thanks for the reviews. sorry it took a while for me to update. i had orientation for school today, met a lot of cool people :)

enjoy this one guys !

i own squat but the plot.

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Chapter four: Between the lines

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Nicholas Jerry Cole's POV

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"This is it," my mother exclaimed her hands in the air with a smile on her face, "It took a week, but look Nicholas it's your new home."

"It looks great mom," I admitted, staring at the green walls, the perfectly new furniture, the chandeliers, and the well put together collections of DVD's packed beside the TV.

I closed the door behind me and walked through my new home. A walk through my block seemed to refreshing that Saturday. I took a seat on the couch and watched the cartoon that Frankie had probably had up. I gave him a pat on the back and kept my eyes peeled on Spongebob Squarepants. My parents walked back and forth, blocking me from the TV each time. I sighed and stared at Frankie's game that he held in his hand.

"I have to admit Denise," my father smiled at her, "It looks like professionals came in here and styled it themselves."

"Thank you Paul," she kissed him briefly on the lips, "Frankie, what do you think about us having a party?"

I watched as my little brother's face lit up. Frankie's smile was ear to ear as he stopped playing with his Nintendo DS. He nodded rapidly before staring back at his game. I smiled at him; he had the joys of being an eight year old. Something I envied ever since he was born.

"Nicholas," she looked at me, "Maybe you could invite that Alex girl you've been spending a lot of time with."

"I could," I shrugged, "She's probably busy."

"Then beg on your knees," Joe said as he took a seat on the couch next to me and took the remote, "You need a girlfriend anyways."

"Shut up," I rolled my eyes, "She's just a friend."

"But she's pretty!" Frankie frowned at me.

"She is?" Mom stared at me, "I'd like to meet your friend."

"Which is what she is," I said a little too quickly, "A friend."

Joe shot me a grin as he slowly got up from the couch and kissed the air before walking marble flights of stairs to his room. My mothers voice faded as she walked into the kitchen with my dad; discussing the matters of a barbeque. Frankie nudged me out of my thoughts, as he closed his game and set it on the table. His eyes were hopeful and he had a toothy smile on.

"Alex said her younger brother comes back today," Frankie said, "Can I meet him?"

I stared at the Kitchen and up the stairs and nodded. He tugged on my arm and turned me back.

"Should we tell mom?"

"Mom I'm going out with Frankie!"

"Okay honey," her cheery voice came from the kitchen, "Have fun."

Out the door and into the streets Frankie began to skip his to the Sub Station. I had my hands in my pockets, trying to seem as casual as I could. The week I've gotten to know Alex, I could tell she saw through me. She didn't treat me as another rich kid in New York, she saw me. A smile formed on my lips at the thought of her sarcastic laughs to one of my attempts at jokes. She was bittersweet; and yet it always seemed to attract me.

As Frankie's skips turned into small jogs as we were on the same street as the sandwich shop. The streetlights flickered with the natural light of a New York afternoon. In minutes I knew that the sky would turn a darker shade and leave all of us in a dark city. It was a sign of hope, knowing the next day would always come—no matter how embarrassing or depressing New York would turn me to be.

"Hey Nick!"

And then there was always her. I smiled at Alex as she had her head in her English textbook with her back against the Sub Station booth seat and her glasses on. The black rimmed glasses framed her brown eyes beautifully, however she rarely wore them. It was one of the insecurities she had that I had noticed. I looked away from her as she scanned me; she had probably seen insecurities as well.

"Frankie wanted to meet Max," I smiled as I took a seat across from her.

"Go to Justin Frankie," Alex smiled, "He'll show you Max's room."

Frankie began to walk towards Alex's older brother. Today he wore a regular green and gray striped sweater and a pair of jeans. I shook my head and looked at Alex; her eyes were fixated on the book as she bit her bottom lip while highlighting words in the book.

"Just so you know," I whispered, "Mrs. Beli said no one was supposed to mark the book up."

"Are you serious?" Alex finally looked up, her eyes meeting with mines.

"No, not really," I laughed, leaning my head back as I watched her eyes darken.

"Watch it Jersey," she said through her teeth as she playfully kicked me under the table.

I pulled my feet away and laughed at her. She sighed under my playful ways and pulled off her glasses. She rubbed her eyes and stretched her arms over her head. I caught a glimpse of her body from my view; curves in the right places, flawless skin, and rosy lips. She put her arms down and noticed my gaze. Quickly, her cheeks blushed. I ignored it and leaned towards her.

"How does a Jersey Family barbeque sound?" I asked.

"Details," she began to close her books and pile them up on the edge of the table.

"My mom wants to throw a house warming kind of thing, she kind of wants to uhm…meet you," I shrugged, "No big deal if you don't want to come…"

"So I'll be meeting the family huh?" a playful look glazed over her eyes.

"I-I mean," I looked down, "It would be nice if my parents met the first friend I made in New York."

"Of course," her voice was to a whisper as her lips smirked and her eye's connected with mines, "I'll come."

"Good," I smiled and held back the words 'because I wanted you to come', "Because my mom wanted you to come."