"Mmmmm... What's that smell?" Brian asked as he stepped into the kitchen. His hair was untidy and he was the last one to get up that morning. Everyone else was up and about by 11am but he stayed in bed till 2pm and everyone was having lunch now. Lucy had made some chinese food and everyone was sitting around the table, chatting and enjoying their food.
"Well, hello Sleepyhead! Aren't you the early one?" Nick gave him a cheeky grin and went up to him and ruffled his already untidy hair. Brian pushed his hand away and looked at everyone grumpily, "I had a bad night, ok? Get off my case." But Nick couldn't resist thumping him around on his arm. He was in an incredibly good mood that day and only Lucy knew why. Lucy placed a huge plate of noodles in front of Brian and gave him a huge smile. Brian mumbled a thank you and started to dig in.
"Erm, people, the snow seems to be letting up a little today so I'll be going out for a while. You won't be expecting me until this evening, okay?" Lucy announced.
"Where are you going?" Kevin asked with a look of surprise on his face. Tyra and Peggy gave each other a knowing look before looking at Lucy.
"Erm," Lucy said, hesitantly and unwillingly. "I'm going to check some, uh, personal stuff."
Everyone exchanged strange looks but they just told her to be careful. She stepped out of the kitchen and walked into the living room, not realising that Nick had followed her out as well. She gasped when she felt a pair of arms around her and pushed the person off her. Surprised, the person gave a yell and she giggled when she recognised that voice.
"Now, Mr. Nicky Carter, I don't have the time to play right now. I have to go and deal with some...stuff." A shadow passed over her eyes when she said that.
"What is it? Can't you tell me?" Nick asked looking at her with puppy-dog eyes. She couldn't help but laugh then and brushed his fringe away from his eyes.
"It's nothing big, I'll be back this evening, see you then!" She kissed him on the cheek and he pouted but sent her out.
"See you later!" he called and she turned to wave back at him. It was still snowing outside, but the weather had made an unexpected turn for the better and the flakes were now falling lightly and gently, not harsh like it had been last night. Wow! He thought. One night and I've already found a girl who blows me away. He gave himself a grin. I just hope that Kevin won't force us to go back to the hotel, he thought and frowned. He ran into the house and raised the subject. There was a little disagreement but then Tyra managed to persuade Kevin to stay for the rest of the week at least and the guys were all pleased with the idea. It was comfortable in the house and the girls were fun to be around. As they went back to their own discussions again, Nick felt extremely bored. It didn't seem quite as fun without Lucy around and he found himself just moping around and not talking to anyone in particular.
He told the rest that he would go out and see if he can find anything interesting to do. They didn't seem to hear him so he just shrugged his shoulders and went out. He walked around and marvelled at how beautiful it was. The mountains were covered in snow and everywhere was white. Few people were about though so he just strolled along to the rhythm of his heartbeat and breathing. Calgary was indeed beautiful in the winter time and he was glad that he agreed to spent the Christmas holidays here with the guys. He found a couple of roadside stores a small distance from Lucy's house and went in. As he looked around, he struck up a friendly conversation with the salesperson. After a few friendly questions about where he was from and where he was staying at now, the salesperson seemed surprised to learn that he was staying at Lucy's place. He wasn't a friend of Lucy's but he started telling Nick about a couple of rumours he had heard about Lucy. He told Nick that she was often seen dropping off at the Girls' Home and that people had told him that when she was younger, she had done many things like steal and get into fights. Nick listened to what the old man had to say but only smiled politely. He didn't like what he heard but he didn't completely disbelieve them. Afterall, he only just knew Lucy but he decided that he would pretend that he didn't hear any of those rumours and just know her for who she was. After paying for a few souvenirs he decided to get for his family, he stopped over at a ranch nearby and looked at the horses in the barns.
Suddenly, a female's voice said, "You new around here?" He turned to the direction of the voice and saw two girls standing at the barn door, smiling at him, their eyes twinkling. He nodded his head and smiled.
"I was just looking at the horses." He stuttured out, giving them an embarrassed smile. They had surprised him and now he was at a loss for words. He made out what the two girls looked like under the poor lighting of the barn. Both of them were blonds and they were very pretty as far as he could make out. They smiled at him and walked towards him, introducing themselves. The girl with the shorter hair said, "I'm Joanne and she's Claire." He gave them a friendly smile and nodded his head. They stood there, expectantly. Finally Claire broke the silence and said, "You do have a name, don't you?" Nick's cheeks flushed as he stammered out his name. They introduced the horses to him and then got into a friendly chat with him and like the salesman, they too looked surprised to know that he was staying with Lucy.
"That girl who just moved into this place last August?!" Claire said, crinkling her nose. Nick gave her a look of surprise and said, "But she told me that she had been staying in Canada all her life!" Joanne rolled her eyes and replied, "Who knows how many lies she'd told! I hear that she visits the Girls' Home a few times a week! She must have done something terrible to be forced to a place like that. And I have no idea how Peggy and Tyra can put up with her. They must have a load of sympathy cos I wouldn't even dare go near her!" Nick had to go through the process of hearing the horrid things said about Lucy again. He knew that he shouldn't believe rumours, but there were a few loopholes. Why did she lie about living in Canada all her life? And why was she so secretive about where she was going that morning. She must have been going to the Girls' Home again, no doubt, he thought. He was puzzled and frustrated and wanted to know what was happening. I shall find out more about the rumours, and do a bit of snooping around for myself, he thought inwardly, maybe they won't be true. However, he knew that he had already submitted himself to the rumours and already a tiny wall of distrust was building up.
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