko yelled. He came and sat on the bed. "I don't know what I did to deserve this. I just don't know." she cried into his shoulder. Ray simply ran his hand down her hair.

"They won't accept me, not like this." he held her by the shoulders and his eyes penetrated sincerity into hers, "Look, I know they'll accept you. And besides, they have the best prosthetic legs." she sighed. A doctor came in.

"Well, Miss Cantora, would you like to look at a selection of legs? If now is a good time, of course." he smiled.

"Might as well get it over with." Niko got up, using Ray for support. She went out of the room with him while the guys stayed behind to wait and smiled at him.

"Well, how bad does it look?" she asked a room full of wide eyed people.

"Not bad at all."

"Matt, when we get home, I was wondering if you'd like to spray paint or color it any way you'd like." he grinned, happy he got another art project. Niko smiled and gave a laugh to brighten the mood.

"So, who's ready to go home?" Leo dangled his car keys in her face. She pushed his hand away, laughing. It was a calm drive home. She fell asleep on the couch and the guys left her there. Ray stayed up and was handed coffee. He chugged it all.

"How long you been watching?" Leo asked him.

"Since she fell asleep. Give me that!" he took the coffee Leo had and downed it.

"Hey! I wasn't done with that!" he complained.

"You need to sleep. Come on." Leo turned off all the lights to prove his point. Ray climbed the stairs after his brother.

"I'm up!" the clock's numbers glowed 3:14 with the little A.M dot. She groaned before falling to the floor. She hooked the fake leg and stood up.

"Coffee." she brewed a fresh pot and looked at her calendar. Niko cursed when she noticed it was Ray's birthday. Carefully closing the door, Niko snuck out.

"Anything in particular, miss?" a salesperson asked.

"No, I'm just looking, thanks." she continued browsing.

"Here it is!" she bent over to get it and let out a small yelp when someone touched her butt.

"Derrick that's not funny!" she turned a bright red.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't help it." he gave her a 100 Watt smile. Niko rolled her eyes before going to a check-out counter.

"Hold this." she cleared out some space in her car to make room for his present when Derrick had caught a glimpse of her leg.

"What's that?" he wondered. Niko cursed and began telling him of everything.

"Come with me. It's Ray's birthday." she pushed him towards the passenger side.

"Okay."

"There's one more thing."

"What's that?"

"I leave in three days."

"Does Ray know?"

"Not yet. I'm telling him the day before." he put a hand over hers.

"Everything will be fine and red light." he joked with her. Niko let out a stressed laugh before pulling into her drive way.

"Take these up to Ray's room. I'll distract him." she whispered before slipping inside quietly.

"Is she awake yet?" Leo asked as Niko pretended to sleep. Ray came and sat next to her.

"No. I hope she'll be alright." Ray kissed her hand. Niko coughed hesitantly before taking a shallow breath for effect.

"Oh my head." she rubbed her temples.

"Niko! Thank God!" Ray drowned her face in kisses. Niko smiled at him.

"Happy birthday." she smiled weakly. She got up and stumbled as an act.

"I'm gonna go lay down." she stumbled into Ray's room and smiled at Derrick.

"Okay. Wrapping paper, scissors, bows, tape, ribbon. Okay." she got to work on wrapping all his presents and carefully got the cards signed.

"Ray, could you come up here please?" Niko put on her best sick accent.

"Sure thing." his foot-steps were heard and Niko made sure everyone hid.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" everyone came out and shouted.