Chapter 9 A Week Away
Chapter 9 of Blood Bound
Henry Cavill x Named OC
Word Count: 5k
Summary: Nina is back in America for the holiday and tries to have a good vacation despite being away from Henry and rising tensions in the donor community.
Warnings: riot heavy chapter, incorrect use of fireworks, mentions of blood, stitches, (if i missed some please let me know)
A/N: Here it is finally! I wanted this out weeks ago so i didnt really edit at all. Im sorry! Also thanks to @hellcaster901ā and her ideas there is some drama on its way!! Enjoy! <3
āWake up! Itās time for breakfast!ā I grinned as a knee landed on my gut. I opened my eyes and saw Ireneās 11 year old cousin was jumping on us.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āLucas, I swear to god if you donāt get out right now!ā Irene teased, pushing him off of us.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āGeez, fine!ā He giggled and ran out. āBut it really is time for breakfast.ā He yelled back at us.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHeās lucky heās young. Otherwise I might kill him.ā I laughed.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āCome on, letās get up.ā We got out of bed and went downstairs. I smelled bacon and coffee as we entered the kitchen. There were sounds of glass clinking together and silverware being jostled around.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āThere you two are, always the last ones up.ā Mom was pushing around a large pan of scrambled eggs. āIrene go help your cousin set the table, Nina, honey, will you put some more coffee on? The aunts are guzzling it down.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āSure, mom.ā Irene went to the table and I went to the coffee pot. The thing was already empty so I just loaded the new grounds in with the water.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āDid you sleep okay? I know youāre usually asleep technically right now.ā I nodded, pulling out my own mug for when the coffee was done.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI slept like the dead. Flying that long really wears me out.ā She rubbed my back.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI bet, but Iām glad youāre here honey. I didnāt want you alone on thanksgiving so far away.ā I couldnāt help but hug her.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āThanks, mom. For letting me come every year.ā She kissed my head.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYouāll always be invited.ā She squeezed me and let me go. I went to help Irene with the table. I found her chasing her cousin with a fork and I rolled my eyes.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIrene, stop tormenting your cousin.ā Lucas had a smirk on his face though. āAnd you too, Lucas.ā He huffed. The table was only half set, so I took the fork out of Ireneās hand and set it down.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHeās the little brother I never asked for!ā Irene teased and Lucas laughed. We finished the table and I had set my phone down somewhere.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āLucas, did you see where I put my phone?ā I looked over to him, he was standing across the table, my phone in his hand.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYou mean this one?ā As he held it up it rang and I saw Henryās contact fill the screen. āOh look at someoneās calling.ā Irene cackled while I moved to snatch the phone back. āNinaās phone, whoās this?ā He answered, running away from me. āHenry? Are you Ninaās British friend? Iām Lucas!ā I rolled my eyes and he made it around the table to Irene. She stopped him, taking the phone away. Before I could thank her she put the phone up to her ear.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āJesus Christ.ā I mumbled, stopping my feet and rubbing my forehead.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHenry, Iād like to personally apologize for my cousin. This is Irene by the way, Ninaās best friend.ā I walked over to her.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYouāre so dramatic.ā I punched her shoulder and took the phone.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHey Henry are you still there?ā He was chuckling already as I put the phone to my ear.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYes darling,ā I walked out and to the bathroom, locking the door behind me.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āOh good. I wouldāve hung up on all that.ā He laughed again.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNo it was funny, plus I did say I wanted to meet Irene.ā I laughed.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āShe wants to meet you.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHow old is Lucas?ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ā11.ā I sighed. āBut hey, whatās up?ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI just wanted to see if you were up yet, ask how California was so far?ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āItās good, weāre about to eat breakfast. I thought youād be sleeping right now?ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIām staying up for a night shoot, I thought itād work out if I called you now.ā I smiled.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIt did! How are you?ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIām alright, tired now that my schedules off.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYeah, Iām just waiting for jet lag to kick in.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI know how that feels. Are you doing anything today?ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIām not sure what Irene has planned. I am going to see some friends at the company tomorrow, though.ā Kari had found out through Abbey that I was coming to the states and she wanted to see me.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āOh that will be good, just be careful? The protests are pretty regular there.ā The protests had become a regular part of the news lately. LA did have it bad.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI will, Ireneās family lives in the suburbs, so thatāll probably be the only time Iām in the city.ā I heard Mom call for breakfast.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āGood, Iāll try to call you when I can and text.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āThanks, so will I.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āGo eat breakfast, talk to you soon.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āBye Henry.ā We hung up and I went back out to eat. The table now had plates of bacon, sausage, and eggs, plus Auntie Jen and Auntie Jess were sitting at the table, both with fresh cups of coffee.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āThereās Nina,ā Jen got up and hugged me. āYou look beautiful as usual.ā I smiled and went over to Jess to hug her, she kissed my cheek.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āThereās fresh coffee in there honey.ā I laughed nodding.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI know, Iāll get some.ā Lucas came running in with a big glass of orange juice. āWoah, slow down, buddy.ā He slowed to a walk and sat next to his mom, Jess. I went to fill my mug and saw Ireneās dad pouring two mugs, one of them being mine.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHey Nina,ā He smiled at me over his glasses. āI got your cup.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āThanks,ā I went to the fridge and got the creamer. I poured it in each of ours and he clinked our glasses together before we drank.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āItās good to see you back here.ā He rubbed my back and we walked into the dining room to eat with the family.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Irene ended up dragging me out to go grocery shopping with her so I wouldnāt fall asleep in the middle of the day. Henry did text me here and there, in between takes of his night shoot. It wasnāt a lot but it was all I could get for the time being.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIrene, its just lunch, weāre not even leaving the building.ā It was the next day and Irene was dropping me off at the company building.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI know, but those protesters are there a lot. Especially lately.ā I sighed, seeing the building up the street.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI promise Iāll be careful. Plus security has been amped up a lot.ā It was true security had been raised company wide. I had noticed the increase in it the last time I was at the building in London. It made me feel better, but more anxious at the same time.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āJust call me if you need anything. Iāll be here at two oāclock to pick you up.ā She held the steering wheel fighters as we came up to the front door, four or five protesters with stupid signs were out front already. āOkay, nope, weāre going home.ā Security was pushing them back from the door, but Irene was letting off the brakes.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIrene, itās fine. The guards can handle a few people with signs.ā She huffed but stopped.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIāll call you when Iām here. Seriously be careful.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āThank you, Irene. See you later, okay?ā I opened the door and hopped out. One of the guards held open the door for me as I ignored the taunts from the protesters.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āFreak!ā I heard as the door shut. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNina! Welcome back.ā I opened my eyes and saw Kari standing at the front desk. āSorry about all that. Theyāre all idiots.ā I laughed as she pulled me to the elevator. āItās good to see you!ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āItās good to see you.ā She linked her arm with mine. āHave they been bothering you guys a lot?ā She hit the up button and we waited for the doors.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYes, they stand out there all the time. Itās obvious not doing anything so why donāt they just stop?ā The doors opened and we stepped in, Kari pressing the button.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI donāt know. Itās weird in London too.ā She shook her head.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āAgain, they are all idiots.ā We made it up to her floor and walked to her office. āI got us burgers and they just got here.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYay, thank you!ā We sat at her desk and caught up with each other.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHenry Cavillās still your client right?ā I nodded, picking at what was left of my fries. āHow is that? I havenāt donated since I was in college, and when he sent in his paperwork I almost started again.ā I chuckled, shaking my head.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI mean, heās like most clients. He calls me, he feeds.ā She raised an eyebrow. āWhat?ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āOh come on, what else? You donors get to meet all these celebrities all the time. Whatās he like? Please tell me heās as charming as he looks.ā I giggled at her dramatics.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHe is really charming.ā I rested my chin on my hand and my elbow on the desk. āHe never pressures me into anything, which is great.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHas he bought you lots of things? Abbey told me about this trip she went on once.ā I nodded. Irene texted me then, saying she was on her way, but traffic was bad. I furrowed my brow, we were well past the lunch rush, but there could be an accident or something.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYeah, he bought me this beautiful dress for a wedding he took me too, here I think I have a picture.ā At some point during the wedding the photographer had taken photos of us and Henry had gotten his hands on it. It was just us talking. I was looking up at him and his hand was moving as he explained something to me. āHe surprised me with the dress and the bag-ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNina, you look like a couple!ā I couldnāt help but smile. āYou look beautiful!ā She took my phone and I saw her zoom in. āYouāve got some cow eyes for Henry too.ā She laughed at me and I punched her shoulder. āSeriously, you both look good.ā She handed me the phone back. āDo you like him?ā Her brows raised, but she was smiling.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āWell yeah, apparently I have cow eyes.ā She rolled her eyes. āI only showed you the picture to see the dress.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āAnd you thought I wouldnāt notice the rest of the picture?ā She laughed. āMy advice is to tie him down before itās too late.ā I joined her laughter as we started cleaning up our trash from lunch.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHow long are you in town for?ā We walked to the elevator.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āJust for the week. Iāll fly back-ā Kariās phone rang and she sighed.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHang on.ā She answered it and I went over to the windows to see if Ireneās car was out front. My eyes widened as I looked at the street below. The group of protesters had multiplied and werenāt happy. Security was holding them back, but there were a lot of people. I gulped when I saw a man push a guard down.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āKari-ā I was going to call her over here, but an object flew out of the crowd, I couldnāt figure out what it was. I squinted my eyes as the protesters looked up. I backed up as I realized what it was. The firecracker hit and shattered a window only yards away from where we were standing. Kari screamed and I pushed her back the the way we came as the the thing popped so loud my ears were ringing. Smoke filled the hallway as we ran. I wasnāt sure where we were going, but Kari grabbed my wrist, pulling me faster. I choked on the smoke as she pulled me into the stairway. The echos of our feet and coldness of the concrete walls made me shiver.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNina, what was that?ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āA fucking firework.ā I still didnāt believe it.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āSecurity told me to go back to my office and lock the doors, but that was before the firework.ā She held her head. āOh my god, Nina, whatās happening?ā My hands shook.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIs there somewhere else we can go?ā There were tears in her eyes as she thought.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āA few floors down thereās a janitorial room that locks.ā I grabbed her hands.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āOkay, letās go. Just keep it together until then.ā She nodded, but I wasnāt sure if I couldnāt hold it together. We jumped out of our skin when we heard a door slam at the bottom of the staircase. āDoes this lead outside?ā Her eyes widened as we heard loud footsteps and voices coming up the stairs.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYes, shit, letās go.ā She pulled me down two flights and burst through the door at the last one, all while the protesters got louder. We ran as fast as we could through another floor of offices. āItās on the other side of the floor.ā Kari ran faster and my hand slipped from hers. We ran past more windows, staying close to the opposite wall. Kari got farther head of me and as I sped up a window shattered in front of me. I stopped so hard I tripped and fell, cutting my arm on glass. Before I could get up I saw what broke the window, Another firework. I scrambled backwards, trying to find my footing. I barely got to my feet before it went off. I covered my face and felt the smoke surround me. Popping and sizzling and the choking smell of smoke invaded my senses. The ringing in my ears got higher in pitch and I couldnāt heard much. The smoke was clearing but my chest forced coughs up my throat. Someone grabbed my arm and I turned to see Kari. She sounded muffled, but she was telling me to follow her so I clutched her arm for dear life and she took me to the room we were looking for. She slammed the door shut and locked it. I had to sit down, I found some folding chairs and got one.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNina? Are you okay?ā Kari turned to me. āOh my god, your arm.ā She walked to me and pushed my ripped sleeve up. The cut was bleeding and pretty big. I couldnāt really feel it yet, but I knew it hit me sooner or later. āI think you need stitches.