(45): Family Background

"Did you guys know that Winnie had a little sister?" I ask the gang who is too busy focused on the tv.

"You mean Willow? That little monster" Nick grumbles.

So they do hate each other.

I giggle "She's a sweetheart"

"Winnie, you have a sister?" Kat asks surprised and she nods "Its getting bad that I don't know a lot about you guys. I mean we've been together for almost four months now"

"Same" I agree thoughtfully.

"Should we do like a family background thing?" Winnie suggests and we all nod.

Thank goodness Kyle isn't here for this. This was going to get very awkward for him considering he has a very colorful family background. He went to go take a shower.

"I'll go first" Nick announces with his hand raised "So uh, mom passed away when I was younger so I have a stepmom. Don't worry, she's amazing"

"Nick..." I gape shocked and sad.

I think Kat already knew because she doesn't look surprised at all. Just kind of sad.

He smiles "It's okay, little Chels. Anyways I have an older sister, her name is Lena. We obviously have the same mom. My dad and my stepmom don't have any children together so yeah, it's just us"

"Wow" I breathe still shocked at everything.

I cannot believe how much I don't know these people.

Nick smiles at me, cause it's pretty obvious I'm the only one who didn't know. He gives me a 'you can ask me everything later' look and I smile back tightly.

Poor Nicky.

"Okay, I'll go" Winnie says "I have two parents and a younger sister. Her name is Willow and she's adopted. She's been with us ever since she was one and she's amazing. My parents just sort of fell for her at first sight. I don't really know whose idea it was to adopt and why but I can't complain because as I said... she's amazing"

I smile.

"Woah Winnie, I had no idea" Kat murmurs softly.

"It's okay" Winnie dismisses with a smile.

"Well my family background is pretty boring compared to all of y'alls" Kat jokes lightly and we all breathe a laugh "Anyways. I have two married parents and I'm the only child"

"That's it?" Nick teases.

Kat rolls her eyes flipping him off "Yes that's it Nicholas"

We all laugh.

"Okay, my turn" I announce softly "I have two parents and they've been divorced since I was like four. Anyways my dad remarried to this woman called Josie who used to he horrible to me. My dad wasn't in my life for like three years because of her. They have a nine year old son together, my brother Christian and they're expecting a girl anytime now"

"Chels..." Nathan utters.

I remember mentioning the story to the others so they're not very surprised, just still kind of sad at the reminder.

"Don't worry, Josie and I kind of patched things up" I assure with a smile.

He smiles at me "Good"

Aww. He cares.

"Babe... your turn" Kat says softly after a while of silence, her arm around his shoulder. I have a bad feeling about what he's going to tell us.

Nathan gulps, his eyes distant.

Oh no.

"Where do I begin?" He says nervously, absentmindedly toying with his fingers "Okay well my dad is in prison for assault"

We all gape. Except Kat obviously.

"Dude" Nick breathes, eyes wide.

"Yeah" Nathan nods softly "Uh, he used to abuse my mom and I a few years back. He would come home drunk and beat the both of us up. My mom would always try to protect me but he'd get angry and eventually find his way to me."

By now tears are forming in my eyes.

"Nathan" I croak.

"We couldn't lay charges because he'd threaten to kill my mom. I hate to admit it, but I really believed the guy; he was fucking crazy. After a while I had enough and finally did it. Luckily it was one of those rare times he'd allow my mom to be out of town for a family visit so she wasn't in harms way. He was arrested a day later and is currently serving his time"

"Nathan" Winnie sniffs.

All the girls are crying. Nick just has a huge frown on his face, his eyes soft.

"Don't cry" He comforts nervously.

I wipe the tears from my face "Uhm, when did this happen?"

"The arrest happened senior year" He says.

"You mean the year you finally lost your virginity?" Nick jokes trying to make the mood lighter and it kind of works because we all end up laughing softly.

"I think we all need a group hug after that" Kat announces her arms spread.

We shrug before doing that. The ones who were on the couch join the rest of us on the floor. My arms are around Winnie and Nick since they're on each side of me and all of our heads are against each other. The boys still stink but I ignore it because I don't want to ruin the moment.

