The Changing Stars (Chapter 1.2) (LMS)

We rushed out into the cold air as the final bell rang behind Kenny and I. A smile touched my lips as I envisioned my little siblings at home waiting for us to arrive.

Kenny bumped my arm lightly, smiling that devil smile of hers.

“Rowan’s cute now isn’t he?” She said quietly, linking arms with me.

I sighed, “Yes, I suppose he is.”

Mackenzie laughed slightly, pulling me to our car at a faster pace then I wanted. She was built like an athlete, strong and fierce. Whereas, I was less athletic, and less apt to be rushing through the ankle-length snow. My parents said we were like night and day. Kenny, with her long, straight blonde hair, long legs, and ocean blue eyes. Me, with my dark, thick, long curls, and forest green eyes. Her tall, me short. We were different, but I couldn’t have loved her more.

The short drive to our house flew by. I couldn’t wait to tell Dad about Rowan. He had been there with me when I was little, watching Rowan, Kenny, and I grow up before his eyes. In fact, he was the only one that had known him, other than Kenny and I. My stepmom had never met him, and Kenny’s Dad had passed away. It was a bit sad to think about.

“Braylie! Kenny!” A sweet voice called as it rushed out to meet my sister and I on the walkway.

The blunt force of the six-year-old hit me, almost knocking me over. I laughed and wrapped my arms around her.

“Rosie.” I whispered, kissing the top of her chestnut head lightly. Her brown eyes glowed up at me as she jumped up and down lightly in front of us. Her brown skin almost glowed in the light. She was a beautiful little girl.

“Come on, sweetheart, we can’t make Mom, Dad, and Cody wait much longer.” I joked taking her hand as she guided me into the house.

I hugged my nine-year-old brother and ruffled his blonde hair, “Hey, Codes. Where’s Dad?”
“Mom and Dad are in the kitchen.” He pointed, wiping the brown substance from his face. What I could only hope was chocolate.

I rushed into the kitchen, hearing Kenny’s laughter as she greeted our younger siblings.

“Hey, honey!” My stepmom called, giving me one of her sweet smiles. “How was school?”
“Actually.” I twirled a curl around my finger. “Really interesting. You’ll never believe who was there, Mom!”
“Really?” She laughed. “I didn’t expect for you to say anything back. You usually just say ‘good’. Well, I’m glad I asked. Come on, sit down, tell me.”

“I will, I will.” I nodded, looking around the room. “But, where’s Dad? He said he was going to be home from work early?”
“He’s here.” My Dad’s voice boomed as he walked into the room, eyes sparkling. I smiled and ran over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. I felt like a little girl again when I did that. Safe in my daddy’s arms. He had been my number one since birth. Always by my side.

I let go of him, pulling into a chair at the table. “Dad! I have news. Come on, sit down.”
“Okay, my girl, I guess I will.” He kissed Mom’s cheek gently, sitting down next to her. They were the picture of a happily married couple. I could only hope that my future looked somewhat like theirs.

“Remember Rowan from when I was little? You worked with his Mom.” I asked, adjusting in my chair.

“Rowan? Of course, I remember him. He was over the house just about every day.” Dad laughed, running a hand through his dark curls that mirrored my own. “Don’t tell me he lives here now? That would be amazing.”

“He does! Apparently, he just moved in with his Grandmother. His parents still live in New York.”

“Who lives in You Nork?” A squeaky little voice popped up next to me.

“New York!” We all reminded Rosie, laughing as I scooped her up onto my lap. She shrugged happily, turning to face me as she stroked my long hair.

“My friend lived there. So did I.” I replied to my little sister, tilting my head. She nodded as if she was just remembering that me and Dad lived somewhere else before he remarried and adopted her.

“Well, you’ve got to have him over some time.” Mom smiled. “I’d love to meet him. I used to hear so much about him when you were little.”

