Chapter 4

Once Nicole entered the threshold of her home she shut the door and proceeded to slump against it. She hit the floor drawing the attention of her parents who were in the living room. She sighed, relieved that the car ride was over. It had been nice until Nicole felt Eva's eyes focused on her. The rest of the ride she kept her eyes closed, scared to ruin the mood and upset Eva. Juliana came over acting out the same thing Nicole had, back against the wall and slide down. When her mother landed on the floor she tilted her head looking at Nicole.

"What's wrong?" She looked concerned but also like she was about to burst into laughter. Nicole had a tendency of being dramatic about small things, but still Juliana played along.

"Eva was weird while she was giving me a ride home." She explained Eva's odd behaviour to Juliana and Chris, who was also now sitting on the floor on the opposite side of Nicole. "It made me kind of uncomfortable, I don't know why. I probably looked weird or something, it's nothing right?"

"I don't know baby, maybe Eva was just admiring you." her mother offered.

"Maybe she has a crush on you, it's possible and not that out there."

"Chris, that's ridiculous. We had been friends forever until eighth grade. I would have known, don't you think."

"Not necessarily Nicky, I think Chris could be right. She always followed you around and hung on your every word. It's really not that out there. Good one Chris." Nicole stared at her parents in disbelief, could they really be right. She supposed it wasn't that out there, they weren't wrong about their friendship. Eva was always around her, and doted on her every command, even if it would be difficult for her. But still Nicole couldn't think of any reason for Eva to like her.

"You guys are being ridiculous. I've known her for like seven years, I think I would know if she had a crush on me."

"Alright honey, if you insist. You have homework right?" Nicole nodded. "Alright, you can have your dinner in your room. As soon as I'm done with it Chris will bring it to you, sounds good?"

"Yes, thanks mom. And I can take my own food up. I'll come down when I smell it."

Once she'd made it to her room Nicole tossed her bag on the opposite side of it, instead of working she was going to feed her gecko. He was staring up at her from his enclosure. She knelt down in front of the cage running her finger along the bottom of it. She reached for one of the smaller boxes next to his. Inside were small dubia roaches, gut loaded, and coated in calcium powder.

"Aw, are you hungry Bubble?" He redirected his attention to the box, his eyes dilating as the roaches skittered around their home. "I'll take that as a yes you cutie." Nicole had gotten Bubble about a year ago as a Christmas present. He was a patternless leopard gecko. She grabbed the tweezers from their jar and opened the box with a pop. "Alright buddy, let's get you a nice fat one." She pushed around the smaller and newer roaches hoping to grab one of the older fat ones. "Here we go, alright buddy I'm setting it down." The roach immediately ran onto Bubbles foot, something he didn't seem to notice as his eyes stayed fixated on the box. Nicole pushed the roach off of his foot and picked it up. She placed it further this time and watched as Bubble began chasing the bug.

"Mom and Dad have been less than helpful, so I'm confiding in you this time Bubble." She stared at him as he chewed the bug. Nicole explained what had happened with Eva as she placed different bugs in his home. Of course she didn't expect a response, but telling someone who would just listen made her feel better. When she was done telling all of this to her dear pet she simply blinked at her, as if to ask, 'can I have more bugs please'. "Alright, that's enough for you." She grabbed his feeding journal and wrote his bug count for the day.

When finally the smell of dinner wafted into her room she quickly began pulling out her school work. She heard footsteps approaching as she organized her desk to make it appear she was working. "I know you weren't working, Nicky." Came Chris's voice in a whisper. "Don't worry I won't tell your mom, I brought you your dinner though." She opened her door, he was holding her plate and a fork for her.

"Thanks Chris, but I was just about to come get my food. Tell mom that I am perfectly capable of serving myself." He laughed.

"Oh you know she just worries about you, and it's not a big deal." She took the plate and utensil and set it down on her desk. "I worry about you too, I'm sure Eva has no ill intent but still be careful. You know your mother and I will love you no matter what, just try to be smart." She smiled at him, he had always been cool, never quite trying to be her dad, just trying to be there for her.

"I know, it's just hard sometimes. I'll try to remember that this year. Especially since hopefully by the end of it I'll be across the country at college. Do you think my dad would be proud of me?" The conversation suddenly took a deeper turn.

"Of course he would, all you've ever tried to do is make him proud. Even if you didn't make it into his college, which I'm sure you will," He added after seeing her panicked face at the thought that she wouldn't get in. "He'd still be just as proud, if not more proud that you were making your own future." He leaned in. "Want a hug?" She nodded allowing him to wrap his arms around her. "We'll always be proud of you Nicky. Now start working on your homework or I will tell your mom." She laughed at his awkward attempt of breaking the sad atmosphere.

"Will do, and again thank you Chris." He shut her door on the way out, leaving her to her own thoughts. I really should start on my homework, alright what first; English or math? Definitely English. At least now she had something to distract herself from thinking of Eva, at least until the next day.