Sitting on the examination table, Nicolas scowled at having to be there. He didn't like the doctor's office, it was small and too enclosed for his liking, and the sterile smells only put him off even more. Still, it was a step up from the dentist's office, but only just barely. It had been about a week since the night of the talent show at school, and still there were times he felt flustered for seemingly no reason, though all of those happened around Alex. He didn't like being so out of sorts, but liked being around her, so in essence, he was screwed.
Worick sat on the spare chair that was placed in the room, glad that he at least had the other boy there so that he didn't have to resort to talking since the doctor didn't know sign language. Letting out a grumble as the doctor finally came back in the room, his frown grew deeper at the man's look, watching as he pulled up a chair and kept his focus on his lips. "Well Nicolas, I'm not thrilled about your read outs first off. You said last time that you've had some pain in your hands and wrists, overly tired despite getting more than the average amount of sleep and still waking early. Has anything changed since our last visit?"
Shaking his head, Nicolas idly bit at his lip, shoving his hands in the pockets of his dark grey hoodie. "Alright, well according to your paperwork, we did a CMP test last time, and you came back with high cholesterol and a borderline deficient in Vitamin D and B12. Tell me, do you go outside much or are you mostly one who stays indoors?"
His brow furrowing, Nic signed out his answer, glancing to Worick when he was done for help with the translation. "Nope, he gets out plenty doc. Also eats pretty well and exercises as a way to kill boredom."
"Hm, that's very odd then. Knowing that, I think we'll run a few tests for rheumatoid markers and a thyroid panel, see if anything comes back to give us more direction on that. The nurse will be right in to do another blood draw and we'll schedule you to come back in another few days."
[Good, I get to skip school.]
"You don't get to skip school Nic, you know that."
[Quit ruining my hopes Worick.] Frowning as the doctor left, Nicolas fell back against the examination bed, just wanting to be done with being there and being poked and prodded like some kind of lab rat. Sitting back up when the nurse came in, he rolled up his sleeve and held out his arm, staying still as she cleaned his arm and prepared to draw some blood. Watching as the dark liquid filled the syringe, he folded his arm on the cotton ball as she secured the sample, opening his arm back up when she brought over a bandage for him and helping to roll his sleeve back down.
"Okay, you're free to go Nicolas. Just check in with the lady at the desk, and we'll see you in about three days." Nodding to her, he shoved his hands back in the pockets on his hoodie, following Worick out and down the hall to talk to the girl behind the desk. Using the money Mr. Monroe had given them to take care of the visit, Worick held the door open as they left, walking alongside Nicolas as they went to the local bus stop to wait for their ride. Glancing to the side, Worick leaned back and lit up a cigarette.
"You okay pal?"
[Why wouldn't I be?]
"Mm, just know I'd be pissed if shit was coming back like it is for you."
[At least I'll have answers. I don't like being in pain without explanation.]
"Fair enough." Taking a long drag on his cigarette, Worick blew out the smoke into the chilly air. It wouldn't be much longer until winter would be on them, the days already growing shorter and nights colder. He sighed as he made a mental note to add a spare blanket to his bed, and switch out the thin one Nicolas had for something a little warmer when they got back home. "Well, we'll find out what's up pal, and we'll get you set up so you can keep goin', just like we always do."
[I know.] Even if he never said as much, Nicolas really did appreciate having someone around who cared enough about him to do these things as Worick did. Their meeting may not have been the most pleasant, and he was sure that the boy still held a deep pain from it, but they stuck together regardless, taking care of each other when no one else in the world seemed to give a damn. Catching sight of the bus, he waited until Worick put out his cigarette, boarding the bus and taking a seat near the back.
The ride back was uneventful, walking the remaining distance and coming back to have Yang, Delico and Erica running to greet them as they closed the front door. With nothing better to do since Mr. Monroe had left for a business trip that morning, Worick ordered them some pizzas, Nicolas taking the three kids and setting them up with a movie in the living room as they waited. They spent their evening quietly, falling back into their routine during the next few days as if nothing had changed, managing to spend the time as he always had with his few friends and teasing each other.
