TTEOTB -- Ch. 10

Chapter 101

I hesitated, “W-what are you talking about?” 2

“At dinner. You were almost in tears… What happened?” She actually did look concerned. That was new for me. I’ve been looking for someone to talk to, guess I found them. 3

“Uh… yeah.” I started, “You know..” 4

“Not really,” She pointed out, and that was right she didn’t know. Lucky for her, she didn’t know because she didn’t see and she didn’t see because she didn’t hear. The tale that came from the police officers lips into my brain and purge out a vivid story from my subconscious while I slept. 5

“Well, okay, I’m just gonna straight up say it.” At least I thought I was going to but I faltered again. “M-my m-mom and twin b-brother, Adam…” I stammered as tears squeezed from the corners of my glossy green eyes. 6

“Yes…?” Arianna urged me on.7

“Th-they’re dead..” I spat it out. 8

Arianna gasped, obviously not expecting that not to be the answer, “I am so sorry, Anika.” 9

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.” I told her, it’s not like it was her fault. 10

“Err..” She started; I knew the question she wanted to ask.11

“What?” I asked, I was ready to answer it.12

“How did it happen?” She whispered.13

“From what the police told me they were raped and murdered…” the words seemed almost foreign rolling off my tongue. Rape. Murder. 14

She mouthed, “Oh my god.” Tears started down her face.15

“It’s okay…” At the time I didn’t know why she was crying so I just hugged her. She hugged me back and we cried together. 16

I pulled away from her to check the time. 11:30 p.m. 17

“We’d better get to sleep,” I said. “School in the morning.”18

“Yeah,” She said. 19

While we changed into out pajamas I noticed some marks on her back and legs. 20

“What are those?” I asked, nodding at her back and legs as I shimmied in to my boy shorts. 21

“What?” She asked, slipping into pajama pants quickly.22

“There were a few bruises on your back and legs.” 23

She hesitated and then said, “I fall down the stairs… a lot.” 24

* * * *25

Arianna didn’t have an alarm clock but she did have a mom. Mom the alarm clock. 26

“Girls…” Mrs. Costa whispered.27

No response.28

“Girls!” She whispered more loudly this time.29

Still no response.30

“GIRLS!” She yelled.31

“WAAAAAH!” I screamed, rolling off the bed and hard onto the floor.32

“Hi, mom” Arianna said, groggily. 33

“Hello, Mrs. Costa.” I piped up from the floor.34

She laughed, “Good morning girls. I’m making breakfast so hurry up.”35

“’Kay.” We replied in unison. 36

She left and headed down to the kitchen. Next thing I know Arianna’s racing out of the bed and in to the bathroom. She must really have to pee. 37

I got dressed quickly and waited by the bathroom door for my turn. I was startled when I heard her heave. 38

“Arianna?” I called.39

“Huh..?” She grunted.40

“Are you okay?” I asked.41

“Uh huh…” I heard the toilet flush. The door flew open a few seconds later. “Sorry.” She said.42

“Its fine, are you okay?” I asked again.43

“Yeah,” She walked past me into her room.44

I went into the bathroom to pee and brush my teeth. Arianna came in fully dressed to brush her teeth as well. She wasn’t dressed the way she normally would be. A slightly baggy shirt took the place of her Hollister polo and sweatpants took the place of her tight fit Hollister jeans. 45

“Don’t. Say. Anything.” She said through a mouthful of toothpaste. 46

“Wasn’t gonna.” I told her even though I was.47

We finished up in the bathroom, grabbed our bags from her room. I was first to head downstairs, I almost reached the bottom when I heard BOOM BOOM BOOM! 48

“Arianna!” I tried to ask if she was okay but I laughed instead.49

“Who fell!?” Mrs. Costa called from the kitchen.50

“Ar-Ari-” I burst out into a fit of giggles, “Arianna!” I finally got it out.51

“Oh, dear, when will you ever learn to use those stairs?” Mrs. Costa laughed. 52

Arianna was the only one panicking, arms wrapped around her stomach. She’d landed at the bottom of the staircase.53

I suppressed laughter and asked, “Are you okay?”54

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Arms flying from her stomach and to her lower back, “Just hurting right here.” She said. So maybe all those bruises are from the stairs. 55

