That Thing That I Needed [Nick Austin]

CHAPTER 3

"I'm right here." I saw two girls come down the stairs with a boy.
"Hi! You must be Scarlett. The one they couldn't stop talking about." The boy said as they went closer to me. I nodded.
"I'm Thomas. That's Kouvr, Alex girlfriend. And that's Dixie. Charli's sister." I tried my best to give them the smile that I haven't shown for a while.
"Welcome to the Hype House!" Ondreaz said.
"Thanks."
"The foods are ready at the table. We were waiting for you. Let's go and eat." Dixie said. Nick told me to drop my bag at the couch. I did. Then i followed them to the dining area.
"We're not much of a cooker, Scarlett, so we ordered food if you don't mind..." Kouvr said.
"Oh, no. It's totally fine..." I sat at a chair with Ondreaz and Avani beside me. I looked down at the food on my plate and just stared at it..
"Is something wrong Scarlett?" Avani asked beside me.
"No... Uh, I just remembered something about this burger. Where did you ordered this?" I asked.
"From the coolest place on Earth.... Where else? Zark's!!" Ondreaz exclaimed before taking a bite. I just nodded before eating.

Thomas was really fun to be with. He makes jokes that are not that hilarious which makes it even more funnier. He's twenty three years old. Five years older than me.
Kouvr and Dixie were so sweet. They're both two years older than me along with Alex. And Ondreaz... He and I got along pretty well.

After eating, Nick and Dixie showed me where I'm gonna be staying.
"This is Daisy's room. She left a few days ago, she'll be back next week.
"Thanks." I said.
"If you need me, I'm just a room away from you." Dixie said before going to her and Charli's room. Nick, who was holding my bag the whole time, put the bag on the bed.
"You gonna be alright?" He asked.
"Yeah..."
"Alright. Don't do anything stupid."
"Like what?"
"You know what. I don't have to tell you... I just... I don't wanna see you again like that night." He said.
"Can you forget everything that happened that night..."
"Sure." He said and went away. I inhaled sharply before going to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. I saw myself... Different.... From the way I used to look at months ago. I mean... I still look the same... It may seem like nothing change in me or I'm being paranoid but... Something has change in me ever since the accident. I don't know what but I'm sure something did.

Everywhere I go... There's always something that reminds me of the three of you. And everytime, the pain would always be there reminding me that I'm all alone now. That I can never experience such things the way I did with the three of you again.
Suddenly, my phone rang. I received a text from Natalie.
Nat
< How's school?
                                              It was fine >
< That's good... Listen, I'm gonna be late to your house. I have a meeting.
         Actually, I'm on a friend's house.
                      You don't have to come >
< Okay. Glad you're socializing.

I shaked my head. I put my phone down and went to bed after washing myself. The next day, I woke up at five thirty. I cleaned myself before going to  the living room. I was the first one up. I went to the kitchen. Alex told me they rarely eat breakfast since no one cooks. I looked at their fridge and saw two big box of pancakes. I took it and cooked the pancakes in my style. When I was done, I put it in a plate and placed it on the kitchen counter.

There was fifteen big pieces of pancakes. I grabbed myself a plate and a fork and started to eat. Minutes later, somebody came to the kitchen.
"It's seven... You're up early." Nick said. Ondreaz came in after.
"I didn't know you're a morning person." Ondreaz said then yawned.
"I'm not... I just couldn't sleep anymore." I said.
"Did you cooked that?" Nick asked as he went closer to me. I put my fork down. Ondreaz probably went to the bathroom.
"Yeah." I answered.
"I didn't know you can cook." He said and sat beside me.
"My mother taught me when I was eight... Want to try one?" I asked.
"I love to.." He said and grabbed my fork. I was surprised. He took a bite of my pancake. His eyes widen.
"Scarlett, this is great." He said reffering to what he just ate. I almost couldn't hear it as I was still dazed by his actions.
"You alright?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah... And thanks... You're actually the first person, except my family, to get a taste of what I cook." I said.
"Well, it's an honor." He said.
Then the doorbell rang.

"I forgot to mention to you last night but we have two visitors right now." Nick said. I saw Ondreaz went to the door.
"Who is it?" Then I saw two boys standing at the door. My eyes widen. Theirs too.
"Griff? Kio?"
"Scarlett?" They both said. They both went to me.
"What are you doing here?" Griffin asked smiling.
"You three know each other?" Nick asked.
"Yeah. Scarlett was my classmate back in highschool." Kio said.
"What are you doing here?" Kio asked.
"Sleepover." I just said.

