Dance like nobody's watching.

“I have something for you.” From his back pocket, he produced a piece of parchment, rolled up and tied with a red ribbon. “It’s not much.” He knew that Mikael thought him to not care for their family at all, and perhaps it was best to let him believe that. But Nika had cared for all of them just as much as Aleksey had, and so the sketch of their family he figured was the best gift he could give her. The memory of a time when things were better. When he was better.

It was impossible for Nikki to keep the hope that filled her eyes from appearing. Her heart seemed to leap in her chest as he pulled the gift from behind him and then seemed to insult it all at once. Delicate fingertips reached out to clasp the parchment as she felt herself smiling up at him. She knew this had to be a piece of his artwork and she felt elated at the thought. Slowly she pulled the ribbon free and unrolled the parchment. Almost immediately her eyes began to shine with emotion as she saw what it was. “Aleksey. It’s beautiful,” Nika breathed before launching herself at him. She was careful to keep the parchment in her one hand and held out away from them but her other arm wrapped around him. “I’m sorry. It’s just really perfect and I love it. And I miss them and I missed you.”

      ❝ Sure, of course. You can use it for as long as you need. ❞

“Thank you! It shouldn’t be too long. I was just working on a sketch and realized some parts would look at little better with pen.”

“Huh?” Rashel looked up from the journal she was reading, realizing that there were still others around and angling the front cover of the book down to obscure the writing within. “Yeah sure.” The woman pushed the pen beside her towards the other.

Nikki’s gaze flicked to where the booked was moving, noting the way it seemed to be an attempt to hide. There were some books she wouldn’t read in public either so the action didn’t seem odd at all. “Thanks. And I’m sorry if I interrupted you. I just had an idea for a quick sketch and I realized I didn’t have a pen to do some finishing touches. I’ll bring it right back!”

Nikki nodded in response as she took the stance for what felt like the millionth time. The same stance which he adjusted once again, making her wrinkle her nose. Why did she always forget that part? Nikki knew she was just being hard on herself but she was a little tired. Instead of letting her thoughts consume her this time she focused on his movements as he went through them once more and she noted something she was sure she’d been missing before. Mimicking the exact thing he had done but with a slight adjustment to what she had been doing previously she felt something click and she knew she’d finally gotten it. “That’s it,” she called out excitedly, jumping out of her stance and pumping her fist in the air. “That even felt right. Tell me it looked right,” she pleaded with a smile.

 “Of course.” She smiled, still feeling slightly uneasy. She really liked Nikki, there was just something about the girl that made Hannah feel close to her, but in the past few months she had become a far less trusting person. The coincidences were strange, and nothing made sense. Questions just kept stacking on top of each other and making even precious mundane things seem complicated. She sighed. “I wouldn’t hold my breath, but I think there’s definitely hope.” She said, thinking of how Aleksey had changed from a mysterious and terrifying man he’d been when she’d first met him, to the insufferably grumpy -but tolerable- guy she knew now. “But he’s also lucky to have a sister to care for him.” She shrugged with a smile, determined to push away the doubts and questions long enough to enjoy some time with her friend. She would prod around and think things over later. “Yes please.” She laughed. “Lead the way. Maybe when we get there we can get some ice for that ankle of yours?” She said, raising an eyebrow skeptically as they walked towards the restaurant.

“I sorta have the tendency to hope far too much and end up disappointed,” Nikki admitted with a sheepish smile. It hadn’t always been that way but things just started going wrong more and more. She still looked for the good things beneath the bad but sometimes it was hard. She wouldn’t believe that Aleksey was hopeless though. Regardless of what she heard from others. She had known him when he was good and kind. Something she hoped to see again. Only partially absorbed in her own thoughts she was also able to notice that something seemed to be a bit off with Hannah but she wasn’t sure what it was. Nor did she know how to bring it up. “Well family is everything to me,” she replied to the compliment feeling very pleased to hear it. “Perfect and yes ice would probably be a good idea. I can only pretend it’s not sore for so long,” Nikki responded. The walk was a little bit slower because she began to wince from the sting in her ankle but it didn’t take more than a few minutes for them to find the place and head in towards a table. Nikki sat down with a grateful sign and pulled her legs up to place on the booth seat beside her. “So do you have a pizza preference,” she prompted as she rubbed her ankle gently.

Usually people aren’t talking about comic books when discussing literature. I read some from time to time, but I wouldn’t say I’m an avid comic reader. I think if anything, I’d read Garfield and that would be it. 

Well they do mention them sometimes when movies are brought up. Come on though you’re missing out on Superheroes if you only read Garfield. Or would you consider those graphic novels or something and I’m wrong?

You got it sister

Good to know I can count on someone around here.

I guess that’s like me who would rather watch an action movie than read it. 

Watching action will always be more exciting. Unless we’re talking comic books cause those have pictures and can be pretty cool as well.

“Happy birthday.”

“Thank you.”

“Yet you consider it completely alright to bug a stranger into helping you?”

“You’re not exactly a stranger. I mean maybe in this life but we’ve met before.”

“Don’t taunt me. As far as I can see you’re only wasting time. Now come.”

“Right because singing happy birthday to yourself is definitely a waste of time,” Nikki retorted, coldly. She’d already turned her back as she spoke and was slamming the door to her room in seconds. Her back thumped against the door and she slid down to the floor, pressing her fists into her eyes to keep back the sudden wave of emotions. Sometimes she hated teenage hormones.

“Thank you! Finally someone who doesn’t think I’m a serial killer.”

“Oh it’s no big thing. I don’t think it’s really fair to pin that label on anyone you don’t know. It's never fair to label others based purely on looks.”

Zander helped hoist her up off the ground and though usually they went through more training before starting direct combat, the crash course had to move faster than anything else. So he could sympathize with her frustration. “I know but trust me you’re already better than you were before. A few more days and you’ll have these things down.”

It wasn’t often that Nikki let her frustration get to her so it was easy enough to listen when Zander said to trust him. He was the expert and she knew that she was her own worst critic. “You’re right. I trust you to be a good teacher so I may as well trust you altogether. Can we go over that one more time?”

A well written mystery book is always fun.

You’re not wrong. I tend to watch more mystery movies rather than reading the books but they’re still good.

Well its better than talking to yourself

Which I also did.