This chapter will be written from Santana's, Lily's, Nik's and Brittany's point of view. I hope you guys enjoy! =D
Thirteen. Vindicated
"And I am flawed but I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself."
- Vindicated, Dashboard Confessional
I awake to the sound of Brittany's soft snoring filling my ears. I wipe the sleepiness from my eyes; the rare sunshine is beaming in through the open blinds consequently causing me to shut my eyes again in shock. I carefully open my eyes once again, guarding them with my hand, and look at the clock to see that it is nine forty eight in the morning. I can't help but smile slightly realizing I would be the one to wake Brittany this morning rather than vice versa as it usually has been since my father's death a month ago.
Rolling over carefully the slight smile on my face grows. The sunlight is framing Brittany's face, accenting every feature. I slowly lift my hand up to her face, brushing her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear.
"Britt-Britt." I whisper, giggling slightly at her reaction.
Her eyelids flutter and she slightly wrinkles her nose. Her eyelids open slowly to reveal her stunning blue eyes that never seem stop being a safe harbour. "Good morning, gorgeous." I say, placing a kiss on tip of her nose.
"Well good morning to you too," Brittany smirks before wrapping her arm around my waist pulling me closer so that she can give me a quick good morning kiss. "So what's the plan for today, Dr. Lopez?" She says with a smirk.
"Nik's soccer game is at eleven thirty, am I correct?"
"Yes, you are correct."
"Well I was thinking peanut butter toast and turkey bacon for breakfast, maybe some eggs. The boy's got to have some protein before the game." I chuckle. "You going to help me?"
"Affirmative." Brittany says with a smile before beginning to pull down the bed sheets. "I'm sure Lily's already up and I'm also sure that you want to get the dirt on how her date went last night."
"Why are you so sure of that?" I give her a confused look in an attempt to hide my curiosity.
"Because I'm curious, and you're more like me than you think when it comes to the kids." She chuckles. "Tell me you're not the least bit curious."
The smile I've been trying to hold back burst through and my dimples become prominent. "Fine, you caught me. Now, can we get on with the morning? Because I seriously think I need to wake up as much as possible even if I'd rather lay here and be lazy with you all day." I ask, squinting slightly due to the sun shining into my eyes.
"I think that can be arranged." She says with a smirk.
Before I know it I'm being hauled out of bed by Brittany. As I collide with her body she almost immediately begins tickling my sides, fully knowing it was one of the better ways to make me completely awake.
"Britt!"
"Yum, something smells good." I say as I enter the kitchen, taking a seat at the bar top counter. "Whatcha makin'?"
My mother set of raven curls pop out from behind the open fridge door. "What does it look like silly? I'm making breakfast." She says with a wide smile as she shuts the fridge door.
"I know that but I was wondering about the specifics. Eggs? Toast? You know what I mean Ma." I chuckle as she walks over to the counter.
"We're having peanut butter toast and turkey bacon." Mom's voice enters my conscious as she enters the kitchen from behind me, causing me to jump slightly. "Relax, there mija." She chuckles slightly before placing a quick kiss on top of my head on her way farther into the kitchen.
"Pulling out all the protein stops for Nik I see." I giggle, "I'm sure that was your idea wasn't it Ma?"
"You know me so well, Lily. Every pediatrictian knows that growing boys need their protein." Ma gives me a dimpled smile as she begins to unwrap the turkey bacon. "You want to help?"
"Don't I always?" I smirk before hopping off the stool.
"You sleep well last night?" Ma asks as she begins to toast the bread.
"Yes, I did actually." I say, I can feel the blush from remembering last night's events.
"The date with JJ went well I take it?" Mom cuts in.
"Yes, that was good too." I say taking a few pieces of turkey bacon and place them in the pan.
"So spill," Mom giggles. "You know that we both want to know all about it."
"I had a lot of fun and I actually learnt a lot about JJ." I say as I take spatula and flip the bacon. I'm hoping the sizzling will distract my parents enough to drop the subject because as much as I liked JJ, it felt kind of awkward discussing our date with my moms.
"Well that's great. You two were doing a lot of laughing, and I do mean a lot." Ma says with a chuckle.
