Saving Nicole

Chapter 7: Good as Gold

Nicole's POV
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The aroma of Alfredo sauce and fresh pasta hits my nose strong. I sigh in anticipation and walk into the kitchen, Dallas breathing hard behind me.

"Dal! What happened to you?" Mrs. Amicus exclaims, looking up while dishing some steaming pasta into three glass bowls.

"She tazored me." He wheezes and another pang of guilt erupts in my chest. But then I remember I shouldn't get too close to him. I should push him away. I should.

"He tazored me first!" I say indignantly.

"Because you laughed at me!" He retorts, his eyes narrowing dangerously. Usually, I would take that as a clue to stay silent, but I know he won't hurt me. So I snort.

"Whatever." I mumble beneath my breath and pull a chair out at the counter. It screeches in annoyance and I sit down in it. Dallas sits next to me and Mrs. Amicus sits across.

I notice there's an empty chair.

Who sits there? Where did they go? Curiosity blooms in my chest like a sunflower.

"Whose... Whose chair is that?" I mumble, glancing at Mrs. Amicus after taking a bite of the food. My mouth waters and I feel my eyes droop. A moan leaves my lips. "This is amazing, Mrs. Amicus." I inhale, letting two aromas mix in my senses. Mint and Pasta.

"Thank you, dear. You can just call me Carly." She smiles softly and elegantly brings a piece of pasta to her mouth. "My husband usually sits there, but he's out late tonight." Something in her emerald gaze has me mystified. There's something she's not telling me.

I nod and eagerly take another bite of pasta. While I eat, I take that time to look around the room, examining the beautiful pieces of artwork on the walls. The intricate lines have me dazzled and I hope one day I can be that good.

"You know, Mum. Nic loves to draw."

My fork clatters noisily on my plate when I drop it. My face is slackened in surprise. Did he seriously just tell her that? I try to keep my art a secret. I don't like attention.

Carly's eyebrows shoot up and she looks at me. "Oh? Is that so?"

"Her art is good as gold!" He boasts as if it was his own art. I just want to slap my hands over his mouth to stop his talking. His accent can't save him now, no matter how adorable his slang is.

"Really? May I see some of your art, Nicole?" She addresses me as if I am a queen. Is art something big here? "What do you draw?"

"Mostly the stars and galaxies. But I also draw wolves once in a while." My eyes find my plate and I eat less enthusiastically. The chewing and talking has stopped, and it takes me a moment to notice.

Carly and Dallas both are staring at me wondrously. When they notice me looking, they turn away and continue eating. Well, that was weird.

--

Once we have finished, Carly takes our plates and I thank her for dinner. She just smiles and tells me that it was a pleasure to have me. Common mom saying.

"Dal, why don't you walk Nicole home?" She asks as she sets the dishes in the sink with a loud clank. The sink turns on and she starts washing them. "It's getting dark."

"It's alright. I can walk myself," I say politely, hefting my heavy backpack. Dallas tilts his head at me and I find it difficult to resist his gaze.

"Its too dark and there are wolves out. I'll come with." He insists, nudging me gently. His touch makes tingles flare on my skin and I pull away awkwardly.