I agreed adamantly. I had told my step-mother my entire life story when I’d met her as my pediatric nurse. Little did my chatty younger self know that my Dad would end up falling for her. They were truly the epidemy of a dream couple. The single Dad, struggling to raise his daughter alone in a new town. The pediatric nurse filled with love to give to someone. Once they got married and we adopted Kenny, it just seemed that the right life started for my family. We were different than others, just learning how to begin as a family of four. It wasn’t always easy. I had struggled as a kid, knowing that my biological mother wanted little to no contact with me as I grew. I honestly don’t know what I would have done had my step-mother not become the best mother figure. I had my Dad, and he was enough, but she just fit right in with us.

“… we do need to talk to the both of you sometime soon. It’s important.” Mom stated, grabbing my Dad’s hand tightly.

“What?” I asked, unaware of what had happened while I was lost deep in my thoughts. They reassured me that they really hadn’t said anything, just that there was something they needed to say. That worried me a little, to say the least.

“You have got to be kidding me.” I whispered loudly, peering over the staircase at Kenny. I glanced at the clock. 10:00 P.M.

“What?” She shrugged defensively, rearranging the magnetic letters on the fridge. “You know that Tara is having a party. What, did you think I was skipping it?”
I rubbed my eyes, walking all the way down the stairs.

“We’re watching the kids tomorrow. You won’t be able to do that if you’re upstairs sick as a dog. And what about Rowan?”
“Rowan will be fine. So will the kids. So will I.” She attempted to reassure, patting me on the arm. “Besides I won’t be out that late. I’ll be home by two.”

Kenny checked her eyeliner on the reflection of the microwave, giving me a clear view of what she wrote on the fridge. 220 Handler Street.

“That’s the worst part of town.” I gestured at the letters, sighing heavily.

“There is no ‘worst part’ of Massachusetts, Braylie.” Mackenzie replied, giving an annoyed look. Her face changed when she saw me looking at her with worry in my eyes.

“Bray, I’ll be fine. You know this is why we started this system. I write down the address, the time I’ll be home, and who I’m going with. You can call the police, the fire department, the hospital, our parents, whoever you want after two.” Kenny pulled me into a hug lightly. “I’m smarter than I look. If I see anything out of hand, I’ll get out of there. I’ll be fine. I always am.”
“But one of these times you might not be.” I pleaded, knowing of how immature and dangerous drinking at our age was. It was a common thing for people our age to do. I knew that. But it was such an easy way to get hurt, either by someone else or herself. I loved her to much to let her go without trying to convince her.

“You have to promise me that this is the only one this weekend. You can’t go tomorrow, okay?”

“Yeah.” Kenny stepped back, pulling her hair into a ponytail. “I won’t go out again this weekend. But no promises about next week.”
She kissed me on the cheek and straightened the magnets.

“Be back before you know it. Get some sleep. Love you.”

She rushed out the door and left me in the kitchen alone. I hugged my arms around me, hoping to get rid of some of the cold. I sat at the kitchen table, prepared for a long night. I just couldn’t bare to go to sleep, knowing that she might need me. Ever since her Dad had died when we were little, she had developed this crazy side of her personality that needed to be let out. It hurt me to know that she might screw up her life in such a predictable way. We had developed the system at the beginning of high school, when she would go to stupid little sleepovers with her friends.

“Braylie!” My shoulders as someone gripped them. “Wake up!”
I opened my eyes quickly, filled with fear that something was wrong.

“Come on, it’s 1:30.” Kenny’s voice whispered. “I’m home. Let’s go to bed.”
“Are you drunk?” I asked, wiping my eyes with my hands.

“Not that much.” She giggled, pulling me up from my chair.

“You’re wasted.” I answered. “Come on, let’s get you upstairs.”

Kenny stumbled up the stairs as I tried to quiet her, still half asleep myself. I got her into bed, and plopped down onto my own.

“Braylie?” Kenny chuckled.

“What?”

“I love you so much. We should buy you a pony.” Kenny smiled, rolling onto her back with her arms spread out. “Or a boyfriend. I should buy you a boyfriend.”
“I don’t need a boyfriend, Ken.” I sighed, rolling onto my side. “I just need you to go to sleep.”
I got no reply, so I peered over my shoulder to find my sister curled up peacefully, a smile on her face. It almost made me forgive her for pulling the stunt she did that day.

Thanks for reading! I hope you continue on with it. I promise it will get more interesting :)