At one point Nicolas had to wonder if perhaps his issues may have any connection to how Alex made him feel, though realistically he knew that was probably bullshit. No one ever had pain in their hands from things like that...well, not just from being attracted to anyone. He knew and had teased Worick enough times when the other boy returned during those first few months they had lived on the street that selling himself could be rigorous work, but he wasn't doing anything like that to begin with, let alone with Alex, so that crackpot theory went right out the window. Still, despite how flustered she often left him since that night he'd walked her home, he found himself missing her if he hadn't been able to see her at least once during the day, wanting at least a glimpse of her warm skin or a flash of bright, glittering blue.
When finally he returned to the doctor's office with Worick on the third day, once again he wore a scowl, the nursing staff familiar with his dislike of the small, enclosed offices and trying to move things along quickly for him. Sitting back in that stuffy office, Nicolas kicked his feet impatiently, the doctor finally coming in after seeming to take forever. "Hey guys, Nicolas, sorry for the wait, we've been a little backed up today."
Worick laughed at what Nic signed toward the man, waving his hand and refusing to translate for him since it was anything but pleasant. Nodding to that, he took a seat and flipped through the test results, "Alright, well Nicolas, it looks like we may have found the cause of your issues. It seems you've been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, or Hashimoto's Disease. What this means is that your thyroid is not functioning as it normally should, and needs additional help. Now I can prescribe you what you need to manage that, and if taken regularly, you should start to feel a bit more like yourself. I'm also going to suggest you try to lower the amount of gluten in your diet as well, as it's been suggested that high amounts can be a possible trigger for your discomfort. We'll go ahead and schedule you for a follow up to see how you're doing a month from now, and from there we'll see what we may need to change or adjust to make you more comfortable, alright?"
He was anything but pleased at the news, but knowing there was nothing to be done for it, Nic nodded and waited for the prescriptions from the doctor. Sliding off the exam bed, he still wore his frown as they paid the girl at the desk and walked down the three blocks to the nearest pharmacy. Walking around the store as they waited for his pills, Worick did his best to try and cheer him up, cracking jokes at the horrible, cheap toys they had available in the kids section, and offering to pick some up for the three back at Monroe's. Receiving his medications from the man at the counter, they both paid attention to what he said about being sure to take his medication around the same time each day to maintain regularity, nodding to him and taking the bag as Worick paid them.
The following day, Nicolas wasn't in the best of moods, though he tried to make sure he didn't take it out on anyone. It wasn't their fault he had developed health issues, at least, he couldn't prove it anyway, so doing so wouldn't help him. Glad when classes were finally over, he stopped by his locker and made sure he had his things, heading to the library to meet with Alex. Waving to her as he came up to what had become their usual table, he set his things down, taking out his notebook and pencil, though they never really did any work anymore. [You wait long?]
She smiled at him, having heard from Worick in passing that Nicolas had developed hypothyroidism and was still unhappy about it. She was a little worried, but was glad that Nicolas had him to help work things out so he could try getting back to his normal self. [No, I just got here myself. How was your day?]
[Fine. Could have stayed home though. Tired.]
[I'm sorry.]
[Not your fault.]
[Still, doesn't mean I can't worry.]
[You shouldn't. I'll be fine.]
[I know that silly. Don't be like that.]
He frowned, flushing slightly and idly playing with his pencil over his notebook cover. Seeing him still upset, Alex reached out to tap over his wrist and get his attention, still smiling at him softly. [Come on, let's go find something new to read like we usually do. It seems like forever since we last got to meet together here.]
He nodded to her, standing with her and following as they went further into the tall aisles lined with countless books. For not being a great school compared to some, the library they had was impressive, each section well fleshed out and with varying subjects to keep even the most eclectic reader from getting bored. Wandering into the poetry section, Alex stopped at random and pulled one from the shelf, showing him the cover and nodding as they took a seat on the floor and opened it up. It turned out to be a collection from a man called Edgar Allen Poe, and from the introduction description of his work, he seemed like someone Nicolas may like to see more from.
