He gripped the steering wheel tightly as he rounded a corner on the residential street and drove down the small hill to the house. He pulled up in the driveway and parked before getting out and walking to the front door. He knocked and waited for one of them to answer. "Nick? What are you doing here?," Kristen asked as she pulled open the door.
"I was wondering if I could talk to you and or Kev..is he here?"
"He ran to the store to pick up some things with dinner..but come on in, I'm just getting things ready for tomorrow."
Nick stuffed his hands in his pockets and followed her into the living room. "Are you getting nervous?"
She nodded, "Yeah..a little. Kev's staying at the hotel with his mom tonight. I think he's gonna whine.."
"Kev? Whine? Never heard of."
She grinned, "I know..so what's up?"
"Well..I know Ann said something to Isabel last night about taking her back to Lexington after the wedding and I know she doesn't want to go back just yet. I mean, by the time she's all healed and up and well again; it'll be time to go back to school anyways. So, I was thinking..she could stay with me till you and Kev get back from your honeymoon."
Kristen looked up at him thoughtfully, "You know..I never really thought about that."
"So, you think it's a good idea?"
"Yeah..but what about Kelsey? I know she's not too keen on Isabel."
Nick rolled his eyes, "I broke up with her last night.."
Kristen tried to keep from jumping up and hugging the boy; FINALLY! She was gone!! Instead she just nodded, "Really?"
"Yeah..she was annoying the shit out of me."
"Nick!"
He laughed, "Sorry, I just realized that..I don't need people like her around me."
"What kind of people do you need around you?," She asked with a cocked eyebrow.
"Kristen; whatever you're thinking: stop. So..what do you think about Isabel staying with me?"
"Well, I personally think it's a good idea. You two seemed to of made up from what I can tell and I think you need someone like her in your life. I know she can't stay by herself and I know she doesn't want to go back home just yet. Are you heading over to the hospital now?"
He nodded. She smiled, "Okay..I'll talk to Kev and Ann and see what they think, but I'm sure we'll be able to convince Ann, and either me or Kev'll call you over there."
"Okay..sounds good..I better go before she calls me..again."
"How many times has she called?"
"Like three times so far..she just had to make sure I was coming."
"She's persistent."
He nodded before hugging her, "Yep..see ya later Kris."
"Later Nick."
She smiled after he had pulled out of the driveway. Yeah..the old Nick was back.
Nick arrived at the hospital and went up to Isabel's room. She smiled when she caught a glimpse of his blonde head, "Hey Nick..you're late."
"I know, I know. I'm sorry..things just came up..but hey, I'm here now."
"True.."
"So..what do you want to do?"
She gave him a weird look, "Nick? It's not like I can exactly do much."
"Yeah...that's true. Okay..what CAN you do?"
She laughed, "I can sit here in my nice, comfy bed while you sit over there and talk to me."
He did so and grinned, "Okay..now what?"
"Now, you tell me why you broke up with Kelsey.."
"She was just..overbearing and I got tired of it. I guess you can say that I outgrew her or actually saw her for what she really was."
Isabel nodded, "Oookay.."
"She told me I didn't know what I was missing out on."
"Do you?"
"No..but I don't care."
"Oh..okay.."
"So..I was just thinking about this..why don't you have a boyfriend Isabel?"
"I don't know..I just..haven't found a decent guy."
"Oh."
"I mean..I've dated, don't get me wrong, but they were just..weird."
He smiled, "Weird?"
"Yeah..weird. So anyways, enough about me and guys...I get out of here tomorrow my doctor said."
"Really?"
"Yep..he said I could leave in the morning and be in time for the wedding. I'm not having any repurcussions from the wreck besides my injuries already."
"I guess that's a good thing."
She nodded, "The only bad thing is that I'm stuck in a wheelchair till my hand gets better and I have to go home."
"Actually..I may need to talk to you about that one."
"What one?"
"The you going home part..I have an idea."
She looked at him skeptically and he laughed, "Isabel, it's not like I've never had a bright idea before."
"I know..it's just...kinda odd seeing you in this good of a mood without waiting for a bad one to come out."
