Nick sat in silence, replaying the events that had led up to this moment. In the darkness, his mind chose to stay focused on the sad girl, leather pants and a tight silver shirt covering her petite frame. Leaning his head against the back of the couch, he groaned, feeling his hormones rocket out of control at the thought of her body up against his.
After his exit from Angel�s school, he�d driven aimlessly for a few hours, holding back tears and getting lost from lack of attention. Instinctually, he�d made it back to a recognized part of town, finally returning to his apartment.
Without thinking - he was returning to normal more so than he�d thought - he�d picked up the phone and dialed Angel�s number, hoping to hear her voice. The following argument that ensued between him and the woman he�d believed to be Angel�s mom made his head spin.
She wasn�t talking to anyone. That didn�t surprise him - he�d been mute for three weeks himself. What bothered him was the passing comment of a second hospital stay. He needed to hear her tell him that she was okay. She�d been sleeping when he�d called; she�d gone home early from school and slept for most of the afternoon - and that�s just the information that was volunteered before the woman became annoyed with his pleas.
Rubbing his temples, Nick refused to analyze what might happen.
�Brian told me to trust him and come here. And so, here I am. Something has to happen now� Right?�
~*~
Angel,
Nick left. I went away for a few days - he kicked A.J. out too - and
when I returned, he was gone. Some clothes are gone, but everything else is
the same in his house. A.J. found this address and phone number written
haphazardly in his kitchen. He went to find you. Please help him. The doctor
told A.J. and I that he might be completely delusional or suicidal. I don�t
know what to do. I could go find him, but I don�t believe that would help any.
He wants you. He needs you. Please, Angel, help me.
Kevin Richardson
8230 Treepoint
Apartment #364 214-555-7413
Arlington, Tx. 76024
~*~
Leslie�s head spun.
The letter slipped from her fingers and back onto the express envelope addressed to her - the real her.
Nothing made any sense. A.J. had known her address, so Kevin could have easily gotten that, but her name� Only Nick knew that. And Brian.
But why would it be addressed to Leslie Flynn, when the letter was written to Angel Thomas?
The confusion drained from her mind when the realization of what Kevin had written hit her at full force.
�Nick�s here. Right down the street from school�
Bubbles of nervous excitement made her hands shake as she lifted the letter and envelope from her desk. Staring at the return address to an apartment in Orlando, she noticed an unnecessary weight slip across the bottom. Leslie carefully turned the envelope upside down, tightly gripping the letter between the fingers of her other hand.
Her heart began to pound and unexpected hope filled her body at the sight of a silver key with a 364 marked across the head.
Where was the regret and fear? Why did she want to walk the few miles that were between her and Nick? Why, suddenly, did she feel like she couldn�t live without Nick in her life?
�Because you�re starting to feel, not think�
~*~
�Wake up and go to bed.�
��what?!�
Laughter
�Wake up, get off the couch, and climb into bed. You�ll be more comfortable there.�
���
�Trust me?�
�I went to see her today.�
�And��
�I couldn�t� She looked so� frail. And� terrified of everything. I don�t want to scare her away again.�
�Nick, man, just go slow and I promise everything will be fine. Leslie is a lot stronger than she looks.�
�I miss her.�
�I know.�
Sigh
�Go to bed man. You�ll feel better tomorrow.�
~*~
�Sleeping again? Didn�t you get enough of that today?�
�There�s nothing else to do.�
�Sure there is.�
�How can I kill a few hours when I don�t have the capability to think or anticipate anything?�
�Sleeping would have been the answer except now I make you think.�
�Thought I was supposed to stop thinking in general��
�Smartass.�
�Kevin sent me a letter. Nick�s here.�
�I know.�
��did you send him here?�
�No, I just helped him find where �here� was. Just like I�ve been helping you.�
Silence
�How would Kevin have a copy of Nick�s apartment keys? Do you really think he�d leave one behind? He wants the guys to follow him as much as you wanted him to find you. Well, at least how you felt up to now.�
�But they�re his family.�
�So? You�re blocking out all of your family. And your friends. Why should he be any different? He only wants you, just like you only want him.�
�The key is from you.�
�Yes.�
�Aren�t you breaking some sort of heavenly angel rule? Interfering so much in living affairs?�
�Probably. I don�t know� I just don�t want to see you and Nick not together. The two of you were made for each other.�
�Brian, I�m not promising you anything.�
�Just try.�
�We�ll see.