Josephine sat alone at the condo checking papers for the school kids she helped teach. She had off that day and spent most of the afternoon doing school work. She stopped what she was doing and started thinking about Howard. She looked at the ring on her finger and smiled. Howard did want to be with her after all. They were going to get married in February and spend the rest of their lives together. Nothing or no one was going to stop them�not even Sunshine. Why would she anyway? Sunshine finally had Nickolas and was happy. Josephine was happy too. She was going to finally be with Howard and didn�t want it any other way.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. She got up and left the kitchen. On the way to the door she looked at a picture of Howard hanging on the wall. She smiled and walked up the steps. She opened the door and saw Venus and Kevin. She left them in and they walked down to the parlor.
�Why brings you by?� Josephine asked.
�Looking for Sunn and Nick,� Kevin said. �We want to share our good news.�
�And I want to look at Sunshine�s sketches,� Venus added.
�Well they�re not back yet,� Josephine replied.
�We found Brian and Dani,� Kevin said. �They�re vacationing in Spain.�
�Must be nice to take off work and go on vacation,� Josephine stated.
�You could,� Kevin said. �You�re rich now.�
�I don�t look at it as being rich,� Josephine began, �I look at it as having some extra money. Besides, I love working with the kids. Makes me want to have my own, but not until after I�m married.�
�At least you�re waiting,� Venus said. �Some people don�t.�
�Alex and Des,� Kevin and Josephine said in unison.
�Yeah,� Venus said, as the door opened and Sunshine and Nickolas walked in. �Look who it is.�
�Hey,� Nickolas said surprised to see them there.
�Hey,� Kevin said, as Sunshine stopped at the door. They watched Sunshine look at Nickolas and whisper something. Nickolas whispered in return and they walked down the steps. �Where were you two hiding?�
�We just went away for a few days,� Nickolas replied. �We wanted to be alone so we could talk with no interruptions.� Sunshine put her arm around Nickolas� waist.
�Oh,� Venus said.
�We�ve been looking for you,� Kevin said.
�Well, we�re home,� Nickolas said. �So what�s up?�
�A lot,� Josephine said. �But before I forget, Aaron�s looking for you.�
�Thanks,� Nickolas said.
�Now the bigger news,� Venus said smiling and holding out her left hand. �Kevin and I are getting married.�
�Wow!� Nickolas said.
�Congratulations,� Sunshine said in a soft voice and giving them each a hug. She moved back to Nickolas and put her arm around him again.
�Did you pick a date?� Nickolas asked put his arm around Sunshine.
�April 29,� Kevin replied.
�Three weeks before ours. Don�t take a three week honeymoon either.�
�Why not?� They all laughed, but Sunshine.
�I�m happy for you guys,� Sunshine said with a soft voice again and Kevin, Venus, and Josephine looked at her.
�If you�ll excuse me,� Nickolas said. �I�m going to go get our luggage.� The others walked away, as Nickolas left Sunshine go. He began walking and Sunshine grabbed his arm. He turned and looked at her. �What?�
�Don�t leave me,� Sunshine said softly.
�I�m just going to go down to the truck and get our suitcases.� He tucked her hair behind her ears. He lifted her sunglasses up to see her brown eyes, but they weren�t the same ones that always looked back at him. �I�ll be right back. I promise.� He kissed her. �Give me, like, five minutes.� He left her go and Sunshine watched him walk to the door. When he was out the door, Sunshine fixed her sunglasses, and went to the kitchen.
Sunshine saw the other three sitting at the table and they looked at her. She walked over to the refrigerator and opened it. No one said anything as they watched her get a bottle of water. She walked over to the sink and just stood there.
They other three just looked at each other and Kevin asked, �Sunn, are you all right?�
�I�m fine,� Sunshine replied softly. �Why?�
�Well, you seem different.� He got up and walked over to her. �Are you going for the Alex look?� He went to move her sunglasses, but she pushed his hand away.
�Don�t.� She walked out of the kitchen.
�That was weird,� Josephine said.