I laugh nervously before replying, "She's really funny. She doesn't come across as the comedian type but she is actually hilarious. She'd give you a run for your money, Ma."
"I'd like to see that sometime, if you let me. And your Mom of course." Out of the corner of my eye I can see my Ma giving me a content smile.
"Well, I can't see why not." The smile on my Ma's face surprisingly has a calming effect on me.
"I have an idea." Mom cuts in cheerfully. "Why don't you invite JJ to watch Nik's game with us?"
"Good idea, Mom, in theory that is."
"Why?" She gives me a confused look, slanting her head slightly like a little kid. I would have to say Mom's childlike antics were quite endearing. They had definitely had helped make my childhood as great as it was.
"Mom, our first date was last night."
"And?" She stills ceases to see my point.
"She doesn't want to come across as clingy, Britt." Ma says to my mother, thankfully I wasn't the one who had to say it.
"I talked to you the morning after our first date." Mom replies as the toast pops out of the toaster, almost causing me fling bacon everywhere.
"Britt, do remember the conversation we had after our first date?" My Ma raises her eyebrow slightly as she pulls the toast out of the toaster before shoving, and yes I do mean shoving, more slices of bread in.
"Yes, I do. It had to do with sandwiches." Mom picks up a piece of bread and waves it in front of Ma's face.
"You guys talked about sandwiches?" I look at my parents in disbelief.
"Yes, Lily, we did talk about sandwiches."
"But you don't even like sandwiches." I had got more than slightly confused at this point. I ceased to see how sandwiches had anything to do with me not wanting to come across as clingy or needy to JJ.
"My point exactly." Mom gives me a wide dimpled smile, further confusing me.
"Brittany dear, our daughter doesn't know the entire story so I think you're really confusing her." Ma says with a chuckle.
"Sorry, Lily. I'll actually tell the story so that you get the point." My Mom began to tell me the story of my parents first date and the aftermath. "… So your Ma said 'I am scared, and I am exhausted from putting up a front of being such a badass Britt. I'm working on trying to best I can for you but I need a break. I love being your girlfriend but I wanted to stay in last night.' So my head is spinning and I'm feeling like complete idiot. She then said 'But, you wanted to go to the only fancy, if Breadstix even counts as fancy, restaurant in town. I can't do that. I can't.'"
"And I felt like a complete mess but that didn't matter. It didn't matter because do you know what your Mom said to me?" Ma pauses for a moment, almost as if it was for dramatic effect. I can't help but notice that she glances and Mom with a smile. "She said 'It's okay. I love you and if you feel comfortable staying and having dates at my house or ours then that's okay. So we'll stay in and eat sandwiches.' and I replied with what you said about her not liking sandwiches. She countered with 'But I like the girl who has the sandwiches.' She do you see your Mom's point?"
"I think." is all I can say, as I am still trying to see how it connects with my current situation.
"If you really like JJ, which I think you do," Mom says with small giggle, "then don't play games. Just call her and ask her to come if you want to. Don't do go around in chase each other in circles only to end up now where like we did for years sweetie. Just follow what your heart tells you, it knows what it wants."
Ma shakes her head before putting in her own two cents worth. "I turned your Mom down twice, so I decided try and impress her and make up for my mistake when I knew better. I did that instead of doing what actually would have been better for the both of us. I played the game."
"Thankfully, your Ma doesn't play games any more. I smartened her up." Mom chuckles, wrapping her arm around Mom.
"I think I get your point." I say with a chuckle. "And I think I'll give her a call."
"So do you actually like soccer or do you just watch because your brother plays?" JJ asks as we pull into the soccer pitch parking lot.
I had called JJ after eating breakfast with my parents and siblings. My parents, Nik, and Lina had come in my Ma's SUV. Tommy had opted to stay home and tinker with Mom's Dodge Charger; Tommy had inherited Mom's grease monkey nature and liked to work any machine he could get his hands on.
"It can be kind of boring to watch sometimes but I actually like watching it, playing is another story." I chuckle slightly. "My hands may be coordinated but my feet? Definitely not anymore. I could when I was younger and danced but I've lost any grace I once had. You should know that considering I've fallen at your house multiple times. You've got to have skill in more ways than one to be a good player in soccer." I say as I turn the keys in the ignition.
