[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220414/35b4ec5d2d194ab3efa6404914883afe.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/GSJXNVw.png[/img]
[sub]Timestamp: The Tuesday after the Sinclair Vs. Belmonte Collab - near the end of the month[/sub][/center]
[color=gray][indent][indent]Coming home from volunteering at the hospital, Niles pulled his [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1b/f4/af/1bf4af7374e29db481ab95bc6a4857a6.jpg]motorcycle[/url] through the Sinclair driveway. Taking off his helmet, he noticed one of his little sisters speeding through the sidewalk. Carrie came in like Sonic the Hedgehog with her turquoise bicycle. Straight outta' dancing class. Her smile was wide as she sported the cutest [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/44/6e/26/446e26bc78a31a812ed49681a8d0e8c5.jpg]jumper[/url] outfit. Energetically, she waved at her brother as she zoomed through their yard and dropped her bike on the grass. [color=19C8AC]“What’s got you in a hurry?”[/color] He inquired as he got off his own ride, latching his helmet onto it. 

[color=e85546]“Oh, you know: love!”[/color] Carrie clasped her hands together like a Disney Princess and posed in a way like she was singing to the sky. Damn, who ever got his little sister on cloud nine must be a character pulled out out of a rom com. [color=e85546]“Come on, Nye! I made mud pie this morning. I think we both should celebrate our victories.”[/color] 

[color=19C8AC]“Victories?”[/color] Following behind his prancing sister, Niles couldn’t help but smile at her playful, young nature. A girl who had yet felt true trauma. If there was one good thing he did, it was protect his sisters from suffering the same things he’s been through. Or at least, prior to him going to college, he spent a lot of his time looking out for them. Things change though, as the clock continued to tick onward. He could see his sisters grow into young women prepared to make their own mistakes. Hell, he still couldn't believe Caroline had a crush on someone, to the point that it made her want to dance around in excitement. What was this? Highschool Musical? 

Casually hooking his thumbs in his pockets, he strolled behind her as she spoke with her thoughtful yet theatrical sing-song voice,  [color=e85546]“Yeah! Victories. I mean at first I thought you and Caitlin were kind of a weird combo, because you’re kinda…"[/color]

[color=19C8AC]“Kind of what?”[/color] Niles sharply questioned. 

[color=e85546]“Well… moody, I guess! Anyways, that’s not the point. If she makes you happy, I’m happy for you! Maybe someone soft like me is just what you need.”[/color] Carrie slowed down so her brother was beside her. With eagerness, she hooked her arms on his. [color=e85546]“If she makes you feel all fuzzy and no matter what you do, she’s all you think of? Then I’m so happy for you!”[/color]

Narrowing his eyes at his bubbly blonde sister, he tilted his head, getting more curious at [i]who[/i] made her feel these emotions. [color=19C8AC]“What do you even know about love?”[/color]

[color=e85546]“Oh nothing! But I do know when a feeling is pure, raw, and fun!  That's kind of love, don't you think?”[/color] She stopped right before they entered the kitchen turning to face her brother, giving him a tight embrace, [color=e85546]“Love should come naturally! And if Caitlin is someone who helps you breathe then I fully support you.”[/color]

[color=9dc18a]“What Niles has with Caitlin is NOT fucking love!”[/color] Another girl called out from the kitchen. Niles and Carrie entered the kitchen together to see quite the tragic scene. Sitting on the island, with her [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ec/25/f1/ec25f1da9ac014603ef77af589165c64.png]bathrobe[/url] on, Autumn had the whole mud pie in her arms and she ate straight from the tray. [color=9dc18a]“You wouldn’t know what love is even if it hit your fucking face.”[/color] She shoved her spoon in her mouth, her eyeliner and eye shadow running down her face. It was clear as day that Autumn did not have a fairytale day like the Disney princess did. 