"Scarlett... I'm really sorry about your—"
"Please don't. Don't talk about it. You both know how much I hate it." I said. They both nodded.
"So, where's Dixie?" Griffin suddenly asked to Nick.
"In her room. She's alone right now. Charlie's at mine and Chase's room." Nick answered.
"Thanks bro." Griffin said and went away.
"Griffin and Dixie?" I asked.
"Yeah. They started dating two months ago." Kio said grinning.
"How did you met Griffin?" Nick asked.
"Through Kio."

After lunch, it started raining really heavy. And I started to feel something. Chase and Charli went out. So did Dixie and Griffin. Avani went to Anthony, her boyfriend. And Kio went to Olivia's place. I miss that girl.
"Where's Tony and Ondreaz?" I asked to Nick, my voice weak.
"They're at their studio.... Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm totally fine..." I lied.
"You sure? You don't sound fine.." Nick said.
"I'm really fine. Im actually feeling great." I convinced him.
"I'm just gonna go to the room im staying." I said and went to the room. My eyelids felt heavy which was weird. And my head's aching. Gladly, I fell on the bed, not on the ground. It had been cold since morning. And now it's gotten more colder. I tugged the blanket on my body and fell asleep.

Nick's POV
"Where are you guys going?" I asked to Addisson and Tony who zoomed past me.
"We'll go grab something to eat." Tony answered before they both went out.
It was already four in the afternoon.... Around quarter to five, I saw Ondreaz went out of the kitchen and sat at the couch.
"Why aren't you with Tony and Addisson?" I asked.
"What do you mean? Where are they?" He asked confused.
"Dude, they went out to grab some foods." I pointed out.
"And they didn't even tell me?" I saw him roll his eyes.
"That wasn't cool... Well, Scarlett can cook right? I bet her food are amazing than what Tony and Addisson are eating right now. Where is she?" Ondreaz said, sounding jealous. I chuckled.
"She's probably at Daisy's room. I'll go asked her." I said.
"Thanks bro." He said. I went to Daisy's room and knocked on the door.
"Scarlett?" I called. No answer. I called her again, still no answer.
"Hey, I'm gonna come in." I said and opened the door. I saw Scarlett tugged in a very thick blanket.
"Hey.." My eyebrows furrowed when I saw the air conditioner wasn't turned on and yet Scarlett's shivering like crazy.
"Scarlett, you okay?" I asked as I went and sat at the edge of the bed.

I was instantly alarmed when I touched her forehead and felt the hotness in her.
"Shit! You have a fever." I said in a panicked tone. Scarlett slowly opened her eyes and looked at me.
"Okay..... Uhm... Uh— What— Okay, hang— Hang in there for a second." I said. Panicking, I run towards the living room.
"Ondreaz, w-where's Thomas?" I asked.
"He's out. Why?"
"Kouvr?"
"She and Alex went to Larri. Can you tell me what's going on?" He asked standing up.
"Scarlett has a fever... Fuck! What do I do?!"

Honestly, I've never experience d this in my life. Usually when someone is sick, Thomas would be there. If not, the girls would.
"Okay, calm down.... You go boil some warm water. Put it in a container and grab a towel or a cloth— you know what to do. I'll try to cook some soup for her. I'll call Thomas and ask them to grab a medicine back home." I nodded at Ondreaz before doing what I gotta do.
Once I was done, I went back to Scarlett with the warm water and a small clean towel.
"Hey, I'm back." I told Scarlett as I put the container at the side table. I dipped the towel on the warm water and squeezed it dry before putting it on Scarlett's forehead properly. She groaned.
"Are you okay? Did I hurt you? Does it hurt somewhere?" I worriedly asked.

"I-im... I'm f-fine..."
"Damn it Scarlett! Tell me where it hurts..." My voice grew louder. She gasped..
"M-my.... My head... It's aching." She whimpered.
"I-im sorry, I didn't mean to— Tsk." I didn't know why I was angry.
"Just— Did you had lunch today?" I asked.
"Ye—"
"Scarlett..." I warned.
"No, I didn't." She said. I sighed.
"And yesterday, did you had a meal? I saw you didn't eat your lunch.." I stated.
"Just a bread for breakfast..." I look at her unbelievably.

"Scarlett... What are you doing to yourself?"
"I'm fine Nick... It's just a headache..." Her voice was really weak.