Can We Fall In Love Now? [Nicole Row]

Chapter 25

I finished my latest call with Devon, and looked around. November was coming to a close, and I was tired. The Banditø tour ended with Kansas City - at least for us - and now I was stuck at home.

I still needed to get a new guitar, of course, but for now all I was doing was trying to relax. I'd slept well for the first three nights I was stuck here, but in the time from those three days to now, I'd woken up at nearly 4AM nearly every morning.

Not by conscious choice, of course. Who wants to wake up at that ungodly hour? In the week I'd been home, and the four restless days, I decided that I wouldn't be sitting idly by, waiting for the hours to pass me by. I decided, the next morning, I would do something.

So I finally sat up, glancing at the clock. 3:41am. Perfect. I quietly put my hair up and brushed my teeth, getting dressed and lacing up my running shoes. I grabbed my flashlight and quietly grabbed the dogs' leashes, and then we all set off. I was pacing myself, the only sounds being the dog's collars jangling, my shoes slapping the pavement, and my heavy breathing as I attempted something I'd never really tried before.

The ache filled my chest about four minutes into the run, my lungs burning for oxygen. The bottom of my feet started to blister, I could feel that, and I made a mental note to buy more socks. My heart pounded in my chest, and my breath was so warm and the air so cold I could see it in the air in front of me. My arms were pumping and my legs burned, but I forced myself to go on. The cold air nipped at my skin, and my face was most likely a nice beet red. My mouth was dry, and my muscles screaming.

I made the fourth cul-de-sac in our neighborhood, and knew I would have a long way to go before I made it back to the house.

When I did make it back at around 6:45am, I tore my clothes off - figuratively - and threw myself in the shower, the water a stark contrast to the freezing air I was in only a few seconds earlier. I stood in the water for a while, I'm not sure how long, and then when my feet started to ache again, I finally rinsed out my hair and stepped back out.

I walked out to the kitchen and quietly made myself cereal. I got ready for Nicole, Dan, Mike and Ryan.

I continued this schedule for a while, the monotony of it wearing me down, until one day I pulled out my laptop and looked at a few apartments.

I'd grown a bit tired of living with Brendon and Sarah, feeling a bit like an intruder. They deserved to have their own space. I checked out the prices, the monthly rates or whatever, before I emailed a few of the real estate people, and then I shut off my computer. I threw away my glue-y oatmeal, and then turned the TV back on.

I looked over as Brendon walked downstairs and I smiled, "Hey Bren!"

"Hey Addy!" He called back, pouring himself a glass of water, "Hey, can I borrow your laptop? My laptop screen's broken."

"Yeah! It's on the counter, password is Beeboandsarah, only your name capitalized."

Brendon put a hand over his heart, "I'm touched, truly, I am." The sound of keys typing followed, followed by a silence only tense on Brendon's part. I was still happily watching my movie.

"Hey Addy?"

"Yeah, Brendon?" I twisted around to see Brendon, brushing my pink hair from my face.

"Why were you looking up apartments? Do you think you're bothering us? You aren't- really - and how would you get around? You don't have a car- and-"

I got up, muscles aching, and quietly put a hand on his shoulder, ignoring the ache in my own shoulder. "I'm doing this for myself." I, of course, was lying. "I only want to have my own space, and I just think my own apartment would be the best course of action. I've been doing a lot better recently, and -"

"Adeline!" He snapped and I took a step backwards, my hand falling to my side. Brendon took a breath. "I just- I don't want anything to happen to you!"

"For goodness sakes, my band is doing so well right now, I'll just get an apartment, you don't have to worry about me losing money or anything-"

"I'm not talking about the money! I'm talking about you!"

"I'll set up security! Jesus, the event of someone robbing me is highly unlikely! I don't have enough possessions to be robbed!"

"Adeline Urie! Listen! To! Me! I am not worried about robbers, I am worried about you!"

My mouth dropped open into a small :o when I figured it out. He thought I was going to hurt myself. I turned around, snatching up my laptop, and I stormed back upstairs. Hurt myself? How can I hurt myself when I'm doing everything I'm supposed to? Eating? Running? Doing what I love? I'm happy, goddamnit.

I turned up my music and quietly emailed back a few people, scheduling times to look through the apartments when there were those options - the others just sent pictures of the apartments.

I rolled my eyes when Brendon knocked on my bedroom door, "Adeline, I just want to talk!"

"God I'm doing this, Brendon! Don't talk to me about changing my mind!"

"I wasn't going to! I just want to talk to you!"

"Fine!" I called back, feeling slightly remorseful. Brendon took a step in and looked around my room.

"You aren't going to be able to get an apartment. You're a music person. We are music people. You need a house, or something where you won't be bothering your neighbors. Trust me, you're going to be loud." Brendon grabbed my computer and started scrolling. He typed something in and quietly handed me my computer back. "I declined a few of those offers for you. Trust me. Look for something better."

"Surprisingly helpful. Almost enough for me to thank you, and forgive you for what you insinuated earlier."

"About that-"

"Save it- you were trying to be a caring sibling."

"True..."

"Now go! I wanna look for places!"