JJ turns to look at me giving me a confused look as we get out of my car. "I think I've missed something here."
"You know that painting in my dining room, the one adjacent to the kitchen?" I ask, forgetting that I didn't mention being artistic last night at dinner.
"The one of the tree with the tire swing?" JJ replies correctly.
"Yes, that one, it's of the tree in the front yard of my Ma's house growing up. She would always go there when she needed to think or just clear her head. I painted it for her birthday last year."
JJ locks at me in shock. "You did that?"
"I'm not a big fan of doing water colors but my Ma really likes them so I put my dislike for them aside and painted her one." I can feel the slight blush on my cheeks.
"Woah, you are really talented. Do you just paint or?" She doesn't finish her question, obviously wanting me to finish it for her.
"I draw as well. That's why I always carry that green notebook around all the time. I tend to doodle a lot in class and I used to ruin my notes so I eventually just got another notebook." I chuckle as we enter the opening to the stands.
"I've wondered about what's in there." JJ giggles with a smile.
"Lily!" The voice of my younger sister, Catalina booms through the small crowd catching my attention. I turn my head to see my sister waving at me; she is sitting next to my Mom, who has Ma on the other side of her. Lina motions to the empty seats along side of my Ma which I assume they have saved for JJ and I.
"Do you mind sitting with my family?" I ask hesitantly.
JJ gives me reassuring smile that manages to make butterflies flutter in my stomach. "Do you think I that I'd be here if I did? Come on, we better sit before the game starts."
I can't help but be slightly shocked as I feel JJ's hand takes my own and begins to lead me up the stands towards my family; as a result a smile crosses my face and realization crosses my mind. My Mom had been right; I didn't have anything to worry about, all I had to do was do what was right for me and things would fall into place.
Leaning against the goal post stretching my legs while talking to a few other players on the team I notice the rest of my family arrive. Pulling my arm behind my head I hear a loud laugh attempting to be stifled.
"Something funny?" I ask giving a look of confusion to Lily's ex-girlfriend's brother. Josh Sullivan was a fairly nasty piece of work, he was that guy who tried to be funny but always cruel and was a jerk.
"Oh nothing." he replies with a devious smirk crossing his face.
"Spit it out, Sullivan." I was fairly certain what he was laughing about but I had to hear it from his mouth. My imprinted Lopez temper must have been showing because some of my teammates began to spread away from Josh and slowly moving towards me.
"I thought my sister had ruined girl on girl for me but I was just proven wrong." The smirk on his face grows, causing anger to course faster through my veins. "I thought Casey had messed your sister up really good. I didn't think she was ever going to bounce back. I was hoping she was turned off from chicks altogether so that I could get a chance to get some from her too. " He lets out a cackle to go with his devilish smirk.
Without even thinking I immediately lunge after him. As my body collides with his a yell from the stands makes me hesitate to make another move, "Nik!" My Mom's voice booms through the pitch.
As a result I receive a blow to the face.
"Nik!" Brittany's voice enters my conscious drawing my attention to my son getting punched in the face.
"Lopez!" Nik's coach yells across the field as he rushes over towards the goal posts to pull the two of them apart.
I have to hold Brittany back from practically jumping out of her seat. She looks back at me with her expression saying "Why the hell are you holding me back?"
"Wait." I say, almost whispering. "Give him a minute so calm down, and then we'll go." I give her look of reassurance followed be a smile. I knew from experience that it was best to give myself, and our kids who had my temper, a moment to blow off the steam before someone starts the questioning. As Nik begins to walk off the field, continuing towards us I give Brittany a nod.
"You guys stay here, we'll let you know if we're staying or not." Brittany looks at Lina then to Lily and JJ before taking my hand and pulling me up from my seat.
Reaching the sidelines I watch Nik spit the blood from his mouth before wiping the small trail running down his chin. "Nikolas Ashton Lopez, what the hell was that all about?" My use of language and tone is completely serious in attempt to hide the concern I'm feeling because I know that Nik made the first move.
