Notes (Nathan Sykes fanfic)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

I left the house, gently closing the door behind me, as I stepped out onto the porch of the family home I felt a considerable wave of cold air rush over me, the temperature must have dropped a number of degrees whilst I was inside. I stepped down onto the gravel only to be shocked by a car which was heading in my direction, I quickly took a step back as a small black car pulled in to the driveway. I watched the driver and passenger carefully, in the drivers seat was who I presumed to be Nathan's mum and the passenger in the car was unmistakably his sister from the photo. I stood there in the headlights of their car trying to think of what I was going to say. Tell them the truth, that's it.

'Excuse me?' Nathan's mum said in a questioning tone.

'Sorry, I was just with, er, with Nathan' I tried to come across as friendly but the way I said with Nathan just sounded completely wrong and not something you would say to his mum. She raised her eyebrow at me.

'Oh and he just let you leave, didn't even show you out?' She asked sounding a little shocked. Now I was going to have to explain.

'You see there's actually an explanation for that but it could take a while' I gave her an embarrassed smile and she suddenly picked up her bags which she had set on the driveway and motioned at me towards the front door.

'You might as well come in' she said in a nice, friendly way.

'If you're sure?' I checked just to be polite.

'Of course' I followed her as she unlocked the door, Nathan's sister followed in behind me. We walked down the hallway towards the living room where Nathan was sleeping. Nathan's mum walked in and let out a quiet shocked gasp as she saw Nathan. She turned to me.

'So you have an explanation for this?' I sent her a wry smile.

'Yeah, I'll try my best'

She offered me some tea or coffee but I declined the offer taking a seat on the other side of the room away from Nathan so that his mum could sit next to him.

Jess, Nathan's sister whose name I had only just found out went upstairs leaving me and Nathan's mum alone with a sleeping Nathan.

'So, Mrs...' I paused, unsure of what I should call her.

'Call me Karen' she smiled, nodding for me to continue.

'Karen,' I was about to continue when she suddenly had a realisation.

'Come to think of it I'm not aware of your name?'

'Oh, sorry, It's Sophie' I said happily, she nodded again smiling back at me.

I recited the events of the evening from beginning to end which altogether took about 10 minutes with a few minor interruptions from Nathan turning in his sleep as Karen held his hand softly, gently stroking it now and again. At points in the story, for example when Nathan was punched, Karen could be seen to grab his hand a little tighter, her expression changing as she turned to look at him with the bruises covering the right side of his face where he'd turned his head in anticipation of the punch.

'And that's how we got here' I finally finished, looking over at Nathan.

'You did this?' She motioned to the blanket covering Nathan.

'Yeah' I nodded 'I thought I should wait with him for a bit, I'd been here about half an hour when you got here.' She nodded,

'I like you Sophie' I blushed lightly, smiling.

'Oh thank you, I should probably get going it's quite late' I looked at the clock only just realising the time.

'Of course, I will let Nathan know what you did when he wakes up, I'm sure he'll be eager to talk to you. Thanks again for everything, you're welcome here anytime!' She smiled at me standing up to show me out. I stepped out onto the porch for the second time that evening.

'Thanks for having me' I said courteously to Karen as I set off down the driveway.

'Not a problem at all Sophie, it was nice meeting you' she replied, waving me off. She closed the door and I began to wander home.