"Hey Isabel? I've gotta run to the store, you wanna go?," Nick asked pushing the sliding glass door open and walking out onto the deck.
"No..I'm fine. It'll be easier if I just stay here anyways.," She said closing the magazine she had been reading in her lap.
"Well, do you want anything special?"
She shook her head, "No, I'm fine."
He nodded, "Okay..You got my cell number, call me if you need anything. I'll be back in like fifteen minutes."
"Okay."
He left then and drove the five or so minutes to the grocery store. He pulled out the slip of paper from his pocket as he entered and looked down at it. He hated to go grocery shopping; okay, he didn't really hate it, he just disliked it a whole lot. He had to pass the magazine aisle, which was of course full of magazines targeted towards the teens which mean there would be girls looking through them at pictures of him and Justin Timberlake and maybe one boy or so looking at pictures of Britney or Jessica or Mandy or whoever else. He groaned inwardly as he made his way past a girl of about ten and pulled his hat down lower over his blonde hair and tried not to make eye contact. He found the aisle he was looking for and ducked in it. 'I for real hate shopping..that's all there is to it.,' He thought as he added another item to his basket.
Isabel was in a light sleep when Nick got back home. He unpacked everything and went outside to see if she wanted to go inside. "Hey..Isabel.," He said gently.
"What?," She asked groggily opening her eyes.
"I just got back..how long you been asleep?"
"I dunno..do I look like a lobster?"
He grinned and touched her pinkened(is that a word?) skin lightly, "I think so."
He helped her inside and put her on the couch, "I'll find some aloe or something for you to put on the sunburn..it'll make it feel better."
"Okay..so, did you have fun at the store?"
He rolled his eyes and he put a frozen pizza in the oven, "You know it..I was so afraid I'd get atacked when I was walking by the magazines.."
"Did anyone see you?"
He shook his head as he handed her a coke, "Nope..thank God. I just didn't feel like causing a scene today."
"Understandable. Now, you know I got a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I may get this thing off my hand and then I can actually get around on my own."
"I know..now i won't have to carry you places."
She hit him lightly, "Like you ever had to!"
Nick laughed, "Just kidding.."
"I know..."
"So..what do you think we should do tonight? Pizza and a movie?"
She nodded, "Sounds fine to me. I can't exactly go anywhere."
"That's true."
Two hours later, Nick looked down at the now sleeping Isabel. Her face was a little sunburned as was the rest of her exposed skin. He brushed her hair away from her face gently and smiled; for some reason he felt so happy. More so than he had in a long time. He lifted her up gently and moved from under her. He then picked her up and made his way into the bedroom she was sleeping in. She moved a little but was still asleep.
Geez..he hated the way she was making him feel. Okay, he didn't hate it..in fact; he loved it. But he wasn't supposed to be feeling those things for her..not again. He ran a hand over his tired face and yawned; he needed to go to bed but too many thought were running through his mind. He kissed Isabel's forehead softly before tucking her in the best he could. He closed the door and turned off all the lights and went upstairs and logged onto his computer. He put in the familiar e-mail address and began to type.
I know it's been awhile since we've written or even talked but I need some advice. It's kinda weird, me going to you for advice instead of the other way around. Anyways, as I'm sure you've heard Isabel is staying with me while Kevin and Kristen are in Italy. It's been great having her here..it's like she never left. But then there's that nagging feeling that it's NOT like it was. I know it's not really but I like that feeling of something familar. I haven't been able to say I've been happy in a long time but I'm actually happy now. I don't go out every night and get drunk off my ass where i don't know where I'm going or who I'm with. Tonight, you know what we did? We stayed in, ate pizza and watched two movies before Isabel fell asleep. She's so perfect and pretty when she's sleeping; it's like nothing can harm her. She's so perfect and pretty when she's awake and alive as well though. I know I just broke up with Kelsey and I'm kinda on the rebound but I'm feeling some many things for her right now...I don't know how to put it into words. I haven't told anyone this and I haven't even talked to her about this. The last night she was in the hospital we came within mere inches of kissing. Would it of been a bad thing? Probably not. I don't know. I wanted to so bad though..so so bad it's almost as if I needed too. I don't know where to go from here though. I don't know if she feels the same way. If something DOES happen between us, it'll have to end again when she goes back home for school. I don't know if I can give my heart again and then get it back again in such a short period of time. It hurt to let her go that one time and I don't know if I can watch her leave me again. I know this was long and I know you probably don't care but I had to tell someone. Hope to talk to you soon. Love, Nick
Nick pressed send and watched as the screen cleared before flipping off the computer and going to bed.
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