Dog Tags

Chapter 55

Quinn's POV

Nick showed me the dining room is tucked into a corner near the grand staircase, he then leads me upstairs to a massive maze like hallway with a large window that takes up a whole wall revealing the lights of the strip of Las Vegas, down one of the hallways Nick opens a door to the biggest master bedroom that I have seen, it looks rather empty and I can't imagine needed this big of a room for just two people. "This place keeps shocking me, it might not look this big on the outside, but once you walk inside your mind is blown." Nick laughs and I notice that he doesn't show me around the master bedroom which I kind of understand with it being his parents room. 

The next room he shows me must belong to his little brother, and I start thinking that the voice that I heard in the movie room might have been his little brother. "Where is your little brother tonight?" Nick shrugs his shoulders, "He is around this house somewhere, but it would seem that no matter how much my father tries to groom him into the prefect gentlemen he takes after his rebel of a big brother." Nick takes my hand and take me out onto the balcony that overlooks not just crystal clear infinity swimming pool, but also overlooks the whole neighborhood that looks breathtaking when it is all lit up. "You sure do know how to impress a girl, but I would really like to know more about you and your family that doesn't have to deal with the fancy lifestyle." Nick leans on the balcony and looks out towards the Las Vegas strip, 

"I told you everything at the aquarium today." I walk up next to him and place my hand over his, "You told me the bullet point version. Tell me what the Romero household is like behind closed doors?" Nick take a deep breath before looking over at me, "When my mom is home she is all about spending time with her family, my dad never seems to stop working, Flint goes to school on the weekdays to a special school for gifted kids and on weekends he is like any other kid, and then there is me who spends all his time trying to fit in with his family and tries to be a part of it that in the end he just feels more like an outsider." I can see that feeling like this really hurts Nick, and it makes me rethink where I stand with my own family,

"Most of my life I have felt like I am on the outside looking in thinking that if do something incredible then I would feel like I belonged, but over time I just felt like I have become an afterthought or a side note to be mentioned in passing, and no matter how hard I tried telling myself that I am a Romero it never feels that way. Even when it comes to my parents I don't see myself as their son, I see myself as a useless let down that are forced to call their son because we happen to share a last name." I see Nick's eyes fill with tears and I wrap my arms around him giving him a hug, "Looking back I start to wonder that if maybe my social anxiety is the reason I feel like this, or maybe it is because I have these feelings about family that I have social anxiety." It sounds like that Nick might want to talk to grandma Etta, but I don't want to push him and make him regret opening up to me.

"It wasn't until I went to college where I started tapping into a dark and dangerous place that I know personally and that only an unlucky few have seen."I pull of out of the hug kind of know what he is talking about from what has already told me and from what Jared told me, "It took a lot to get me back from that place, and it is even harder not to go back there." I squeeze his hand letting him know that I am here for him, "Nick, I have already seen that side of you when you attacked that guy outside the movie theater." Nick pulls not just hand away but himself away from me,

"That was only a glimpse Quinn, you don't know the full extent of that side of me." I walk up to Nick with no fear from his words, "Then I will just have to make sure that you never go to that place again." Nick gives me a looking telling me my words are easier said than done, "There is one more room that I need to show you." I look at him puzzled unsure of what else this house could possibly have."Follow me." Nick walks back into the house with me not far behind him. 

Nick grabs his keys from his jacket before walking over to a door that is connected to the grand staircase. "Where does this lead to?" I ask as Nick unlocks the door and opens it up revealing a basement, "The only place in the whole house where I felt at home." Nick takes my hand and leads me down the stairs making sure to close and lock the door behind him before we head into the basement,but some might argue that it is more of a private apartment.

The carpet is white with a small kitchen area that matches the upstairs, a living room area completed with a large flat screen TV, pool table, somewhat stocked bar, card game table, cozy looking sectional couch, and a large window with a door that leads into the backyard. "Welcome to my safe haven." Nick smiles and I can tell just by looking at his face that he is more relaxed and worry free. Nick walk over to what looks like a wall but it is actually large double doors that reveal a medium sized bedroom. "Final part of the tour." Nick grins as he walks into his bedroom.