“Awh, poor baby” Mrs. Costa cooed, going over to rub Arianna’s back. 56

“Thanks, mom.” Arianna said, pulling away to head for the kitchen. 57

We both followed her and stepped into the lovely smell of pancakes. Arianna and I grabbed a plate and took three each. I ate mine in a few minutes, she picked at hers. 58

I heard a knock at the front door.59

“That’s Donnie.” Arianna’s head shot up from her plate.60

We put our dishes in the sink, grabbed our bags and headed out after saying bye to Mrs. Costa. 61

I slid into the backseat as usual and Arianna climbed into the passenger’s seat. 62

Donnie gave Arianna a once over, “Honey, you’re wearing that?”63

“I’m not feeling too well this morning.” She told him.64

“She was puking her guts up!” I vowed for her, hoping he wouldn’t get too upset thinking that Arianna lied. 65

“Oh, really.” I swear his eyes flashed something vice. 66

Arianna threw me an ‘I-am-going-to kill-you-as-soon-as-I-get-the-chance’ look then was silent the rest of the way to school and I followed suit. 67

We all got out of the car at the same time. No secret tear jerking conversations this time. Arianna, Donnie and I walked into school together. Donnie’s arm possessively around Arianna’s waist. 68

“Hey guys.” Quinn was first to greet us. 69

Arianna got away from Donnie for about two seconds to offer hugs before he snatched her back. This kid was really starting to grind on my nerves. No. He was way beyond that. Everyone was talking about the upcoming winter break. I was thinking about the birthday coming up that I unfortunately no longer had to share with my brother. I miss you, Adam.70

“Hey, Anika.” Anabelle stopped her conversation with Teigan and Aiden about visiting her family in California for winter break, “Isn’t your birthday coming up?”71

“Huh?” I wasn’t paying any attention. My thoughts had wandered back to a time when mommy and Adam were still alive and life was brilliant. 72

“Your birthday’s coming up?” Aiden asked.73

“Mhm.” I said, smiling. I didn’t remember telling anyone, maybe Arianna did. 74

“When is it?” Teigan joined in on the conversation. 75

“Why would they care about your birthday?”76

“I don’t know.” Shit! Where was my head today? Answering that fool.77

“You don’t know?” Quinn looked at me inquisitively. 78

“Sorry, I mean, it’s on Saturday.” I told her quickly, “The thirteenth.” 79

“Awesome, gonna be eighteen?” Teigan asked, grinning. She’d just had her eighteenth birthday on Halloween. 80

“Nah, seventeen.” I blushed. I was always the youngest in my grade.81

“Woah, youngin’.” Aiden laughed, “How come?”82

“Skipped the fifth grade. Adam and I did together!” I said excitedly until it hit me once more that Adam was no longer around.83

“Adam?” Teigan raised her eyebrows at me.84

“Oh, there’s the bell.” Arianna pointed out.85

“Yeah, gotta run. Bye guys!” I yelled back before scurrying off in to the crowd. 86

* * * *87

Arianna picked at her sandwich while the rest of us ate as usual. 88

“What’s up with the outfit?” Autumn asked through a mouthful of chicken sandwich. 89

Arianna shrugged, “Just felt like bumming it today.”90

“Cool, cool.” Autumn finished her sandwich and opened her pack of sour Starbursts. 91

“Not hungry today or something? Just because you’re dressed like a bum doesn’t mean you have to act like one.” Anabelle teased. 92

“What?” Arianna looked confused.93

“You know ‘cause they don’t have money to get food so they don’t eat… and you’re not really eating.” Anabelle tried but Arianna just stared at her wide-eyed. “Err, never mind.” Anabelle went back to her Cup-O-Noodles. 94

“Ha, nah, I get you. I’m just trying to stay fit.” Arianna snapped back to reality. 95

“Fit? You’re as thin as a sheet of paper.” Aiden scoffed. “If you were any thinner we wouldn’t be able to see you.”96

“Oh, please.” Arianna waved him off. 97

“Are you gonna eat that?” Aiden nodded towards Arianna’s sandwich.98

“Nah, go ahead.” She pushed it towards him.99

His smile grew wide, “Thanks!” He said through a mouthful of peanut butter and jelly. 100

The bell rang a few minutes later and we all hurried back to class. 101