"That was about Josh Sullivan being a complete pig." Nik says looking me straight in the eyes, not backing down as if to clarify that he had valid reason to go after him. There is also something about the look on his face that tells me there is something more to it than that; something about it that made it personal.
"Yes, Nikolas, we all know that. But that doesn't tell me why you lunged at him." I say, slightly surprised that Brittany hadn't said anything and was giving me the key point on this one.
"I won't repeat the things he said because it doesn't deserve my breath, Mom." Nik looks at Brittany for a moment, then back to the stands to where I assume his eyes have met the sight of my eldest daughter. The look of disgust and slight pain in his eyes made it apparent that yes, what that pig of a boy had said as bad as I thought it was. "If you dishonour my family, I protect my family the best way I can. He deserved it."
With his words Nik sounds so much like my father, full of dignity and pride. No matter how it seemed to other parents I could help but let go of Brittany's hand and pull my son into a quick hug. "Then I believe you." I give my son a reassuring smile as I pat him on the back.
"So I'm assuming this game isn't going be one you're playing in is it?" Brittany asks hesitantly.
"I don't so, Mom, I don't think so." Nik says, the pride in his voice beginning to deteriorate.
"In that case, let's blow this popsicle stand!" I say excitedly with a smile in attempt to cheer my son up.
"Ma, have I ever told you how crazy you are?" Mark chuckles.
"Maybe once," I smirk, happy to achieve my goal. "Or twice."
As I look back up into the stands as my Ma motions to the rest of my family and company to follow them because we were leaving I can't help but notice a familiar face.
My heart almost immediately drops into my stomach as a result. "Great Nik, you've just made yourself look like an ass." I think, hanging my head as we exit to the parking lot, unfortunately it's not before my sister takes notice. Lily looks back behind her to directly where I had been looking. "Great job, Nik, just great."
"So what was that?" Lily asks in a whisper, nearly scaring me to death as they meet up with us."
"You don't want to know." is all I say not wanting to dissolve her happiness. You could tell that she was happy, her hold on the redhead standing slightly behind her, who I had assumed was JJ's hand was evident of that.
"You didn't know that Emma was there did you?" is her next question and I honestly do not want to answer that one either so I say nothing. "Okay I'll drop it." She finally says the words I'm waiting for.
"Thank you." I say gratefully.
"I'd like to introduce you to someone," Lily says with a small smile, her infamous slight blush creeping up on her cheeks. "Nik, this is JJ." She motions from me to the redhead then vice versa. "JJ, this is my brother Nik."
"It's nice to meet you." JJ holds her hand out to me to shake and I honour the gesture.
"Likewise." I smile as I shake her hand. As I finish shaking her hand realization dawns on me, my hands are empty; I had left my bag on the end of the bench. "I hate to meet and run but I just realized I left my bag back there on the bench. I'll see you again, I'm sure." I pause to give her a small smile; I would have to say that JJ had a positive energy around her which I was sure was already wearing off on my sister.
And with that I'm off, back to face the rest of my team even if it was only for a moment. That moment was likely enough to draw the attention of those around me to myself. I can't help but hope that I would be stealthy enough to get in and get out without a hitch; right now that was all I wanted.
"Santana, where are we going?" I ask impatiently, staring out the passenger window of Santana's SUV. After having Nik assure her for the hundredth time he was okay she had kidnapped me leaving the kids at home alone.
"You'll see." Santana smirks with a small laugh as she pulls out onto the highway.
"Uh uh, tell me. You know I don't like sitting in a car not knowing where I'm going." I turn my head, giving my full attention to Santana.
"And you know that I like surprises." She glances over for a moment, still continuing to give me a slightly devilish smirk.
"Well can you at least give me a hint?" I attempt to play with Santana's child-like side; fully well knowing it is likely it will work. "Please?" I give her a slight pout to give it more effect.
"Britt-Britt must you always be persistent?" She says in a joking scolding tone.
"Well it got me you didn't it?" I ask with a chuckle.
She doesn't speak for a moment, raising one of her hands to chin; looking after if she's thinking hard. "I would have to say you have a point there."
