Author: Vix
Email: Vix_Chic@hotmail.com
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Like I’ll ever tell.
Spoilers: Everything up to Viva Las Vegas… just in case.
Disclaimers: I own every character on here except for Maria, Michael, Liz, Max, Alex, Isabel, Tess, Kyle, Jim, Amy, Laurie, and anyone else who the WB would like to claim. Please don’t sue me I’m only in Junior High! But if you’d like to give me a job… it was worth a try wasn’t it???!!
Amanda walked through the back parking lot door and noticed Nicole leaning against her car door.
“Hey.” Amanda called kindly as she walked to her automobile.
“Hi. You doing anything tonight with Joshie-boy?” Nicole asked standing up completely.
“No, he has to study for that biology test we have Tuesday. I offered to help, but he didn’t think we’d get much work done.” Amanda said blushing.
“I think he’s right.” Nicole said trying to shake the unwanted picture of Josh and Amanda in the Eraser Room out of her brain.
“Why you ask?” Amanda asked sweeping a lock of hair behind her ear.
“I was thinking that you could stay the night tonight, and we could do the whole chick thing.” Nicole said shifting her weight from foot to foot then back again.
“OK. I’ll call my mom… You want a ride?” Amanda asked as she looked around the parking lot noticing that the Jetta was no where in sight.
“If you don’t mind the twins took the car to go to Thomas’ house.” Nicole said walking around to the other side of the car.
“Do they know that I know?” Amanda asked as she sat down in he driver’s seat next to Nicole who was buckling up.
“Yeah I got the pleasure of explaining it to them when they came back from Grandpa Valenti’s. They’re like my father… outsiders are a threat to them.” Nicole said watching Amanda put the car into gear.
“I’m sorry if I caused any problems in your family…” Amanda began to apologize.
“Don’t be sorry for anything… it wasn’t your fault and my brothers know that. They’re just extremely protective of their family just like me and our parents.” Nicole said brushing the apology off.
“And like Josh.” Amanda said with a smile.
“Something you’ll learn very quickly is that it doesn’t matter if you’re a Guerrin, Valenti, Evans, or Whitman you’re a part of a huge whole dysfunctional well oiled machine.” Nicole said shaking her head with a small smile.
“Are they all like Josh… you know, protective?” Amanda asked interested.
“Oh man you have no idea. If you’re a family member it’s really bad. I mean my brothers know everything they can about me. My cousins are practically my brothers so they fall into that category. And it doesn’t help a bit that they can feel me.” Nicole said thinking about her wonderful, extremely large, family.
“You’re not all blood related though, right?” Amanda asked a bit confused.
“That’s the wonderful thing about our family… blood means nothing. Come to think of it neither does species.” Nicole said laughing out loud.
“You’re family too you know?” Nicole asked seriously.
“What do you mean?” Amanda asked stopping at a red light.
“Josh wouldn’t just save anyone… You’re special to him. He’s known he could trust you since the first time he laid eyes on you… That makes you family. You may not feel like we’re family but you will eventually. First we’ll all be close friends because we share this… this wonderful secret and then we’ll all be family. That’s how it happened to my parents. Josh’s mom told you the basic outline of everything but there are so many stories and so many things I have to tell you… I’m sorry I’m like jumping a head. I’ll explain it all tonight over ice-cream and chick chat.” Nicole said watching the other cars begin to move.
“Chick chat sounds like fun… what’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?” Amanda asked as she took her cell phone out.
“Pistachio with honey and Tabasco, you?” Nicole asked.
“Vanilla… I’m so bland.” Amanda said dialing her home number.
“Hello… Is my mom… Thank you… Hey! Oh really? OK… can I stay at Nicole’s house tonight? Yes… Of course… OK thanks OK. All right I love you too. Bye.” Amanda said finally hanging up the phone.
“Can we stop and get some stuff from my house?” Amanda asked as she turned her blinker on.
“Sure.” Nicole said distractedly.
“What’s on your mind?” Amanda asked as she looked out the window at the traffic around them
“Randy.” Nicole said before she realized what she was saying.
“Let’s try this again, what’s on your mind?” Amanda asked as she pulled up to her house and turned off the ignition.
“I’ll tell you later. Let’s go get your stuff.” Nicole said unbuckling and getting out of the car leaving a confused but patient Amanda in the automobile.
*
“You can leave your stuff in here.” Nicole said as she walked into her room and tossed her book bag on her desk chair.
“Hey Nic can we borrow your… Hello.” Mark, Nicole’s brother, said shortly as he walked through the door to Nicole’s room.
“Hi. I’m Amanda.” She said self-consciously tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
“We know.” Matthew said as he walked up behind his brother.
“Can we borrow your CDs?” Mark asked not bothering to acknowledge the girl with dark hair again.
Nicole, not turning around, reached behind her and made the CD case fly across the room into her brother’s a waiting arms.
