Nicholas was laughing so much that he thought he stomach was going to burst. He tried to keep as quiet as possible so he wouldn't wake up Cole. He probably kind of looked awkward, laughing noiselessly with his eyes squeezed shut and a huge grin on his face. Mattie was completely nuts, but in the best way possible. She was distracting him from his pain, and he couldn't have been more thankful.

"Yeah, I'm sure!" he said, snorting, "Don't worry, though. I'm no more strong than you are."

To emphasize it, he flexed his own arm, surprising even himself at the muscle that was there. It must have come from having to carry his mother, and sometimes his sister, and two backpacks, and [i]everything[/i] during this apocalyptic time. He rolled his eyes with a smirk on his face and said, "Whatever, maybe I'm a little stronger."

He looked at Mattie and smiled.