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They had been arguing for days about the school trip, Nicky didn’t want to go on because he would rather play the piano than spend four days with his class in Sheffield. It had resulted in Nicky having slammed the door to his room and had just snorted every time Booker tried to tell him something. Booker knew that it was life with a teenager but he still missed the happy little 10-year-old boy, who at least had a conversation with him.
“Do you have everything packed?” Booker wanted to know when he came out into the kitchen.
Nicky just rolled his eyes as a reply before returning to eat breakfast and reading his comic. Booker took a deep breath as he made coffee.
“Listen Nicky,” Booker said without Nicky looking in his direction. “I know you’re mad at me, but sometimes we have to do stuff we don’t want to do.”
“Why don’t you go on that school trip instead of me?” Nicky wanted to know. “Since you’re the one who thinks it’s a brilliant idea.”
“Because if you give it a chance, I’m sure you’ll have a great time,” Booker replied.
“I hate you,” Nicky said as he stood up and threw the plate in the sink before he slammed the door to his room and turned up the music.
Booker rubbed his face.
“What’s up?” Andy asked when she picked up the phone.
“Do you want a cranky teenager?” Booker joked.
“No thanks,” Andy replied. “But once Nicky is on that bus, he’ll have a great time.”
“Yeah, I know,” Booker replied. “I just have to get him on the bus first.”
“That I can’t help you with,” Andy replied. “Or else I’ll be in trouble with the judge.”
“Let’s both meet for a beer later,” Booker suggested. “We both could use one.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Andy replied.
It took Booker the better of an hour to get Nicky out of the door, and when they arrived at the school all Nicky did was to say ‘bye’ before he walked over to Lykon sulking.
It only took Nicky five minutes after the bus had left the school to realize that Booker was right, that it was fun to be on a school trip. Nicky promised himself to find a new book for his brother as a way of saying sorry.
On the second night, someone shook Nicky gently out of his slumber.
“It’s only me, Nicky,” Andy said in a calm voice.
“What are you doing in Sheffield?” Nicky wanted to know when he sat up.
“I need to talk to you,” Andy said. “Private.”
Nicky nodded before taking his socks on and following Andy out into the hallway.
“Nicky,” Andy started. “Booker had an accident.”
“What?” Nicky asked as he could feel how scared he got. “What happened?”
“He got hit by a car,” Andy leaned her forehead against Nicky to calm him but he pulled away crying, so she took his hand. “Besides a broken shoulder and some bruises, he is doing fine.”
“Can I see him?” Nicky wanted to know. “Please, Andy.”
“I’m taking you to him,” Andy said. “Get dressed.”
Nicky got dressed in a hurry.
“Don’t worry about your luggage,” Mrs. Henderson said. “I’ll make sure you get it.”
“Thanks Mrs. Henderson,” Nicky replied.
It was a quiet drive back to London, where all Nicky did was chew on his finger. When they reached the hospital Nicky refused to get out of the car.
“Hey,” Andy said as she kneeled next to Nicky. “What’s wrong?”
“I said I hated Seb,” Nicky whispered. “What if it was the last thing I had said to him? I didn’t mean it but I was just so mad at him.”
Andy leaned their foreheads together and this time Nicky let her.
“We all say things we regret,” Andy said. “But because we have people who love us, they know, we don’t mean them.”
Nicky placed his arms around Andy, who let him cry out.
“Shall we?” Andy asked after a couple of minutes and Nicky nodded.
Booker was looking out of the window at the rain feeling quite sore.
“Hey Kiddo,” Booker said when he saw Nicky.
Nicky still feeling guilty over what he had said, stood still for a moment before he flew into Booker’s arms, who let out a groan.
“Did I hurt you?” Nicky wanted to know when he tried to pull away but Booker only held him closer.
“No, you could never do that,” Booker replied.
“I’m so sorry that I said I hated you,” Nicky said. “Which I don’t.”
Booker took Nicky’s face between his hands and caressed his face.
“I know that,” Booker replied. “But what were you saying when you were snorting at me?”
“I don’t do that,” Nicky protested.
“Yeah, you do,” Andy replied. “It’s like every three or four words coming from you is a snort.”
Nicky snorted.
“And you’re doing it right now,” Booker teased.
Nicky crossed his arms and looked angry at them.
“Do not,” Nicky protested again.
Andy and Booker laughed before hugging Nicky.
“What’s that in your bag?” Booker wanted to know.
“I bought it for you,” Nicky replied as he handed the book to Booker. “As a sorry.”
“Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas,” Booker said as he hugged Nicky. “One of my favorites.”
“Glad you like it,” Nicky said with a yawn.
“Why don’t you go with Andy and get some sleep?” Booker said.
“I don’t want to leave you,” Nicky said.
Booker leaned their foreheads together.
“I know, kiddo,” Booker replied. “But I promise that it’s only for one night.”
“Promise?” Nicky asked.
Booker placed a kiss on Nicky’s forehead.
“I promise,” Booker replied. “And tomorrow once we’re home we eat pizza.”
“Can’t wait,” Nicky replied as he hugged Booker. “Love you, Seb.”
“Love you too, Nicky,” Booker replied. “Oh and Andy. Try not to feed him too much sugar.”
Andy offered Nicky an arm to hold onto.
“What do you say to donuts for breakfast with milkshakes?” Andy asked.
“Andy!” Booker shouted.
Andy gave Booker a smile, that told him, she was planning on letting Nicky eat all the sugar he wanted.