Mark turned and walked around his twin brother, Matthew. Matthew followed his brother’s lead and walked down the stairs and out the front door.
“They’re just not use to you yet, but they will be.” Nicole said apologetically as she went over to her window and watched her brother’s jump into the Jetta and take off, probably back to Thomas’.
“Sure… he gave the stare of death.” Amanda said.
“He gives me the stare of death at least once a day. Listen you’ll be family just like Aunt Liz… just give it time.” Nicole said turning back to her guest who was now on her bed Indian style.
“OK… I have to know, Randy?” Amanda asked looking over at the blonde girl who sat in front of her.
“Well that’s chick chat so we need ice cream!” Nicole exclaimed and walked over to the door and into the hallway.
*
“MOM!” Nicole yelled after searching the refrigerator.
“In here!” Maria yelled back to her daughter from the master bedroom.
“Hey mom. You know I love you right?” Nicole asked lying down on the bed next to her mom.
“What do you want?” Maria asked covering the mouthpiece of the portable.
“We love you.” Nicole said getting up and dragging the shy girl from the door entrance to the bed, “Don’t we?”
“Oh yeah! We love you to death.” Amanda said smiling.
“Go get my purse… it’s on my dresser.” Maria said smiling at both of them.
“We’re going to get ice cream so we can have a chick chat.” Nicole said bring the purse back to her mother.
“A Chick Chat? Wow.” Maria said nodding, “Michael what do you want from the store… Don’t Maria me… fine… OK… I always do space boy. I love you too. I will… You are? Cool… Bye… Yes! No no no no no no you can’t make me…Fine! Bye. Love you too… yes… bye… see you soon… he didn’t! Bye.” Maria said but this time she actually hung up the phone.
“My parents are so strange.” Nicole muttered under hear breath.
“I might not have any super sensitive hyper secnesess alien dooamahickys but I heard that.” Maria said digging through her purse.
“I didn’t hear you denying it.” Nicole said with a small smile as her mom handed her a twenty.
“Well that would just be no fun. Your dad said that he doesn’t want anything, but I was thinking that you could buy some vanilla triple fudge double syrup swirl for your aunt Lizzy. You know because she pregnant and you know she loves the sweets she’s just frightened of putting on too much weight.” Maria said shaking her head.
“Dad always wants something.” Nicole said.
“He had one of his boys run out to get him something so he didn’t need us to… Oh don’t forget the extra Tabasco for your aunt.” Maria called out as Nicole and Amanda exited the room.
“I won’t, love you mom!” Nicole said before slamming the door.
“So where are we going?” Amanda asked as she got into the driver’s side of her own vehicle.
“Wal-Mart.” Nicole said as she buckled up.
*
“Do we need a cart or one of those baskets?” Amanda asked.
“Basket.” Nicole said as she picked one up and started towards the ice cream section, Amanda close behind.
*
“Hello, Randy here.” Randy answered the ringing cell phone.
“Pistachio and Tabasco? Yes sir. OK, Bye.” Randy said finally as he walked towards the ice cream section in the local Wal-mart.
*
“I’ll go get the Tabasco so we can save some time.” Amanda said as she began to walk off.
“Get two.” Nicole said as she sat the basket down on the ground.
As she stood up she lost her balance and fell backward straight into the arms of the guy standing behind her… Randy Jackson.
“You OK?” Randy asked as he helped her right herself.
“Yeah fine.” Nicole said pulling back quickly she hadn’t even looked Randy in the eye since the Eraser Room accident she didn’t know if she could take another minute of his hands on her.
“You do tend to fall a lot don’t you?” Randy asked a smile playing at his lips.
“What?” Nicole asked confused.
“Last week…” Randy began but stopped when Nicole’s face flushed at recognition.
With those two simple words a wave of embarrassment had crashed into her. She had remembered vaguely the feeling of falling when they had been in the Eraser Room, and as it happened she did fall. Her knees locked and she fell on him making them both crash into the floor… not that that had stopped them…
“I take it you didn’t entirely forget that experience.” Randy said with poorly covered hurt.
She hadn’t forgotten God knows she tried to but something that felt like that… she couldn’t forget. She had done the next best thing… She had avoided him at all costs.
“Well I take it neither did you.” She said in response.
“What would make you think that I did? I wasn’t the one ignoring you all week.” Randy said stressing ‘I’ and ‘You.’
“No you’re the one that didn’t call.” Nicole mumbled suddenly finding interest in her shoes.
“Yeah well you’re the one that ran off as soon as the last bell rang.” Randy said harshly remembering the pain he had been submitted to as he watched her run out the Eraser room door and into the mass of people outside.
Nicole looked up and took on an expression that would have made you think he had struck her.
“I’m sorry.” He said he couldn’t stand her to be hurt but she had hurt him. He didn’t think she’d leave after what happened… didn’t she feel it too? He didn’t think she’d be that ashamed of him…
“I ran off because if I didn’t I would have been left at the school without a ride home.” She tried to explain.