"I feel alot freer now Isabel for some reason and I feel like I get to start over in alot of ways."
She nodded, "Understandable..now what's your idea?"
"I stopped by Kev's and Kristen's on the way over and I talked to Kristen. We all know you won't be able to stay by yourself while they're gone on their honeymoon and I know you don't want to go home just yet so I had the idea that you come stay with me in Tampa. I'm like 10 minutes away from that hospital and I can take you there if need be."
Isabel looked past him and thought for a minute; it was a good idea whichever way she looked at it. She'd be with Nick; which she was deciding was a postive thing. :) She'd be with someone who could help her around; which was good. She couldn't walk anywhere obviously so getting around was hard. "Sooo..what do you think?"
She smiled, "I like the idea."
"You do?"
"Yeah.."
"Then how come I sense a but coming??"
She shook her head, "Nope, no buts. I like the idea..I'd still be in Florida and plus, I wouldn't have Kev hanging over my shoulder all the time."
Nick laughed, "And Lord knows we don't need that more than need be!"
She laughed, "True, very, very true."
"Well hopefully Kev and Kristen will be able to convince Ann to let you stay."
"Oh that's right..she told me she'd rather me come home with her but saw the reasons why I'd stay.."
"Well Kristen said she'd talk with Kevin and Ann and then call me so hopefully it'll be before I leave here."
"Yeah.."
Nick was sitting on one side of the bed while Isabel had scooted over the best she could to the other side and they had pictures scattered between them and all over the bed. "I like that one of you and your brother..," She said picking one up.
Nick nodded, "Yeah.."
"Do you miss him?"
"I miss all of them all the time."
"I bet."
"Do you still think alot about your parents?"
"Sometimes..sometimes I'll catch myself doing something that my mom did or whatever and I'll start too. It's kind of weird though..I'm almost afraid I'm forgetting what they sounded like.."
"But you're not.."
"No..not totally but little things have been forgotten. I'll start to think about like..how my mom always smelled like roses but now, its like I can't remember what that exactly smelled like."
"Ohhh..I think I see."
"Yeah..it's hard to explain."
He smiled, "I bet they're proud of you."
"What makes you say that?"
Nick ran a hand through his hair and put down the picture, "Well..look how you've changed yourself for the better. You're wanting to get out in the real world and do something with yourself. I admire that, personally."
"You do?"
He nodded, "Uh huh.."
They were both unaware that their heads were moving closer and closer towards one another. All Isabel could focus on was Nick's intent, deep blue eyes and all he could focus on was Isabel's lips and how they were coming closer...and closer...and closer.
They both jumped backwards when there was a shrill ring coming from Nick. Isabel blushed about fifty shades of red, as did Nick. He pulled out the ringing phone out of his pocket and answered hoarsely, "Hello?"
"Nick, it's Kristen. Are you still with Isabel?"
"Umm..yeah.."
"Well, I talked to Kevin and he agreed that it was a good idea. We both talked to Ann and she finally agreed that tomorrow evening she'd leave on her flight as planned and Isabel would go with you."
His eyebrows creased in confusion, "Go with me where?"
"Okay Nick, where is your head at?! That she'd go stay with you in Tampa while me and Kev are gone, duh! Remember?? It was your idea?"
"Ohh yeah, well that's cool then..I'll umm..tell Isabel.."
"Okay, see you tomorrow Nicky.."
"Bye Kris."
He hung up and turned to Isabel, who wouldn't meet his eye. "Kristen said that Kev and Ann agreed you could stay with me."
She nodded and looked down at the sheet, "Umm..ok..that sounds..good."
"Yeah..well..I'm gonna head home, I've uhh...gotta let the dogs out."
"Ok..I'll see you tomorrow?"
He smiled, "Yeah..bye Isabel."
"Later Nick."
He closed the door behind him as he left. Isabel flopped back onto the pillow and groaned loudly; how could one guy be so wonderful and so confusing all at the same time?!
Back to the "Hold Me" Page
To Chapter 11
Back to the Main Page