ā I leaned back and she found a rag. āPut pressure on it.ā She chewed on her lip as she look at me.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āKari, itās okay.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNo itās not! Those assholes hurt you. God, you wouldnāt even be here if I hadnāt begged you to go to lunch.ā I shook my head.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI agreed to be here, Kari. This is not your fault. Itās those crazies.ā Suddenly we heard voices and running outside. I pressed my lips together and Kari pressed her ear on the door. I jumped when my phone rang and I scrambled to turn it off. It was Irene, but I couldnāt talk. I tried texting her but I heard a voice clear as day outside the door.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āDude, the cops are here.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āFuck, letās go.ā More footsteps fading away and I let out a breath I didnāt know I was holding. Irene called me again and I answered.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNina! What the fuck is going on? Thereās smoke coming from windows and thereās protesters running everywhere.ā She was crying, I could hear it in her voice. āPlease tell me youāre okay.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIām okay. Iām locked in a janitors closet, but Iām okay.ā I tried not to stare at the white rag turning red on my arm. āYou need to get back home. Itās not safe.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNo way. Iām coming to get you.ā I felt a lump in my throat form.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIrene, no.ā If she got hurt here, Iād never forgive myself.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI canāt just leave you there. Like you said itās not safe.ā My eyes welled up.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI know, but if you try and help me weāll both be stuck here. Or worse.ā I shuddered. āIāll try to text you when I can, but I gotta go.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNina are you sure-ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āGo home. Iāll be okay.ā I hung up before I started crying. āPlease go home Irene.ā Kari had been texting someone as I spoke, she was shaking a little so I got her a chair, my arm beginning to throb. āSit.ā I told her and she did.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āCops are outside, I texted security where we are, theyāll be here soon.ā I shut my eyes and leaned back. āHowās your arm?ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āItās fine. I probably need to get it looked at though.ā My phone buzzed again and I saw notifications from news websites I follow. I clicked one and saw a live video of outside the building. Protesters were running off as police filled the area. The street had been blocked off, and police were detaining whoever they could. I closed the video and shut my eyes.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āLA PD, anyone in here?ā We had been completely silent as we waited for the police. Kari ran over to the door and unlocked it.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYes, weāre here.ā She opened the door. āMy friend, sheās hurt.ā Two cops were on the other side.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āThere are EMTs downstairs.ā The cops took us downstairs and EMTs had set up in the donations lab. Kari sat with me as they cleaned my arm and thankfully just stitched it there. It hurt bad now that the adrenaline was gone. No one was majorly injured. A donor did have to go get some burns looked at but she was going to be okay.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYou guys can wait here. I think the police need to ask you guys some questions.ā I huffed.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI just want to go back home.ā I mumbled. Iāve also had the urge to call Henry since the cops found us, but I didnāt want to worry him. It seems like Iād be busy for a bit anyways.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHello, ladies.ā One of the cops from before walked to us. āIf you donāt mind answering some questions for us. I can take one of you over to my partner.ā Kari stood.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIāll go first. Nina, I can get you home after all this okay? Weāll leave as soon as weāre done.ā I nodded and she let the man lead her away. I started a message to Irene, but Henryās contact lighting up my screen interrupted me.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHenry?ā I answered it immediately.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNina, oh my god. I just saw the news. Weāre you in the building today?ā I sighed.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYeah, Iām still there now.ā I heard movement on the other end.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āWhat? Are you alright? Whatās going on?ā I looked down at my bandaged forearm.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIām okay. The cops are here and itās settling down.ā I scratched at some soot on my jeans. āIāve been wanting to call you.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIām so glad your okay. I needed to make sure. Do you want to tell me what happened?ā I swallowed, but explained everything. He sighed as I finished.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āGod, I could fly over there right now if I didnāt-ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNo itās okay. Iām fine. Iāll be back soon. Fortunately a little cut doesnāt ruin a vacation.ā The bandage covered half my arm, but he didnāt know that.