Looking over a few of the short stories, Nic grinned at the dark nature of them, the two of them stopping on occasion to make a comment or joke offhandedly at the material. Leaning up against the main wall of books as they read, neither realized just how close they were, and slowly moving closer the further they went into the book. Glancing over a poem, Alex smiled sadly, turning her head when Nic tapped her hand to get her attention. [You look sad. What happened?]
Setting down the book in her lap a moment, she tucked some hair behind her ear, [It's the poem, it's sad, but still so pretty.]
[How so?]
Shifting how she sat, she turned a bit more toward him to get comfortable, leaning on the arm closest to him as the book sat open over her thighs. [He's sad, because the one he loved so much died, and he misses her everyday. He stays in her mausoleum at night just to be close to her, wishing that the same illness that took her from him, would take him too, so they could be together.]
Tilting his head to read the words, he leaned a little closer toward her when he had to turn his attention to the next page, pausing when he felt her shift slightly and looking up. They both stopped where they were, noses almost touching with how close they were, feeling the faint puffs of warm air as the other breathed. He could only just feel the warmth from her skin at the tip of his nose, the feel of her breath on his lips making his nerves tingle, and finding he wanted to feel more of the sweet sensation. Moving achingly slow, he stopped as he tilted his forehead to touch hers, his expression softer than before, not making any other moves in case she didn't want him to.
Feeling him so close, Alex's eyes slowly closed, pushing forward that last bit of distance and pressing careful lips to his. Though he had never done so before, Nic leaned in a little more, enjoying the soft contact against sensitive skin. Despite being friends with Worick for so long, Nicolas had never bothered to get close to anyone else aside from Nina, and that was only because she had wanted to know him. This, this was completely different. Something in him had wanted to know Alex, to see her smile, and find out more. Each day he learned a little more, and through those days, he only wanted to be that much closer, something about her intriguing him and drawing him in. Now, despite the muscles in his shoulders tensing up, he did his best to follow her lead as her lips slowly moved against his, eyes barely staying open against the sweet taste she left in his mouth.
She sighed as she moved forward with the kiss, the hand she was leaning on moving to rest over his between them, fingers slowly moving to slip between hers as his thumb ran over the back of her hand. A soft warmth filled her chest, the book sliding off her legs and forgotten on the floor between them as she brought up her free hand to gently run fingertips across his cheek and up into his hair. Hearing a soft grunt from his throat, she turned toward him a little more, her chest meeting his and causing her cheeks to warm further. Carefully, she opened her mouth a little, tilting her head to deepen the kiss, and glad when he followed suit. A moment later, she felt his other hand slide up her leg to settle on her hip, the action itself sending a shiver down her spine.
As much as both of them were enjoying the moment, she paused suddenly when she heard a coughing behind her, one of the library aides giving them a stern look from the end of a nearby aisle. Blushing at having been caught, she looked back at Nic apologetically, closing up the book and standing to quickly put it back on the shelf. Waiting as he got to his feet, she reached out to gently take his hand, heading back to the table they had left their things at. She hesitated a moment until Nic grabbed his things and took her hand again, managing a shy smile and following suit. Leaving the building, she followed him across the quad, still holding tightly to his hand as they turned out the gate and slid into an out of the way hall between the buildings.
Watching as he slowed and leaned against the wall, she set her bag down and stepped over to him, standing just within arms length, though she gave him a minute. [Sorry...]
[For what?]
[...I don't know.]
[Then, there's no reason to be sorry, is there?]
[I guess not.]
He nodded after a moment, shyly reaching out to take her hand again, looking at her with a questioning, but not really knowing what it was he should be asking. He watched her eyes carefully, turning his hand in hers as she slowly came forward, slipping fingers between hers and relaxing slightly at the warmth gathering between their hands. He tensed slightly as a careful, delicate hand came up to rest against his shoulder, still searching through shining blue as his free hand came up to her hip once more.
