Libby headed down the corridor towards the catering room. Nick and Brian stood talking just outside the room and she smiled at them both.
“Hey Libs,” Brian greeted wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “You look good.”
“Thanks,” she grinned at her cousin. “The sound check seems to be goin’ well.”
“Yeah, it’s goin’ ok. What you doin’?”
“Grabbing some food. You?”
“I’ll join ya,” Brian said and looked at Nick. “Comin’?”
“No, I think I’ll just go play on the Xbox.”
“Figures,” Brian rolled his eyes and led the way into catering.
Before Libby could follow him, Nick touched her hand.
“You ok?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah,” she smiled softly. “Are you?”
“I’m good,” he flashed her a big smile and then turned and walked into the games room.
Libby stood and stared at the spot where he had stood. His smile had just totally disarmed her. And the way he had stroked her face last night. He had somehow entered her dreams, making her sleep instead of scream. If she wasn’t careful she would end up falling for him and that couldn’t happen. She had no way of knowing what HE would do if he found out about Nick.
“Libs, food’s up!” Brian’s yell brought her back to the present and she walked into the catering room. “Where’d ya go?” he asked with a touch of amusement.
“Nowhere,” she said grabbing a sandwich and taking a bite. “Mm, these are GOOD.”
“Only the best for my lil cousin,” said Brian with a grin. “You need fattening up girl.”
“I do NOT!” she exclaimed.
“You so do,” Brian said firmly. “I mean, you’re beautiful and everything but lately… You’ve looked a little off colour ya know?”
“Gee, thanks for the little confidence booster Bri,” Libby said dryly and sat down.
“You know what I’m sayin’ here Libs,” he sat next to her. “Is anything wrong? Did anything happen to make you come out here?”
“No. Everything’s fine,” she stood up and looked down at him. “But it seems like you and Kev don’t want me here…”
“No! Of course we do!” Brian stood up and took her arms gently. “Libs, I missed you a lot. You know you’re like my sister. And I know Kevin missed you a lot too. He hated not bein’ able to be there for you like before. It’s just… I wanna make sure you’re happy. That you’re ALWAYS happy. Cos you’re my family and that’s kinda in my job description.”
“I’m happy Brian,” she said giving him a quick hug before breaking away. “And now I feel the need to go kick some Xbox ass.”
“Ok,” Brian watched her walk out of the room and sat down again, not believing for one second anything she had said.
Libby headed into the games room where she found Nick asleep in a chair, one controller still in his hands. The screen was flickering the words “No lives left. Game over”. Libby crossed to the TV to turn it off but before she could, Nick stirred.
“Oh shucks, I got killed.”
Libby turned around and smiled. “Lotsa times I’m guessing.”
“Yeah. There’s about four chances in that game.” Nick stretched and yawned. “Oh man, I really gotta stop fallin’ asleep in hard chairs. It hurts.”
“I bet,” Libby sat opposite him. “I’m sorry I woke you again last night.”
“It’s ok. It’s not like you can help it.”
“Maybe I can,” she said quietly.
Libby laid in her bed staring at the shadowy ceiling, too afraid to close her eyes. She didn’t want to dream again and wake Nick. He had looked real tired that day. AJ had called him “zombified” and that wasn’t far off. The guy hadn’t had an uninterrupted night since she’d arrived and she was determined that he would have one that night. There was a soft knock on the door connecting her room to Nick’s and she called for him to come in. He closed the door softly behind him and walked over to the bed.
“You ok?” he asked and she nodded. “I’m gonna stay on that chair again tonight. So that you feel safe.”
“I’m ok Nick. You need to sleep more than I do.”
“I’m ok,” he said but a deep yawn gave him away and she smiled. “I’m not leaving you alone to those nightmares Libby.”
“Nick, please just go back to your room and sleep.”
“Nuh uh,” he shook his head stubbornly.
“I guess you’re about as stubborn as me?” she said with a grimace and he nodded. “Ok, then stay here. But you take the other half of this bed.”
“I was ok on the chair…”
“Nick…”
“Ok,” he held his hand up with a smile and climbed into the bed. “I forgot whose sister you are.”
“Our mom is worse,” she giggled.
“Wow, it musta been fun growing up in your house.”
“Oh yeah,” she agreed and rolled over to face him. His eyes were already closed and she smiled. “Goodnight Nick.”
“Goodnight Libby,” he muttered sleepily.
Libby only woke once that night. The usual nightmare began and she whimpered and opened her eyes. Nick had just rolled her into his body and wrapped his arms around her without even waking up and she had settled back into a dreamless sleep.