Leo picked his trench coat ready to leave the house when his eyes landed on the bracelet he had casually placed on the table that day. He picked it up and looked at it. He kept having the feeling that both the bracelet and its owner were people he was familiar with but he couldn't remember how or where. He found her actions at the cemetery suspicious and was definitely going to look into it. He kept it in his pocket before going out.
...
Nicks Bar.
Nicole sat on one of the counter high chairs and pushed her bag aside, watching the man who looked more like herself serving drinks to some men at her side. He was Nick, her twin brother and probably the only friend she had left.
''You are here?'' he asked after serving the guests and went over to her side.
''Give me something hot'' she said gloomily.
''Who spit in your biscuit, sis?'' Nick poured a glass of hard liquor for Nicole and she drunk it all at one shot and pushed the glass towards him saying.
''Here, add me another mix'' Nick looked at her and served a customer before returning to her side.
''What is it this time? Did something happen?'' Nick asked as he made another mix for her. He knew his sister so well. She always resorted to drinking anytime she was having a hard time.
''I want to drink to my death tonight Nick, so don't even try to stop me'' Nicole said and Nick shook his head.
''Sis, drinking won't solve anything, so how about you talking about it?''
''What's the use? Everybody thinks I'm crazy anyway''
''Do you still see those things? Is it them this time?''
''Sssshhh, they can get really mad if they hear you call them things. Also, this time, it just so happened to be someone I know''
''Here, drink to your heart's content and if you want to sleep, just go to my room'' Nick said and turned to his guests. He didn't want to know more about it the moment she mentioned, it was a ghost she knew. The thing Nick feared the most was hearing about the death of people he knew and cared about. The trauma of almost losing his sister and only friend was still fresh in his mind like day. Whenever he thought about Nicole's accident and how it affected him, he felt sick within him.
After Nicole miraculously woke up that year after being declared dead by the doctors, it had taken him close to a few more than necessary months to come to terms with the reality. He was there when she was declared dead. He had touched her body which was clearly cold, and felt her non-beating heart, only for an hour to her cremation, she suddenly opened her eyes. That memory was akin to watching a horror movie for him.
''You are the best brother''
Nick pushed the glass towards her and shook his head noting the sarcasm in her words.
''I'm going to die, don't stop me'' Nikki gulps in the mix and placed her head on the table snoring in deep sleep and Nick shook his head.
''As usual, this is the Nicole I know'' Nick walked out of the counter to carry her to his room in the club. ''How can you be so heavy?''
Leo walked in and saw Nick sending Nicole into one of the rooms and looked at them and murmured to himself ''ladies have no reservations these days''
Leo went to sit on the chair Nicole was sitting on and saw her bag, ''this must be her bag'' he said and peeped in and saw an ID card and picked it out to look, ''Nicole Benson, sounds familiar''
When Nick returned he found him holding the ID, ''what are you doing?'' Nick snatched the card and took the bag, ''Don't you know is common curtesy to not nose around with other people's belongings?''
''Is she your girlfriend? I saw you take her in there'' Leo asked curiously.
''Mind your own business. If you are here to drink, just do that and leave'' Nick went behind the counter and Leo asked.
''Do you work here? Where is the man who is always here?''
''If the man you are looking for is Cody, then, he is on leave. I am the owner of this place''
''I see; he is the one always here''
''What can I get you?'' Nick looked at him and Leo smiled.
''I'm sorry, I was just curious. Forgive my manners'' he apologised and Nick smiled.
''That's my sister, she is a bit wasted tonight so I had to take care of her'' Nick now explained after the apology.
''That explains it''
###
Next day.
Nicole stirred on the bed and finally opened her eyes to see Nick standing by the door watching her.
''Nick, you scared me!'' Nicole said as she sat up.
''Wow, you were really out of it last night Sis. Someone even misunderstood our relationship''
''Just let them misunderstand. You won't be harmed anyways, because I am pretty''
''Narcissistic much?''
''Wait, last night'' she suddenly remembered the fight with Lizzy, ''oh my God! Last night'' Nicole got down from bed, ''where is my bag, Nick?''
''On the table, over there'' he pointed at it and she quickly grabbed the bag.
''See you later Nick, I need to fix something''
''Where are you going?'' Nick looked even more confused.
''I said some really bad things to someone I shouldn't have. God, I hope she hasn't left already'' her voice sounded worried and anxious at the same time.
''What are you talking about?'' Nick followed her to the porch where the shoes rack was. Nicole put on her shoes and kissed his cheek.
''Let's talk later, brother, love you and thanks for last night'' she ran out afterwards and Nick sighed.
''Always on the run like a criminal'' he really didn't understand anything that was going on with her.
.....
By the time Nicole had arrived at her apartment. She hurried inside and only paused her steps in the hall when she saw Candy and Grandma watching TV.
''Where is Lizzy? Why is she not together with you?''
''You actually sound like you care. She didn't sleep here last night. Poor thing, she cried the whole night by her grave'' Candy turned to look at Nicole after saying that.
''Thanks to a certain someone who sad some really mean things'' Granny added.
''You really know how to say the most hurtful words at the most inappropriate time Nicole'' Candy said. One by one, they scolded her.
''Where did she go?''
''We don't know'' they both said at the same time. Nicole clenched her fists. She really felt like beating the two ghosts up but she couldn't.
''Look for her if you care about her that much!'' Candy said and turned on the volume loudly.
Nicole ignored her and removed her phone before putting the bag on the couch.
''If she comes, tell her not to even take a step outside again, I will be back''
''Ok''
Nicole ran out and Candy turned to Granny, ''you were right; they really connect in a strange way. Is that why they are special?''
''Maybe!''
''I can't believe she is going to look for her. Nicole is a lot softer than she looks'' Candy said with a smile.
…..
Watching Leo and Priscy as they put flowers on her grave, Lizzy wiped the tears that fell down from her eyes. It hurt her so much that she was helpless. She needed to do something. She needed to let Leo know about her existence, but what could she do, when she was this helpless?
Outside the Cemetery, Nicole got down from the taxi and rushed in looking for her. Her hair looked messy but she didn't mind as she was too busy looking for Lizzy to care about her own appearance.
She was about to take a step towards Lizzy's grave when she saw Lizzy following Leo and Priscy. She immediately hid. When Lizzy noticed her presence, she still pretended and started to also walk away.
''Wait!'' Nicole ran after her.
Priscy heard the voice and turned and their eyes meet. Nicole bowed her head slightly and walked away. Priscy turned to Leo and asked to him.
''Did you see that?''
''See what?'' Leo turned to face her but Nicole was already gone from their sight, so he didn't see her properly.
''That woman going, she seems to be talking to someone but I didn't see anyone'' she pointed at the direction Nicole went. He could only see her back view.
''I'm sure you heard wrong, let's go'' Leo turned to go and saw Nicole's actions caught his attention.
...
''Are you going to keep ignoring me? I'm sorry for what I said, ok? I didn't mean it like that'' Nicole stood in front of Lizzy and stretched her hands blocking her way, ''say something''
Lizzy ignored her, walking away and Nikki blocked her way again. Her actions caught Leo's eyes as he walked away with Priscy in front of him and he stopped to look at her. Nicole kept talking unaware of Leo's presence, come on, don't be mad at me. I will help you.
Lizzy turned almost immediately with a smile and said to Nicole, ''really?'' she tried to hide her excitement. She knew her silent treatment was going to work.
Actually, she was dying to speak to Nicole. When she first saw her at her grave, she was so excited, she almost went forth to hug her, but she had restrained herself from doing that.