Chapter 12

"This is really good Chris, what is it?" Amy was eating some of the cream of wheat he had prepared for the girls.

"It's cream of wheat, my mom used to make it for me all the time. Juliana and Nicole didn't know what it was until I started making it for them, and now they both love it." Nicole nodded, shoveling her own bowl of food into her mouth. "Slow down Nicky, you don't want indigestion. Besides it's early, you're in no rush."

"Oh, but we are. Amy and I are going to collect some of her stuff in a duffel bag. Then we're heading straight to school." Chris nodded.

"Alright, well don't forget your lunches." Chris handed Nicole and Amy their lunches.

"I didn't pack a lunch last night, who made me lunch." Nicole raised her hand as Amy stared confused at the bag. "You didn't have to, I normally just get a sandwich from the cafeteria."

"I know, and it's nothing special but I figured while I was up since I woke up to…" She thought about the position she had woken up to when she woke. "Since I was awake early I'd make both of our lunches."

"Thanks Nicky, I appreciate it. We should get going now. Diana won't be home yet and my mom should still be asleep."

"Oh, if your mom is awake tell her I say hello." Juliana said coming out of her bedroom. "Now why don't you lend Amy some clothes for the day Nicole, she can't go in what she slept in." Nicole ran to her room, to gather an outfit from her closet. Meanwhile Juliana was assuring Amy she was always welcome in the house.

"Alright, since it's October and it's a bit cold I got you one of my sweaters and some jeans. Is that alright?" Amy walked towards Nicole's room and changed into the outfit. Then they both went into the garage to get their bikes to ride to Amy's house.

It was barely six thirty when the two arrived at Amy's house, it was quite a long ride from the school, so Nicole figured the excuse she had given was believable. The house was in a lower class neighborhood, but it was still nice. Amy's house stuck out like a sore thumb, it was more run down. Vine's were curling around the fence and falling onto the sidewalk. "You can wait out here while I gather my stuff, alright?" Nicole agreed, only because she knew she'd probably make a lot of noise in the house and wake everyone.

Amy headed into the house unlocking the door with her spare key while Nicole leaned against the viney fence in front of the house. Just as Amy entered the house a car pulled up in front of Nicole. Inside she could see Diana who looked tired and ready for a long nap. She stepped out of the car and took note of Nicole's presence. "So you're who Amy gets to stay with, lucky her." Diana had met Nicole previously but was never very involved in Amy's life. "Take care of her, at least this way mom will be off my case about keeping everyone in check." Nicole was bothered by that last comment, wasn't it obvious that that was precisely the reason Amy was leaving home.

"Since it's obvious you really care about your sister shouldn't you at least care why she's leaving." Nicole wasn't looking to get in a fight with Diana but with her tone of voice she may as well have been asking for it.

"You don't know her, trust me. Now get out of the way you're in front of the gate you little brat." Diana pushed Nicole out of the way, to catch herself Nicole grabbed onto the gate. Because of the angle she fell on it she ended up with a handful of splinters. As Nicole got up and Diana entered the gate Nicole came out, tears streaking down her face. Nicole threw the gate open and ran past Diana straight to Amy. She took the duffle bag full of Amy's belongings and carried it for her. "Serves you right Amy, mom's right to be pissed, leaving us for your spoiled friend here." Diana got to the porch, and before opening the gate she smiled at Nicole. "Have fun."

"I'm sorry you had to deal with her Nicky, she really sucks right after work. Whatever she said I'm sure she didn't mean it. She's just tired, I'm sorry."

"Woah, it's okay you don't have to apologize on her behalf. What happened when you got in there, was it your mom?" Amy crumbled into Nicole's arms and sobbed blubbering out a positive response to the question. "Do you want to stay home today Amy?" She shook her head and picked herself up from Nicole's arms.

"I'm fine, I just need to breathe. Let's go, I have to drop my stuff off in my locker." She pushed away from Nicole's embrace and walked to her bike, taking her duffle bag with her. She put the duffle bag on her back and started pedaling away. Nicole scampered to catch up with her peddling the fastest she could once she got on her bike.

The bike ride to the school was long and quiet for both the girls, the only sound being birds and a few stray cars. When they finally arrived at the school the gates were still closed, it was only about seven thirty now. They sat at the entrance after locking their bikes up.

When finally someone arrived at the front doors Amy had dozed off and Nicole was forced to wake her once more. "Good morning again, come on the doors are open. We have to get in so you can drop off your duffle." Amy groaned as Nicole picked her up and dragged her through the door. The school was mostly empty with a few early birds arriving to do god knows what.

Amy immediately walked to her locker and shoved her duffle bag in. "I'll see you in a second, Amy. I have to go to my locker." Amy nodded, not looking towards Nicole. Have I already done something wrong? Nicole thought as she walked away from Amy.