too. She’s wearing some type of shoes that are covered in glittering gold stuff. Jax has finally looked up from his Game Boy, noticing her shoes too.
“Wow, um… well, we can always play Nintendo or watch TV because in those shoes”—he shakes his head—“I don’t think you’ll be able to keep up with us.” He grumbles as we start to show her the upstairs, where our rooms are located.
Her small face looks crushed. “What do you mean? You don’t like my shoes?”
Jax stares at her. “I said you wouldn’t be able to keep up wearing them.” He points at the heels.
She looks at me as if I should tell her I like her shoes. I don’t. Instead I tell her the truth. ”Listen, Kitten, if you want to hang with us, you can’t dress like this. First, it’s stupid, and second, how are you going to be our partner in crime, wearing shoes like that? See, it just won’t work.”
“Oh… I don’t have any other clothes than this.” She motions to her ridiculous outfit. “This is all my mother lets me wear.” She nibbles on her bottom lip as if that’s going to help her.
“What? This is how you dress, every day?”
She nods her head yes and lets out a small sniffle as she looks at her stupid shoes.
“Reed, you’re making her cry. I hate it when girls cry.” Jax puts a friendly arm around her shoulders.
I stare at them, this weird tightening in my chest. Now that she is getting comfort from my brother, she is full-on crying. If I didn’t want to kick my brother, I would be laughing at him—the look on his face is priceless.
“Enough with the baby tears. Jax, let go of her. She’s fine.”
He glares at me, as she weeps some more. “Way to go, dumbass.” He pats her back.
I don’t know why I’m angry. I mean, it’s some girl I met moments ago. But I stomp over, grabbing her arm, and pull her to me. She buries her head in my shirt and sobs. My brother and I are super tall for being eight, so her head comes up to my chin.
“God, stop, Kitten.” I sigh. “You can wear these stupid dresses if you want. I have to toughen you up.”
She shudders and mumbles something about hating New York, her mother, father, and being alone.
“Hey, if you stop crying, we’ll let you in our club. It’s us against the world. But you can’t be a crybaby, okay?” Tightening my arms around her, I notice she’s awfully skinny. She must get that from her mom.
She looks up at me. I mean she’s only a girl, but with her long dark eyelashes that are spiky with tears and her deep blue eyes, she’s so pretty I almost look away. Almost. Before I can stop myself, I blurt, “You don’t ever have to be alone again.”
It’s then that her big red puffy lips break into a smile and I smile back. “I like your dimples.” She reaches up and pokes them. We both start giggling.
“Gross, come on. Are we going to have any fun? Or are you guys going to stare at each other all day?”
“Oh, we’re going to have fun all right.” I grab her small hand, pulling her with me.
TESS
Present day – twenty-five years old
Santa Monica, CA
Lifting my head, I squint at my phone, glaring at it like it’s the phone’s fault it displays 4:45 a.m. on the home screen.
I groan and lie back down. Tiredness bears down on me like a heavy cloak draped across my body. Fluffing my pillows, I turn onto my side and stare at my dark room. What is wrong with me? Something’s not right. I never do this. All night, I’ve tossed and turned but can’t fall into a deep sleep.
“God…” I murmur, laying a hand over my eyes. Whatever this is, I’m on edge. This is ridiculous. I have to get up in two hours. I rarely, if ever take Valium anymore. It is strictly for emergencies. Unfortunately, after tossing and turning all night I wish I had taken one.
Closing my eyes, I take measured, slow breaths in and out, visualizing I’m on a raft, and the peaceful ocean is all around me. The warm water soothes me; the waves gently rock me.
If only this nagging unease would go away, then sleep would come. Even an hour will help me get through the day, and I do need to get through the day.
At last, I start to