“So, um, how’s uh, how’s Chris?” Nick asked nervously, trying to sound cool. The both of them were on the basketball court, Andrew dribbling a ball.
“Oh, her? She’s changed a lot I guess. She’s a lot prettier. I’m not saying that she wasn’t pretty before… she just seemed…” He stopped and stood still giving it a little thought, “More, feminine. Before, our doors used to covered with cobwebs but now, we have to replace one every week because of the guys banging down our doors,” He laughed at his joke. Nick faked an uncomfortable laugh as he thought quickly of a different subject to talk about.
“Well, you play good b-ball? I’m an expert!” Nick declared grabbing the ball from Andrew’s hands and started dribbling the ball towards the net.
“Hey! Get back here!” Andrew exclaimed, running after him trying to steal the ball back. He swiped at it but missed. “He is good,” he thought, watching Nick’s every swift movement.
No longer than 20 minutes, Nick had already scored 7 baskets. Andrew signaled him to stop and rest for a bit. Both had drops of perspiration on their foreheads. Their baggy T-shirts clung onto their skin.
“That was good,” Nick panted, grabbing his bottle of water and drank down a load of it. He wiped off the sweat with his free hand.
“Yeah, it was. So, what do you say? My place?” Andrew offered.
“Um,” Nick hesitated. Christina might be there.
“Don’t worry,” Andrew said, sensing that Nick was uncomfortable with the idea, “It’s just you and me.”
“It’s not that, uh, yeah, okay. I’ll go,” Nick finally decided as he got up from the pavement, still feeling a deep pit in his stomach. “Relax Carter,” he told himself, “You came back just to talk to her for God’s sakes!”
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Yo Andrew, you shouldn’t watch porn that much, damages your mind!” Christina called out from the den when she heard the door open.
“Chris?”
“Yeah! Who else would it be?” She didn’t turn around to realize that her brother wasn’t alone.
“Why aren’t you at school?” Andrew asked.
Christina turned around, getting ready to tell him. Only, to be shocked with Nick’s presence. Her mouth gaped open, but no sound came out.
“Well?” Andrew asked once again. He stepped into the den.
“Um,” Christina started quietly, “The science lab caught on fire because of some experiment. Everyone had to leave.”
“Oh, right. Isn’t that what you always tell me? That you wanted that to happen?” Andrew joked, not sensing the ice between Nick and Christina. “Hey Chris!” He called from the kitchen, “What happened to all the ice cream? Don’t tell me that story about the polar bears again!” A loud rummaging noise could be heard from the freezer in the kitchen.
Christina stood up, getting ready to leave the den to help her brother. Nick grabbed onto her hand, refusing to let her go. “Nick, let go.”
“Can you just let me explain? I didn’t want to leave you know. I came back earlier just to see you! What did I do wrong?” Nick asked desperately.
“You didn’t do anything wrong Nick, it’s me,” Christina said before running up to her room and bursting into. The truth was, she had already forgiven Nick a long time ago. So why is she shutting Nick out of her life? Punching her pillow, she asked herself why repeatedly in her head. What was she scared of? Of getting hurt in the end because she knows that Nick will leave sooner or later? That there was a risk that he would meet another girl whilst he was away? She cried softly, her tears falling onto the pillow. “I have to face him sooner or later,” one part of her said. “No,” the other part disagreed, “You’ll never have to see him again.”
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“What’s wrong with her?” Andrew asked while digging into the ice cream with a spoon, “You want some?” He offered.
“No thanks,” Nick refused, his gaze still on the direction of the stairs.
A few minutes later, Christina came down the stairs, the tear stains off her face. She was wearing a tight black miniskirt and a white spaghetti strap that revealed a bit of her belly button. She walked especially louder to capture Nick’s attention. Nick turned around. Christina looked away. She descended the stairs and didn’t say anything until she reached the door. With one hand on the door knob, she called to her brother without turning around, “I’m going out with Devon! I won’t be back till around midnight!” Then she opened the door and slammed it once she was outside.
“Who’s Devon?” Nick asked feeling a flame of fury burning inside.
“Oh him? He’s Chris’s boyfriend, and a jerk I would say. Has good looks but definitely a show off snob. I don’t know what she sees in him. And he’s 5 years older than her.” Andrew finished, looking doubtful. He yawned and slumped on the couch.
“So, when did they start?” Nick asked looking very interested and angry at the same time.
“I don’t know. I heard that at a party or something. What’s wrong man? You look… angry.”
“I am! That jerk with her! I haven’t even met him yet but I hate him already,” Nick stated in fury.
“Why? What relation do you have with my sister?” Andrew asked, mildly interested. He looked at Nick oddly, “Don’t tell me…”
“Yes. We were together. Is there anything wrong with that?” Nick asked angrily, interrupting Andrew.
“No, I just meant that, well, I was surprised okay? I don’t like that guy anyway. I’m sure Chris doesn’t like that guy. You should see them together, that guy was like…” Andrew drifted off when he saw Nick’s angry gazer at him. “Okay, okay! Looks can kill you know!” He held his hands up in mock surrender.
“Sorry,” Nick apologized, realizing that he’d been too harsh.
“Nah, it’s okay. I know what it feels. Want me to help?” Andrew offered generously.
“Hmm…” Nick thought for a second. Andrew might come in handy. After all, he is Christina’s brother, “Yeah, I need your help…”