W.A.R.M.T.H: The Prologue

Conflicts of a Criminal

AJ

Why did I say that? I care about Ren.. I really do, but I can't do this. I can't. Now I've just led him on. He doesn't deserve that. Why does he let me string him along? He's so much smarter than that. I wanted to kiss him again... I almost did. I can't really be gay can I? I mean, I'm still attracted to women. Maybe I'm just bisexual, which will be okay. As long as I can settle on a girl to date I won't even have to worry about dating guys, but girls... they don't make me feel the way Ren does. Maybe I'm just in love with Ren? I've never really kissed any other guys except during an amateur game of spin the bottle in middle school. I liked it, but those don't count right? I feel guilty, as if I betrayed Ren when I kissed Amora last night.

"JJ!!"

"Hm?" my head snaps up and I look at my little sister, I was staring off into space. I refocus my attention back to finding Millie something to wear, she's bouncing on the edge of her bed in her PJs. She's going to miss the bus if I keep getting distracted.

"I wanna wear my favorite one" she says in her little voice, full of enthusiasm.

"Millie..." I begin, not knowing where to find the dress she's talking about. I grab a simple white dress. "What about this one?"

"Noooo!!" she cries out and crosses her arms

"Hey. Watch that attitude, young lady." I say to her in my adult voice. Her shoulders slump and she drops her arms

"But I promise it's in there!"

     I sigh, giving in to my 7 year old and rummaging through her dresser even more. I wonder what Amora saw, she looked so terrified. How did she know about Ren and I? I wish she hadn't run off last night. I can't stop thinking about her. I don't understand how last night was even possible. I wanted to try and figure it out, she didn't even give me a second to talk to her. I find the dress buried under piles of similar dresses.

Seriously, they all look exactly the same.

Exactly.

But her favorite one has to be the one with purple paint spattered all over it. Stained for good. She decided to get into my art supplies and didn't even care how big of a mess she made.

"Why do you like this one so much you little monster?"

I hand it to her, she holds it tight against her chest with the biggest smile plastered on her face. "Because. I want to be an artist. Just like you. And I love purple!"

      Her smile is so dazzling she's such a little angel. I look into Millie's green eyes, like mine in every way except one. Her's are innocent and happy, while mine, only show sadness and anger. I don't understand how someone so sweet and pure can withstand a household like ours. A world like this. I smile at her,

"I love purple too. Too bad you spilled it all. I'd make myself a dress just like that one. Because, you know, Millie, when I grow up I wanna be just like you."

I boop her on the nose and send her into a fit of giggles. "Okay, now hurry up and get dressed before you end up being late."

       When I walk back into the house after dropping Millie off at the bus stop I am greeted by my mother 'talking' to Ren when really, she's just hitting on him, trying to seduce him into god knows what. She has her hand on his chest and is prying at him with her eyes. Ren looks disgusted, well, as disgusted as he can look. I'm the only one who knows him well enough to read his emotions. To her, he probably seems to have the same placid features as always. But to me...I see the slight tug on his lips. The gag reflex fluttering in his throat. Eyes with a slight tinge of annoyance.