I’ve never known what it means to have a family but consider Zoe to be not only my best friend, but my sister as well. She certainly can read me well.
“Does anyone know I was coming today?” I really don’t want to skip out on the others, especially if they’re looking forward to seeing me.
“Nope. Well, I knew, but only because Griff told Axel, and Axel told me, but I didn’t tell any of the others.” She takes my hand in hers and locks her fingers with mine. “Honestly, I didn’t know what kind of state you’d be in.”
“Were you thinking confident and kicking ass, or broken and…”
Zoe grins. “I was thinking you might need a friend. Or maybe just a shoulder to lean on. Come on. If we leave now, no one will see us. We can meet everyone for lunch and show them how badass you really are.”
“I’m not badass. I’m horribly broken.”
“That may be, but sometimes you have to walk the walk for a bit and try it on for size. You’re stronger than you know, Moira Stone.” Zoe speaks with absolute conviction as if she knows all the answers to all the questions in the world. She points toward the classroom. “And to those kids, you’re an inspiration. Walk the talk and talk the walk.”
“You sound like a damn seventies commercial.”
“Just trying to put a smile on your face.” She beams at me, trying to get me to crack a smile. It works. I smile at her comment.
“You’re the best friend a girl could have.”
“Right back at you. Now, how about we get out of here?” For someone who moments ago told me I should stop in and say hello, she sure is eager to get me alone.
“What are you thinking?”
“How about a stroll along the cliffs?”
“You know I don’t like heights.” I love heights. That’s my hesitation talking.
“Bullshit, I’ve seen you standing at the edge. Besides, you’re going to like this.” Her brows lift like she’s got some amazing secret.
What I don’t mention is that all of those times she saw me standing at the edge of the cliffs, I’d been contemplating hurtling myself over the edge. I wondered how long it would take to fall. How many seconds would I have to embrace death? Would I regret my decision on the way down? Was it going to hurt when my body slammed into the rocks below? Would anyone care?
Best I not spoil her opinion of me. I’d rather Zoe think I have no fear of heights rather than know the truth. All those days sitting out on Griff’s deck changed my perception about heights. From the moment he told me he loved going out there as a kid, that he felt like he was flying in the clouds, it all felt different to me. For the first time in my life, I dreamed about soaring in the clouds. I believed I could do anything, be anyone.
I felt at peace.
I blow out a frustrated breath, but I’m game. Being with Zoe makes me feel like an ordinary girl.
Normal.
She pulls me through the complex, avoiding the classrooms with our compatriots, and soon we’re jogging down one of the many paved walking paths which crisscross the grounds. I think she’s got some special place within the Facility proper, but Zoe guides me beyond the buildings to the paths I used to avoid. They follow the edge of the cliffs.
Zoe and I are the only residents at the Facility over the age of eighteen. I think it’s why we bonded so hard. Since the Facility is the legal guardian of the kids, they provide age-appropriate education for them. That means they’re stuck in school most of the day. I participated in some of that, or at least what was required to study for my GED.
“Do you think they’ll mind if we wait until lunch?” I can’t help it. Those kids are my family, and I feel a little guilty for not going to see them first thing.
“Moira?” Zoe props her hands on her hips and gives me a look. “They will kill you if you don’t show your face the moment you stepped foot on Facility grounds, but they don’t need to know when that happened. Come on, we’ll be back for lunch in no time. Besides,” she gives me a wink, “I want to catch up with you first. Call me selfish, but I missed you. I worried about you. I’ve never felt so hopeless. And, if