Surviving the Nicholson Boys (Re-write)

five : party in the usa

Song/title of the chapter: Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus

"I hopped off the plane at LAX."

***

Karolina shook me awake. "We're here, honey."

I opened an eye and saw everyone exiting the plane. I stretched and cracked my back, then stood up. Karolina and I took our bags from the compartment above us and got off the plane with everyone else. Walking through the terminal back to the airport was nerve-racking. A part of me was hoping that all sixteen Nicholson boys wouldn't be there.

"I'm going to find our luggage," Karolina put her hands on my shoulders, "my husband should be around here somewhere."

"But--" I tried to protest, but Karolina was swallowed into the crowd in an instant. I sighed and turned around, weaving my way through the sea of people, trying to find someone holding a sign or something with her name on it.

Luckily, that's what happened. A man with sandy blond hair in a green flannel and blue jeans was holding up a sign with my name and Karolina's name on it. As I approached him, I realized it wasn't in fact a man, but a young teenage boy. Okay, he wasn't that young, but you get it.

"Hi, are you Aria?" He smiled. I nodded and his smile grew. "Tanner Nicholson, nice to meet you."

"Aria Silvers," I held out my hand and he shook it, "your mum should be here soon."

"Tanner!"

He chuckled. "I guess she's here sooner than we thought."

Karolina wrapped her eldest son in a hug. "I didn't know you were coming home so soon! What happened?"

"Technical difficulties," Tanner gave her a warm smile, "my college is closed down...for a while, so I have to apply to a new one."

"What happened?" Karolina asked again, this time her tone had changed from excitement to disappointed and regret.

Tanner scratched the back of his neck and gave her an awkward chuckle. "One thing led to another, chemistry didn't go so well, and half our college is burned to ashes."

Karolina simply sighed and shook her head. She motioned for the both of us to follow her. Tanner and I exchanged amused glances before following her outside. There was a black jeep waiting for us. Karolina had already loaded half the bags into the trunk and was loading the last two into the backseat.

"I'm driving home." Karolina told Tanner. "You look you're going to fall asleep at any moment."

Tanner shook his head, letting out a yawn. "I'm fine, Mum."

"Sure you are." Karolina rolled her eyes. "Get in, you two. It's a long drive home."

Tanner climbed into the passenger's seat while I climbed in the back. I buckled my seatbelt and immediately closed my eyes, feeling helplessly tired. Tanner gave me a goofy, tired smile, then pulled his beanie over his face. Karolina stared at him for a while, admiring him. After a while, she started the car and started driving, and eventually, I had fallen asleep, too.

***

Two arms picked me up from bridal style from the backseat, pulling me out of the car. The door slammed shut, and soon the crunch of gravel and Karolina's humming could be heard as we approached the house. Keys jingled, a locked clicked, and the front door creaked open.

"Take her to her room." Karolina whispered.

"Okay," Tanner replied. Karolina's heels clicked out of the room. I opened an eye and tapped Tanner's chest.