Surviving the Nicholson Boys (Re-write)

fifteen : style

Song/title of the chapter: Style by Taylor Swift

"You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye."

***

Once Tanner and I had actually left the house and entered his car, I felt a bit better. I didn't know if I was so stressed because I lived in a house of people who knew I had a secret and probably intended to find out what it was, or if it was because I was really fucking depressed.

At this point, I wasn't sure about what I was going to do. I would be burying my mother soon, the boys would be at the funeral, and then everyone would know why I was living with them. I wasn't ready for all the questions and the looks of pity. I had been getting looks of pity all my life and they never solved any of my problems.

As Tanner drove to Ben and Jerry's, I took a moment to appreciate his side-profile. I didn't think he got enough credit. He was actually pretty good looking, with his blond hair tucked away under a beanie and his blue eyes twinkling in the sunlight. He glanced at me and smiled. "Whatcha thinkin' about?"

I blushed and looked away, shaking my head. "Um, nothing."

He smirked. "Promise?"

I rolled my eyes, which earned a chuckle from him. "I promise."

Tanner pulled into the Ben and Jerry's parking lot and I grinned like a child, sitting up in the seat more. He laughed again as the both of us climbed out and entered the ice cream store.

The girl standing behind the counter flashed us a huge smile. "Hi! What can I get you two?"

"I'll have the chocolate chip cookie dough." I said and she nodded, punching something into the cash register and looked up at Tanner. "And you?"

"I'll have the same along with a Blondie Brownie." Tanner nodded and she smiled, punching something in again. The total came up and Tanner paid with cash.

"I'm going to the bathroom, I'll be right back." He whispered to me and I nodded, watching him walk off.

The girl handed me our cookie dough and wiggled her eyebrows at me. "You guys are such a cute couple."

I felt my whole face turn beet red. "What? Oh, no, we're not dating."

"Really?" She smirked. "I would've assumed you were with the way he looks at you."

"H-How does he look at me?" I stuttered.

"Like you're the only girl in the world," she sighed dreamily, "I would kill to have a boy look at me the way he looks at you."

I shook my head. "There's like a four year age difference between us."

"So?" She scoffed. "My parents are eight years apart. Four years is nothing. I say you go for it, because I ship it 100%."

I smiled at her and at that moment, Tanner came out of the bathroom. He smiled at the girl before looking at me. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, sure." I said. I looked at the girl and read her name tag. Emma. "It was nice talking to you, Emma."

"You too!..uh?"

"Aria," I replied and she nodded, flashing us another wide smile. She waved as we walked out.

Tanner raised an eyebrow at me as we walked to his car. "What'd you guys talk about?"

I shrugged. "Oh, nothing."

***

Tanner and I entered the house, and it seemed completely empty. It was dead silent.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "What the hell? Where is everyone?"

I shrugged and followed him to the kitchen. There we could see the rest of the Nicholson family outside. The twins and Jonah were playing around in the backyard, and the youngest set of triplets were sitting under a tree playing cards with Jeremy and Pauly. Gregory was with his parents and an elderly couple. Wesley, Nicky, and David were throwing a football around while Christian, Jordan, and Dalton were sitting on the deck, talking.

"No wonder they're all outside." Tanner chuckled. "My grandparents are here."

"Oh," I replied as we walked out on to the deck. The woman was the first to notice me and Tanner and she gasped, hobbling over to us and pulling me into a hug first. Tanner looked just as shocked as I felt.

"Aria!" She gasped again as she pulled away. "Look at you! Oh, what a beautiful young lady you've grown into. Howard, come over here! Isn't she just the prettiest thing you've ever seen?"

Howard walked over to us, shaking his head as he pulled me into a hug as well. "I remember when you were just a little girl." He said and pulled away.

"You do?" I asked and the couple nodded.

"I used to live down the street from you and your mother for a few months back in Winnipeg." Howard explained. "Rose and I would watch you when you're mother went out."

Something suddenly clicked. I remembered sitting in the living room of a house that wasn't mine, watching Barney or Dora or Rugrats. I would have lunch outside, play with a little German Sheppard, and watch Rose sit in her rocking chair and knit.

I looked at them, and the both of them were grinning. "I remember, oh my God."

"I knew you would!" Rose clapped her hands together and gave me another hug.

"How is your mother?" Howard asked.

Tanner's eyes widened. I forced a smile and swallowed the lump that was forming in my throat. "Um, she's okay."

Rose smiled. "Well, that's good. Might have to go visit her one time."

Rose and Howard walked back over to Karolina and Brad, who were exchanging nervous glances. I walked back into the house and sat at the island, opening my cookie dough. I took a spoon from the dishwasher and sat back down, slowly beginning to eat it.

The sliding door that led outside opened and one of the boys walked in. I didn't bother looking up. I didn't want whoever it was to see me cry.

"Aria," Tanner's voice was soft, "look at me."

I shook my head. "I'd rather not."

He sighed and took a seat beside me. I felt more tears coming and looked away, covering my mouth with my hand to stifle my crying.

I took a breath and got down from the chair. "Excuse me."

"Aria," Tanner grabbed my arm and made me face him. His eyes were kind. They held concern and pity, and that's the one emotion I didn't want to see.

I ripped my arm out of his grasp and walked away, trudging up the stairs to my room and slamming the door shut, sliding down to the floor and crying silent tears.

I seemed to be doing that a lot.