�She�s been acting weird since she got home,� Venus said. �Normally she would�ve started flipping out at the news of our engagement, but she didn�t. Something�s wrong.�
�You don�t know that,� Kevin said. �She could just be tired from the flight. You get tired yourself.�
�Kevin, V�s right,� Josephine said. �I�ve known Sunn my whole life and know when something�s wrong with her. Something�s wrong with her.�
�You guys are just overreacting,� Kevin said walking out of the kitchen and to the parlor. The girls followed him out as the door opened.
They watched Howard and Nickolas walk in with Nickolas saying, �Yo, Do, stop lying. You were showing off to that girl down there. By taking off your jacket and flexing your muscles, you were saying, �hey, Sweetheart, check me out I�m single�.�
�Nicky, you stop lying,� Howard said. �I was just helping her out.�
�Whatever,� Nickolas said, as they noticed the others looking at them. �Hey, Jo, D�s flirting.�
�Yeah,� Josephine said. �He better stop or he�ll be sorry.�
�I think she�s serious, D,� Nickolas said laughing, as he walked down the steps. �Where�s Sunnie?�
�I guess in her room,� Venus said.
�Thanks,� Nickolas said walking by them with the two suitcases.
�Hey, Nick,� Kevin said calling after him and Nickolas stopped. Nickolas turned around, as everyone looked at him. �Is Sunshine all right?� Nickolas didn�t say anything, but just looked at them. �She doesn�t seem herself.�
�She�s just not feeling well,� Nickolas half lied. �And she�s tired from the plane ride.�
�That explains her odd behavior, Ladies,� Kevin said.
�If you�ll excuse me,� Nickolas said walking away.
�There�s more than that,� Josephine said.
�Nick said she ain�t feeling well,� Howard repeated, as they heard a phone ring. �Why do women always overreact?� Kevin just shrugged.
�Sunn�s not fine,� Venus said. �She didn�t even smile since they got home.�
�Do you smile when you feel sick?� Kevin questioned.
�I try,� Venus replied. �Jo and I will find out what�s wrong with Sunn.�
�Yes we will,� Josephine agreed. �Even if it�s the last thing we do. Let�s go discuss our plan of action.� Josephine and Venus walked away, as the two guys shook their heads.
�Do you still want to get married?� Kevin asked.
�Yeah,� Howard replied. �You?�
�Yeah, but ain�t there a game on tonight?�
�I think so.� They sat on the sofa and turned on the TV.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Listen, Aaron,� Nickolas said into the phone, �I have to go.�
�You�re going to help me right?� Aaron asked. �I wouldn�t be asking if it wasn�t important.�
�I�ll help ya. Sunnie and I will come down tomorrow.�
�Thanks, Nick. I appreciate it.�
�You know I�d do anything to help you guys out, but I really have to hang up.�
�Alright. Bye.�
�Later.� Nickolas turned off the phone and opened the bedroom door. He saw Sunshine sitting on the bed with her back to the door. He put the suitcases on the floor and closed the door. Sunshine turned around and just looked at him. Nickolas walked over to her and joined her on the bed. He took her sunglasses off and saw her tear filled eyes. �Sunnie, it�s going to be all right.� He wiped her eyes, wrapped his arms around her, and just held her. �We�re going to get through this together.�
�What if someone finds out?� Sunshine asked softly.
�We�ll deal with that when the time comes. Right now we�re going to worry about making you better.�
�I�m scared, Nicky. I read about other people who go through this, but I didn�t think it�d happen to me.�
�You can fight it, because you�re a very strong woman. I have faith in you.�
�I don�t think I can.�
�Sure you can and I�ll be by your side every step of the way.�
�Promise me.�
�I promise. I caused your heartache and I�ll fix it. Ya have to help me out though. Do promise to help me out.�
�Yeah.�
�Good. We�re a team right?� Sunshine nodded. �We�ll take it one day at a time.�
�One day at a time.�
�Yes.�
�What if I can�t?�
�You will, because I won�t let you give up.�
�Don�t leave me.�
�I�m not going anywhere without you.�
�I love you, Nicky.�
�I love you, Sunnie.�
She looked up at him. �I�m going to get better.�
�And with my help. You�re not alone so don�t ever think you are.� She gave a little grin and Nickolas kissed her. �I�m sorry I did this to you.� She didn�t say anything. �Why don�t you take a warm bath and then I�ll make us something to eat when you�re done.�
�Just as long as you don�t leave me.�
�I�ll be right here.� There was a knock. �Yeah.�
�We got pizza if you�re hungry,� Josephine stated.
