Page 75 of Grown

Chapter 54

Sisters

There’s a party downstairs and I’m not invited. Neither is Amber. That’s why I know she’s in her room, listening to the music and laughter.

They don’t lock the door anymore. They know I’m not leaving. So I have no problem slipping into the hall to use the bathroom while they’re distracted.

Which is exactly where I find her.

“Amber,” I whisper, my voice groggy. “Amber?”

She drops her head, speeding toward her room.

“Wait,” I shout under my breath, peering down the stairs again, checking if the coast is clear.

“We’re not supposed to talk to each other,” she whispers.

“I know but... are you OK?”

She stops short, then turns to face me, her right eye dark purple.

“I’m fine,” she hisses.

“I know the rules... but Korey says we’re like sisters. And if any of my sisters got hurt, I’d be the first to check on them.”

Amber’s lip trembles, the tears pooling in her eyes fall. We both glance at the stairs. Safe. For now.

“How many sisters you got?” she sniffs.

“Three. And one brother.”

“Dang, that’s a lot of kids.”

I chuckle. “Yeah. I know.”

Amber is quiet for some time. “I have a little brother. Gets on my nerves. Can’t understand why I miss him so much.”

“Yeah, Ain’t that annoying?”

Amber and I sit in the doorways of our respective rooms, chatting. Unlike me, Amber was a professionally and classically trained singer. Been in competitions since she was four. She met Korey the same night I did, but through Richie.

“Dang, feels like forever since I’ve talked normal to... anyone,” I say.

“Yeah. Me too. My school back home is real big so we have like a gazillion kids in it I talked to every day.”

School? The word rings a bell and reminds me of something.

“Hey, how old are you?”

She pauses, her face straightening.

“I’m eighteen.”

My tongue sticks to the top of my mouth. She’s lying.

“Yeah, so am I,” I mumble.

“Well, yeah, duh,” she giggles. Even her voice sounds young.