Chapter 45
Nick stared up the stairs into the hallway; she'd been in her room all morning, insisting that she stay in her room. She'd slipped out of his room at some point early in the morning and he'd woken up alone. When he went in to check up on her, she had still been asleep and later when she did wake, she kept to her room, claiming she had writing to do.
He wanted so badly to go to her, to make her come out of her room, but he knew he couldn't do that, wouldn't. She could be so stubborn when she wanted to, and he knew it was no use in arguing with her, especially now.
That's not to say that he didn't understand her need to be alone, but he hated to think of her sitting there blaming herself for something that wasn't her fault. He couldn't even begin to think of where she got the idea that if she'd been there, that things would've ended up differently, but he supposed that was her way of rationalizing what'd happened.
Still, he didn't want her to be alone; he'd promised her she wouldn't be alone. He was antsy, wanting some kind of contact with her, the last few nights were starting to effect him. He found himself consistently longing to have her in his arms, to hold her, anything. It wasn't in his power to do so and it frustrated him.
Standing, he headed over to his radio and turned it on, adjusting the tuning a bit so that he was able to get the station he'd left it at, in. Listening, he learned that the worst of the storm was to hit that night and for everyone to be on alert and to get their homes and everything prepared. They were already done, had been for a while, not that they could really do much, but it'd be ten times worse on them then it would be for anyone else.
Flipping the radio off, he jogged up the stairs, stopping by Nyla's door and knocking lightly. "Ny?"
"Come in."
Opening the door he peeked in, grinning. "Hey, just wanted to let ya know that I just heard on the radio that the worst of the storm is supposed to be hitting tonight, so make sure you have extra blankets and whatever on your bed, candles and all that jazz."
"Oh ok, thanks."
"No problem, so, how are you?"
She smiled a bit, that was like him, always worrying about her. "I'm ok Nick."
"Yeah...that's good."
Nyla looked down at her notebook then back up at him. "Nick?"
"Hmmm?"
"Was there something else you needed to tell me?"
"Huh? Oh! Oh no, just...ya know, I'll be downstairs if ya wanna hang out or whatever."
"Alright, I'll remember that."
"Great, so yeah."
She smiled.
"Ok, so I'm going now...downstairs to...do...stuff."
She nodded, "Ok."
"Ok."
Nyla looked at him, trying not to laugh. "Nick?"
"Right, going now." He blushed, turning and slipping back out, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Nyla shook her head, looking back down at her notebook starting to write, a faint smile on her lips.
He rested heavily against the door, well he felt stupid. He hadn't rambled and acted like that in so long, it was surprisingly refreshing. She'd always made him feel that way, even throughout the three years they dated, he could look at her and get that nervous anxious feeling and she never seemed to realize the power that she had.
Heading back down, he settled on the couch and proceeded to do some work that he needed to catch up on. He worked for a few hours, checking in on Nyla occasionally. And now it was late evening and he was sick of working and sick of being alone.
Cleaning his stuff up, he locked up and made sure everything was set, he started up the stairs for the night, heading into his room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nyla set her notebook down and rubbed at her eyes tiredly. She'd been writing all day, she just couldn't stop, she had so much she had to get out, so much that needed to be said. She smiled, thinking of Nick. He'd come up at numerous points throughout the day, each time checking to see how she was and trying to cheer her up a bit, he didn't know how grateful she was to him for it.
Slipping off the bed, she walked over to the window, making sure it was shut before staring out blankly. She just didn't know where to go or what to do anymore. She felt so lost, just when she thought she had things in control, that control was starting to slip. Turning her head she stared at her door, hearing Nick pounding up the stairs and then into his room, she licked her lips nervously.
She hadn't felt this way in so long, that anxious, giddy feeling she'd always felt around him. No, that hadn't faded away like she thought it had, it was there, stronger than ever it seemed. Looking back out the window she took a calming breath, she was too aware of him, too aware of the sound of his footsteps and of his presence.
Nyla rubbed at her face and shook her head; she had to stop this, had to. It wasn't right and she was in no position to...to...do what she didn't know, or maybe she did. There was a knock at her door and she jumped, startled.
"Nyla? Can I come in?"
Whirling around, her hand went to her hair automatically, messing with it. What was she doing? Clearing her throat, she made her way over to the bed, sitting down. "Sure."
The door open and there he was, smiling. "Hey, I'm back again."
She chuckled, "I see that."
"Yeah, I was just wondering if ya know...if ya wanted to talk or something? Cause to be quite honest, I'm bored and as lonely as hell and I...well I've missed you all day." He whispered.
She blinked, and looked down for a moment before looking back up at him. "Sure ok, I've...kinda missed you too."
Something flickered in his eyes but then it was gone and he smiled again.
"I'm missable I know."
Nyla rolled her eyes, "Don't get cocky Carter."
"Mmm hmmm." He winked, walking in and shutting the door behind him.
