Chapter 6

                                    

                                          
"Are you sure you want to go back today?" Nash's voice reached me from where he stood near Nicole, his arms braced outward towards his sister as if to catch her should she fall. But Nicole had made wonderful progress over the last two days. She stayed bedridden for the rest of that Sunday after the crash and then ditched school Monday and Tuesday. Nash wouldn't let me go either, which meant I had spent two very long days with my very talkative cousin while Nash got the freedom to attend school and bring us our homework.
                          
    "I'm fine." Nicole insisted, gingerly inching toward the kitchen counter. She was still sore, that much was obvious, but she was getting tired of staying in bed all day
                          
    Nash seemed to follow her everywhere, making sure that she was comfortable at all times and babying her as much as possible. He used to treat her like that daily when we were children, I remember sometimes he wouldn't even let her hang out with him and his friends because he was afraid she'd get hurt. Nicole grew out of that phase though and became a strong woman that even Nash feared to anger.
                          
    But seeing her now, it was like we were six all over again.
                          
    She was lucky. I had always wanted siblings. Growing up as an only child could get so lonesome that my best friends were those that I created in my mind. While imaginary friends weren't popular amongst older kids, I kept my imaginary brothers and sisters well into middle school. Because of this, the other kids at school thought of me as weird and strange, which didn't help me make any friends.
                          
    I was just tired of being alone all the time.
                          
    "Kimber, help me get her bag." Nash instructed, following after his sister as she made her way towards the door.
                          
    I rolled my shoulders, hearing the sore muscles pop. Of course I felt like shit but I didn't want any pity from anyone, and I certainly didn't want Nash treating me as he was treating his sister. Besides, Nicole had been injured worse than I had. She deserved to have everyone fawn over her for a little while.
                          
    Not to mention she flourishes in the spotlight.
                          
    After Nash escorted his sister out the door, I grabbed her backpack and placed it over mine before heading out of the apartment as well. Getting Nicole down the stairs was a long trek and she snapped on Nash several times before we reached the parking lot, yet Nash still didn't back off.
                          
    We reached their car after a ten minute struggle of getting down the stairs. Mr. Armando had so graciously replaced their car overnight, his personal way of apologizing for Rico's reckless driving even though the crash was my fault. He also said it was to keep my cousins parents from finding out about the accident.
                          
    Either way, my cousins got a brand new car.
                          
    As we neared their car, I saw a different car sitting just on the other side of it. This other car looked extremely expensive, and was blacked out completely with windows so tinted I couldn't tell if someone was sitting inside. Until the door opened and the devil himself stepped out.
                          
    "Good morning, mi diosa." Lucas was dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a grey t-shirt with dark sunglasses shielding his eyes. It was a simple outfit but I still found myself gawking at his heavenly good looks. His black hair was spiked upwards today, which somehow complimented his chiseled jaw in a way I never knew possible.
                          
    "What are you doing here?" I didn't necessarily want to speak with him, especially since he made no effort to contact me since Sunday morning. It bothered me more than it should. So what if I was looking for a little closure?
                          
    Sue me.
                          
    "You're riding with me from now on." Lucas instructed, walking right to my side. He took Nicole's backpack off my shoulder and threw it through the open window of her new car, then he relieved me of my own backpack, "Get in the car."