~~ Chapter Twelve: Echo ~~
Author's Note: To my anonymous flamer...if you wanna flame, at LEAST leave your name so I can retaliate. I don't care if you think Rylea is a 'Mary Sue.' Like I told you before...if you don't like my story, don't read it, because I'm NOT gonna stop writing or change what I had planned, just because you, one of the many readers I have, don't like it. You're the only one that seems to have a problem with it. I'm trying to be mature and nice about all this, but this is the second time...come on!
To All My Other Readers: 'Tis the final chapter, alas. Sequel? Yes, no, maybe so? I need an answer, folks!

~~

Rylea approached Nick, who was sitting on the couch in the break room, staring blankly out the window. He looked so lost, like he needed someone just to wrap their arms around him, and tell him everything was going to be ok. Nervously, she cleared her throat, trying to get his attention. What was the best way to do this? The direct approach? No way, not with someone who was grieving...or in denial, rather. She had to bring it up gently. Maybe, find something to use to dance around it. Somehow, that always worked with her. That was what she'd have to do. She cracked her knuckles, sucked in her fear, and approached Nick. "Hey, Nick..." she said, as casually as she could.

Nick glanced up at Rylea, mumbled a soft, barely coherent, "Hey," then re-fixed his glance on the window.

This is gonna be harder than I thought...she thought, and sat down beside him. "Can I talk to you for a second?" she asked, expecting a resonant 'no.'

Nick looked very confused. His archenemy was being nice, and he was actually thinking about it? Why wasn't he going to just shove her off as usual? Why did he feel like he couldn't do that? Like, maybe, she was going to tell him something important? Either way, he couldn't listen. Well, then why was he? He just looked sharply at her, and came up with an abrupt, "What?"

Not expecting that, she immediately choked up, not knowing what to say. "Um...well," she tried to think fast, but came up with nothing. "I was just curious about something you said to me yesterday..." she looked over at him.

"Which was?" he still seemed slightly annoyed. She looks slightly confused...it's kinda funny, really...he laughed to himself.

"You said you'd be loyal to Jenna no matter what...well, you sounded kinda like you hadn't realized she was..." she paused, not knowing how to put the next part of her accusation.

"What?" Nick shouted, rolling his eyes. "What is the problem, in the planet of all happy people and good news?"

Rylea thought for a second. Maybe, with someone who was as annoyed as he was with her, the direct approach was the only way to go. "Jenna is gone, Nick..." she gently said. "You know that, right?"

The nerve! Nick thought, tears coming to his eyes. What the hell was she thinking, or not thinking for that matter? He knew she was gone, honestly, he did. "What the hell?" he scoffed, giving Rylea a look of pure anger. "What is your problem? You come in here, and take over everything Jenna worked so hard for, and then try to take me?" he shook his head.

"I didn't say anything like that...just, yesterday, you seemed like you didn't realize she was gone!" she shook her head, insistently.

"She'll never be gone to me, damn it!" he stood up.

"Ok, I'm sorry..." Rylea sighed, "I was just worried about you!"

Nick's eyes narrowed. "Well, don't."

"I was just making an effort to be friendly, and maybe even help console you a little! Damn, if that's a crime!" she stood up in a flash.

Some of her dark brown hair fell in front of her eyes. That exact thing always happened to Jenna when she got upset, and this immediately came through to Nick. His eyes softened a little, and filled with tears. Every thing about Rylea reminded him of Jenna, and it killed him. He turned around, and wiped his eyes clean, then looked back at Rylea, only to have them fill up again.

She gently walked up to him, and placed her hand on his shoulder, expecting to only have it abruptly shoved off again. She was surprised when instead he just looked away from her, and allowed the tears to flow. "Nick..." she compassionately looked at him, and opened her arms.

He turned his head to her, and gave in, hugging her gently. "You're so much like her, it's scary, you know that?" he asked, using a quieter tone than he usually did with Rylea. "I think that's probably why I'm so mean and resentful to you..."

"No, you're not being mean or resentful to me...you're just hurt!" she understood completely, and her voice showed it. "It's ok, really..." she half-smiled, not knowing if it was ok to smile at him yet.

"Seriously, though, I bet that if we'd met under different circumstances, we'd have gotten along great," he told her. "I just feel kinda...obliged to give Jenna her deserved mourning period before talking to someone who is basically her reflection." He was very surprised at her understanding, sweet nature, especially after how he'd been to her.

"I completely understand that," Rylea nodded, releasing Nick from the hug, and looking into his eyes. "Believe me, I came in here the first day expecting someone, if not everyone, to resent, maybe even hate me!"

Nick shook his head. "Hate you? I..."

Rylea shot Nick a look that was filled with disagreement.

"...did at first..." he finished, knowing she didn't believe him. "Yeah, I did...but I thought you were trying to..."

"...take over everything from Jenna?" Rylea finished his sentence, grinning a little. "I know that, but I wasn't. I wouldn't do that."

"How was I to know that?" he asked, somewhat assuming he knew her answer already.

"Ask me?" she smirked.

"I saw that coming..." he grinned back at her, still a little teary. "And, what if I had been right? You know how much I would have hated you then..." he looked at Rylea, who was laughing a little.

"Well, you were wrong, so there's no need to imagine or wonder about any of that!" her grin grew a little. "I'm not, nor will I ever be trying to take over Jenna Grissom's life! I promise! I am merely her sister...and wow, saying that weirded me out..." she shook her head.

Nick laughed a little at that. "Still getting used to it?"

"It's gonna take me a little while to get used to..." she sighed. "And it's gonna be weird working for my dad, that's for sure..."

"If Jenn handled it, you can..." Nick cleared his throat. "You are, after all, her sister..."

Rylea gasped (in her head) at him even comparing her to Jenna. "You realize..."

Nick just nodded. "Yeah, I do...shush about it, before I take it back!" he grinned, knowing this would shut Rylea up.

She merely put her hands in the air, and backed up two steps. This was going to be the start of a great friendship...

Fini!

~~

Something about the way you moved,
I see your mouth in slow motion when you sing.
It's other than something someone contrives,
Your movements echo that I have seen the real thing..
Could you show me dear, something I've not seen...
Something infinitely interesting?
~~ 'Echo' – Incubus ~~