Remi Never Smiles ✔️

Chapter 2

*Trigger Warning*

After class was over, I met up with Nick in the parking lot for our hug. He knew hugs comforted me after stressful days and I knew they did the same for him.

"Mm, why do you smell like cinnamon?" he asked, making me laugh.

"A girl in my class that needs glasses accidentally sprayed me with her perfume," I answered.

I heard him smell me again, so I laughed again before pulling away.

"Mikey?" he asked.

"Yeah, let's go."

I followed him to the car and we drove to pick him up from his school. When we got there, he was sitting on a bench with his head in his hands, sleeping.

I sighed and got out of the car. I walked over to my brother and shook him, making him jump.

"Come on. We're going to Nick's," I told him. I saw his face brighten as I said Nick's name.

We went back to the car and drove the short time to my best friend's house. When we got there, Mikey ran out to the front door.

Nick and I laughed, catching up with him to unlock the door. As soon as it was opened, he ran upstairs to play with Nick's little sister Penelope.

"Mom!" Nick called out.

His mom came into the living room, smiling when she saw me.

"Hi, Remi," she greeted.

"Hi, Mrs. Tanner."

"Mom, can Remi and Michael come over?" Nick asked with a precious smile.

"Depends on if you took your 'chill pills'." She called his anxiety and anger medication that probably to make him feel better, but it annoyed him immensely.

"Mother, I took one of each this morning," he replied, inching towards the stairs with my hand in his.

"You need the anxiety ones twice a day, Nicholas. One before school and another after, so you're okay before bed."

He closed his eyes and sighed. "Mom, I'm gonna take the other one right now. If you let me go upstairs, I'd do it a lot faster."

Turning to me she said, "Make sure he does, Rem."

I saluted her with my free hand, making her smile. "Aye aye, cap'n."

Nick shook his head in embarrassment and dragged me upstairs to his room. I could hear Michael crashing toys into pretend buildings or flying paper airplanes in Penelope's room.

I plopped down on my usual spot on Nick's bed and waited for him to figure out an activity for the evening. He went to his desk and looked through his collection of prescription bottles until he finally found the one he needed to take.

"Movie?" he asked.

"Depends on which."

"Krampus?"

"I already have a terrible Christmas every year, so why would I ruin it even more with a scary folklore?"

"True. Oculus?"

"No thanks. I'm okay without pissing myself today."

He rolled his eyes. "Baby. Um... Weird Science? Isn't that your favorite?"

I gasped dramatically and jumped to my feet. "This is why we are best friends. You know me so well."

"I know," he boasted. "Don't kill me for falling asleep. My meds have a side effect of drowsiness for some unnecessary."