Slowly leaning in once more, her breath hitched as she leaned against him, still leaving that slight hesitation before pressing her lips to his again. It felt so different to do so standing this time, far closer than before, a warmth spreading on her cheeks. She shivered at feeling hard muscle under the hand at his shoulder, gently squeezing with a faint gasp as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss. For someone who didn't really get close to others, he was a fast learner, though perhaps it was because of what she felt about him that such a simple thing as a kiss would leave her breathless.
The two of them lost any sense of time in that small hallway, wrapped up in the surge of feeling and warmth from being so close. When finally they separated, soft gasps puffed out against their lips, the nerves left tingling with the sudden shifts from warm to cold and back again. For a while they stayed like that, just looking into the other's eyes as they held on, both unused to feeling such strong things for another, but wanting to so much to try. Pulling back enough to bring his hands up, he waited a moment for his head to clear, thoughts still somewhat lost in the pleasurable fog. [Be with me?]
Watching him sign out the words, she looked up at him, a slow smile coming to her face, the hand at his shoulder came up to brush fingers against his cheek. Nodding to him, she came back for a soft kiss, smiling against his lips as he wrapped strong arms around her and held her stayed like that for a time, glancing up when they noticed the buses pulling in to pick up the second round of kids.
Seeing the buses beginning to pull up, he frowned at knowing their time was likely up for the day, his arms tightening around her for a few moments before finally letting them fall to hold her hand. [I can walk you if you want.]
Giving his hand a short squeeze, she leaned up for another soft kiss, "I'll be alright. It's been a long few days for you, hasn't it? You should get home and rest a little."
He wanted to argue, to stay with her a little longer, but knew she was right. He carried his new medications with him, but he was still tired, and his hands were sore after the full day of taking notes and turning pages. Nodding to her, he brushed some hair from her face, leaning down to gently bump his forehead to hers, [See you in the morning then?]
[Of course. You just get home, sleep well.]
[I will, you too.] Keeping an eye on his bus, he watched as she walked down the street, smirking with a shake of his head as she turned and waved to him before crossing the street. Waiting until he couldn't see her anymore, he boarded the bus, taking his seat and staring out the window, his mind wandering to the feel he still had of her on his lips.
Alex had a small smile on her face as she packed up her things, looking forward to sitting with the boys at lunch as she usually did. Though, now, things were different. Now she was with someone special. A slightly awkward, quiet boy who was oddly sweet if you could get past his sometimes rough exterior. Waving to a fellow student as she finished up, she shouldered her bag and headed for the door, pausing when she heard the teacher call to her from his desk. Curious, she tucked her hair behind her ear, stepping back over to the man's desk and tilting her head slightly. "Yes sir? Is something wrong?"
Ivan smirked as the last of the other students left the room, the door closing behind them as he turned in his chair. "I certainly hope not, though I did wish to discuss something important with you, Alex..."
"Sir?"
"Hm, you must not be very good if you aren't already attempting to negotiate a good price..." Her blood ran cold at his words, the small smile on her face gone as she glanced around her to make sure no one would hear.
"W-What are you talking about, Mr. Glaziev...?"
"Oh come now, we don't need to be like that. I know you really want to get into a good college, it's admirable really, but even you may have trouble without perhaps a letter of recommendation or two."
"...I-I, I don't-"
"You sell yourself in the evenings and sometimes on the weekends. To help protect yourself, you call yourself 'Amber'. So then, Miss Amber, like most things in this world, if you don't want this dirty little secret of yours to make it to the wrong people, I suggest you begin negotiations like the proper whore you claim not to be."
Her lips thinned at the situation she found herself in, already feeling sick at the thought of having to do such things at all, let alone with a teacher. She couldn't let anyone find out how she earned money for her family, but she didn't want to go along with his demands either. She was stuck, her hands clenched at her sides as she sighed and nodded slightly. "...Normally, it's a hundred for a blow job, and sex starts at a hundred-fifty. I don't do anal at all, and I'm clean. I get tested at the free clinic as often as I can afford to."
"Now see? That's a good girl. Though for your favorite teacher, we could work out a little discount maybe?"
"...fine. Seventy-five for head, a hundred for sex."
"How about an 'A' for the rest of the year, and you let the rest go?"
