A week passed.
Joey returned to school the day after Nick showed up at her doorstep.
That morning she waited for him on the street corner, hoping he would walk by on his way to school.
Maybe he could explain to her what happened and why he thought it was her fault!
But no luck. He didn't show up at school, at all.
Not 'till a few days later when she spotted him getting out of Jane's car, his eye still heavily bruised.
As he walked inside, Nick passed a group of boys yelling names and throwing trash at him. He just cringed and quickened his step.
It all became clear now.
The same boys had harassed her non stop since the incident in the gym. One of them being the boy she decked.
She didn't care really...They never got close enough to do any real harm. Instead they turned their hostility towards Nick.
She followed him up to his locker and tried talking to him.
“....Nick....”.
Nothing. Not even a look. He just grabbed the books he needed, slammed his locker shut and walked in the opposite direction.
He ignored her for the rest of the week. He even changed seats in class so he wouldn't have to sit next to her.
By Friday afternoon, Joey had given up. She tried sending him notes, calling his house. But nothing seemed to work.
He just wouldn't listen.
“ I don't think he'll ever talk to me again, mom....”.
Joey and Lucy were having afternoon tea, like they always did on Sunday.
It had been tradition ever since Joey could remember.
Mainly it gave them a chance to catch up on the events during the week and talk, mother to daughter.
Lucy looked at her little girl, who was suffering.
This was the longest Nick and she had been apart, ever.
Of course she had been angry with Joey at first, for resorting to violence instead of talking,
but she couldn't help but feel a little pride in her daughter's loyalty to her friend.
Too bad it backfired and caused Nick more harm than was intended. But she knew her Joey's heart had been in the right place.
Nick would come around eventually and Lucy tried to tell her that.
But to Joey it just seemed hopeless right now.
“...but you didn't see the way he looked at me...he hates me...he even closed the trapdoor....”.
Joey's eyes started to tear up, but she restrained them from falling.
Lucy walked over to her daughter's chair and crouched down. She grabbed Joey's hands in hers.
“....Look sweety...I talked to Jane...She says he just needs time to cool off...he's been through a lot these last days...”. She cupped Joey's chin and tilted her head up to meet her own eyes.
Tears rolled down Joey's cheeks, not being able to stop them anymore.
Lucy just pulled her in for a hug and stroked her hair, lovingly.
“....He'll come around, baby....you'll see...”.
Monday morning, Joey decided to take her mother's advice and let things take it's course.
She couldn't force Nick to talk to her, so she had no choice but to wait for him to take the first step.
She hated walking to school alone though. She felt lonely, missing Nick's silly jokes and stories.
She never thought she'd miss them as much as she did.
School wasn't the same either.
Her little brawl had changed the way people looked at her in the hallways. Every corner she turned, she would hear someone whispering her name and pointing at her.
The only upside to all this was that the cheerleaders finally stopped asking her to join the squad.
The boy she hit had been one of the popular jocks and that didn't go over really well, she figured.
But she didn't really care. Her main focus was on getting Nick to talk to her again. Then everything would be alright.
Her first few classes she noticed Nick was missing.
“..,maybe he's out sick...or an audition or something”. She thought to herself.
But when he didn't show up the rest of the day, and the two days following, Joey started to get worried.
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Late that night, there was a knock at the door.
Joey had gone to bed already but couldn't sleep. Her thoughts kept going back to Nick and how his face had looked that night he yelled at her.
It made her want to cry again.
Then she heard voices in the living room. Distinguishing her mom's voice and another female.
It sounded like....Jane.
She checked her alarm clock.
“...23.30...”.
Curious, she sneaked out of her room and sat on the top step of the staircase.
Neither of the two women noticing her, Joey tried to listen to their conversation.
Jane's voice was soft, but she could just make out what she was saying.
“....down by the river. Just to get his mind of off things. We planned to stay the whole weekend but....”. Jane's voice cracked.
Joey strained her neck to try and catch a glimpse of her, but couldn't bend any further without getting noticed.
“....It's OK...here have some tea...”. Joey heard her mom's comforting voice.
Silence filled the room for a few minutes.
Jane continued, her voice now clearly strained.
“....It was just horrible, Lucy....it's like losing one of your children...he's been with us since Nick was born...”.
Joey's heart began to pound.
“....The current was just too strong...he didn't stand a chance...”.
Joey's hands started to shake.
