Heartless

Chapter 11

After dropping my cousins off at their new home, I wanted to cry. I wanted to cry my pain away and drown in my own tears but I couldn't cry in front of Quin. I couldn't cry in front of anybody. I simply held the tears back until I was alone. Quin was no fool. She knew how I was feeling so she decided to introduce me to a few new things in her world that were very different from my own.

"Come on, you need some cheering up. Let's go get some ice cream!" She announced.

"Some what?" I asked.

Quin chuckled, "follow me!"

My eyes grew wide as I took in the sight of over a dozen flavors of frozen treats. Quin picked out a flavor she thought I'd like. I was startled by how cold it was. I was confused as to why people would choose to eat something so cold. With its sweet creamy flavor, I couldn't stop eating it. Quin just giggled when she was trying to talk to me but I couldn't seem to answer. I was too busy licking my cone to reply.

Quin asked if I wanted to go shopping after to get me some clothes so I didn't have to keep borrowing hers which were a size too small. The jeans stopped an inch above my ankle and the sleeves were too short for my long arms.

"Do you have any money?" She asked.

"Money?"

"You know, like in a bank account? Your family left your identities as citizens here, could they have left you any money too?"

I shook my head. "I'm not sure. I don't think they thought that far ahead." At the mention of my aunt, a bitterness entered my voice and took root in the pit of my stomach.

"Doesn't matter." Quin said, sensing my mood and shrugging it off. "I'll pay for it. Besides, I'm going to give you a full makeover!"

"No." I said stubbornly.

Quin just smiled. "And that's why I'm paying for it. Then you can't say no." She said proudly.

"That's what you think." I still wasn't sold on the idea.

"Remember how resistant you are when you're thanking me later."

I smiled. For the first time in a long time, I truly actually smiled. Percival used to be able to make me smile but Brenna only ever made me cry and my cousins were a pain. Maybe it was because I was such a burden to them.

"Hey Quin."

"Yes?" She asked, sensing the seriousness of my tone.

"Thanks for being kind to me. I know I can be quite cold and hard to love but-"

"No, you aren't! I'd be proud to be your sister!"

I smiled at her naiveness. "I bet you won't be saying that in a week when you are sick of me." I said jokingly. "Maybe I should get my hair dyed black so that we look like sisters."

"Hm, that gives me an idea." She said taking my hand and dragging me away.

"Oh no, what now?"

"Just trust me!"

"I'd rather die."

Quin didn't take my threats too seriously and instead grabbed my hand and led me to our first destination: the parlor. I had never had my hair cut by anyone but Brenna before. I remember sitting on the porch of our clay home. I could hear the crisp cut of the scissors through my hair and the weight fall from my shoulders. My hair wasn't cut often so it was far past my waist and full of split ends. Having my hair cut was a peaceful time as Brenna and I sat in comfortable silence. It was the only time she was spending time with me that wasn't about scolding me. Still, the memory was bittersweet.