"Ah, but-"
Her heart stopped as he turned to reach into the top drawer of his desk, dropping a few pictures he'd somehow managed to snap of her as she had been either taking a client, or servicing them down what she had thought was a secluded alley. "I could make a call right now and tell the principal...or would you rather take my offer, and ensure that you have those letters to help you get into that college you're so passionate about?"
Alex's hands were clenched so hard they hurt, her shoulders slumping at having been drawn into such a horrible corner. If she refused, he wouldn't hesitate to let others know her terrible secret, but going along with it meant turning herself into a puppet for his amusement. Still, she had no real options, because if she said anything, things could easily be turned on her and she could lose everything. Nodding weakly, she set her bag down, the nausea getting worse as she reached to unbutton her top and unhook her bra, bared breasts falling slightly from being freed from the support.
"Good girl, would you mind getting on your knees now? I believe sucking me off will be enough for today." She felt close to tears, slowly falling to her knees and reaching for his zipper, the moisture in her eyes already making it hard to see straight. Trying her best to slip into business mode and go numb to it all. She tried to simply block out everything, not even focusing directly on her task, though after having to do it for so long to help what was left of her family survive, at least that part was simple. She shrunk back when he set a hand on her head, glaring at him and pulling away a moment.
"No."
"Mm, alright, I'm sorry..."
Wiping at her mouth, she got back to work, the cold linoleum tile on her knees as her elbow bumped into the desk beside them. Still trying to not focus on anything, she missed when he froze, the door opening as the school's on duty police officer came in to deliver some handouts on student safety. "Ah, what the hell is going on here!?"
"O-officer Balfour, I can explain. This, student of mine, she was trying to proposition and blackmail me, into making sure she got into the college of her choice! She is a deviant, and should be taken in for psychiatric evaluation immediately for her perversions!"
Hearing everything the man said about her, Alex grit her teeth, looking up through teary eyes to stare death at the man who tried to make it sound like any of this was her fault. "I've been working my ass off studying and doing everything I can for my grades, and I would never consider giving myself in trade for them you asshole!"
Trying to listen to both sides, either way it was horrible, Cody put up his hands and raised his voice so he would be heard over the two arguing for his attention. "Okay, okay! Everyone calm down, I need back up, so both of you to opposite ends of the room, now, and not a word to each other until I say so. Dispatch...?"
Listening to him, Alex quickly went to one of the corners, her arms wrapped around herself and biting at her lip. She couldn't stop the tears as they waited for other police to arrive, slowly sinking to the floor and sobbing quietly at knowing what this would mean for her and her family. When another squad car pulled up outside the front of the school, everything just started crashing down around her. The only thing they were able to do was keep it so no one knew it had been her, but just knowing herself was bad enough. Mr. Glaziev was fired and taken away, despite insisting on his innocence, and Alex was taken to the station for questioning.
It took a long time for her to stop crying enough to tell them the truth of the situation, but it was hard when she knew that doing so would ruin everything she had worked so hard to get together. The rest of the night seemed to take forever, yet it was a complete blur. Going with two officers to her apartment, needing to gather her clothes and stuffing them into a garbage bag doing the same for her brother, and arresting her father and picking up Emilio. She held her brother close as they sat in the station, crying together as an older officer came over to speak to them whenever there was new information. It was nearly midnight by the time they were told that they had somewhere to put the two of them, but it wouldn't be together due to lack of room. "No, no please, he's my little brother! I have to stay with him!"
"I'm sorry Alex, but there's no room available right now for the two of you in the same place. Maybe in the future we can work something out, but right now it just isn't something that can be done."
Shaking her head, she turned to tightly hug Emilio, tears running down her face as she pulled back. "Emilio, I need you to be brave for me, okay?"
"No! No, I don't wanna leave! I wanna go home with you and Dad!"
"I know, but...that just, it can't happen right now...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, I know I let you down..."
She took him in another hug, crying harder at the thin, young arms holding her just as tight. Feeling a tap on her shoulder, she looked up at the older man, pulling away slowly and wiping her eyes as she watched Emilio be taken with another officer. "Please... Just, promise me...he won't be alone..."