“...Bob found him a few miles down....he tried to take him to the vet...but it was too late...”.
Joey shook her head in disbelieve. Her hands now clasping her mouth.
“...Nick saw the whole thing, Lucy....he's hasn't said anything in days....he refuses to eat...hell, I cant even get him to come out of his room!...That dog meant the world to him....”.
It finally hit her. Joey's eyes filled with tears. This time she just let them roll out of her eyes freely.
“...I don't think he can handle losing Joey and Sabbath in the same week...”. Jane broke down. Joey could hear her sniffling.
She couldn't just sit there. She had to do something!
Nick needed her.
Drying her tears with the back of her hand, Joey jumped up and ran down the stairs.
Lucy and Jane looked up and were just in time to see her descend and rush out the back door.
Joey ran as fast as she could and pushed the trap door.
“ Crap!...”. She forgot Nick had closed it. She kicked it angrily and noticed it opening slightly.
Whatever Nick had used to block the entrance, it was light enough in weight to be moved. Maybe if she kicked it again?
After a few good kicks her leg made it through the hole and she soon followed.
“....A trash can....really, Nick?...”. She thought as she looked back to see what had blocked her way.
“...Joey!...Joey!...”.
She heard her mom call her, as she ran over to the Carter's back door.
Ignoring her, Joey ran inside.
“ Joe....”.
She didn't even hear Bob's voice as she ran passed the living room on her way up the stairs.
Only stopping when she stood in front of Nick's door.
She hesitated, but just for a minute. It had been well over a week since she last entered his room.
Convincing herself that Nick needed his friend, even if they didn't get along at the moment, she grabbed the doorknob and slowly opened the door.
What she saw inside, scared her.
Not a single toy, comic book or piece of clothing in sight.
The room was spotless.
She looked over to the bed, her stomach cramping when she saw him sitting on it.
His legs pulled up to his chest, his arms hugging his knees and his eyes completely blank.
He didn't look up at her, not until she was standing right next to him.
Then he just stared at her.
Joey's heart was racing. Hoping he wouldn't yell at her and throw her out.
Or worse...ignore her.
She slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, facing him.
He blinked and to her surprise, Joey noticed a hint of relieve come over his face.
Wanting to take advantage of the moment, she opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat.
She had to break the tension somehow, get him to talk to her.
“....What happened to your room?...”.
She couldn't think of anything else to say, it had been the first thing that popped into her head. She searched his face for change.
It took him a few seconds, but he managed to shrug. No words.
Joey looked down at her hands, now fidgeting with the duvet.
The next few minutes went by in silence.
Just when she started to question if she had done the right thing by barging in here, she saw Nick's mouth open.
“...m..mom cleaned it, before we...”.
He stopped.
His eyes darkened. Even more than they already had.
Casting them down, not wanting Joey to see the tears forming in them.
Nick had tried his best not to cry, but he couldn't hold on much longer.
His breathing growing uneven and heavy, his face contorting. He clearly felt the tears stinging his eyes now.
Joey reacted instinctively and placed her hand over his, surprising them both.
She felt his hand tense up for just a second, but it quickly relaxed.
A sob escaped from his body, Nick finally broke down.
Joey moved closer to him. Kneeling next to him on the bed.
She put her arms around him. Rubbing his back with one hand and his hair with the other. She half expected him to push her away at any moment.
But he didn't.
Instead he closed his eyes and welcomed the comfort she offered.
His hands slowly wrapped around her back and he buried his face in her shoulder.
“....It's OK, Nicky....I'm here...”.
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“ ...It's been a while now...I think I'll just go check...”.
Lucy nodded and accompanied Jane up the Carter's stairs.
They followed Joey inside the house and decided to let her talk to Nick for a while. Maybe she had more luck getting him back to normal.
Jane listened at Nick's door and shook her head at Lucy when she didn't hear any sound coming from inside.
Slowly she opened it and peaked in.
Lucy heard Jane sigh and pushed the door further so she could see.
Nick and Joey where sound asleep. Their hands intertwined.
“...I think he'll be ok...”. Lucy whispered to Jane, both of them smiling.
Jane nodded. Relieve taking over her body.
“....you want me to wake her up?...”.
Jane shook her head. Instead she walked over to Nick's closet and pulled out a big quilt, draping it over the two kids.
She kissed both their foreheads and walked back into the hallway, closing the door behind her.