“I would have given you a ride.” Randy said stubbornly.
“After football practice.” Nicole said as she picked up the basket and turned to finish her shopping.
“What is your problem?” Randy asked stopping her with a hand on her arm.
“You’re a jock, I’m a freak… do the math… Or can jocks do that?” She asked as she tried to walk off.
He quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the restroom/ pay phone area that was secluded somewhere past their isle.
“Jocks this and freaks that huh? What ever happened to being just Nicole and Randy? No titles, no subsections just humans?” He asked and suddenly she flinched as if the words had physically hurt her.
They had physically hurt her. She felt… sick. She now realized how things were supposed to be she was going to end up alone all because of what she was… She couldn’t tell him and she couldn’t get close to him… what if he got hurt? What if he told someone? What if he was disgusted by what she was… ‘No subsections… no titles… just humans,’ the words he had spoken moments before resounded in her mind ‘…just humans,’ she wasn’t human and she couldn’t pretend…
“What if I was something else entirely? What if I wasn’t human?” Nicole asked automatically wishing she could take the question back.
“What? You feeling OK?” He asked worriedly.
“I don’t get sick.” She let the sentence hang as she thought of the things she did that were different from humans… she wasn’t the same and she could never be no matter what.
She wrapped her arms around his strong neck and held on tight for a minute reveling in the feel of his arms. She had never felt such peace in her entire existence. She was aware of every part of his body that was touching hers… She could feel how tight he was holding her… It was as if he never wanted to let her go and in truth she never wanted to be let go… What you get and what you want are two different things.
She slowly slid from his arms and looked up into his eyes as her feet evened on the ground. She reached up and gently brought his forehead to her lips… She took her basket and walked over to the ice cream section without another word.
She meet Amanda when she arrived there she still kept her lips closed very tightly. She went about her task mechanically. She took the bottles from Amanda and went to the checkout counter. She looked from the clerk to Amanda and back again… they were both gazing at her strangely.
“Is she going to be OK?” The clerk asked Amanda.
“Yeah… she’ll be fine.” Amanda answered as Nicole handed the lady the money.
Amanda had grabbed the bags and the change before Nicole could even think to grab for them. By the time she reached the car Amanda was opening Nicole’s door for her, Amanda had already dumped the bags into the back seat.
It was then that Nicole looked into the mirror that was perched on the window visor. She had tears running from her eyes… her steal gray eyes were no longer light and lustrous they looked like the ocean just before a devastating storm… they looked like she felt… suddenly jade eyes passed in front of her eyes… Jade eyes that were wide with shock and horror. Randy was walking out of the store and a car… a grand am was quickly pulling around the curb… too quickly… she shuddered as she heard the car contact with his body... then she was back in the car right beside Amanda who was shaking her.
“Oh God.” Nicole said as she pushed Amanda away and ripped the door open and ran across the emptying parking lot.
“Randy!” Nicole screamed as she ran passed the curb and pushed him back into the store.
“Nicole what’s wrong?” Randy asked but the last part of his question wasn’t heard because there was a screech of tires as a red grand am lost control and ran onto the curb before hitting a phone booth and stopping.
“Stay right here.” Randy said wrapping his arms around her before leaving to go check on the people that were possibly in the car.
“Nicole!” Amanda yelled as she ran up to the girl whose eyes were no longer the darkening color but a pale gray.
“I’m ready to go home.” Nicole said shivering.
“OK.” Amanda said as she wrapped her arm around the girl’s shoulders and walked pack towards her awaiting car.
Even though Nicole never saw the dark jade stone eyes following her she felt them… she felt him…
*
“I’ll give Aunt Liz the ice cream.” Nicole volunteered as they pulled up into the Evan’s driveway.
“I’ll come with you.” Amanda said getting out of the car.
Once they reached the door Josh threw it open before they could knock. He didn’t even glance at Nicole as he wrapped his girlfriend in a warm embrace before kissing her soundly.
“Hey Nic…. What happened?” He asked suddenly worried.
“Nothing,” Nicole answered a little too quickly for Josh’s liking, “We have to go, Later.”
Nicole walked to the car not letting Amanda say anything. After giving Josh a kiss and hug good bye she reached her car and got in to start it but found it already running.
*
“Your dad just called he said that you saved Randy’s life today.” Maria said as she took the ice cream from Nicole.
“Yeah I did.” Nicole said only half-alive.
“Randy said that you pushed him inside before a car could hit him. He says he doesn’t understand how you knew.” Maria said getting out three bowls.
“Is he suspicious?” Nicole asked getting the spoons and Tabasco sauce.
“No. Just shocked and very depressed,” Maria said looking at her daughter intently, “You’re just the same. What happened?”
“Nothing.” Nicole replied taking a spoon and scooping the ice cream into the bowls.
