CH 19

Nikolas opened his eyes, slowly waking up and letting his mind start working. He suddenly realized that Gia had been asleep in his arms but now she was gone. He sat up in his bed and scanned the room for her. He spotted her sitting in the window seat in his room. Her arms wrapped around her knees as she gazed out the window, her blood-stained shirt clutched in one hand. He slowly walked up to her. She flinched when he touched her, causing her to cry out in pain. “Oh my god I’m so sorry.” Nik said. “It’s OK you just scared me, I’m OK really.” Gia said, looking away again. Nikolas was concerned about her behavior. She seemed like she was a million miles away. “Gia.” He said softly. “What.” She choked out when she turned around, her eyes rimmed with tears. Nik looked passed her swollen face, all he saw were her beautiful sad eyes looking into his. “I want to help you.” Nik said. “You can’t Nikolas. My parents will never change. I need to go, I have to see Jake.” Gia said, slowly getting up. “Gia, no. Don’t just go back like nothing ever happened. You need to get away from your parents.” Nikolas said, blocking her path. Gia shook her head. “I want to see my brother Nikolas, he needs me, please just let me see him.” Gia cried. Nikolas gently took her hand and walked her to the mirror in his room and turning her to face it. “Look at what he did to you Gia. You need to stay away from him.” Nik said. Gia looked at herself in the mirror. Her left eye was swollen so badly, that it was half closed. Her bottom lip was puffy and cut. She didn’t want to think about what condition the rest of her body was in. But she could feel the pain with every movement she made. Tears rolled down her face. “Do you want Jake to see you like this?” Nik asked. Gia began to sob as she shook her head no. “Shh, no, no it’s OK. How about I go check on him? I’ll see how he’s doing and I’ll tell him you’re OK.” Nik said turning her back around, and holding her hands in his. Gia looked up at him. “OK.” She said nodding sadly. “OK, promise me you’ll stay here Gia.” Nik said. Gia looked down. “Gia, promise me, at least not until I get back OK?” Nik said. “I promise.” Gia whispered. Nik leaned in and kissed the corner of her mouth, the one spot that was not injured. Gia watched him leave and sighed as she turned around and walked into his empty bedroom. She walked back over to the bed and looked over at his nightstand. A smile spread across her face and she reached over and picked up the row of pictures lying there, touched that he still had them. She ran her fingers over the image of Nik’s pouting face, the misery of his first mall experience so evident on his face. She clutched them to her heart as she lay back on the bed and fell back asleep.

Nikolas pulled up to Mrs. O’Neal’s house and got out of his car. He resisted the urge to go next door and find Gia’s stepfather and beat the crap out of him. That would have to wait. His first priority was Jake, and making sure he was OK. He reached the door and rang the doorbell. A few minutes went by before it was opened. “Hi, I’m Nikolas do you remember me?” Nik asked. Carol wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. “Tell me she’s OK.” She asked pulling back. Nikolas placed his hand on her arm supportively. “She will be. She needs time to heal but I think she’ll be OK. I’m helping her so don’t worry. But she’s worried about Jake, I told her I’d come check on him.” Nik said. “Well he stayed the night. I’ve been watching for Phil and he hasn’t come home yet. Florence is still out of town and I tried to reach her but she couldn’t be located for some reason but I left a message. Don’t worry; I’ll keep him here as long as he needs to stay. My kids love him and we still have my son’s crib that he can sleep in. You tell Gia that everything’s fine and that I won’t let Phil anywhere near him. I won’t let him go back unless it’s Florence or Gia picking him up.” Carol said. “Thank you. So how is Jake?” Nik asked. Carol looked down sadly. “Well he’s not a happy little guy right now. He finally stopped crying after he made himself vomit last night and finally fell asleep. He’s been really quiet all morning.” Carol explained. Nik groaned. “Can I see him?” He asked. “Of coarse, come on in.” Carol said stepping aside to let him in.

Nikolas fallowed Carol until she stopped at the door of her living room and gazed into the room where she had pointed. He spotted Jake sitting on a big chair in the room with a couple of other kids who were watching TV. When he first walked up, he thought that he was watching too, but as he neared him, he saw that he wasn’t looking at the TV. He was staring with glazed eyes out of the small window in the corner of the room that he could see his house out of. Nikolas fought back tears as he bent down next to him. “Jacob.” Nik said softly. Jake flinched in shock as he quickly turned to face him; he looked scared until he saw who he was. “Want Gia!” Jake sobbed out as his chest heaved rapidly. Nikolas let his tears fall as he looked at Jake. “I know Jakie, come here.” Nik said reaching out to him. He picked him up and Jake clung to him as he sobbed. Nikolas walked out of the room, seeing the other kids stare at them and start to get concerned. When he stepped out, he went over the entryway of the home and sat down in the chair that was set there. He held Jake, soothing him with words until he stopped sobbing. “Jake. Gia wanted me to come see you and make sure you’re OK. She wanted me to tell you that she loves you and that she’s going to come see you real soon.” Nik said. Jake looked at Nik’s face. “Gia hurt?” He asked, sniffling slightly. “Yes buddy, she is.” He nodded as tears rolled down his face. “She be OK?” He asked. Nik smiled weakly. “Yeah she’ll be OK. Nikki’s taking care of her.” Nik said nodding. “I see Gia?” Jake asked. Nik shook his head sadly as he looked into Jake’s pleading eyes, he was struggling with the lack of communication, finding it hard to make him understand. “No Jakie. Gia’s hurt really bad and she needs to get better before she can see you. But soon, I promise.” Nik said. Jake looked down sadly, and then looked back up at him. “Nikki stay with me? Please?” Jake asked, tears flowing again. Nik threw his head back, his heart breaking for his little friend. “No baby, you’re going to stay here with Carol and she’s going to take care of you until Gia gets better. But your mom might come and pick you up.” Nik said. Jake shook his head rapidly. “No mommy, want Gia.” Jake said. “OK buddy we’ll see what we can do OK? But I have to go and see Gia now and let her know that you’re OK.” Nik said. Nik felt Jake’s grip tighten on his shirt. He looked up at Carol who was witnessing the whole seen with tears streaming down her face and she stepped forward. “Jake, Gia and I love you so much and we won’t let anyone hurt you. You’re going to be safe with Carol and we’re going to pick you up soon. Be strong buddy.” Nik said as he got up and handed Jake to Carol. Jake didn’t struggle; instead he hid his face in Carol’s chest as he clung to her, ignoring Nikolas. Nikolas didn’t want to leave him so upset, but he wanted to get back to Gia. “Please call me if anything happens. I’ll try and come see him again soon.” Nik said, giving her his number before walking out. The moment he was out of the house he began to sob, he had no idea what to do for Jake or Gia, and he had no idea what he was going to tell Gia about Jake’s state.