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āAre you sure youāre okay?ā I took a deep breath, seeing Kari and cop walking back.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYeah. Iām okay, Henry. I think I need to talk to the police now. Iāll talk to you soon.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āAlright. If you need to talk, just call me, okay?ā We said goodbye and I answered the questions from the police. It didnāt take long and I couldnāt wait to get out of there.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āCome on, Nina. I can take you home.ā The cops took us to the back where they were sending everybody home through. Kari lead me to her car and we drove mostly in silence.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āAre you okay, Kari?ā I asked her as we turned on Ireneās street.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI should be okay soon. Are you?ā I nodded and she pulled into Ireneās driveway. Irene was standing on the porch with Mom. āHave a good Thanksgiving. Hopefully thatāll keep our minds off things.ā I pulled her into a big hug and got out.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā The two women on the porch hugged me as soon as I was in reach. I squeezed them tightly as I tried not to cry. āCome on, sweetie, letās get you cleaned up.ā Mom pulled me inside, arm around my shoulder. Irene held my hand and followed us inside. I let them bring me upstairs, the cousins and aunts in the living room staring at me as we went. I told them I just needed to shower and lay down. Mom squeezed my hands and left. Irene lingered and hugged my neck.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIām glad youāre okay.ā She let go and walked off.ā I swallowed down tears and went to the bathroom. After my shower I shut Ireneās lights off and got in bed. I dialed Henryās number and pressed my phone to my ear.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHey Nina. You home?ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYep, finally.ā He chuckled.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHow are you? I mean-you donāt have to answer that.ā His sudden stutter made me giggle.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āWell I feel better after getting all that soot off me. Kari and I probably stunk up her car.ā I pulled my phone away and put it on speaker. āSpeaking of her, I should make sure she got home.ā I sent her a message as Henry spoke.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āThatās a good thing at least.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIām just sitting in the dark now. I need the quiet.ā I shut my eyes.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āBy the way, try to avoid social media. Itās everywhere right now.ā I huffed.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āThank you, and thanks for answering.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āOf course, itās good to hear your voice.ā I couldnāt help but smile.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYours too.ā I whispered.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āWhen do you get back to London?ā He huffed.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āSaturday, I think.ā I couldnāt think of the time difference right now. āIāll be back and complaining about jet lag in no time.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI canāt wait.ā We talked for a little while and I had to hang up before I fell asleep on the phone. I shut my eyes and it didnāt take long.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNina,ā Irene was shaking my shoulder as I opened my eyes. āitās time to eat.ā I got up and followed her downstairs. I really hoped everyone would act normal tonight.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNina, can I see your stitches?ā Lucas came from the kitchen holding a bowl of spaghetti.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āJesus Lucas!ā Irene punched him and I laughed.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āItās fine, Iāll have to change the bandages eventually so you can see them then.ā He grinned and walked off to the living room.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āSorry,ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āItās fine. Heās a kid. Iām just glad heās not being weird.ā She furrowed her brows.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHe just asked to see your stitches.ā I shook my head and pulled her to the kitchen where the pot of noodles sat on the stove. Irene and I got our bowls and went to the table.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYou better eat that entire bowl, Nina.ā Aunt Jess poked my arm. āWe wonāt have that arm ruin thanksgiving.ā I shook my head.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIt wonāt. Itās not that bad anyways.ā Well it did hurt quite a bit, but Iād take some painkillers soon. āThey told me to go to the hospital until the stitches need to come out.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI think weāre all just glad youāre okay. That everyoneās okay.ā Mom came in last, and we all ate.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNext time I see one of those stupid signs, Iāll beat the crap out of the son of-ā Ireneās dad started
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHoney, not at the table. Letās just eat, Ninaās had enough of protests for the day.ā I smiled at mom and she happily changed the subject to Black Friday shopping. We ate and the packed table of people made me feel a lot lighter than when I first got back.
