Libby walked slowly back to the damp tousled sheets and touched the pillow before walking to the window and opening it. She was so tired but she couldn’t sleep. The nightmares came whenever she fell asleep. HE came to her. She always somehow knew it wasn’t real, that it was just a dream but she couldn’t escape. There was no way out. She would just keep on running for the rest of her life. She rested her head against the cool window frame and breathed in the air that would keep her awake until it was day yet again.
Nick headed over to the table with a plate piled high of food. He was hungry – a disturbed night kinda tended to do that to him. He sat opposite Libby and looked at her warily. Kevin was drinking coffee next to her.
“Sleep well Libby?” asked Nick sarcastically and she looked up quickly.
“Like a baby,” she said.
“A baby?!” he snorted and was about to make some further comment when something in her eyes stopped him. He glanced at Kevin. He obviously didn’t know about Libby’s nightmares and she didn’t want him to know. And judging by her pale face, the nightmares were a common occurrence. He decided to keep quiet and find out what was wrong in private. His silence now would put her in his debt and maybe he could use that to help her. He wasn’t quite sure why he wanted to help her, she had been nothing but rude towards him. Maybe it was just cos he was an all-round good guy, a movie hero. He sniggered at the thought and ignored Kevin’s curious glance to pour out some coffee.
“Got anything planned yet Libby?” asked Kevin looking at his sister.
“For when? My life?” she asked.
“For today. I thought we could go someplace. Just you and me.”
“Nobody else?” she asked warily. She wanted to spend time with her brother but she knew what would happen if they were alone. He would ask questions and find out all her secrets, and he couldn’t know. He would treat her differently if he knew, maybe even blame her the way she blamed herself. She looked at Nick who met her gaze. “Maybe Nick could come?”
“Uh, I…” Nick stuttered slightly as Kevin looked at him as well. It was a very freaky experience having two pairs of intense green Richardson eyes on him.
“Uh,” Kevin started to protest but then stopped as he realised the look in Libby’s eyes was fear. She was scared of being alone with him and she had obviously made some kind of connection with Nick. Maybe it was because they were the same age. He sighed and plastered on a smile. “Sure. Nick, it would be great to have you join us.”
“It would?” Nick looked confused. “Uh, then, sure.” Libby had told him to get lost last night and now she had almost pleaded for him to join them. She was one confusing chick.
“She’s your sister right?” asked Marcus as he walked with Kevin.
“Yeah.”
“So why’s she spending all her time with Nick?”
“Good question,” Kevin muttered looking ahead at the two people. Kevin had asked Marcus to come along as security for him and Nick. They had driven out to a nature reserve and were walking along a hilly ridge right now. Libby had taken off with Nick almost from the start, leaving Kevin and Marcus to follow in their wake. Marcus was turning out to be more company than security.
“Thanks for comin’ along Nick,” Libby said after they had walked a while in silence.
“I figured you didn’t wanna be alone with Kevin.” He looked at her as she carried on walking in silence, “Why is that?”
“I dunno,” she shrugged. “He asks too many questions.”
“About what?”
“About me. My life.”
“That’s kinda what brothers do,” Nick said gently.
“I know.”
“Does he know? About the nightmares?”
“Nightmares?” she looked at him quickly and then looked away. “I only had one.”
“But it happened before right?”
“Sure. Everyone has nightmares from time to time.”
“I meant, regularly. Libby, you can’t play me. You look like you haven’t slept a night through for SO long.”
“I’m ok,” she replied and there was a long silence. “About last night… Thank you for coming, and for not tellin’ my brother.”
“It’s ok.” He looked at her and decided it was time to change the topic. He wanted to see what she looked like when she laughed. “Wanna hear my best joke?”
“Uh, sure.”
“Ok. I flew to Europe last week. My arms still hurt.” She stared at him and he stopped walking to spread his arms wide with a silly grin on his face. “Boom da boom!”
“Oh god, that’s AWFUL!” she exclaimed before bursting into laughter.
He grinned and watched her laugh. It transformed her face and he could see how she must’ve been before whatever had happened had happened. And it made him want to help her even more. So he took her arm and walked on with her. “And my second best joke…”
“Oh spare me!”