Like Ghost in Snow: Chapter Three

The wind was icy on the little gashes on my cheeks as I made my way into the Hilltop Terrace apartments, which are not as nice as they may sound. Needless to say, I was pissed: what the fuck was wrong with that girl? I mean, Jesus Christ!1

The elevator was out of order yet again, so I started the four story climb to my floor, mumbling and grumbling the whole way. My apartment was at the end of a long hallway with stained green carpet and random things littered about: a potted plant in front of one door, two cardboard boxes in front of another, and a bird cage housing a canary across from my door. I kid you not. It squawked at me as I passed.2

I was surprised to find that the door was already unlocked, and I went in, hearing the TV immediately. 'Kendra must be here,' I thought, 'that's juuuust perfect.'3

"What are you doing here, Dree?" I asked her. She was sitting on the couch, watching "What Not to Wear" and fiddling with her short black and pink hair.4

"Do you think my hair is tacky?" she asked, tilting her head at me, her green eyes caged with black eyeliner. "Stacy and Clinton said that brightly colored--"5

"I don't really care what Stacy and Clinton have to say."6

Kendra raised an eyebrow at me, pulling her legs up to sit Indian-style. "Okay, Mr. Cranky-Bottoms. The fuck happened to your face?"7

"Nothing," I grumbled. Now was not the time for my older sister to annoy me. I wasn't in the mood for her games.8

"That's why you're bleeding, huh? Did you get mauled by a vicious tabby on your way home or something? Dunnigan take his X-Acto knife to your pretty little face?"9

"Would you just leave be alone, Kendra?"10

"Fine," she said, standing and pulling on her bright pink sweater that was way too light for this kind of weather. "You know, you really should be nicer to the sister who made your dreams come true." She started toward the door.11

Damn girls and their time-bomb statements. Of course I bit, but not after having to suppress a groan.12

"What?" I groaned, waiting. She turned around, smirking triumphantly and I groaned again.13

"There was some guy in a suit on the side of the road today and I changed his tire for him," she said happily.14

"Wow, Kendra. You really are a lifesaver."15

"I wasn't finished, shut your face," she said. "The guy said he'd do whatever I wanted him to do to repay me because I had 'saved his ass,' and guess what I asked him?"16

"Oh God, Kendra, please do not tell me about your sexcapades--"17

"I got you that internship you've been drooling over for the better part of your life, you idiot!"18

I just stared at her. No. No fucking way.19

"Yes way."20

Apparently I'd been thinking out loud.21

"Cartoon Network. Paid. Four months. And if they like you, they'll hire you. You start in three weeks." She was practically glowing with pride.22

"You're kidding," I brilliantly deducted, and she shook her head.23

"Nope."24

She was off the ground in a second as I hugged her, swinging her back and forth. "You're the best sister in the world! I swear to God, Kendra, you're the best sister in the fucking universe!"25

She laughed. "I know, you dumbass. Now what happened to your face?"26

Dang. Foiled again. Thought I was out of that one. But it wasn't like I could say no to her now.27

"Okay, I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to laugh."28

"Do I ever laugh at your pain, dear, sweet Jeremy?"29

"Yes."30

She sighed. "Fine, I will try not to laugh at you. But I can't promise you anything."31

I glared at her, but knew that that was the best response I was going to get.32

"It was this girl in my drawing class. She's psycho; just went off on me for supposedly 'drawing unwanted attention' to her."33

"So she clawed you?" Kendra asked incredulously, and I nodded rather emphatically.34

"Yeah! I mean, out of nowhere, it's like WHAM! Crazy bitch!"35

Kendra was already stifling a laugh, and I groaned, walking toward my bedroom, since all I really wanted to do was sleep.36

"No, no, no!" she said, following me, "I wasn't laughing at you. I was laughing at Crazy Bitch."37

"Whatever."38

"You know, you should be nicer to me," she repeated, leaning against the doorjamb, and she was right: she had done a gigantic favor for me and I owed her: eternally-indebted status. Great.39

I gave her a hug and she hopped up to kiss my cheek, then left, saying some smartass thing that I chose to ignore.40

'What a fucking day,' I thought, falling face down on the bed and sighing into the blanket. I still couldn't get Lenore out of my head, though, even if she was 'Crazy Bitch.' There was something weird about her...41

And good Lord, I was determined to find out what.