I tried focusing on Thanksgiving a lot more, wanting to get my mind off of everything else. I spent the next day grocery shopping for Thanksgiving with Irene and her mom. Irene decided to let me help her with desserts and by seven that evening I was elbow deep in flour. Irene was rolling out another pie crust while I poured the last of the wine in our cups, adding another floury handprint to the mix of them on the bottle.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHave you heard anything about the article?ā Irene had a splotch of flour on her cheek. I set her glass down next to her and went back to the dishes I was washing.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNo, my editor emailed me and I thought maybe thereād be something but she was just checking in after everything.ā I sighed. āWhich was nice, but I want to know what she thinks of everything.ā I wore gloves so my bandages stayed dry. āThis is the worst part. I hate not knowing what she thinks. Waiting for her response.ā I shook my head.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āWell, I know Iāve only read snippets, but I love it. And Abbey seems so cool. I canāt wait to meet her eventually.ā I smiled.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYouāll love her. She wants to meet you too. And we have to go out when you two meet.ā Irene turned around.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āOh my god, itās been so long since we went to the bars.ā She pouted.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI know! Look weāre wine drunk let me just buy you plan tickets right now and you come back to London with me.ā She burst out laughing.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI wish!ā She rolled her eyes. āBut we should plan something maybe I could get some time off in January?ā I nodded, grinning at her.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYes! Just say the word and Iām buying the tickets.ā By the time we finished the baking and cleaned up most of the house had gone to bed. We snuck up to Ireneās room and got ready for bed.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHow crowded is the house going to be tomorrow?ā I asked Irene as she got under the covers.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āVery, why do you think we made so much dessert?ā She rattled off a few relatives and I sighed. āYouāre really okay right?ā It was dark and I couldnāt make out her face.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYeah, I think so.ā I sighed. āIām just glad itās over and thatās itās almost Thanksgiving.ā She chuckled.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āMe too. Iām glad youāre okay too.ā
Ā I woke up on Thanksgiving to Irene getting shoved out of bed by Lucas. I laughed with him as she grumbled, running her hands through her messy hair. āYour mom says to get up.ā Lucas ran out of the room and I helped Irene off the floor.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHeās the worst part of Thanksgiving.ā She stated.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āShut up you love him.ā I patted her back. āCome on, we gotta get ready before everyone gets here.ā We got dressed and ended up sharing a bathroom to do our makeup. I was focusing on my eyeliner as Irene danced to some song in the mirror. Suddenly my phone buzzed, almost falling off the toilet, where it had to go to make room for our makeup. Irene was closer so she grabbed it.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI think its your editor.ā She handed it to me, and I furrowed my brows. I took it from her and answered.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHello?ā I stepped out of the bathroom with only one eye done.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āNina! Iām sorry to call you today, but with everything going on I just thought Iād let you know early. Your article was amazing and itās most definitely going on the site.ā I broke out into a grin. āI love this Abbey girl; sheās going to kick the series off wonderfully. I see why you picked her.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āThank you so much. Iām so happy you liked it.ā I jumped a little, already wanting to tell Irene.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI want to talk everything through once were back and settled after this week.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYes, just let me know.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHappy Thanksgiving, Nina.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āHappy Thanksgiving!ā I hung up and went right back in to tell Irene.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āWell what did she say?ā She set her curling iron down.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āShe likes the piece, and she wants to make it a series!ā Irene cheered and hugged me. āIrene! This is great!ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIt is! Congrats, Nina!ā She rubbed my back. āI think this deserves a celebratory shot.ā I laughed and Irene ran out of the bathroom. I shook my head and went to my phone to text Henry. Call me if you can. I want to tell you something. I sent and went back to my makeup. Irene came back up with two shot glasses filled with clear liquid. āVodka okay?ā I cringed, but nodded, taking one from her. We clinked our glasses together and swallowed it down.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYay!ā I set my glass down.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI say we get hammered today.ā Irene began pouring another.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIrene, your family is about to be crawling over every inch of this house. I canāt be slurring my words by three p.m.ā She only shrugged. āWhatever, Iām not taking care of you later.ā We finished getting ready and when I went downstairs, I told everyone the good news. I got a big hug from Mom and a kiss on the cheek from the aunts. I tried not to think about a reply from Henry. He probably was sleeping. I hated different time zones and busy schedules. Turns out that the booze helped keep my mind off it and I was tipsy as I heaped food on my plate. Irene giggled as she handed me the spoon for corn.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āSomeoneās buzzed.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āSo are you.ā I nudged her elbow. We sat together and tried to eat a little of our buzz away. It turned into eating ourselves into food comas, falling asleep on the couch. I slept through my phone ringing, but when I woke up and saw it was Henry I groaned. I tried calling him again, but he didnāt answer. I huffed and rolled my eyes.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āYouāll talk to him soon donāt worry.ā Irene had rolled over in her spot on the couch. āJust go back to sleep.ā I put my phone down and pulled a blanket over me.
~~~
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