Chapter 62

Marcus arrived at the safe house and stuffed his mouth with food. Angela and Nicole were drinking water, "are you guys not going to eat?"

Nicole, who had changed into a comfortable skirt, and a short sleeve top, walked over to Marcus, "Dont you care about anyone but yourself?"

"What do you mean?" Said Marcus with his mouth stuffed full, holding a green apple.

"Look at yourself, you are like a hungry dog who hasn't eaten in days, and it's only been twenty-seven hours."

Angela couldn't help but laugh, walking up to Nicole, "twenty-seven hours is a long time without food, you know."

She removed the bread from on top of the refrigerator and took out the butter, "if you guys weren't here, I would be stuffing my mouth also full."

Nicole snorted, "I am not like that. I get thirsty, that's it."

Marcus was unsure how to respond, given that she has been through so much. Angela was licking off the butter knife when looking over at Nicole. "Nicole, are you okay?"

"Yes, I am, thank you."

"You dont look yourself. You look angry?"

Marcus turned and looked at his sister, "given your circumstances, and what you have been through, we are people you can talk to?"

Nicole's eyes darkened as if a shadow had shaded her eyes, and only her lips were visible, "there is fucken nothing wrong with me! How many times do I need to repeat the same shit over and over?" Nicole stormed out of the kitchen.

Marcus and Angela stood there in shock, speechless. "I fucked up. I knew she wasn't ready to talk about it, and I still said something. I should have gone with my gut feeling."

"You have done nothing wrong, Marcus. Stop beating yourself up about it."

Marcus walked over to Angela, looking down, "why are you so nice to me after you found out who I am?"

"Because I have known you, Marcus, for many years, and no matter what happened and who you changed to be, I will remember the Marcus I knew."

Marcus lifted his hand on top of Angela as Angela stood there surprised, unsure how to react. "What are you doing?" Said Angela

Marcus moved his hand, "sorry, I didn't mean to."

"No, it's okay," Angela stepped closer to him, "we are friends, so I guess it's fine to touch my hand."

Marcus gulped. He wanted to tell her he loved her, he had always loved her, and he went away because of her; everything he became and done was for her.

"Marcus? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am fine." the words couldn't find a way to escape his lips; instead, he mumbled soft words, "I love you."

"I am sorry, I never heard a thing you just said. Being down here is like being up in space. I can barely hear anything."

Marcus realizes that Angela might disown him and his sister after she rejects him. They would have nowhere to go. "I said you are a cool friend."

"I thought I heard something else." Angela grinned as she picked up her glass of water, "wait il be right back."

"Sure, take your time."

Marcus walked over to the living room and switched on the television. Angela came back a few minutes later. She had changed into a red tracksuit, with the temperature being eighteen degrees; it seemed ideal. "I once had the same Adidas tracksuit. Not sure what happened to it, but your design is different with the tight last by the ankle with the entire word Adidas written on it, the white zipper, zipped diagonal across, and the sleeves have what seemed like half black net and half material with a fine line of gold."

"You had one like this? I never knew it is unisex."

"No, not the same one. Wait, let me show you."

Marcus scrolled through thousands of pictures on his iPhone and found a picture of him in 2007 posing with the tracksuit. Next to him was Jack; he had a white tracksuit. Angela moved in closer inches from his face, "I remember this photo when it was taken, I was standing in the kitchen, yelling across the open plan kitchen to do a different pose."

Marcus smiled. She still remembered; it had to mean something. Marcus turned his head without realizing his lips were so close to hers and brushed his lips against hers. Angela pulled back, realizing how close she was to him. It wasn't his fault; it was hers, and it was unintentional, "I am sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen."

"It's okay. It's partially my fault, and I should have known better."

They made eye contact and stared at each other. She had never felt anything for him. What is this fuzzy feeling she has now? It's unexplainable, they had dated before, but both felt nothing; this moment felt different from any other moment they were alone together. It felt sweet and Intense. They had previously agreed never to speak about what had happened, and they were both avoiding everything at that point. "I must." Angela paused, staring at him, "I must." she looked down at his lips, and he placed his hand on hers; as she looked up at him, he was moving closer as she pulled his hand away, "I must go check on your sister."

Marcus felt as if he had swallowed his own heart. He sat up straight, "that's a great idea. Would you mind checking on her?"

Angela frowned and smiled, exposing her deep dimples, "that's what I just said."

"Oh yeah, that's what you said, right."

"I will switch on the kettle."

Angela nodded, "Okay, I will be here soon."

"Sure, see you when you get back. I mean, see you soon after you check on my sister." Angela laughed, Marcus sounded so confused, and she found it funny and cute.

Nicole sat in her room with her legs crossed; on her legs were a notebook and pencil in her hand. She was staring out of the window. There was a tree it was blowing slightly, and on top of the tree's bark was a bird's nest. Nicole sat silently, drawing the tree and the bark with the bird's nest. However, the big bird, which seemed to be the mother bird in her sketch, had a red stain on its mouth; the three tiny birds kept their heads back as if they were frightened.

"Nicole, can we talk, please?"

"Come in."

Angela entered the room, handing her a bottle of cold water, "your brother never meant to offend you. He was just concerned about you?"

"Excuse me, what are you talking about, Angela?"

"The little fight you had with your brother when he asked how you are?"

"Marcus, is he back yet?"

Angela looked down at the sketch, "what is this?"

Nicole looked up at her with her cold, glossy eyes, "a bird."

"I can see it's a bird, but what is that bird feeding them?"

"That magot meat on the floor, the birds don't trust him because the birds were told by some other bird this bird can't be trusted."

Angela frowned, "Why can't that bird be trusted?"

"Because," Nicole stared blankly up, "because," she put down the sketch and then sat by the mirror brushing her hair, "What do you think of my hair."

"It's pretty, just like you."

Nicole suddenly looked back at Angela, "how long have you been standing there, and where is Marcus?"

"He is downstairs. We had a whole conversation while I stood here."

"No, we didn't." Nicole rolled her eyes, "if we had a whole conversation, I would know. My brother must stop being like an ass and showing off in front of you by pretending he cares."

Angela shook her head, "if you need anything, we are downstairs."

"Leave my room already. Can't I have any privacy around here? Why don't you knock?"

"I'm sorry, Nicole, it won't happen again."

"It better not, Angela, or else I would have to kick you out to eat the meat I gave you."

Angela frowned but knew better than that. What meat? She asked herself.

"Okay, Nicole, thank you for the meat."

Nicole grinned, then started whistling and humming, "hush little baby, don't say a word; mommy is going to buy you a mockingbird, and if that mockingbird won't sing, mommy is going to buy you a diamond ring."

She continued singing as Angela quietly closed the door, realizing Nicole was far from well. Angela hurried downstairs and saw Marcus on the sofa, tight asleep. She walked up to him, switched off the television, and through a blanket over him. Angela switched off the light and sat in the darkness. The wind outside had picked up drastically; Angela took the white coat and threw it over her covering her arms. Down the passage, she could hear Nicole humming -Hush little baby, don't say a word, mommy is going to buy you a mockingbird, and if that mockingbird won't sing, mommy is going to kill you silently-

Had she heard right? Nicole could kill you in your sleep. Angela started to feel unsafe being around her as she continued with her eyes wide open, not staring at the passage.

"Where are you, brother? I need you." A tear rolled down her cheek as the dawn of the night crept, swallowing her sorrows and spitting out fear.