"Chels, say your line" Nick muffles.

"I love you guys" I grin happily.

"Love you too" They choir back against each other causing all of us to laugh happily.

"Uh, what's happening?"

We pull back when we're interrupted by Kyle's voice which sounds very confused.

"You missed out on the group hug" Nick tells him as he walks closer to us.

"Thank goodness" He mutters.

We all shoot daggers at him. He actually missed a lot. His eyes linger on me because I think he notices that I've been crying but he doesn't say anything. I wonder if he knows about Nathan's story.

"Hey, who's red Mercedes is parked outside? I've never seen it" Nathan asks as he stands up and sits on the couch next to Kyle.

"Mine" Winnie grins sheepishly.

"Winona, you got a car?" Kyle gapes looking surprised.

She nods "It was a birthday gift"

"Lucky, huh?" I tease smiling at her.

"I need an upgrade" Kat complains pouting. She has a BMW so I don't know what her problem is.

"Kathrine, you can't even drive" Nick deadpans.

"I can too" She defends loudly.

"So am I the only one who doesn't have a car now?" I ask looking around and they all nod as they laugh at me.

"You could've asked your dad for one a long time ago" Kat shrugs.

"Yeah. Doesn't he like give you a shit ton of money?" Winnie adds.

I huff "I don't like using it"

"I'm guessing that means you have a lot left in your back account. Enough to actually buy a car" Nick counters thoughtfully.

"I'm pretty sure I do" I confirm.

"So what are you waiting for?" Nathan demands, looking at me like I'm stupid.

"You guys want me to buy a car?" I gape.

"Well duh. We can't always drive you around" Kat deadpans.

"I don't know, you guys"

"I'll help you look for one" Kyle suggests "I'm pretty good with cars"

You don't say.

"I'll speak to my parents first" I offer.

I can't help but grin at the idea though. I've always wanted a car. I don't really know why I've never asked because it's not like they're not financially stable.

"Admit it, you're kind of excited" Kat smirks looking at me.

I nod sheepishly "Maybe"

"So what do you have in mind?" Nick asks walking to the kitchen.

He better not eat my food.

"An Audi" I say instantly.

I hear Nathan laugh and look at him "You wanna match with Kyle, huh?"

The others laugh too.

"Do you, Chels?" Winnie teases.

"No" I defend exasperated "I've always wanted an Audi. Kat knows so I don't know why she's laughing"

Kat just hums teasingly "Do I?"

"Yes!" I snap flustered.

She's so annoying.

"It's not her fault she has good taste in cars unlike all of you" Kyle comes to my defense.

"A Jeep is better than a fucking Audi" Nathan defends his car exasperated.

"Yeah and a Mercedes is even better" Winnie says and we hear Nick shout a "She's right" from the kitchen.

What is he doing there.

"Okay but a BMW is better than all of those combined" Kat says matter-of-factly.

"You wish" Her boyfriend objects.

"Whatever. I want an Audi" I inform.

"You do look like an Audi girl" Nick says when he comes back with a granola bar in his hand as he bites it and chews happily. This boy!

"Nicholas!" I screech.

He looks confused "What?"

"Who did you ask for my granola bar?" I demand annoyed.

"I was hungry" He excuses lamely.

I sigh loudly, pinching the bridge of my nose "I swear you will be the death of me"

"See? This is why I wanted them to leave" Kyle tells me pointing to his annoying friend "He always does this"

Nick just ignores us and chews happily on my granola bar.

"I'm actually hungry too" Kat announces.

"You're not touching my food" I immediately dismiss "I worked very hard to do grocery shopping yesterday"

"Mine either" Kyle says pointedly.

"Since you two are so stingy, you can stay here while I treat Kat, Nick and Winnie to lunch at Kristy's" Nathan says smugly.

I'm kind of jealous but I won't admit it.

"Yay!" Kat squeals kissing his cheek.

"Oh yeah!" Winnie claps happily.

"Thanks man" Nick grins handing me my almost finished bar.

This boy!

I don't even have the energy to fight with him anymore.

"Whatever. Bye" Kyle says dryly.