“How’d you know?” Maria asked hopping up onto the counter with a bowl of ice cream her daughter had handed her.
“Vision.” Nicole answered passing the scoop to Amanda so she could fix her own.
“What?” Maria asked dropping the spoon back into the bowl.
“I got a vision.” Nicole said a little louder.
“What aren’t you telling me Laurie Nicole Guerrin?” Maria demanded.
“I had another fight with him and when we got into the car I got a vision.” Nicole said cringing at the use of her full name, which she had partly inherited from one of her aunts.
“You’re not telling me everything. You can’t just have visions from him. It has to be linked to you some how… you’re connected to him aren’t you?” Maria finally concluded.
“It all started last week. We were working in the library then we stopped working and started fighting… one thing lead to another and next thing I knew we were in the Eraser Room.” Nicole explained.
“Eraser room…” Maria began to let she indulge in those… pleasant memories but quickly caught herself, “Do you really like this boy?”
“Does that really matter… He’s a jock - I’m a freak… He’s a human - I’m an alien.” Nicole said as if that explained everything.
“You’re dad’s an alien and I’m a human. Michael’s a loner… a rebel without a clue… I’m a hippie’s daughter… I’m a…” She began but as cut off by Amanda.
“A pixie! You remind me of a pixie.” Amanda said instantly felling lame.
“Your Uncle Alex is a musician a very unorganized musician and your Aunt Isabel is a neat freak lawyer. Your Grandma Amy is a hippie and your grandpa Jim was a sheriff!” Maria said.
“Uncle Max and Aunt Liz are exactly the same… Josh and Amanda are just like them! It would never work! I told him I was a freak and he was a jock and he said we’re both just human… we’re not just human! I even asked what he would think if I wasn’t human and he asked if I was feeling OK and you know what I said… I don’t get sick! I don’t get sick! I’m not human he deserves human.” Nicole said before shoving a large scoop of ice cream into her mouth and pouting.
“You’re saying he deserves someone who gets sick. Honey… you had a vision… he gave you a vision when you were thinking about him… Did you get a vision when you were kissing him?” Maria asked.
“Yeah. We were some where, the back ground was blurry, and he was saying something that didn’t make much sense and I told him I was an alien and then the bell rung and I pulled away and ran off.” Nicole said thinking back on the best and worst day of her life, so far.
“You ran off… bet that did wonders for the boy’s ego.” Maria said looking over at Amanda, “What do you think she should do?”
“I think she should give him a try. They’ve been picking on each other for the past eleven years. They should just try it if it doesn’t work out then at least you know. It’s the never knowing you’ll regret.” Amanda said.
“I told him the twins would have left me. What if it works out really well and I do tell him and he can’t handle it and he cracks and tells someone and they come after us again?” Nicole asked still grasping to her point.
“Don’t worry I don’t think you’ll live long enough. Your dad’s home and he’s pissed.” Maria said jumping down off the counter.
Michael slammed the door behind him; “I’m home!”
He walked quickly into the kitchen, “Hi Amanda. Nicole did you have fun?”
“Hi honey.” Maria said walking over and putting her arms around his waist trying to calm him down.
“What did you expect me to let him die?” Nicole asked.
“I’m not talking about saving his life I’m talking about making out in the middle of school and skipping 6th and 7th hour.” Michael said his anger evident only in his eyes… his face was expressionless.
‘Well two can do that!’ Nicole thought as she let her face become placid and her eyes took on a violent gray.
“Yeah I did have a lot of fun.” She said in a calm tone like him.
“Good because you’re so grounded for the rest of your life.” Michael said looking over at Amanda, “Starting Monday.”
“You spent over half your high school career in that very room.” Nicole said in the same voice keeping her tone in check.
“That’s true we did.” Maria said looking up at her husband trying to get him to be more sympathetic.
“Are you OK?” Michael asked his daughter.
“Yeah, why?” She asked a bit confused.
“Randy wanted me to make sure.” Michael said his teeth grinding together.
“Is it me and him together you don’t like or is it the fact that I made out with a boy?” Nicole asked.
“I don’t want to fight with you.” He said firmly.
“You’re not grounded.” Maria said pulling her husband towards the bedroom, “Can we have a talk?”
Amanda cringed as she heard Nicole’s parent’s bedroom door slam shut. Then there was yelling and lots of it.
“I hate when my parents fight.” Amanda said.
“Yelling is like fore play with my parents. When the yelling stops that’s when you worry.” Nicole said and as if on cue the entire house went silent.
Nicole walked over to her parents’ room and felt nauseous as she inched the door open and found her parents making out on the bed.
“You either worry or you throw up.” She mumbled to Amanda as they left to get their food and head up stairs. As soon as Nicole’s foot hit the first stair the phone in her room went off.
She quickly took two stairs at a time anticipating who was on the other end. She quickly set the ice cream down on the vanity as she dove for the still ringing phone.
