MINE

Chapter 10 - Don't Cross Them Lines

"My line, your line

Don't cross them lines

What you like, what I like

Why can't we both be right?"

***

Once Nik and I get to the kitchen Hel is facing the stove, probably finishing up with cooking breakfast. The smell of pancakes fills the air, and I'm stressing a little over this situation. But I guess it could be worse. And if I'm willing to give this thing with Nick a try, we're gonna have to face this sooner or later.

Hel doesn't acknowledge our presence, so I just look sideways at Nick, who's still holding my hand by the way. Which is fucking surreal...

I make a face at him and mouth the words 'what do I do?', and he looks at Hel then back to me and just shrugs his shoulders shaking his head and mouthing back to me 'I don't know'.

I have no idea if Helen already came to the conclusion that Nick spent the night here, or if she didn't see his car and just thought I was alone when she knocked on my door. This leads me to think that if she did assume he was here, her coming to call me for breakfast was kind of weird... If that was the case, then she's definitely not ok with this.

I clear my throat making a little more noise to get her attention. She turns to look at us and just smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. I can see she's not ok.

"Good morning," she says in a neutral tone, putting a plate filled with pancakes on the kitchen counter then looking at me.

"Morning Hel," I'm quick to replay, giving her an apologetic look.

"Good morning Helen." Nick follows my lead, sounding very polite and walking closer to the counter, "these look delicious", he compliments her.

His charm is not working though, cause Hel doesn't say anything just nods uncomfortably and turns again to get the coffee pot. She keeps her back to us while she's doing something that I can't see.

I turn to Nick and just say "Okay Nick, I'll talk to you later then."

I think he gets that it's not a good time because amazingly he doesn't make a sarcastic remark like I thought he probably would, since it's his default with people, especially with Hel.

He just gives me a look of understanding and a tight-lipped smile before kissing my cheek and going towards the door.

"See you later Soph. Have a nice day Helen, I'm sorry for any inconvenience I might've caused..." He says grabbing the handle and opening the door.

"Okay, thank you guys. Bye!" and he shuts the door.

I take a deep breath and go to sit on the counter. I'm still waiting for Helen to look at me again. A couple of seconds pass and she doesn't come to sit next to me.

"Hel, I'm sorry if I upset you," I say trying to sound as gentle as I can.

She then comes to sit with two cups of coffee in her hands, handing me one and sitting down.

"It's ok Soph, I'm not upset..." she says and exhales a deep breath.

"I should've texted you or something... To let you know Nick was here."

"Yes, that would've been nice." She gives me a sad smile and looks down at her hands.

"I just fell asleep before I could, I was really tired." Then I look down at my coffee like it's the most interesting sight I've ever seen.