"He's going to a good place, Alex. The woman taking him in is retired Navy, and her husband is still active. They've been doing this sort of thing for a few years now, that's what the social worker said anyway."
"And...me?"
"Single businessman, but he's done well for himself. He has a large house with others in similar situations, so there will be others who can relate and help you through this. That's the best we can do right now."
Nodding weakly to him, Alex was kept in the station for around another hour, still too wound up to sleep during the wait, an occasional tear running down her face. Her throat was raw and hurt, and her eyes stung from so many tears cried over the course of the day, and now, she was going to be staying with unfamiliar people, in a house she didn't know, while her father was in jail and faced a trial for his negligence. It was almost morning before she was told that she could be taken to the home where she would be staying, her whole body aching with emotion from under the thin blanket that had been given to her.
Climbing in the back of the squad car as she was told, she frowned deeply through the ride, not even bothering to look out the window to get a feel for where they were going. Glancing up when they pulled into the driveway, Alex grabbed her backpack and garbage bag filled with her clothes, blinking with fear and shock at the house in front of her. She knew this house, and though she had never met the man who owned it, she knew who lived there, and they already knew her. The man was already dressed and standing out front when they pulled up, a fine tailored suit and well kept shoes on his feet. Though he smiled to her, it didn't hold the same kindness she knew the action to hold, and despite her situation, she found herself terrified for Emilio all over again.
Her new guardian, the man called Mr. Monroe, he spoke with the officer who brought her there a moment, turning and guiding her inside when their conversation was over. "Miss Benedetto, I understand you've had a difficult time, but please, make yourself at home. Here, your room will be here down this hallway, please follow me."
Doing as he said, she was glad to see that it didn't appear anyone was up just yet, taking note of where he said everything was as they went to the room she was to stay in. She nodded as he put a finger up to his lips, keeping as quiet as she was able as they entered and saw the young blonde girl sleeping with a long-eared stuffed rabbit. Leaving her things in there for the time being, Mr. Monroe showed her the rest of the house, saying that if she needed further assistance, that the other children would help her as they have each other. When finally they were done, he glanced at his watch and frowned, "Ah, seems I need to get going for the day Miss Benedetto. Considering everything you've been through, feel free to stay home until Monday if it makes you feel any better. Just make sure you let one of the others know and ask if they can pick up your assignments for you so you don't fall behind in your studies. Need to make sure we get into that good college, hm?"
Alex still felt numb inside, her eyes dry and burning with tears that wouldn't fall anymore, watching aimlessly as Mr. Monroe turned to leave. Standing alone in the large living room, she glanced around, the relative silence around her making her feel more alone than ever. Going down the hall to the bathroom near all of their rooms, she splashed her face, patting it dry and letting out a steadying breath. She had no idea what she would say when the boys woke and came out, but perhaps she could soften that a little and make up some breakfast. A glance at the clock said that they would probably be up soon to start getting ready for school, making her way out and into the kitchen, pulling her hair up into a ponytail as she opened the fridge.
She flinched when she heard one of the doors down the hall opening, glad that she had a decent amount of pancakes beside her that were ready to eat. It was only a matter of time from there, making up two plates and setting them down at the large, wooden table with some butter and syrup. Turning when she heard the soft padding of bare feet on the tile, she tried to smile as she saw Worick and Nic step out, but even she knew it was still a miserable expression. "Ally? The hell are you doing here at this hour?"
"I...my little world...it finally fell apart, yesterday. You were right you know, Worick. A life like that...I couldn't make it last forever..." She sniffled again, wiping at her eyes to keep the tears falling into the batter, surprised that she even had anymore to left to cry since yesterday. Her hands started shaking again as she sobbed softly, grateful when she felt two sets of arms wrap around her from her sides. Nothing needed to be said, because despite not knowing all the details, all of them had had the same revelation at some point already. It felt good to know that the two of them were there for her, not demanding or even needing any sort of explanation in order to offer what little comfort they could for what had happened to her.