�Thanks,� Nickolas said and then to Sunshine, �Or we can eat now and you�re going to eat. You haven�t eaten since Saturday at the restaurant.�
�Nicky.�
�Don�t try to sweet talk me. You�re eating something even if it�s just a little bit.�
�Fine.�
�Then come on.� Sunshine picked up her glasses and put them on. They got off the bed and went out. They found everyone sitting in the parlor watching TV and eating pizza. �Whatcha watching?�
��Scary Movie�,� Venus replied. �Join us.�
Sunshine just looked at them all, as she bit her fingernail. They were watching her and she became nervous. She looked at them all individually not knowing what to do. They all became monsters in her eyes and she just stared at them. It was like they knew her secret and hated her now. Wanted to hurt her. She wanted to run, but it felt like her body was numb.
She looked at Kevin, as he said, �Sunn, you can sit. This is your place.� But Sunshine didn�t hear that. What she heard was, �Sunn, you�re a complete screw up and should be punished.� Sunshine started crying and left go of Nickolas� hand.
Sunshine started running to her room, as Nickolas yelled, �Sunnie!� The others watched, as he ran after her.
�And nothing�s wrong with her,� Josephine mocked. �Whatever.�
�She probably got sick from the food,� Kevin said.
�Didn�t you see the tears sliding down her cheeks?� Venus questioned. �Something�s definitely wrong.�
�Here we go again,� Howard said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nickolas stood outside Sunshine�s room trying to open the door. He knocked a few times, but Sunshine didn�t answer. He stood there wondering what happened. Wondered why she clammed up. He knocked again, but no answer.
�Sunnie, please open the door! It�s all right! Everything�s going to be all right!� She didn�t answer. �You have nothing to be afraid of. I�m going to be by your side through this whole thing. I ain�t going anywhere. It�s going to be me and you.�
�What�s wrong with her?� Kevin asked making Nickolas jump. Nickolas turned around and saw Kevin, Venus, Howard, and Josephine looking at him with worried looks. Nickolas didn�t answer him, but just looked at them all.
�Is she dying?� Josephine asked getting tears in her eyes.
�Sunnie ain�t dying,� Nickolas was quick to say.
�Then what�s wrong?� Kevin questioned.
�How sick is she?� Venus jumped in.
�Nothing�s wrong with Sunnie,� Nickolas lied. �She�s perfectly fine.� He held back his tears and turned back to the door. �Sunnie, please open the door. I love you.� Sunshine didn�t answer. �Sunnie, please.�
�Nickolas, how bad is it?� Kevin wanted to know.
�I said she�s fine!� Nickolas snapped and they all just looked at him. �Sunnie, please leave me in, Sweets. Remember our promise? Our promise to help each other. You need to keep your end of the deal. I can�t do this on my own.�
�Nick, what�s wrong with Sunn?� Josephine demanded. �And I want the truth.�
�Nothing,� Nickolas said, as the door opened and he saw Sunshine. He went inside and locked the door, as Sunshine hugged him. �What happened?�
�I got scared,� Sunshine replied. �They all looked like monsters.�
�They�re your friends�not monsters.�
�I�m falling part, Nick. I need help.�
�I�ll help you, because I�m not sending you away to rehab in Switzerland or wherever. We can go see a doctor tomorrow if ya want. I�ll do anything to make you better. You�re my top priority right now. Nothing else matters. All that matters is getting you back on the right track to a happy healthy life.� He kissed her forehead and held her tighter.
CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 17
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