I thought that since its my birthday today, I would give myself the pleasure of uploading a chapter. I'm really liking this story & I'll be uploading a lot more since I'm on vacations! So... this is my gift for you! lol. Hope you enjoy it! R&R!
Chapter 12
Estefania's POV
"Oh my God… Ni-Ni?" I haven't been called that since I left. She was the only one that called me like that. I was her Ni-Ni and Cass was her Ce-Ce. "Is it really you?" She says with tears in her eyes. I stare at her, taking in her whole appearance. She looked so miserable… definitely not how I reminded her.
"H-Hi… m-mom" I hate that I'm stuttering cause I'm shocking in tears right now. She walks slowly to me, placing her hands on my face and caressing it… almost like examining it. I allow my eyes to close and drown in the feeling of having a mother… a feeling I had completely forgot and that I'm not sure I remembered. I'm not sure I want to remember it.
"It's you… it's really you. Oh, my baby" She says bursting into tears and pulling me into a hug. I let out a sob and hold her tightly. I felt this warmth in my insides, in my heart, that I cannot describe. It was a feeling I had never experienced. "I missed you, baby. Why did you left? How could you do that to me? I spent every single day worrying about you" Her voice is muffled by my shoulder, but I heard it… loud and clear. But I played like I didn't… because I didn't want to admit, that deep, deep, inside my heart, in the very back… I missed her too. She lets go and just keeps staring at me. "Wow… look at you. You have grown so much. Where did my baby go?" She said with a choked laugh. "You're so pretty" She says smiling, making me smile too.
"Thanks" I mutter. I turn to look at Cassidy and see her crying too. This has been an emotional rollercoaster for us and our feelings were going a thousand miles a minute. We couldn't control them even if we tried. And I don't think we were even trying.
Cassidy's POV
"Come on, sit down" My mom says to us, ushering us to the small table that was by a wall, under the TV. This room had become almost a house for my mom and me. We shift between who is staying with dad. Tonight is my turn. "So, tell me, Ni-Ni… how are?" She says, grabbing her hand and caressing it between her own hands.
"Well… I've been fine" Nia struggles with her answer. Now that I remembered, I never asked her how she was.
"Are you sure?" Comes mom concerned voice. "You don't sound sure enough. You know you can tell me anything" She says and I know that Estefania is starting to get uneasy with this. She's not used to having someone to take care of her, and worry about her like her mother.
"Leave her alone, Mom. She's doing fine. She's a photographer. A pretty successful photographer. She works for a magazine and does some freelance every now and then. Right, Nia?" Estefania just gives me an appreciative smile. Count on me to save your ass, Nia. Like I always used to do. It comes naturally to me.
"Wow… a photographer. Impressive" My mom says genuinely shocked. Estefania was always the artistic one. She did well in anything that had to do with some kind of art or performance. She can play 6 different instruments, can paint, draw, I'm pretty sure she can sing, and she writes. Talk about being great, right? While on the other hand, I couldn't even draw a freaking heart if my life depended on it. I was always more into sports and any type of activity that involved a lot of movement and energy. I wasn't, nor am, a tom boy. I always managed to keep my femininity intact but that was my type of thing. One more thing Nia and I were different about. She always kept everything inside & I always let it out. I think she even channeled her feelings through me. Great thing about being twins, I guess. We can always tell each other how we're feeling without the need of words. Although, I can't tell about hers anymore. At least not how I used to. I started to look around the room while my mom started to compliment all the great things Estefania had done with her life, how her hair looked so well kept and shiny, blah, blah, blah. Guess she was the perfect one too. That's when I noticed something was missing.
"Mom, where is dad?" I asked, seeing Nia immediately tense up.
"Oh, he's having some tests done and they will keep him under 24 hour surveillance" She says, not crying, not showing any type of pain for her dying husband. Guess that is another thing she and Estefania share. "They are not being optimistic" She says. "They don't think he's gonna make it. We might lose him soon" She says casting her eyes down and I feel guilty for thinking she didn't care about him. Of course she cares, she's puts up with him, doesn't she? She must care.
"That means you're coming home tonight?" Nia asks, shying her hand from our mother's greedy hand.
"Yeah. The nurses told me they would call if anything happened. I just need to collect my things and we can go" She says, standing and bending down to kiss Estefania's forehead. "I missed you and I'm glad you're back" She said with a smile and turned around grabbing her things. Nia just sat there, waiting for her to be done, while I stared at her… trying to unravel the great mystery that surrounded her… the great mystery that she has become. I know she's hiding something… I know it. What are you not telling me, Nia? What is it? "Well, I'm ready. I'll just go check in with your father's doctor. You can wait outside if you like" She says, kissing both of us. "It so nice to finally have my 2 baby girls together again" She says before walking towards a nurse. We started our way back to the elevator.
"Damn it" Estefania curses.
"What? Oh, come on. You already ride it. I promise this time it will be easier. I can hold your hand if you want" I say that last part like I'm talking to a baby.
"It's not that. I forgot my phone. I left it in my purse" She says. I swallow hard. "But I'll take the holding my hand offer" She says, immediately grabbing my hand when the 'ding' from the elevator is heard. I never really asked why she was scared of closed places. She sleeps with her door closed, but her window opened. Only winter was the season she closed her window and opened the door. But it's a phobia that totally suits her. She was never meant to be locked or caged. She was always a free spirited girl. It would be a crime to try to hold her back. "Thank God" She says letting go of my hand and walking out of the elevator as faster as she could. I roll my eyes, cause, seriously, she's a drama queen. Its a freaking elvator, for God's sake. I catch with her at the hospital entrance. "You wouldn't happen to have a cigarette in there, right?" She says pointing at my bag.
"Ah… no" I don't even know why she started smoking. "When did you start smoking?" I asked, waiting for mom.
"When I could afford a package" She answers like it's the most normal thing in the world.
"Why?"
"I had nothing better to do. It helped me forget about everything and those 5-7 minutes are the most relaxing period of my day" She says as if they were some sort of help. They were gonna kill her.
"You should stop before your teeth start getting yellow" I say and she laughs. I wouldn't want her dying from cancer too. I was about to voice my thought when mom walked out and we made our way back to the house. But in the back of my mind, I couldn't put to rest what was the emergency and urgency Gabe had to talk to Nia.
Soundtrack:
Fall Out Boy – The takeover, the breakover
Cobra Starship – Nice guys finish lasts
Salserin – Te voy a robar el corazon (Translation: I'm gonna steal your heart)
Hot Chelle Rae – Say (Half past nine)
Panic! At the Disco – New perspective
Remember Maine – The hunt club
Alter Bridge – Metalingus
Incubus – Drive
Escape the Fate – Not good enough for truth in cliché
Maroon 5 – Won't go home without you
Kings of Leon – Use somebody
The Fray – You found me
Nelly – Party people (Feat. Fergie)
Good Charlotte – Hold on (Rmx) (Feat. The Academy Is…)
Pierce the Veil – Falling asleep on a stranger
Pitbull – Room service (Hotel room)
Jason Mraz – I'm yours
All Time Low – Too much
Avenged Sevenfold – Warmness of the soul
AFI –Medicate
ENJOY! =)