Waiting For Nick

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Saturday morning, Cissy awoke to the sound of a bird chirping away. She blinked her eyes open a little and smiled at the bluebird that sat at her windowsill. It chirped some more before flying away. She squinted at the rays of the sun that penetrated into her room. She turned to the time on her table and saw it was 9:54am.
A knock sounded at the door as Cissy brought herself to a sitting position. "Come on in."
The door opened and Lance walked in, looking all dressed up, like he was headed somewhere.
Cissy frowned. Where was he off to? Unless...
"Tell me you're not off to school already."
Lance chuckled. "Well I am, sleeping beauty."
She hit him lightly on his shoulder. "Quit calling me that!" She sighed. "But why do you have to leave already? Can't you stay a day or two more?"
"Would love to, Cee but I've got stuff to do before Monday. I can't stay any longer."
"Why didn't you tell me this yesterday?" Cissy asked, her lips forming a perfect pout.
"Oh, I would have but a certain someone was out partying and dancing her head away." He smirked. Cissy rolled her eyes at him. She hadn't told him she was going for a party.
As if he read her mind, Lance continued. "Mom told me about it and when I came to check on you last night, you were asleep like a log of wood. Before I left, you received a text
from Iris, a picture of yourself and that dude...what's his name again?" He looked at her for an answer.
Cissy poked him on his chest with her index finger. "Lance! What were you thinking, reading my texts?"
"What? I just took a peek. No harm in that." He retorted but then began to wiggle his eyebrows at her. "Or is there?"
"Lance!" She knew what he meant. Nick. She was flustered at the memories of the night before. How they'd danced and laughed together.
"Now, look who's blushing." Lance said, grinning at her like an idiot. "You like him, don't you?"
Cissy smiled and looked away. "No, I don't!"
"Really?" He asked as he began to tickle her stomach. Cissy almost rolled over from laughter. Knowing Lance, he wouldn't stop until she told him what he wanted to hear.
"Okay! Lance!" She said, amidst fits of laughter. "I do! I do!"
"There. You said it." He stopped tickling her but continued grinning.
Cissy managed to stop laughing and poked him again. "Oh Lance, you're such a nuisance." She smiled at him. "Maybe." She said, becoming serious. Thinking about it, she realized she actually had a wee bit of a crush on Nick. Just a little bit.
"Quit disturbing your sister, Lance." Cissy looked up and found her mother standing at the doorway. "Cissy, out of bed, please. Freshen up and come eat breakfast. I've got an errand for you later today."
"Yeah. Morning to you too." Cissy said, sarcastically as her mother came over and kissed her on the cheek before going back out the door. At the door, she said, "Lance, hurry or you'll be late."
"Sending me away now, are you?" Lance said, chuckling.
"Obviously." Mrs Carver retorted. "Its a wonder that you two haven't pulled down the house already with your usual bickering."
"Mom!" Lance and Cissy said in sync.
"Well," Lance started, glancing at Cissy, "Someone's been busy with..."
"Lance!" Cissy said, scowling at him. How dare he try to spill what she'd told him to mom!
Lance laughed. "You should see the look on your face, Cissy."
Cissy scowled some more.
"Oh, no. I wouldn't dare spill it for the world, Cissy."
That had her smiling again. She turned to her mother who still stood at the doorway and had an utterly befuddled look on her face. She shook her head at both her children and left the doorway, the door shutting after her.
Cissy was the one grinning this time. She hugged Lance. She really was going to miss him. She broke away first. "Now, run along and don't be late." She said, and kissed him on his cheek.
"Oh, really. Not you too."
She playfully shooed him away as he stood and began to make his exit. He halted at the door, opened it and curtly bowed his way out of the room, a huge smile plastered on his sister's face.