Waiting For Nick

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Victoria in the media... NRDD's Lizzy Greene! ^^

"Hey, son."

Nick looked up from his English assignment. His dad stood at the door, arms folded.

"Hey, Dad. Come on in." He closed his book and turned off the music he'd been listening to as well. His dad came in and sat just beside him.

"Homework?"

"Yeah. English essay. And as usual, its giving me a tad bit of a tough time." Nick said to him, looking at the ceiling.

"I thought that girl was always helping you with it." His dad asked.

"Yeah. Cissy."

"Well then, if you need help, you can call on her."

Nick looked away. "I can't. Don't want to."

His father was silent for a while. "So you two aren't on talking terms right now, or something?"

"Actually...we are. I guess I'm the one who's trying not to talk to her."

"Ahh... You like her, then." His father asked, a gleam in his eyes.

Nick hesitated before answering. "Yeah, I do, Dad. I really do."

"Then what's holding you back, son?"

Nick looked at him for a while. "Dad, what if I told you I found Cissy?"

His father looked confused for a while before realization hit him. "Cissy? Like Cissy Carver? Here in Virginia?"

Nick nodded.

"You found her! That's amazing, Nicky. So, she goes to your school?"

Nick nodded again.

His father laughed and launched into a short speech about the beauty of re-meeting old friends. When he saw that his son wasn't in the happiest of moods about it, he stopped and stared at him.

"Okay. So, what's wrong? Tell me." He asked Nick.

Nick sighed. "Dad, thing is, I'm so happy I found her and all that but I'm not ready to tell her anything. She doesn't even know me. Doesn't recognize me. Well, how would she? I look totally different from who she's supposed to know and remember. That is, if she can even remember at all, which of course, she can't. And stupid, stupid me. I just had to go and fall in love with her and now, if I have to tell her at all, I'd be sure to explain myself. Why I look different. Fortunately, she would have no idea because, somehow, she's lost her old memories, but Lance! Lance would be the problem. I could decide not to tell Cissy for centuries to come, and she'd never guess, unless by some miracle, she happens to regain her memories, but now, Lance is here too. I have absolutely no idea what to do! And I like Cissy. No, scratch that. I think I'm in love with her. I love everything about her. I love the depths of her eyes and how beautiful she looks when she smiles. I love how carefree she is about everything. I love how I look at her and I'm encouraged because I know how much she's gone through and still, she survived. I love all things Cissy and the last thing I want to do is hurt her, Dad. And to make my life more miserable, like it isn't miserable enough, they're coming back. The stupid nightmares are coming back! And I'm reliving them over and over and over again. How do I explain to her about...about mom? About how I... I... I..."

Nick stopped and took a breath. He wasn't going to cry. He was so not going to cry.

Not now. Not now, Nick.

He felt his father's hand come upon his shoulder. Nick's head went in his own hands. He wasn't going to cry. She'd never know. She'd never know a thing.

"Dominick. I'm really sorry those dreams are coming back. I had no idea but I'll tell you that you've got to do what's best, son. For you and for her. It'll be better you tell both those kids or be prepared to loose them when they get to find out by themselves, one way or another. I feel you, Nicky. I feel what you feel. I know why you've taken this decision. It isn't going to be easy but if they really are your friends, if Cissy really is meant for you, she'll hold on to you and not let go. She'll be understanding about this and will be there for you. She sounds like an amazing girl and I bet you do not want to lose her. Do it, son. Whatever the outcome is, that's what's meant to be. I don't think she'll be happy to be kept in the dark or to be pushed away. Don't push her away, Nick. If she's as amazing as she sounds, I bet you'd spend your entire life regretting it. Tell her. Lance too. No one is going to blame you for what happened. It was something no child should ever go through but you did, son. You did and you survived. That shows how strong my son is. Now, be strong again and come clean. Its the only way and you can do this." He patted Nick on the shoulder and stood. "Think about it, son. Think about it." He ruffled his hair a bit and walked to the door.

"Dad?" Nick called as he looked up. His father stopped and turned around.

"Thank you. I'm honoured to have a father like you." Nick whispered.

Dean Trenton smiled a teary smile and nodded. "I love you, Nicky."

"I love you too, Dad."

Nick watched as his father turned around and left.

He went to his bed and collapsed on it.

***

Victoria dragged Vincent to his feet and they hurried away at the sound of their dad's feet coming to the door.

"Quick!" She whispered. They hurried into her room, which was closer and shut the door.

"Wow." Vincent took a seat on his sister's bed. "Did you hear all I just heard, Vicky?"

Victoria joined him on the bed. "No wonder she looked familiar to me that day, Vinny. She's the girl from the pictures!" She whispered to her twin brother.

"I knew something was up with Nicky." Vincent turned to his sister, wide-eyed. "Victoria, he's having nightmares again. He said so." He reduced his voice a notch. "Did he really...did he really intentionally set that fire?"

Victoria hit him across the head. "Don't be silly, Vin. No one intentionally sets fires. It was an accident. " she sighed. "I feel so bad for him. I hate nightmares! I wish we knew what to do to make him feel better."

A second later, she slowly turned to her twin, just as he turned to her. Understanding filled their eyes.

"Icecream!" They sang in unison.
Before one could say viola!, they opened the door and bounded for the kitchen. Vinny grabbed the large bowl of icecream and Vicky grabbed three spoons. They high-fived each other and made for Nick's room.

Vinny knocked and when Nick's voice came through, permitting them entry, they opened the door and walked in.

"Hey, you two." Nick smiled at them when they came in.

The twins looked to each other and grinned.

"We brought icecream!" Vinny said, holding up the bowl of icecream, while Vicky held up the spoons.

"How 'bout we watch a movie?" Vicky asked Nick.

"So, what's this special occasion?" Nick asked, looking from one sibling to another.

Vinny rolled his eyes. "Can't we spend time with you, anymore?"

Nick chuckled. "You two are the strangest set of twins this world has got. You know that?"

They grinned at him. "Yeah, we cute like that." They said together.

Nick laughed and beckoned them over. They sat on each side of him.

"So, what movie?"

"Away with Black Panther!" They said.

Nick laughed and stood to put on Black Panther for the sixth time in the month.