You Came Back

Here I Come

I woke up twenty minutes late after hitting the snooze button more than two times. I changed into a flowy sundress and some sandals, grabbed my suitcase and headed out the door. Thank god I kept my hair in the twisted bun from work last night. Otherwise I'd look like a rat slept in my hair.

Because ot was so early in the morning, I was able to breeze by security. That and the fact I had no liquids or metals on me too. I was even able to buy a starbucks frappe before having to board the plane.

The five hour plane ride was uneventful. I was able to lay back and rest. When I woke up, we had already begun to land.

"Sweetie. You could sleep through a hurricane."

I whipped my head to the side and noticed a little old lady smiling at me. "You slept through the turbulence." I apologized and then laughed along with her. She handed me a wet wipe to clean the crud from my eyes and then we went our separate ways.

After claiming my luggage and pushing past the crowds, I finally made it to the escalator. I could spot Niko out in a nano second. He was facing the opposite direction, talking on his phone. He didn't even notice me walk up. I stood behind him and patiently waited for him to pocket his phone.

"Kita!" "No. Say it with me. Ni-ki-ta. Nikita." He rolled his eyes and wrapped me up in a hug. "Five years is too long sis." Tears threatened to run down my cheeks. He was right. I left home and never returned till now. I hugged him a little harder before letting go.

"Alright. Let's go before these people think we actually love each other." He laughed and grabbed my bag.

"Who am I staying with?" I asked as we walked outside. "Oh. Yeah. That would be me. Well. Me and my room mate. I own a house right on the beach. Three bedrooms, two baths. Hope you don't mind." I shook my head. "Na. As long as I'm not cooped up with mom all day." He laughed and then shook his head.

As we walked a little further, a white beat up truck caught my eye. "You still drive Darla?" "Why wouldn't I?" "She's gotta be on her last leg man." He tossed my suitcase in the back of the cab as we both climbed in. He wiggled his eyebrows and replied "Hell na. I take care of my ladies." I busted out laughing as we took off out of the parking lot.

The drive to Niko's house was about thirty minutes, filled with jokes and laughter. I even showed him a photo of Oso and Ashley. "She's cute. How old is she?"

"Oh no. No. No. No. No. No. Don't you dare." "Why not? I don't see a ring." I put my phone back in my purse. "Cause she's not into players." He grabbed his chest and feigned hurt. "Ouch sis. Right in the heart." I rolled my eyes. "More like in the nuts."

We pulled up to his house at exactly eleven forty five. His house was two stories high and pretty typical for a beach house. Light blue paint, with white trim. The front door was covered with car and surfboard stickers, and there was a deck on the side. "It has rooftop access too, that's were we throw parties."

Same old Niko.

I smiled as I shook my head and entered the house behind him. You could tell no women lived here. The place was a mess. Dishes in the sink, pizza boxes and mexican take out trays over filled the trash and counters. "You live like pigs" I said as I jumped over some underwear and followed Niko up the stairs. "Yeah well. Your room is clean. And the bathroom too. Which reminds me. The bathroom connects with J's room. So knock before you enter." "Great." I said, dripping in sarcasm.

My room was decent size. There was a bed. And a desk. Tv was up on the wall. There were double doors, leading to a small balcony below the actual deck. The bathroom was labeled bathroom with a decal on it like at a restaurant. Niko placed my bag in the closet and came back out. "Mom just texted. She wants us to have dinner with her." "Great. So she can give me the third degree. How thoughtful."

Niko chuckled and went to the door. "Text me a list of food you want or anything you need. I gotta go grocery shopping and then pick J up. I'll be back by three. Make yourself at home." I nodded my head and he shut the door behind him.

After texting Niko my supply list, I changed into a tank top and some draw string shorts, I decided I was going to clean up downstairs.

Might not be my house. But ain't no way I'm stayin here like this.

I found what few cleaning products they had and got to work. By two, I had the entire kitchen and living room cleaned. I cleaned out the fridge, washed the dishes, disinfected the counters and table, dusted the living room, picked up all the dirty clothes and swept and mopped. I couldn't tell whose clothes were whose, so I tossed them all into the washer and started them.

They can sort em out later.

When I finished the down stairs, I worked my way up to my room. I swept and mopped the floor and disinfected the entire bathroom. Luckily, it wasn't that bad. I opened the doors to the balcony to let some fresh air on and then laid down on the bed.

I must have dozed off, cause the sound of doors slamming shut and male voices woke me up. I stretched my arms and made my way down the stairs. Following the voices, I rounded the corner into the kitchen and wiped the crud from my eyes.

"I clean your house and you repay me by waking me up. What joy." I said as sarcastic as I could, still wiping my eyes. Niko walked up to me and picked me up and swung me around, making me dizzy. "Isn't she the best J! I told you man. Free food amd free cleaning for a whole two weeks." "She did do a good job" some dude mumbled behind Niko.

I slapped Niko's arms as I yelled. "I'm not y'alls b***h maid. Put me down!" Niko laughed, set me back down and returned to putting groceries away.

I grabbed my glasses from the front of my shirt and inspected them, making sure there weren't any cracks. I cleaned them on the hem of my shirt. "Did you get any contact solution? I hate wearing these."

"Yeah. He got it. But I always thought you looked cute in your glasses."

Who the? That voice. I know that voice. It can't be....can it?