Eyes In The Night

*****
	Sleep was gone just a few seconds after he opened his eyes.  Glancing at the
clock, he saw it was just barely five o’clock.  He sighed and closed his eyes again, trying
to fall back asleep.  A few minutes later, he heard a clap of thunder which broke him
from any sleepiness completly.  Nick sat up and pushed the sheets off him, the room
unbearably hot as he realized he forgot to turn the airconditioning unit in his room on. 
Not a good way to start off the morning.  He stumbled in the darkness towards the AC
and flipped the switch on full blast.   After taking a quick cold shower, he changed into a
pair of PJ bottoms, just wanting to lounge around the house all day, maybe work on
something in the studio later.  Peering outside, he saw it was raining and something
nagged in the back of his mind, as if he forgot to do something.  He shrugged to himself
and padded down the stairs to the kitchen.  
“...Food...” He murmered, looking inside the empty refrigerator.  He pushed the water
gallons aside and found some pizza from way too long ago.  Making a face, he tossed it
in the trashcan before shutting the refrigerator door.  Nothing to eat.  He sauntered to the
living room, glancing out the window and out at his car.  He double-checked to see if he
had the top on his convertible.  Nick plopped on the couch and turned on the tv, knowing
there was nothing good on this early.  The minutes ticked away on the clock as he
stopped on the news, still wondering what to do about his empty stomach.  Ten minutes
later, he got up and turned off the television, deciding to go pick up April and go to a
grocery store or something.  He slipped into his car after changing and made the short
drive to April’s house.  Parking on the curb out front, he was trying to remember when
her parents left for work when the front door opened and they both stepped out, not yet
noticing him as they relocked the front door from the outside.  He got out of the car and
jogged over to them, getting soaked.
“ Why, hello, Nick.  What brings you here so early?” Mr. Hannigan asked, surprised to
see him.  
“ Hi, Mrs. Hannigan, Mr. Hannigan.  Any chance that April might be awake yet?” He
offered a smile.
“ Um.  No, not yet.  It’s only six o’clock, hon,” Beth replied after a quick glance at her
watch.  
“ Yeah, I know but I was up and wanted to catch up with her over lost time,” 
“ Well, you can go on in and wait for her to wake up or something,” Mike said, moving
to unlock the door again.
“ Make yourself at home.   There’s bagels and donuts in the refrigerator,”
“ Thanks, I’ll see you guys at dinner tonight,” He entered the house and heard their cars
pull out of the driveway a few seconds later.  The stillness returned to the house and he
walked to the kitchen.  He browsed the contents and took out a chocolate donut.  He
finished it off and drummed his fingers impatiently.  A few minutes passed and he stood
up.  Taking the stairs up to the second floor, he knocked softly on April’s door.  He
pushed it open and glanced around the spotless room.  Not too much had changed in here
really.  He looked at April asleep and smirked.
“ April,” He called, wanting to wake her up.  She didn’t move so he jumped on the bed
next to her.  
“ Damn, you’re a heavy sleeper,” He muttered, studying her face to see if maybe she was
any less asleep.
“ April, get up,” He said in her ear, knowing she hated that.  She stirred and rubbed her
ear, her hand barely missing Nick’s face but fell back asleep.  He nudged her lower back
( her back is to him) a few times, growing impatient again.  
“ April Hannigan,” He said loudly, still nudging her.
“ What are you doing?” She moaned, half asleep now, pulling her blanket over her head. 
He grinned and pulled it back down.  A frown creased on her face as she pulled it back
on.  He completly pushed the blanket off her and she finally opened her eyes.
“ Nick Carter, what the hell are you doing in my bed?” She asked groggily.
“ You don’t remember last night?” He asked in mock disappointment, poking her in her
side.
“ Ha.  You wish,” She mumbled, rolling over  and shutting her eyes again.  
“ April,” He whined irritatingly, knowing she couldn’t stand it when anyone whined.
“ Nick, go away.  I wanna sleep,” 
“ No you don’t.  You wanna come with me to a grocery store so I can get some food for
my house,” 
“ No I don’t,”
“ Yes you do,” Silence.
“ Please?” He studied her face.
“ April, stop pretending dumbass, I’m not stupid,” The tiniest smile appeared on her face
and she giggled.
“ Yeah you are,” 
“ I love being around you, you know that right,” He tousled her hair annoyingly and she
pushed his hand away, burying her face in her pillow.
“ Do you always wear silk nightgowns when you sleep or did you know I was coming,” 
“ Shut up, Nick,” Her hands reached for the blanket by her feet and pulled it over, now
awake enough to feel self-concious.  He chuckled and poked her again,.
“ Nicky, stop poking me,” She murmered, moving his hand away again.  
“ Can I not sleep, please?  I had a late night,” She said into the pillow.
“ Sorry, I can’t hear when you’re making out with the pillow,” She sighed and attempted
at pushing Nick off her bed.
“ Yeah, almost there, April,” He said sarcastically when he didn’t budge.  She stopped
and let her arm rest on his chest. 
“ Ok, why are you here?” She asked finally, yawning.
“ Because I need you to come grocery shopping with me,” He replied slightly
distractedly, inspecting her upper arm.
“ What’s this?” He asked, his fingers tracing a tiny cut.
“ Nothing,” She moved her arm away and he stared at her in trivial suspicion.  She met
his gaze and became annoyed.
“ Christ, Nick.  It’s a cut.  I don’t pay attention to every little scrape and bruise on my
body,” She said slightly angrily.
“ Okay, okay.  Calm down.  Are you going to come or not?” She sighed and Nick
softened his tone.
“ Sorry.  I know, it’s stupid of me to just assume things like that.  Besides you wouldn’t
do anything like that,” 
“ What time is it?” She asked, her tone implying that she was over their little spat.
“ 6:14,” He said after checking her digital clock.
“ Whats open?” 
“ Um...I dunno...Isn’t Stop-AndShop open 24/7?”
“ I guess.”
“ So you’re coming?” 
“ What choice do I have?” She smiled sleepily at him and he laughed.
“ Go take a shower.  You look like you’re ready to fall back asleep.  I’ll make coffee,”
He got off the bed and walked out of her room, leaving her alone to take a shower.  The
little incident was  already forgotten in her mind but  Nick was still thinking about it.  He
finally scolded himself for being so suspicious.  Within an hour, they had gotten out of
the house and driving towards the supermarket...

Main Page
Table Of Contents