A Little Miracle in the Neighborhood [[chapter 3]]

Joseph and I walked into the Early Open Inn. I’m not sure why they called it that; it never closes. The same old man, which never says anything but the cost you owe and wears the same thing everyday, always stands in that same spot once you open the door.1

We kept it simple and ordered a platter of bacon, eggs, and pancakes. He was surprised that I wanted the same thing he did, seeing it was so much for my ‘dainty self’ I guess. But I was extremely hungry.2

Sitting down in the closest booth, we waited for our food to be made, sipping on coffee. I sighed, propping my elbow up on the table and setting my head in my hand.3

JOSEPH’S POV::4

“What’s your problem?” she asked me. I was a little confused. I didn’t think I had any, other than what I told her what my annoyance was with my parents. But I wouldn’t count them as a problem. 5

“I’m not really sure,” I confessed hesitantly.6

She scoffed. “Oh come on! Not one?” I shook my head ‘no.’ “So you’re perfect? Nothing irritates you? You’re Mr. Nice Guy?” I shrugged. There was nothing I could say.7

“No sick pets? Good grade addict? Dead relatives –” I, unexpectedly, flinched. And I guess she caught that, because her head hung low and she wouldn’t look at me anymore. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I went too far –”8

HAILEY’S PROV::9

“No, honey,” he picked up my chin with his finger. “I just hadn’t thought about him in a really long time.”10

“Ummm...” I sighed hesitantly after a few sips of coffee and frustrating silence. “Should I ask who?” He broke out into a chuckle, and my frown upturned into a small smile. “What?” 11

“You seem so guilty. Why?”12

“Well...” I shrugged. “I don’t know if you would want to talk about it or not. I mean... you don’t have to of course. But if you wanted to...” I got shy again, waiting for his response, although the mood was lightened some.13

He was silent for a while, nothing but an unspeakable smile on his face. I figured he was thinking, so I let him be, taking a few unconscious sips of my vanilla late. After about ten minutes, he took my hand, making me look at him suspiciously. 14

“We were best friends, each others worlds. She wanted what I wanted, she loved what I loved, she went where I went and I went wherever she went. Her mom was my mom and her dad is my step dad.” He stopped when my expression said I was confused. And obviously, my expression was right. “She’s my half-sister, about 3 years older than me. She was sixteen when she was shot...” He stopped again, gasping a quivering breath. 15

Circling my thumb around the back of his hand, I soothed him. He did the same to mine. “She was the best sister. She wanted me by her side, all the time, every other minute of the day. She never got tired of me even though her friends thought I should stay behind. ‘It’s my brother and me, or nobody,’ she would say. And her being one of the coolest people you would ever meet, they couldn’t turn her request down.16

‘I know one day you’ll end up where I am, in my scene with these people. So I want you to learn the right way to survive and everything else while you can while I’m around. I will not let you be weak.’17

Then one day.... BANG!!"18

I jumped. The story was over. His head fell to the table, resting on his arms. He wasn’t crying, and in that moment I knew he would never cry. I knew he would never be weak.19