“Is it on its way?” Nicole asked into the phone with a smile.
“Get your butts down here!” Josh hollered as he paced the living room. He hung up the phone and watched as Tess ran into the house and whizzed past him. His Uncle Kyle and Eddie on the other hand were walking at a slower pace and came to a stop beside the young Evans.
“How is she?” Kyle asked.
*
“Now that the nurse is here we can get started,” Max said smiling at Tess as she walked into the bed room still in her scrubs, “ Mrs. Evans, are you OK?” Max asked.
“Yeah… for now.” Liz said as she bit her lip due to the pain.
Max placed his hand on the source of her pain, “Better?” He asked smiling at his radiant wife.
She smiled in return.
*
“MOM!” Nicole yelled as she ran down stairs Amanda in toe.
“What?” Maria asked rushing out of her bedroom with Michael.
“Liz… baby!” Nicole said grabbing the keys and chunking them at her father’s waiting hands.
“Now?” Maria asked forgetting her shoes and running out of the house and into the explorer.
“Now!” Nicole said as she followed her mom.
Michael and Amanda, on the other hand, quickly put their shoes on then joined the other two hostile Guerins in the car.
*
“Hello, you’ve reached the law office of Whitman incorporated to what jurisdiction or to whom may I direct your call?” Asked Isabel’s secretary.
“Isabel please.” Alex said into his car phone.
“She’s in a meeting.” Said the secretary.
“It’s important.” Alex said getting a bit impatient
“I can understand that sir but I’m afraid…” The secretary began but was quickly cut off.
“Meeting or no meeting put my wife on.” Alex said annoyed and upset.
“On moment.” Said the secretary as she forwarded his call into the main conference room.
“Mrs. Whitman?” The secretary called over the phone as Isabel picked it up and set it on speaker.
“Your husband’s on the line.” She said.
“I’m in a meeting…” Isabel began smiling apologetically at her clients.
“Try telling him that.” The secretary said as she put him through without orders.
“Honey?” Alex asked hearing a click.
“This better be worth it.” Isabel said thinking of how many ways she could punish him if he screwed up this case for her.
“Is the new addition to the family worth it?” Alex asked with a smile on his face.
“Oh my god! I’m on my way!” Isabel screamed as she turned the phone off and rushed out the door only to turn around and run back to the door.
She quickly collected herself and walked calmly back inside, “My apologizes my brother’s wife is having a child. Please reschedule this meeting with my secretary.” Isabel said then without a response walked back out the door.
Once she hit mid hall she broke out into a run which most businesswomen couldn’t do in pumps…
*
“How is she?” Maria called as he ran into the hallway almost tripping over the three pairs of legs that were lying across her path.
“Fine.” Josh said not standing up.
Michael soon took his place with the rest of the guys. Soon Alex, Thomas, Matthew, and Mark sat down too.
Amanda and Nicole sat at on the counter waiting for even a pen drop of a sound the whole house was quite until…
“AHHHHHHHHH…”
“I feel you! I spit out three of those suckers already I don’t think I can take another one.” Maria said as she took her place near the other girls.
“It’s a girl!” Josh called out as he ran towards a rather large group of people in the kitchen.
Maria hugged him with a great force after jumping off the counter and before running towards the bedroom.
Nicole and Isabel did the same thing. The guys on the other hand stood up from the hallway and shook his hand they too walked towards the bedroom.
When they arrived they found Tess and Liz crying in joy. Isabel and Maria soon joined in. Amanda stood at the back of the room watching the family swarm together ‘… I’m not one of them… I shouldn’t be here.’ The thoughts repeated over and over in her head, as she stood stiff.
Josh wrenched himself away from the family’s warmth and walked towards his girlfriend who was staring blankly at the floor.
“Come on I know you want to see her. Whether you’re a human or an alien, chicks love babies.” He said with a grin as he grabbed her hand and drug her into the crowd next to the bed.
“She’s beautiful.” Amanda said as she peered down into the bundle of joy in Liz’s arms.
“Would you like to start the passing?’ Liz asked the bright-eyed girl her son had fallen in love with.
Josh, knowing that Amanda didn’t understand the question completely, lifted his baby sister from his mother’s arms and placed them into Amanda’s.
Amanda’s eyes found the child’s and she couldn’t believe that such a young creature could have such soulful eyes just like her father... and her wonderful brother, Josh, his eyes… were magnificent just as this child’s were. She gently passed her to her older brother then him to Nicole, then Maria and so on. That was the passing… a family tradition since the first true hybrid had been born.
*
Once Nicole had returned to her house it was nearly morning. There had been cake and ice cream and family sharing and she felt as though she was just shared out. Her head hit the pillow and her eyes went to her phone… She had gotten her own answering machine and phone line a long time ago… the light was blinking quite rapidly.
She struggled to get up and crawl over to the play button. Amanda beat her to it.
