The Color of Her Lips

Chapter Four

Ariana

"Kim..." I shake her lightly. "Kim, wake up."

"Mhmm..." she moans and rolls over on her other side.

"I'm going down to prepare some breakfast, if I call you and you're still asleep, I'll kill you," I tell her and get out of bed.

Before heading downstairs, I check on Sally. I knock on her bedroom door.

"Come in," I hear her say weakly.

I gently open the door and go lay beside her, and I hug her tightly. "How do you feel?"

She ignores my question and says, "I had a nightmare, Ari."

Sally has always had nightmares and she's one of those people who remembers her dreams quite often. I've taught her to always tell me about them.

"Tell me about it."

She sits down and lays her back against the headboard. "There were Mom and Dad in it," she begins. "We were all in the car together when it crashed." Tears stream down her cheeks. "You and I survived, but they didn't, and I felt guilty about it that I wished I was dead too," she sobs.

Oh my God. I urge to wrap my arms around her and kiss her head. "Oh Sally. Don't say that ever again." Fuck, my eyes are stinging and tears threaten to fall down my face.

"When you saw their dead bodies, you cried silently, not letting me see your tears," she goes on. "But when you realized I was shaking from the shock, you wiped your tears off and came to hug me just like you're doing now. I didn't see your tears. I'm proud of you, your a strong and fearless woman." There are so many things I fear. I wipe my tears off before Sally can see them. "I wonder how you live this life."

I know she isn't just talking about our parents' death, she's talking in general. Growing up, our parents were barely there for us, we've always had a nanny when they were at work or somewhere in the world. I remember I was a shy girl and I've never shared my feelings with anyone, so I solved my problems all by myself. When I didn't know how to do something I'd just thought and thought until I would understand. I didn't have a best friend until I was seventeen and I met Kimberly, and even with her I was—and still am—private. I'm not shy anymore, but I don't like people to see under my shield. I have had a lot to deal with in the past, I don't want them to see my weaknesses.

"Come on, I'm making breakfast," I say to Sally. "Kim's here, she'll probably light up your mood. She's so good at it."

She scoffs. "I know."

I go downstairs and find Kim in the kitchen, making breakfast. How weird.

"Good morning, honey," she says cheerfully.

I look at her confused as she's scrambling eggs and frying bacon. "Good morning."

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Why are you making breakfast?"

"Was in the mood," she shrugs. "And I know Sally loves scrambled eggs and bacon, so..."

I sit on one of the stools at the counter. "You're so lovely, really," I say with a sarcastic tone, but I actually mean it. She's amazing.

Suddenly a smirk appears on her lips as she studies me.

I frown. "What? Why are you smiling?"

She gives a laugh. "You don't know what I saw last night."

"What did you see?" I ask her, kinda curious.

"Oh," she laughs. "You saw it too."

"What? Tell me, come on!"

"Didn't you saw the way Michael DeAngelis looked at you?" she say, wiggling her eyebrows.

"What do you mean?" I'm confused.

"He looked at you as if you were his prey."

I rise my brows in surprise, then chuckle. "So you're saying he's a predator. Well, he's not. I am the predator."

Kim rolls her eyes. "Anyway, he looked at you like he wanted to screw you on the roulette table."

I shake my head. "Huh-uh, sure."

"I swear."

"He hates me, Kim. He told me 'Fuck you' in the car, while you were sleeping," I tell her.

"That doesn't mean he hates you." She pauses to fill three plates. "I also saw when you took his jaw with your hand and he looked at your lips. I didn't hear what you two were saying to each other though."

I roll my eyes and get up to help her set the table. "My crimson lips are quite attractive, everyone looks at them."

"I know, but it was like he wanted to kiss you."

"Oh, shush. Bullshit."

Meanwhile, Sally has come down to eat breakfast with us. She says she's feeling better and Kim is making jokes to lighten up her mood. My sister laughs, and I love it when she does.

She's my little baby.