Palm Print

Chapter 9

I read the syllabi for my classes and took notes on the important assignments. Tomorrow, I’d be a college student, and it felt strange. I leaned back in my chair and examined my bookshelves.

I had so many books and was basically an addict. There was nothing better than being immersed in a world. I put *Harry Potter* back in its spot and ran my thumb across the series.

“I know she rubs some people the wrong way, but Rowling is a great writer.”

Kendra entered my room. She smirked, raising her eyebrows. “Hey, babe.”

I gave her a hug. “I missed you so much, Kendra.”

“I missed you too, love.”

I sat on my bed, and she sat in my chair.

“So,” I began, slightly leaning forward, “how was it, really?”

“Well, hermana, I realized just how bad my Spanish was when I arrived.”

“That’s a given.”

She rolled her eyes. “As I was saying…” She paused, gathering her thoughts. Her shoulders slumped, and her eyes drifted. She seemed distant. “It was fun… yeah. It was fun.”

“Did something happen?”

She nodded her head, saying, “No. Well, not really. My group was friendly, and some of my classmates were there.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

Kendra slumped into the chair. She tapped the desk and looked out the window. Her eyes were heavy, and she began to speak a few times but stopped.

Finally, she answered slightly covering her mouth, “The first few months were great. Everything was new and exciting. I was doing what I loved, what I dreamed of, you know? But…” She looked at me. “I… never mind, it’s nothing.”

“Don’t do that. Tell me,” I demanded.

She smirked. “It’s nothing, love. Also, Ethan and them left.”

“What do you mean they left? Why didn’t they tell me?” My brows tensed. “Don’t change the subject.”

“I told them that I’d tell you.” She stood up. “Anyway, let’s go.”

“What happened in Spain?” I pulled her next to me on the bed. “Did someone do something to you?”

“I guess you could say that.”

“Were you dating anyone?”

“There were a few guys, nothing serious or anything. Honestly, it was unrealistic to date someone from Spain. Relationships like that would never work.” She shifted her body to the door.

“Did anyone hurt you?”

She glanced at me, her eyes glazy. My words were caught in my throat, and silence lingered in the room. Her expression was pressing me into the bed. I was breathless under her gaze.

“I don’t want to talk about it, Taylor,” she whispered, walking into my bathroom and closing the door.

Breath flooded my lungs once more, while water rushed from the faucet.

I tiptoed to the door and listened. The faucet sounded like a waterfall. A thump against the door caused me to jump, nearly knocking over my dresser. I approached once again, but nothing—just the faucet running.

As I gathered clothing from my dresser, a soft sigh came from the bathroom.

“Kendra?” I whispered.

Thousands of terrible thoughts went through my head. Did someone cheat on her? Was she stranded? Kidnapped? The last one was implausible because we would have been notified. Still, this wasn’t like her. She’s usually an open book, but now…

Kendra exited, smiling. “Are you ready, babe?” she asked.

I looked at her eyes and they were normal. “Yeah, where are we going?”

She locked arms with me. “You’re asking too many questions, love. Come.”

I sat in the beautician’s chair as she began massaging my scalp. Her fingertips pressed into my hairline, and I sank into the chair, closing my eyes. I groaned softly as she reclined the seat and wet my hair.

“The usual?” Beverly asked.

“Of course,” Kendra teased.

“Don’t speak for me,” I defended.

“Then what are you getting, love?”

I gripped the chair and rolled my eyes.

“Exactly,” Kendra began, “Just dye her roots and cut her ends.”

Kendra stared at herself in the mirror, playing with her now wavy hair with ombre coloring.

“Have you thought about going natural?” Beverly asked.

“No,” Kendra blurted, “She and I look identical; she hates being mistaken for me.”

“Stop talking for me! That’s not why!” I defended, lifting from the sink. My wet hair splashed Beverly.

“Stop moving,” Beverly demanded, pushing my head back into the sink.

“Relax, twin,” Kendra laughed.

Beverly smiled, shaking her head. “You’re an instigator.”

“No, I’m not.” She walked over to Beverly. “Do you want to see us when we were little?”

I lifted from the sink and pushed Kendra away. She laughed, and Beverly yanked my head back into the sink.

“Stop moving,” Beverly demanded. “I’m going to kick you out, Kendra. You’re distracting.”

“Okay, Ms. Beverly.”

Kendra winked and smiled at me. I flipped her off, and she blew me a kiss. My throat constricted, and my face flushed.

“Not today,” I thought.

I closed my eyes and took a breath. She was getting on my last nerve. Beverly shampooed my hair, and my scalp felt so relaxed. I opened my mouth a little, and my shoulder tension eased up. Ms. Beverly’s hands were magical.

Someone tickled my neck, and I squirmed in the seat, laughing. Kendra was tickling me while filming.

“Stop,” I laughed.

“Kendra,” Ms. Beverly chuckled.

Kendra stopped and walked to her seat. “I’m back,” she teased.

I tried to hold back my smile but couldn’t. “Whatever.” Kendra was the worst person ever. So embarrassing.

After Ms. Beverly finished my hair, Kendra and I drove all around Charleston. It felt oddly nostalgic. Kendra was singing in the car and shaking her hair.

I really missed her. It’s funny how time apart made me realize that. Kendra was your classic extrovert, always the center of attention. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, admiring Ms. Beverly’s work.

I glanced at Kendra, and she had the biggest smile on her face. She was wrong about me being upset that we look alike. Kendra was incredibly beautiful. I loved that I was compared to her. I didn’t dye my hair because I didn’t want to look like her; rather, I dyed my hair because she was great at impersonations.

When we were younger, she invited my friends over and pretended to be me. She did the most embarrassing things, and they thought it was me. Ever since then, I decided to dye my hair blonde.

“When are you bungee jumping again?” Kendra asked.

“Next weekend. Ethan and I are going,” I replied.

“Is it too late to add a third person?”

My eyes widened. “No. Do you want to come?”

“Yeah, but then again, I can’t. I need to look for a job.”

“Why are you looking for a job? Aren’t you going back to U of I?”

She turned up the volume and sang along with Ariana Grande.

“Kendra!” I shouted, turning off the music.

We came to a red light and sat in silence. She stared out the window, and I cleared my throat.

“Kendra.”

She gripped the steering wheel. “I’m taking the semester off.”

“What? Does Mom know about this? What about Dad?” I asked, my voice low and shaky.

“No, they don’t. I haven’t told them yet.” She turned to me, her eyes glazy. She spoke softly, “Don’t tell them, okay?”

I looked out the window.

“Taylor, please don’t,” her voice broke a little.

I observed her closely. Her fingers were shaking, her eyes darted around, and she began panting slightly.

“What happened, Kendra?” I asked.

She glanced at the car in front of us. Her leg shook, and her jaw went through a sequence of clenching and relaxing. The light turned green, and we continued. I reclined into the seat.

“Talk to me when you’re ready. I won’t say anything.”

“Thanks, Taylor.”

“What are you going to tell Mom and Dad?”

“I’ll talk to them Friday.”

We continued in silence, driving the familiar roads. Every so often, Kendra gave commentary on what had changed.

“What happened to you in Spain?” I thought to myself, not daring to ask again.

Our house came into view, and I thought about how I’d treated Ethan the past few days. Ethan really did look sad and…

I texted Ethan: “I’m almost home.”