“Thanks.” Nicole said with a smile of gratitude as the messages started to play…
“Nicole this is Randy Jackson please give me a call when you get in my number is 493-8144, Thanks.”… “Nicole me again, Randy please call me soon, 493-8144.”… “Nicole I’m calling every hour on the hour, my number is 493-8144.” … “It’s eleven o’clock and I know your dad so this is the last time I’m going to call you, but please call me as soon as you get my messages… You can call me at any time, 493-8144… later.”
As the message began to rewind the evenings events flashed back into Nicole’s mind… the meeting… the car… her new baby cousin, Alixandra Serena Evans, the loving look on her Uncles’ faces, her Aunts’ faces… the tears in her Uncle Max’s eyes… The tear’s in her Aunt Liz’s… their love… their love had created a beautiful creature… a beautiful person whether it was an alien hybrid or not it was still a magnificent being…
Amanda pressed the stop button on the answering machine before it could replay. She walked over to the bed and sat down on the corner by Nicole’s head, “He’s got it bad… and so do you. Listen Nicole if you like him go for it… I’m human and Josh… well Josh is a little green around the gills if you know what I mean. He told me that you, Eddie, and Thomas are the ones that gave him the courage to ask me out and I owe my happiness to you...almost all of it… I give him sole credit on the kissing.” Amanda said trying to get a rise out of the quiet girl beside her.
It worked; Nicole whirled around and hit Amanda in the head with a pillow. They were soon tumbling around crashing into things causing a great disturbance.
*
Mark and Matthew exited their joint room and walked down the hall into their sister’s room.
“Hey knock it off.” Mark barked over the girls’ laughter.
Amanda stopped and looked over at the two younger boys… Nicole on the other hand lunged for them with the pillows… Amanda laughed and soon took suit.
Matthew grabbed Amanda and tossed her on the bed tickling her, “AHHH… THIS IS NOT FAIR… CHEATER!” Amanda cried as Mark used his powers to hold her down as he unmercifully attacked her ribs.
“Two can play that game!” Nicole said as she jumped on her brother’s back causing him to fall on top the bed next to Amanda.
“Where’s he ticklish?” Amanda asked trying out different spots.
“Get the knees!” Nicole cried as Mark came over to assist his twin.
*
“Now that we have our ice cream and we have our breath we can have our official chic chat.” Nicole said as she plopped down on her bed next to her red-faced guest.
After a long tickle battle with Mark and Matthew the two had finally won, or in other words they surrendered. They had went down stairs and got their comfort foods.
“OK if you say so… can I ask you a question though?” Amanda asked as she situated herself to face Nicole.
“Shoot.” Nicole said as she too found a more comfortable place on her bed.
“Do you really like Randy?” Amanda asked taking a bite of ice cream.
“Yeah, my turn do you really love Josh?” Nicole asked shoving a spoon full of ice cream into her mouth.
“Oh yeah.” Amanda said getting a dazed look on her face.
“What should I do?” Nicole asked leaning her head back against the wall behind her bed.
“What do you want to do? What are you so scared of?” Amanda asked looking her in the eyes.
“I’m not scared,” Nicole said firmly.
“Lie to someone who’ll believe you.” Amanda said with a trusting smile.
“If he finds out and freaks what am I supposed to do? What if being who I am hurts him…” Nicole began her many questions and probably wouldn’t have stopped if Amanda had not interrupted her.
“What if he gets hit by a bus tomorrow? I mean come on he almost got hit by a car today. What if a bus hits you? What if you die when you’re really old but instead of having a joyful life of kids and a loving husband flash before your eyes all you see is your cats!” Amanda said almost as quickly as Nicole had asked her tyrant of questions.
“I’m not going to be some old biddy with cats!” Nicole said to Amanda, “I don’t like cats.”
“Fine you’ll just be a lonely old biddy! Call him! Call him! I dare you to call him!” Amanda said knowing that since Nicole was young she couldn’t resist a dare.
“It’s late though!” Nicole said looking over at the clock that now read 3:13 A.M.
“He said any time… if he didn’t want you calling at this time maybe he shouldn’t have said it it’s totally his fault!” Amanda said as she went over and picked up the portable phone.
“Aren’t you pushy?” Nicole asked as she took the phone from her hand.
“Do you need me to play the message for the number?” Amanda asked still standing.
“493-8144.” Nicole let out a deep breath as she felt her pulse quicken along with her heartbeat.
“Would you mind?” Nicole asked Amanda as she inched her way to her bathroom.
“No.” Amanda said. “I’m gonna raid your room.”
Nicole shook her head before closing the door behind her.
*
“Hello?” A voice called from the other line… a tired voice.
“Hi, is Randy there?” Nicole asked nervously.
“Nicole?” The voice asked a little more awake.
“Yeah…” Nicole answered her breathing becoming a little quicker.
“You know what time it is?” Randy asked looking over at his bed clock.