Carrie’s mouth dropped in shock, [color=e85546]“Hey! I worked hard on that! What are you doing?!”[/color] 

Shoving another spoon full in her mouth, Autumn rolled her eyes, annoyed as hell, [color=9dc18a]“Eating your pie. You need more Oreos.”[/color] Dropping down from the island, she threw it on the island with reckless abandon. Cleaning her spoon off with her tongue, the brunette girl gave her brother the darkest of looks, [color=9dc18a]“You, in love? That makes me laugh.”[/color] 

The young dancing queen rushed into the kitchen to salvage the rest of her pie. Her sister was such a big meanie. Still, if she did this that only meant… bringing her attention from the mud pie to her sister, Carrie worriedly asked, [color=e85546]“Are you okay, Autie?”[/color] As she waited for her response, the innocent one of all the Sinclair children started cleaning up after her sister. 

[color=9dc18a]“Yeah, I’m fine,”[/color] Autumn lied through her teeth, shrugging and walking closer to Niles who hadn’t said anything yet. [color=9dc18a]“What’s your motive, Niles? Are you purposely trying to fuck with Natalia? Because you’re fucking stupid if you are. If you’re so mature now, then I think it’s time you grow up. You act like you have your shit together but you’re just playing games, like all you assholes do.”[/color]

Shit, this was a lot to unpack. Niles stood there stunned, baffled, and unable to move for a round. Both of his sisters had crushes. That part was obvious. But both were taking it completely differently, and in a weird way, they wanted his advice while they both advised him on his own love life? His sisters were fucking weird. [color=19C8AC]“I have no motives…”[/color] He stepped closer to Autumn reaching for her shoulder to provide some sort of comfort. 

[color=9dc18a]“Don’t fucking touch me!”[/color] Autumn jumped back, hissing at her older brother. 

[color=e85546]“Autie, what happened?”[/color] Carrie ran to her sister and her touch was immediately accepted. 

[color=19C8AC]“What the fuck is wrong with you?”[/color] Niles cursed under his breath. 

Autumn held onto Carrie, possessively, and started pulling her away, [color=9dc18a]“Like you care. Have fun with that stupid bitch. She’s gonna take your crap until it breaks her heart, I just fucking know. You’re a dumbass, Niles, and you’ll never fucking own up to your feelings.”[/color] With that, Niles' two sisters disappeared, leaving him with his own thoughts. 

Pulling the dining room chair out, Niles collapsed in his seat leaning as far back as he could. Autumn was vicariously taking out her pain onto him, but perhaps she had a lot more truth in her words than he’d like to admit. Taking his phone out, he opened Instagram and went straight to Natalia’s page. Intentionally, he liked her recent picture of [url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CUsZd2Lt5lq/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=]herself[/url]. It wasn’t like she blocked him. She wanted to be seen by him and now, she got exactly what she wanted. He was looking. Just like what she wanted. 

As he scrolled through Natalia’s page, he thought to himself, Carrie’s words resounding in his mind. Love was the person you breathed for. The person that made you feel at home and gave you ‘fuzzy’ feelings. Did he feel that with his ex best friend or did he miss just having her in his life? 

[i]Shit.[/i]

Tossing his phone on the table, Niles rubbed his temples. His sisters were [i]a lot[/i] but they did speak the truth. Niles didn’t know what he wanted. He clung onto the past, Natalia, who knew him better than anyone else did but he also clung to this image he had of his future, and that was Caitlin. Yet, did he want either of them? Or did he just liked getting a rise from them? 

Sitting alone, Niles contemplated the past few weeks and acknowledged how horrible he was… Still, it gave him a temporary high. He’d take that over any other feeling.  In a sick and sad way, he liked the control he had over women. He wasn’t ready to let go of that feeling. Both Caitlin and Natalia? They had him on his mind. Regardless if they wanted to or not, they thought of him and [i]that[/i] feeling was what pushed him forward. 

They thought of him. 

They needed him.

They loved him. [/indent][/indent][/color]