What you mean to me

chapter one

Several years must have passed, Bailey thought. Unpacking took a toll on her. And she had to do all of it because her mom claimed to be tired and passed out on the couch.
Bailey didn't mind. She just dumped all her mother's belongings in her assigned room for whenever she regains her strength. She's not a servant.
Finally, alas, she was throwing away the last trash bag. Dusting her hands, she used the opportunity to observe the environs.

She walked to the front yard. Her motorcycle was parked next to her mom's jeep. She mentally noted to take them into the garage before nightfall. She continued her survey, now absentmindedly.
She found herself comparing the surroundings to her former. It was absolutely breathtaking; healthy green hedges beautifully trimmed into fences in addition to white wooden ones, unlike the cracked block fences back in Brooklyn. Healthy trees, neatly mowed green lawns flourishing under the evening summer sun, unlike the blackened by soot and ash - a lot of riots and uncouth street activities, concrete ground back in Brooklyn.

Disturbing her serenity was a really shrill, excited noise. It came from her neighbor's yard. Bailey sharply turned to see who it was.
I'm gonna teach the person a lesson, she thought.
Her frown softened when she saw a person with a very familiar face running towards her with a speed Bailey thought she was going to fall. But she didn't.
She even increased her speed so she could jump over the hedges-fence. And she vaulted perfectly to Bailey's awe.

" Bails? " she exclaimed engulfing her in a tight, choking hug. " Bails! "

It was her cousin.

No one else called her that. No one dared. Not only that, she isn't close enough with anyone to earn a nickname, everyone calls her by her full name. Apart from her elder brother who used to call her 'bay leaf'.
He is serving time in jail. He is a criminal.
And she doesn't miss him.

" Not a hugger. " Bailey choked, shooting daggers at the attempted murderer.

" Sorry. " her cousin said releasing her, looking at her with a pair of vibrant blue eyes, filled with joy.
The only good thing she missed out on in the family, she has ordinary dark eyes. Ordinary. But she loves it because they're intimidating...... But not to Amber.

Her cousin was overexcited to see her and overlooked the gesture, even returned it with an eyeroll then a smile.

Her happiness was so genuine and contagious that it made Bailey's heart warm and before it could show, a question from Amber blocked it.

" Why'd you just abandon me?! " her cousin cried.

Abandon you? You literally left.

" I mean, after my family left you just forgot you had a cousin who is me!...."

I have other cousins too Amberry.

" Hell! I didn't even know you were moving here or moving at all! If I had, I'd have thrown a huge party and trust me they'd have been lots of hot dudes and booze. " she added with a calm tone and cringed at the last word. " You live here right? "

Bailey could help but smile, her silver tooth glistened. It caught her cousin's eye.
Amber stepped back a little to check out her big cousin. Tattoo sleeve on her left arm, couple of ear piercings, rings on her left pinkie and middle finger, black wrist bands and beads on her left arm and boy she wasn't shocked. She expected this and more from Bailey.

" Done checking me out? " said Bailey with a cocky accent and smirk, her perfectly arched brow up.

Amber stared up, back to her face with a frown. " Oh please grow up. " she rolled her eyes.
But she could not help but admire her flawless, high cheek bones and the way her trim, arch eyebrows outline her facial features. Straight nose and nice shaped cherry red lips any guy would want to kiss, but would of course, loose his his genitals. All beauty were wrapped up with a smooth, warm tan skin complexion.