“Yeah I’m sorry you said call at anytime and Amanda said…” Nicole was about to go into rambling mode and she knew she couldn’t do anything to stop it.
“I meant it too. You OK? Where are you? Is Amanda over there? Where you been?” He began cutting her off.
“I’m fine, I’m at home, Amanda’s here, we’ve been at Josh’s. My aunt just had a baby.” Nicole said sitting on the sink counter.
“Congratulations. You’re probably wiped, you didn’t have to call but I’m glad you did.” He finished softly.
“Yeah well I’m anything but wiped I’m hyper if anything…” She began but was again cut off.
“Hyper? Oh Lord help us all. I remember your sugar high days. I also remember the teacher taking away snack privileges from us too.” He said with a bit of a laugh.
“That’s only cause I kept disrupting classes, and he only took snacks from you because you kept giving them to me under our desks.” Nicole said getting up and sinking to the floor.
“Man, we were demon children.” Randy laughed into the phone.
“Yeah we were.” Nicole said a bit nostalgic for the olden days when they were closer.
“What’s your cousin’s name?” Randy asked after a pause of awkward silence.
“Alixandra Serena Evans.” Nicole said happy to change the subject, “What’s up? Why’d you call earlier?”
“I wanted to make sure you were OK…” Randy trailed off while slumping into his mattress.
“I’m fine… you?” Nicole asked genuinely concerned.
“Oh yeah, I’m fine. Nicole? How did you know?” Randy asked turning off his bedside light and looking out his window beside his bed.
“Does it matter? You’re alive aren’t you?” She asked.
“My body’s functioning if that’s what you mean.” He said a bitter tone in his voice.
“Listen I know you’re probably freaked… but don’t be all right? You’re alive and so am I…” She said trying to forget the knots in her stomach.
“Listen I know that you don’t like the fact that I’m a jock but can’t we just try to be together?” Randy asked.
“That’s a very subtle change of topic.” Nicole said sarcastically.
“Nothing is ever subtle with you Guerrin.” Randy said seriously.
“Listen Jackson, it wouldn’t work. You’re much better suited for one of those blonde cheerleaders you usually court!” Nicole said with a note of bitterness.
“Please the only blond I’m interested in courting is you and you know it and it scares you!” He retorted quickly.
“Yeah sure buddy. You’d court me till you realize what it would be doing to your image. Please… the high school hottie dating the high school freak. You’re a jock, an honor student, you’re one of the most popular people in school… you don’t want to risk all of that just for me.” Nicole said her voice steady.
“How do you know what I want to risk? For all you know I might actually think that you’re worth the risk because you know what Nic… you are! You’ve always been worth the risk…” Randy said his anger getting the better of him.
The words hung heavily in the air. Nicole didn’t know what to do… if she listened to her heart she might get hurt but… if she listened to her head she doubted she’d ever stop hurting…
“Meet me tomorrow when the art center opens… I’ll be in the painting room.” Nicole said shortly before hanging up.
*
Nicole sat in her work clothes, which consisted of an old baby tee shirt and overalls, awaiting the arrival of none other than Randy Jackson.
She sat in front of a blank canvas. There were paints and charcoal pencils all around her and draw she could not. Her heart was pounding too hard, her stomach too tied in knots, and her hands to sweaty because she was nervous… She was beyond nervous. She had to calm down… so she did… she sang…
“You’ve got the golden touch, You’re almost too much…”
*
Randy stood at the work room door paralyzed. An angel’s voice reached out and called to him. He watched through the door window as Nicole swayed back and forth gently on her seat singing ‘Golden Touch.’ He pushed the swinging door gently taking his time as he walked towards her, careful so not to alert his own angel to his mortal presence.
He stood and watched her gold curls sway with her frame. Her hair smelled like ripe apples and was slightly frizzy, due to an earlier morning shower no doubt. Her voice was steady and heavenly and her shirt rode up slightly right before it was to meet her baggy overall button up sides. There was a small alluring patch a creamy skin exposed on the side. His hands ached to run his palms over it once again.
*
She kept singing even though she could feel his presence closing in on her. She could feel his eyes trailing a path… She could feel his longing… she could feel him reaching out towards her physically.
*
“Took you long enough.” She said aloud before his hand could grab a vibrant curl.
“Car wouldn’t start.” He offered lamely as he quickly retracted his hand as she spun to face him.
She examined him carefully. He wore his work jeans and an old shirt that showed off his gorgeous arms. His hair was perfectly combed and stiff looking, but she knew, from experience, that looks could be deceiving, fore, his hair would be silken and soft to the touch. He had barely visible bags under his eyes confirming her suspicions; he too had not gotten much sleep after their conversation. He looked like the average dumb jock all right… but his eyes gave way to the true depths of his soul. His eyes were dark and nervous and troubled… and beautiful.
“Bummer.” She said after a few moments.
“Yeah... So, why are we here?” He asked the question she was dreading.