"Yeah bye" I mirror his tone.

They laugh at us as they walk to the door before Nick says "Bye, losers. We'll be back on the last day of the year which is tomorrow"

"You still stink" I retort but they're already out the door.

I huff annoyed. I wanted Kristy's too!

"Let me guess" Kyle starts off looking down at me since I'm still on the floor and he's on the couch "You also want food?"

"How did you know?" I gape.

He snorts "You're a girl. Girls love food"

"So are you gonna get some for me?" I grin hopefully.

"Maybe later" He shrugs.

I pout "You suck"

"Do you want tell me why you guys were crying and hugging earlier?" He asks curiously.

"We were telling each other about our family backgrounds and it kind of got emotional" I mutter sadly, everything coming back.

"Oh" He drawls.

"Do you know all their backgrounds"

He nods "Yeah, except your friend's"

"Even Nathan's?" I ask slowly and he nods again "How come you won't tell him about yours"

"I did"

I gape slightly "You did? When?"

"At the resort when he told me his" Kyle tells me "I also didn't know until then"

"Woah" I breathe surprised.

"I kind of feel stupid for not telling him much earlier. We have a lot in common" Kyle mutters thoughtfully.

I nod "Yeah, that's what I concluded too"

"Yeah" He trails off.

"So did you cry when he told you?" I ask.

He gives me a dry look "Chelsea-Anne, I'm a man. I don't cry"

"What'd you do to make him feel better?" I laugh "Did you give him a big hug?"

"I told him about RJ" He counters "We were both sad so we didn't owe each other hugs or anything after that"

I giggle shaking my head "Boys"

"So you know about Nicholas's mom? And Winnie confirmed the Willow thing?" He asks.

I nod "Yeah"

"Would've been awkward if I present, huh?" He notes thoughtfully, his lips puckered.

"Yeah. You would've had to tell the whole Riley story including how she went missing" I say "Would you mention that she's still alive?"

He shrugs "I don't know. I'm just glad I wasn't there"

"Don't you want them to know?"

"Not yet" He says.

"So it's just Nathan and I who know everything?" I ask.

"Basically" He confirms.

We both stay quiet for a while. I don't want to carry on with the topic because I know he doesn't like to speak about it for a long time.

"Hey... so how come you want to stay in for new years?"

"I just do" He tells me "I do every year"

I snort "But your friends always end up dragging you with"

"Yep" He sighs "Why do you want to go out? You don't even like partying."

"True, but it's tradition"

"Going out?"

I nod "Yeah. You can't welcome a new year just sitting around and doing nothing"

That's actually exactly how I used to welcome it before I came to college. My mom is very strict so she wouldn't allow me to go to parties. Yeah, I basically didn't have much of a life before college.

He raises a brow amused "What? You want to make out with someone too?"

Yeah. You.

"No" I blush at my thoughts.

"Really, now?"

I shrug nonchalantly "If it happens, it happens. What about you, huh? Do you want to make out with someone, Chambers?"

"Maybe" He winks.

I swear his wink is my weakness. Butterflies invade my stomach whenever he does.

I raise a brow "Interesting. Do I know her?"

It better be me.

"Yeah. You know her very well" He says suggestively, the smirk still present.

I know her very well? What? If it's anyone but me, I will literally die. I don't think I can stomach to see Kyle with another girl. The thought alone makes me sick. Imagine witnessing it with my two eyes, I'm afraid it would kill me. I like him way too much.

"Okay" I squeak.

I never want to ask too many questions when we're speaking about our... love lives. What if I won't like the answer?

He just laugh softly "Relax"

How can he see that I'm tense?

"Okay" I blush sheepishly.

"Perhaps okay will be our always" He smirks before he bursts out laughing.

I also start laughing loudly "Okay I knew you liked the movie but I didn't know that you actually memorized that line"

"It was a good line" He shrugs amused.

"I think you should stop flirting with me, Chambers" I tease smugly.

"Can't help myself"

I'm pretty sure I'm blushing and grinning like an idiot at this point. I can't believe how much I actually like this gorgeous specimen.

"Okay" I utter and he smiles.

***

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