Surviving the Nicholson Boys (Re-write)

eighteen : hear your heart (nicky's pov)

Song/title of the chapter: Hear Your Heart by James Bay

"And I-I-I just wanna lay you down your burdens, all your fears. And I-I-I don't need your deepest secrets whispered in my ear. 'Cause I can hear your heart, your heart. I can hear your heart, your heart."

***

Aria and I sat quietly in her room, hand in hand, as the storm continued on.

I looked down at her, and her blue eyes were wandering around the room. She looked restless. All her energy had been used up crying and I wouldn't be surprised if she wanted to take a nap or something.

Footsteps came padding up the stairs, and I expected her to go into a panic or tell me to leave, but she didn't move an inch. She stayed where she was and only held my hand tighter as another clap of thunder sounded.

My mum noticed us in the dark and stood in the doorway. She looked at me, then at Aria, and then back at me.

"Breakdown," I mouthed and my mother's eyes widened. She knocked on the doorframe and Aria's head perked up.

"Hi," she greeted my mother quietly and I almost smiled at how cute she sounded.

My mother simply started crying. Aria looked worried as she let go of my hand and stood, rushing over to my mum and giving her a hug. My mother didn't make any noise. Tears simply came from her eyes as she hugged Aria back.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you, sweetheart." Mum sobbed.

"Don't cry." Aria sighed. "I had Nicky, it's okay."

Mum pulled away from the hug and said something to Aria. She nodded and Mum smiled, gave me a small wink, and then wiped her tears as she walked away. Aria stood by the door awkwardly.

"You don't have to stay if you don't want to." She shrugged and I could see a blush rising to her cheeks.

"I want to." I said and she smiled.

Aria closed the door and walked over to her bed, lying down on it. She tapped the top of my head and motioned for me to join her.

"Isn't this weird?"

"No. I trust you."

I reluctantly climbed on her bed and she snuggled her head into my chest. I wrapped an arm around her and she let out a calm breath.

Soon, her soft snores filled my ears and I chuckled to myself. I found myself playing with her hair and mumbling lyrics from a James Bay song.

"And I-I-I just wanna lay you down your burdens, all your fears." I sang quietly, and Aria stirred. When she stopped, I continued.

"And I-I-I don't need your deepest secrets whispered in my ear." I sang more and she snuggled closer to me.

"'Cause I can hear your heart, your heart. I can hear your heart, your heart."

"You better be hearing my heart." She grumbled. "If you weren't, I'd be very concerned."

I laughed at that and she let out a tired chuckle. "You have a nice voice. Sing some more."

"Of that song?" I asked.

"Sing Let It Go." She replied. "That's my favourite."

"From walkin' home and talkin' loads." I sang quietly, and Aria sighed.

"To seein' shows in evenin' clothes with you." She mumbled and I admired the gentleness to her voice. "From nervous touch and gettin' drunk."

"To stayin' up and wakin' up with you." I finished the verse and Aria was quietly snoring. I hummed the rest of the song and held her closely to me. Eventually, I ended up falling asleep myself.

***

I literally woke up to the sound of birds chirping.

I opened an eye, and instead of Aria's room being dark, it was now bright, illuminated by the sun. I squinted and groaned.

Aria laid beside me, her back facing my chest. Her chest moved up and down slowly, but she wasn't snoring anymore. The both of us were covered with a different blanket that wasn't hers. My glasses lay on her night side table.

This was either my three eldest brothers, my parents, or my grandparents. Either way, I was glad none of them woke us up. I enjoyed being in Aria's company.

I reached over for my glasses and stuffed them on my face. I looked at the time on Aria's alarm clock and raised an eyebrow. It was only 7:00am and this bright?

I took them off again and sighed, draping my arm over my eyes to try and block out some of the light.

"Nicky?" Aria grumbled.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks again."

I smiled. "Hey, no need to thank me. I'm here whenever you need me."

"Whenever?"

"Whenever."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Pinky swear?"

I laughed and held out my pinky to her, and we locked pinkies. "Pinky swear."

"Okay, good." She said as she turned over. "Because I kinda need you right now."

"You do?" I asked and she nodded.

"I'm cold and need someone to cuddle with."

I shook my head at her cuteness and pulled her close to me. She pulled the blanket around us more and rested her hand and head on my chest.

"How you feeling?" I asked.

"Hanging on." Aria said. "I feel bad for lying to your grandparents."

"They'll understand." I said. "They usually do."

"They were always so nice to me." She sighed. "They treated me as if I was their grandkid. I never felt unloved or out of place whenever I was with them. I had a lot of fun and when they moved, I remembered being really sad. They're the reason I'm not in jail or such an angry person or on the streets."

"They love everyone." I yawned. "That's the best part about Nana Rose and Papa Howard. They saw how innocent you were and how you had so much going for you that they had to take care of you. Plus, they couldn't say no to your mother either. I assume they loved her just as much."

Aria nodded. "Yeah."