“Because we need to talk.” She said trying to figure out how she was going to word what she wanted to say.
“Oh great, that speech huh?” Randy asked unexcitedly as he sat down on a table that was located half way across the room.
“It’s not what you think.” She said standing up and walking over to the table; standing three feet in front of him.
“Oh really? Just tell me up front, is this good news or bad news?” He asked trying to prepare himself.
“Bad news.” Nicole said swallowing a lump in her throat… she knew she should have practiced in front of the mirror… but then again she was pretty sure that no amount of practicing could prepare her to tell Randy that she thought she was in love with him… now could it?
“Give it to me straight Doc.” Randy said jokingly, or what was supposed to come out jokingly instead it came out flat and disappointed.
“The bad news is your social ‘value’ is going to decrease greatly…” She said looking him in the eyes and taking a couple of steps so that she was directly in front of him.
“Why is it going to decrease?” He asked his pulse quickening.
“Because dating the school outcast tends to have that kind of effect on your popularity.” She said her gaze not faltering.
“It’s worth it then… if that’s the reason.” He said reaching his hands out towards her waist and pulling her forward gently. So she stood between his legs, her arms around him, and her eyes peering into his.
“Well your not dating her yet… you know you do have to still kind of ask…” She said trailing off her gaze finding his stomach instead of his bright jade eyes.
“Would you, school outcast also known as the hostile but wonderful Nicole Guerrin, like to be my steady girlfriend?” He asked letting one hand unwrap from her small frame and lift her angelic face so that her eyes met his own.
“You know this is social suicide right?” She asked once again giving him a chance to back out.
“Your worth it Nicole. You’re worth all the letterman’s jackets and high school parties in this life time and the next.” Randy said his head sinking lower so that his forehead rested against her own gently.
“Then yes... I just hope you won’t regret it…” She said her face inching towards his.
“Will you?” He asked stopping right before their lips met.
She let his warm breath wash over her before answering, “Not in a million years.”
*
Nicole took a deep breathe as she shrugged on Randy’s letterman jacket and exited her car walking towards West Roswell High’s entrance doors.
Once she walked through the door everyone stopped and turned to look at her. Even though she had her eyes trained on her destination she could feel people look at her in disbelief.
She walked at a normal pace to her locker and crammed her books into it quickly.
“Good morning!” Amanda called form the other side of Nicole’s locker startling the tense girl.
“Thanks I needed that heart attack.” Nicole said not even bothering to look at her.
“The jacket looks good on you.” Amanda said noticing Randy coming towards them.
“Yeah well it’s a jock jacket. I wouldn’t be wearing it if it didn’t belong to one of the greatest guys on earth.” Nicole said shutting her locker and letting a bright smile take over her facial features.
“Trying to boost my ego I see.” Randy said as his arms encircled her.
“Morning honey.” Nicole said leaning into the embrace and closing her eyes as though to savor the feel of his arms… the safety and security of his grip.
“Morning Baby, you seemed to get through the front door in one piece.” He said titling his head to rest against his girlfriends.
“Yeah, but I doubt me and you will make it out of school that way.” She said as she opened her eyes to see her three cousins and two brothers on the way over to their current position.
“Did hell freeze over?” Eddie asked his companions as they quickly approached the couple.
“Morning.” Josh said walking over to his girl friend and planting a kiss on her temple before starring at the odd couple that stood in front of them.
“Explain.” Mark and Matthew demanded in unison.
“Matthew, Mark you know Randy. Randy you know my subhuman little brothers right?” Nicole asked glaring at the two twins who were glaring at her boyfriend.
“Morning.” Randy said awkwardly as his arms tightened protectively around his girlfriend.
Matthew and Mark grumbled as they walked off quickly.
Thomas and Eddie just stood and starred at them bewildered.
“Morning boys.” Nicole smiled… a real smile. Not a sarcastic smile, not a forced smile… a radiant smile of pure happiness.
“Nice fit.” Eddie said gesturing to the jacket. He smiled at Randy. His smile was nothing like Nicole’s. His eyes didn’t sparkle… they were instead hard and cool. He might be a fellow team mate and he might be a nice guy but that was his cousin… she was practically his little sister and if he hurt her…
“Isn’t it though?” Randy asked Nicole’s smile reflected on his handsome face and in the depths of his bright eyes.
“Yeah.” Thomas said smiling. She was happy and that was all that mattered… until he hurt her… But Thomas hoped, for Randy’s sake, that he did no such thing.
The bell over head rang loudly. Eddie, Thomas, Josh and Amanda soon broke way from the new couple finding their way to homeroom… the couple on the other hand found their way in the opposite direction.
“Where are you taking me?” Randy asked with a smile already knowing where their destination was.
“Come on… a girl’s gotta have some fun.” Nicole said a mischievous smile on her face as she neared the Eraser Room door.
Randy laughed at his girlfriend as he opened the door eagerly.
The End