"Exactly." I nod with a content smile. My inner curiosity is now undeniable so I can't help but ask. "So can I have a hint now?"
"So do you want me to drop you back to your house on my way home or?" I don't finish my question because I'm not sure what JJ is thinking considering what has just happened with Nik.
"Well I have nothing to do for the rest of day until tonight so I'm up for anything." She smiles as we pull out of the soccer pitch parking lot.
"Well it's a good thing that I have nothing else to do either then isn't it?" I say with a slight laugh, blush creeping up slightly on my cheeks.
"Definitely." JJ laughs along with me. "So do you have a CD player in this thing or rely on old Mister Radio?"
"Well Mister Radio is a good friend but I do have a CD player. My brother is a real grease monkey and loves music way too much so he installed it for me. He claims that even old muscle cars have to have a decent sound system and CD player just because they're old doesn't give them an excuse not too." I chuckle.
"Nik? I can't see him as the grease monkey type. Then again I can be wrong about these things." JJ looks at me curiously.
"Oh no, Nik's definitely not a grease monkey. My youngest brother, Tommy, loves cars practically as much as my Mom. I like to drive them, whilst Tommy and Moma like to drive and tinker until they're practically perfect. It must be a Pierce thing. This car used to be my Ma's, Mom fixed it up for her. My parents gave it to me for my sixteenth birthday." I smile as we approach an intersection. "So where to, you better make up your mind fast" I chuckle, staying in the middle lane so that I can move easily to either line along side of me.
"Your place or wherever you want to go is good." She replies. "I would offer my place but my brother is coming home later so my parents are in shambles trying to get the place ready for him. I mean the place is wheelchair accessible but Cam's room used to be upstairs so things are in complete chaos."
"And I'm guessing you want to avoid the firecrackers?" I ask as I carefully pull into the left lane which leads towards my house.
"I love my parents but when it comes to this they need to work it out themselves. So, I am all yours for the rest of the day until I have to go pick up Cam with my parents." I can detect a slight bit of embarrassment in her tone to match the blush that was edging her features as I glance back in her direction.
"I like the sound of that." I chuckle as I pull into my street.
"So what's the plan?"
I give her a nervous smile. "I'm sure we'll think of something."
As Santana steers the SUV down a highly familiar street I have a feeling I know where she's taking me. "San, why are we going to the hospital?" I ask as she passes the first exit to the parking lot. "You're not on call therefore we have no reason to go there right?" I'm now becoming slightly nervous.
"We're not going to the hospital, silly." She chuckles as she turns the corner onto another familiar street. "This is where we're going."
Santana parks on the side of the street parallel to the hospital, I don't even need to look to know where she's parked the car. It is outside our old apartment building; where we had originally lived there with Quinn. We had all lived there together for over three years, Rachel had moved in with us a few months after they had gotten back together after a year long break up. They moved out a few months later but we stayed there until we bought our dream house that we still live in.
"And why are we here exactly?" I can't help but ask curiously. I understood where we were but I didn't truly understand why.
"That's for me to know and for you to find out." She winks with a giggle. "Come on, Britt, out of the car." She says as she undoes her seatbelt before opening her door and hopping out of the vehicle. Getting out of the car I can't help but chuckle. My wife definitely was not predictable, her spontaneity was actually extremely endearing.
As I reach her side of the car Santana takes my hand and begins to lead me to the apartment building entrance. Upon reaching the front step Santana reaches her hand up to the buzzer ringing the buzzer on our old apartment as if it was years ago and I was home to let her in. To my surprise she receives a respond in the form of a loud buzz and the main door pops ajar slightly.
"Santana Lopez, what are you up to?" I shake my head as she pulls open the door.
"After you, mi cariño." Santana says bringing out her accent that she had seemed to lost over the years I've known her causing me to laugh as she holds the door for me.
"You Lopezes are always so charming, aren't you?" I chuckle.
"Of course we are." She giggles. "Now don't stand in the doorway all afternoon, querida." Her voice is still accented when she attempts to usher me into the foyer.
"Okay, I'll move, but only if you come with me." I smirk fully well knowing that I didn't even need to ask.
