you should know what you're falling for

fifteen

I spend the whole afternoon locked up in the room that Kendall and I share. Hear against knock on the door, 

"Hey..." Kendall's soft voice calls, "Mind if I come in?"

I sniffle and hide every sign that I've been crying, "It's your room, isn't it?"

A smile begins to creep across her face, and she plops down cross-legged on my bed, 

"Yeah, I guess it is..." An awkward silence tickets by, "Chloe, I'm so sorry. This whole thing with Josh Hyland sucks. But why didn't you tell me about him?"

I sit up and sit criss-cross-apple-sauce, facing Kendall, 

"I was embarrassed that I felt that way. Relationships only complicate my home situations, if that's not already clear."

She nods slowly, "I guess I can understand that. But have you seen the way the guy looks at you? Damn girl, either you're blind or insane!"

I giggle and tuck my bangs back behind my braids, 

"Yeah, I guess I'm a little bit of both."

Kendall is quiet again for a while, but this time it isn't awkward. She sits there, her head cocked to one side. 

"It's funny," she says, "How when I wear these clothes, they look so sweet and innocent. But then when you wear them, they instantly become edgy and sexy."

I laugh so hard that I collapse back on my bed. Me? I may be edgy, but I'm plain as a white crayon.

Kendall taps her boot against the hardwood floor, 

"Are you going to talk to him? Josh, I mean."

I've been thinking about that all afternoon. Yet, I still am not quite sure. I feel like it'd be better for everyone if I just kept my distance. I have to be careful not to mess with the balance of things. Well, anymore than I already have. 

"Mind if I borrow your clothes sometimes?" My foster-sister squeezes my arm, and this time I don't recoil immediately, "What's mine is yours, girl. As long as it fits."

I half-smile and Kendall wraps her arm over my shoulder. "Now come on, let's go get some dinner.