"You've got yourself a deal." She takes my hand once more and begins to lead further into the familiar building, still not knowing what my wife had up her sleeve.
"So what do you want to do today, JJ?" I ask as I lead her downstairs to the den.
"I'm up for almost anything, just as long as it's legal of course." JJ giggles.
"Don't worry, we'll keep it legal." I chuckle. "But are you sure you're up for anything, and I mean absolutely anything?" I say mysteriously as an idea pops into my head.
"I think so." She says, almost bashfully.
"Do you trust me?" As we reach the bottom step I turn around to look her in the eye; as my eyes meet her pale blue eyes I begin to melt almost instantly.
She doesn't reply for a moment, but a smile slowly creeps across her face, causing butterflies to flutter in my stomach all over again. "I trust you."
"Then you're up for this." As nervous as I am right now to this I smile widely, taking her hand and begin to lead her towards my studio; hopefully this wasn't too early to bring her there.
"This is where we're going." Santana says as she stops in front of the door to our old apartment; she takes my hand in hers, laying my hand on hers palm up.
Santana puts her hand into her coat pocket and produces a key; she lays it into the palm of my hand with a smile. I give her a look as if to ask should I open the door and I receive a small almost child like nod, the smile on her face never diminishing. I hesitantly take the key from my hand and place in the lock, as I turn the key I look at Santana because I'm still not quite sure what is going on.
"Go on, open it." Santana giggles slightly as she brings our hands down to our sides, intertwining our fingers.
I timidly push open the door. As the door opens it reveals a simplistic picnic basket, a bottle of wine and two glasses atop a thin classic chequered blanket; the blinds are drawn and the room is lit by various candles around the room. The apartment is bare besides for these fixings.
"San, what is all this?" I ask as Santana begins to lead me into the apartment. "How did you," She doesn't let me finish my sentence before she cuts me off.
"You know what tomorrow is don't you?" She asks with a small smile.
It now dawns on me what the date is. Tomorrow is our anniversary. It will be 32 years since Santana walked into that bathroom at Puck's and gave me the most breathtaking kiss I've ever had. Santana had also insisted a few years later that we would get married on that date because she thought it was impossible for any other date so mean so much to her. Tomorrow will be 25 years since I made Santana my wife.
"I do know." I say as she stops in her tracks and takes both of my hands just as she did that day she became my wife.
"I knew that I wouldn't get the chance to do this tomorrow so I wanted to do this today." Santana's voice is barely more than a whisper. "I wanted to come back here because this is the place where you made me see what I could have the rest of my life. It was here I that remember thinking to myself that I didn't want to wake up or fall asleep beside anyone who wasn't you. Right here, in the exact spot is where you told me that you were pregnant for the first time and I didn't think I could love you more. But boy was I wrong. Britt, I love you more and more every day and I'm so happy that I get to spend every day of my life with you."
She's now looking me straight in the eyes, causing me to see the tears that are now forming in hers. "San," I attempt to say something to her but I can't come up with words to express what I'm feeling.
"Brittany, I knew the day after our first kiss. I knew that day and every day after, every day we were together and every day we were apart. I knew it when we fought and when we danced. I always knew. I'm so in love with you, Brittany Susan Pierce, and I always will be." The tears that were once forming in her eyes are now streaming down her face. "Will you marry me?"
"But we're already married, San." I can't help but be confused.
"So marry me again. Marry me in front of all our family and friends, in front of our children. I want to show everyone how much I love you all over again because I love you even more today than I did yesterday and I'll love you even more tomorrow.
I let go of Santana's hands; I wrap my arm around her waist pulling her close, so that my forehead is gently pressed against hers. I lift my hand to her smooth caramel skinned face, placing my hand delicately on her cheek and wipe away her tears.
"Then of course I will."
Being this close now I can't resist Santana's amazingly fragrant lips, my lips meet with hers constructing a moment of bliss. The taste of her strawberry lip gloss and something that's distinctly Santana causes adrenaline to rush through my veins and my heart to pound in my chest. My body's need for oxygen soon becomes undeniable, it is only then do I pull away.
As I pull away I smile widely, taking a deep breath before speaking. "I'm in love with you too. I don't want to ever live a day without you, Santana Eulalia Lopez." I can't help but place another quick kiss on her smooth lips. "Plus it's only fair you get to propose now since I did it the first time." I smile widely.
"Oh Britt-Britt." She giggles; her breath warm against my cheek. "What did I ever do to deserve someone as amazing as you?"
After reassuring my mother numerous times that I was okay I had ventured downstairs to the den, hoping to escape the slight mess I'd made. I had switched on my Xbox 360; I had definitely picked up my gaming fix from watching my Mom play growing up. Resident Evil had been part of my cure for everything since the beginning of high school.
"You've got to be kidding me!" I growl as the television screen goes black.
"Ah!" Screams come from my sister's studio next door as the lights go out.
I get up off the couch, tossing my controller down behind me, and make my way out to the hall off the den. "Lily?" I call out to my sister knowing she probably just got one of the frights of her life.
"Nik, what's going on?" Lily calls back as she slowly opens her studio door.
As she opens the door she reveals herself and JJ who are standing in paint stained smocks, holding darts. I can manage to pick them out by the small amount of light streaming into the basement window."I should be asking you the same thing. Darts, Lily, really?" I say sarcastically.
"Yes, Nik, darts. See." She moves away from the doorway to expose large canvas decorated with colored balloons which I assume are filled with various colors of paint.
"Abstract much?" I chuckle, giving my older sister a classic Lopez grin.
"You very well know I like abstract art." She retorts with a smirk of her own.
"I like abstract too." JJ pipes in, giving me a small genuine smile that is laced with sympathy causing my stomach to churn slightly.
"Well I'll go check on that. I think a fuse blew. Your lights in here with the power from the TV and my Xbox as well as whatever the heck Lina is doing upstairs are enough to do that." I say, my smirk now faltering as I leave.
"Thanks Nikky!" I hear Lily call out as I reach the top of the stairs to head for the garage to check the fuse box; normally I would call back down the stairwell but right now I simply can't bring myself to call out and tell her she's welcome.
"Is he okay?" JJ asks as Nik bounds up the stairs. The hesitance in her voice is quite prominent but I'm glad she cares enough to ask.
"I think he's not the greatest right now but he'll be okay. The whole no power issue and what happened today pushed his buttons so he just needs some time to get over it." I give her a smile as I take the darts from her hand before carefully walking over to the counter and laying them down. "I don't think we'll be able to use these until the lights on and I don't think that will be anytime soon." I chuckle slightly.
"Okay, that's good then. Not about the power," Jess pauses for a moment to let a small giggle slip out. "I mean about Nik being okay."
I lean back against the counter, attempting to be nonchalant regarding what I'm about to ask. "Why'd you ask anyways?"
In the dark I barely can see the outline of JJ's petite figure approach me. She doesn't speak until she's barely two inches in front of me. "I asked because I care about you," she pauses obviously out of nervousness, "and you care about Nik. Plus he seems like a really great guy, besides for the whole tackling thing." She chuckles; I can feel her warm slightly sweet breath on my face causing my heart to feel as if it has skipped a beat or two.
My resistance has become futile as her breathtaking blue eyes become visible in the dark. I reach out, placing my hand gently on her cheek. JJ's eyes now look directly in to mine and I can see that my hesitance it without reason. I can tell that she isn't about to deny my action and that she is simply waiting for me to make the first move. Almost painstakingly slow, I edge myself off the counter.
I give in to the fear, taking the plunge, as I place my lips against hers. Instantaneously I get my reward as I taste her lips when she begins to kiss me back. After what feels like forever in my mind I feel JJ's hand on the small of my back as we gradually pull away from each other.
"So what was I saying?" are the only words in my head I can use to form a sentence. As soon as they're out of my mouth I feel like a moron.
JJ immediately begins to giggle, "I believe we were talking about Nik." She giggles once again.
"Oh yeah, that." I chuckle still slightly breathless and surprised that she hasn't removed her slight hold on me.
"But I'm going to go off topic here and say that I really enjoyed," She doesn't finish her sentence before placing her lips against mine; I can feel her smile into the kiss almost immediately. She slowly pulls away with a small giggle. "That."